by Bijou Hunter
“Tell me about your childhood,” he said a little too forcefully then took a breath. “Please.”
“My mom was barely eighteen when she married my dad and had me. She was a poor girl and he was a charmer. They must have started out doing pretty well because when I was a baby we lived in a house. By the time of my first memories, we were in an apartment. By the time I was in school, we lived in motels.”
Any hint of amusement left Cooper’s face. “Who the fuck lives in a motel?”
“Poor people who can’t afford a deposit on an apartment or have bad credit or can’t be sure they can pay the rent from one month to the next. Basically, people like my family.”
“So since you were, what, five?”
“Yeah. We had a few short periods when my grandma would pay for us to get into an apartment. It never lasted though and eventually she stopped helping us.”
“How do you go to school when you live in a motel?”
“Just like when you live in an apartment or house. We registered at the local school then a bus picked us up. When we moved to a new motel, we sometimes started new schools.”
“Hell, Farah. No wonder you’re such a nerd.”
Rolling my eyes, I grinned at him.
“You want to be a teacher, right?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“How come?”
Without answering, I glanced around. I was a private person. No one except Tawny knew all my secrets. I was proud of this fact because I was raised to be secretive. Even if I hadn’t felt a weird sense of pride in keeping everything hidden, I knew Cooper was my weakness. I wanted him in a way that was dangerous. Worse was how I really wanted him to want me too.
As long as we kept up all of our walls and talked about me naked and him being a scary beast, we had fun. Fun was temporary. As long as I thought of Cooper as short term, the less it would hurt when he dumped me and never looked back.
“Do you want the rest of my salad?” Cooper asked when I said nothing.
I did want his salad, but eating someone’s leftovers was a poor chick move. While technically a poor chick, I wanted to pretend. Cooper though wanted the real me. I wasn’t sure what to do.
Cooper took my empty bowl and set it aside before placing his in front of me. Leaning back in his chair, he shrugged. “I share with my sisters all the time. I can’t help it that I’m a softie.”
“Thank you. I am hungry.”
“But you wouldn’t have eaten it, right?” he asked, studying me again. “Because you think that’s the right thing to do. Well, fuck the right thing. Just do what you want.”
“Spoken like a rich hot guy who always gets what he wants.”
“True, but it doesn’t make what I said wrong.”
Nodding, I ate the lettuce Cooper didn’t want. “I didn’t have lunch today.”
“Why?” he asked, frowning darkly. “I thought you made enough money to at least feed yourself.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t want my girl starving.”
“Do you really think I’m your girl?”
“Hell yeah.”
Smiling again, I ate more lettuce. “I’ve been having lunch with Skye. She usually pays, so I didn’t bring money. I normally would bring a backup sandwich, but she can’t have peanuts around her.”
“Why? I saw her eat a whole container of nuts one summer.”
“She thinks she might be allergic.”
“She’s not allergic,” Cooper muttered. “Why would she even say that?”
I thought back to the day Skye first took me to lunch. Her excuse was how I couldn’t eat the sandwich. Once again, I realized how she hadn’t stumbled upon me, but was likely assigned to be my friend. Watching me innocently, Cooper was oblivious to how Skye lied for his benefit.
“Who knows?” I said, shrugging. “Anyway, I didn’t have anything to eat.”
Cooper studied my face and I knew we were onto each other’s lies. A weird moment passed then he gave me a knowing grin. “You didn’t explain why you want to be a teacher.”
“I just do.”
“No, I sense a story behind it. Tell me and I’ll share my dessert.”
“What types of dessert do they serve?”
“Awesome cannolis.” I just stared at Cooper who frowned. “Don’t tell me you’ve never had a cannoli.” When I shook my head, he sighed. “Man, we could have fun, Farah. I’d show you a million things. Not necessarily sophisticated things, but cool shit nonetheless. Hell, I bet you haven’t even seen the Grand Canyon.”
“We drove past it once.”
