Jen disbands from the kiss as Jackson and Blaine start in on a shoving match. I’d step in, but Mom has her whistle at the ready, and Edinger has stuck his beak in the ring. I hope he gets clocked.
Flanders and Grayson catch my attention. I have to admit I’m damn near impressed he hasn’t made a single move on Laken tonight. She’s hotter than hell, and I couldn’t blame him if he tried. It makes me wonder if he was ever interested in her in the first place. Maybe I had it wrong. I mean, he was with Grayson last summer. God knows Grayson Evans has made it clear that she’s ready and willing to commit to a lifetime of sexual servitude with Flanders if he’ll allow her the honor. Although, half the guys at Ephemeral have tapped that well, and I don’t think Flanders is the kind of guy who wants a piece of leftover pie.
He nods in my direction as Grayson disappears for a moment and heads over.
“So who did this to you, man?” Coop slaps me gently on the back as he examines the stitches running up the side of my face.
“Logan and Gage Oliver.” Their names roll off my tongue, rough and hostile, like drilling a jackhammer.
“You sure they’re not from Rycroft?” Coop ticks his head back. His jaw redefines itself as if he’s good and pissed on my behalf.
I know Coop well enough to realize what he’s up to. He’s memorizing their names, running it through the super computer that functions as his memory bank to see if he recognizes them. We used to be friends Coop and me. Good ones.
I shake my head at the thought of losing what we had over my incessant jealousy. Coop would do anything to help me out, anyone out, for that matter—he’s just that nice.
“Coop”—I step in and take a breath—“you’re one of us. You’re like a brother. I don’t want there to be weirdness between us anymore. I miss tossing the ball on the field and hanging out after you ran a perfect game. I really appreciate your concern with my new face, but the guys who did this,” I pause and press out a dry smile, “they’re from a couple years in the future. It’s some bullshit I got mixed up in, and they’re just doing what they think is right. I’ll get ‘em back though.” I’ll be damned if I let those two ass-wipes get away with ever laying a hand on me.
“Get a hold of a supervising spirit, and lets get out there.” Coop crosses his arms like he’s ready and rearing to go.
“It’s not that easy. We need a willing Celestra.” I leave out the part about my supervising spirit being an ass who doesn’t believe in doing me any favors.
Coop doesn’t say anything.
Laken emerges from the kitchen with Carter in tow. They head straight over to Jen who is noticeably without either of her spit-swapping partners.
Cooper runs his eyes over Laken. He’s drinking her down, lusting after her without the ability to control it in my presence. He blinks away and swallows hard.
It’s becoming clear he’s less interested in Grayson than I thought.
“So I hear Laken knew that girl.” He nods. “Weird how that all went down.”
I stare at Coop a really long time. Maybe now is the time to call bullshit, but I decide against it.
“It’s sad. I hope they find her family soon.” I pan the room for Blaine. “So you and Grayson, huh?” I knock into his shoulder with mine, and it elicits a riot of pain in my abdomen.
“Can you blame me?” Coop swallows a laugh, and I’m not sure if he’s kidding or not.
“You know, we should hang out more,” I say, tossing the bone out there. “We should take the girls to dinner. Laken is still new. I know Kres has been giving her a hard time, so Grayson’s probably not too far behind. I’d like to see them get along.”
Coop loses his friendly demeanor, and for a moment I wonder if a second ass kicking is in the works for me. He manufactures a dry smile that lets me know he’s not enthused with the bonding session I just proposed.
“Yeah, let’s do that. I