Cooper smiled softly then reached across the table and caressed my bottom lip. As soon as he pulled away, I wiped my lips self-consciously.
“Did I have gunk on them?”
A smile spread across his lips and he shook his head. “You’re gorgeous.”
“My lips?”
“And those eyes. Hell, every inch of you makes my jeans too snug.”
“I feel like a princess now.”
Cooper laughed for a minute then sat up with a jerk. Snapping his fingers, he pointed at me. “You know what I forgot to ask?” When I shook my head, he continued, “Why did you want to be a teacher?”
Laughing, I finished the salad then tried to explain. “I had this teacher in third grade. Her name was Mrs. Prescott and she was the best. Lively and funny, smart and tough. The year I had her, she also had a daughter in third grade.”
Feeling awkward continuing, I said nothing as Cooper crossed his arms. “You wanted to be that little girl.”
“How can you know that?” I demanded, wondering what stalker shit he was pulling.
“You always want to be someone else.”
Embarrassed for him to be correct, I also crossed my arms, hiding what I knew he wanted to get his hands on.
“Yeah, I wanted to be her. I’d see pictures of their Thanksgiving and Christmas and how they had a big happy family. I would see their tree and nice house. Not a rich type of house. Not a house like you grew up in, but middle class. For me, that seemed beyond my reach. I would see Emily in school and I’d wish I was her. Wished I had her parents and her house. Even her dog. I wanted to be her so badly because her life looked perfect.” Pausing, I wiped my eyes and frowned at him. “Why do you want me to tell you things that’ll upset me?”
“Because I need to know you.”
“Why?”
“So I can better manipulate you into sleeping with me.” Laughing, I shook my head as he grinned at me. “You and I aren’t anything alike. I need to know you because I don’t know you. Get it? I can’t just guess everything. I need you to help me.”
“To get into my pants? You know, that might happen just from the free dinner.”
“Bullshit,” he growled, giving me a little smile. “And screw you for the false hope. You can’t know how bad I want in those pants.”
“I can guess.”
“As a girl, I seriously doubt it.”
“Because girls don’t get horny?”
“Not girls like you. I bet you’ve never been horny in your life.”
“Shut up, jerk.”
“Keep telling your story, nerd.”
Sighing, I glanced around and hoped our food arrived. “Obviously, I would never be Emily because my family was never going to be like hers. I sometimes dreamed the state would take us away from my parents and send Tawny and me to a nice foster home. In reality, we would have ended up with our grandma who would have given us back to our parents. There was no escape, so I couldn’t be Emily. I could be Mrs. Prescott though. I couldn’t have a childhood like Emily’s, but I could still have those nice Thanksgiving and Christmas pictures. I could have a pretty house and a nice husband like Mr. Prescott. He would bring in treats for class parties. He was nice like her. Funny too. I started imagining having my teacher’s life instead of Emily’s. I wanted it so much, but I was afraid I would always be poor.”
The food was taking forever and a
little part of me wondered if Cooper had them hold our order in the kitchen so I wouldn’t stop talking.
“I asked Mrs. Prescott if someone like me could be a teacher? I remember that upset her. She actually cried a little. She told me that no matter where I was living or who my parents were or how little money I had, if I worked hard I could get into school. Any school, she said. Start at a community college and work into a four year degree. Do whatever I could manage, but if I believed in the dream, I could be a teacher.”
Wiping my eyes, I was glad the restaurant wasn’t very busy. Cooper watched me with an odd expression though. Somewhere between sad and angry.
“I stayed in her class the whole year and it was the best year of my life. I kept worrying we would move. We did a few times, but always stayed in the area. Every time my dad said we might move, I’d beg him and my mom to stay close so I could keep Mrs. Prescott. I don’t know if they did it on purpose, but we stayed. One of the hardest things I ever did was say goodbye to Mrs. Prescott. She would sneak me treats and even gave me Emily’s hand-me-downs. That last day of school, we were moving out of the state and I wouldn’t see her again. I hugged Mrs. Prescott so tight because I wanted to stay with her. As long as I saw her every day, I had hope. She told me to keep in touch and I did. I still write to her every month and she tells me how she knows I’ll be a great teacher.”
Drying my face with a napkin, I shrugged. “That’s why I want to be a teacher.”
Cooper stared another minute then let out an unsteady breath. “Then, you’ll be a teacher. I can read people and I know when they’re bullshitting themselves. When you talk about it, I know it’ll happen. People like you make it happen.”
Smiling slightly, I watched him. “I’ve never told anyone that except for Tawny.”
“Aren’t you glad I bullied it out of you?”
Nodding, I smiled wider. “Yeah, actually. It felt liberating.”
Cooper leaned forward and caressed my cheek. “You have a million walls up, baby. When I saw them the first time you walked into Spanish class, I told myself you were too much effort, but I was a fool. You’re worth every ounce of trouble you give me.”
“Oh, and I give you trouble as part of my devious plan?”
“No doubt about that. There’s your finger. Here’s me wrapped around it.”
Laughing again because of his earnest expression, I felt lighter since sharing my story. Mostly, I felt like I had a stronger connection to Cooper. As if I showed him a never healing wound and he didn’t poke at it. He wasn’t what I expected and I liked how he surprised me.
The food arrived soon after I finished telling my story. Even with no proof, I knew Cooper kept them from serving us until he got what he wanted first. The food was hot though and I wondered if they had to remake it because people who came in after us were already eating.
No matter the timing, I didn’t care once I took a bite. Moaning quietly, I smiled at him.
“Best Italian in the state,” Cooper said. “Of course, it’s Kentucky so maybe that doesn’t mean much, but it’s fucking good.”
“It is very fucking good.” Cooper’s eyes locked on mine and he gave me his “jeans were too tight” look. “You have issues,” I teased. “Like maybe you need to see a doctor?”
“It’s been two weeks since I’ve had a release. You had to be so hot, didn’t you?”
“Not even your hand?” I whispered.
“Well, that hardly counts.”
“See, that’s your problem right there. You’re spoiled. Lower your standards and life will get easier.”
Cooper laughed. “Is that your way of saying I won’t get any help this evening?”
“I grant you permission to imagine me while alone with your hand. Is that the help you were looking for?”
“I’ve already done all kinds of things with you in my head. So no, that won’t be enough help.”
“I’m not having sex with you,” I said then added, “Tonight.”
Cooper leaned back and grinned brightly. “Ah, finally the disclaimer.”
“I think about you when I’m alone,” I whispered.
Cooper’s expression sent me into hysterics. Everything from horny boy to shock to joyous relief got stuck into one weird facial expression. Even after I was laughing, he seemed unable to respond.
“You’re a wicked little bitch, aren’t you?” he finally said, adjusting in his chair.
“Stop calling me a bitch.”
“I call everyone that. My sisters, my dogs even the male ones, my brother, my Harleys. I called a squirrel a bitch yesterday. To be fair, the little furry bitch had it coming.”
Laughing behind my hand, I finally settled down and returned to eating. “I don’t masturbate. What’s it like?”
Cooper spit out his soda then glared at me. “You timed that.”
“Yes, I did. It’s not fun having someone mess with you, is it?”
“Oh, it’s on. Since you asked, masturbating is a great stress releaser. You know what else is?”
“Is this going to make me vomit?”
“Probably,” he said, laughing. “Yeah, I should wait until you finish eating. Dry heaves are the worst.”
Chewing and laughing, I struggled not to choke. When I finally settled down, I took a sip of my soda.
“I’m glad you asked me out tonight.”
Cooper’s ornery expression faded into a soft smile. “I wanted it to be like this. Ever since the bullshit on Sunday, I wanted another chance and for it to be like this. It feels really good, doesn’t it?”
There was genuine need in his question and I smiled. “It feels great, Cooper. Better than I’ve felt in a long time.”
“And you haven’t even enjoyed a canolli yet.”
Grinning, we finished our pasta then sat back and waited for dessert.
“I know tonight will be no more than some very heavy petting,” Cooper said full of sincerity. “I know my hand and I will have to finish the job without you. I know all that so don’t freak out when I ask this question. Deal?”
“Ask first.”
Cooper grinned. “This weekend, I’d like you to come to my house and hang out. We have the pool and a TV the size of this restaurant. Oh, a pool table too. It’ll be fun and I’d like to spend time with you like we did tonight. You’re pretty irresistible when you’re relaxed.”
“But I’m resistible when I’m tense? I’ve been tense since we met so why do you keep asking me out?”
“Fine, you’re irresistible period, but you’re especially sexy when you let yourself be you. Teasing me like that was pretty awesome, though I think I really might need medical attention now.”
As I nearly spit out my drink, Cooper laughed. Suddenly, I wasn’t Farah Smith. I had no past or future. I was just in this single moment with this beautiful funny man who wanted me. I didn’t worry if he’d want me tomorrow or next week. At this moment, we were perfect and I embraced the feeling.
“I would like to come over this weekend.”
Cooper’s amusement faded and he studied me. “You feel it, right? It’s not just me because I can’t have it be just me.”
“I feel it,” I said softly.
“Thank God. I was going nuts thinking I’d suffered a brain injury without noticing.”
“I don’t have a swimsuit,” I lied. “I’ll need to get one.”
My swimsuit was on its last thread, having been worn going on six years. I wondered if I could find a new one under twenty dollars.
“You could just wear one of Bailey’s. She has a million and she’d share. She likes you.”
“I like her too,” I said then frowned. “Will your parents be there? Bailey said I couldn’t come into the house without them there.”
Cooper’s lack of a reaction told me Bailey was blowing smoke up my ass to get me to talk to her brother. I sighed at how they played me so easily.
“Chicks lie,” he said, shrugging. “What can I tell you?”
“If sh
e’d let me borrow one, that would be great. There’s no pool at our apartment complex and I’d hate to buy a suit if I’m not going to use it a lot.”
“Stick with me, baby, and I’ll have you running around half naked twelve hours out of the day. You’ll be naked the other twelve.”
“I was wondering where horny Cooper went?”
“Speaking of twenty four seven,” he said, giving me a wink. “I hope the horniness will get easier after I’ve gotten a taste.”
“You’re kinda gross, you know?”
Cooper wiggled his eyebrows. “Haven’t you heard? I’m very talented at that sort of thing.”
“Who would I have heard that from?”
“Skye.”
“You and Skye?”
“No, but she knows. Ask her.”
“No way.”
“You’ll ask her,” Cooper said, glancing over my shoulder at the arriving waiter. “You’re curious now.”
“Maybe.”
The waiter set down our desserts and I took no time digging in. The food was so good that I had a physical reaction to it almost like when Cooper kissed me. My body softened and relaxed in a weird comforting way.
“Good, huh?” he said, eating half then leaving the rest for me to finish.
“Aren’t you hungry?” I asked, wanting more.
“I’ll have another dinner later.”
My heart jumped and I spoke without thinking. “You’re going on another date tonight?”
Cooper lost his smile and glanced around the restaurant. Twisting his lips, he finally settled on a grim frown. “I thought you said you felt it too. I thought you understood, but you think I’m going on another fucking date?”
Cooper’s voice was no more than an angry whisper, but other customers glanced in our direction. Lowering my gaze, I didn’t know how to answer.
“I’m sorry,” I finally said. “Can I still have your dessert?”
Sighing, Cooper pushed the plate to my side of the table. “If it’s just me, you should tell me. I don’t want to be a fool.”
“I told you I felt it too,” I replied in a quiet voice, avoiding his gaze.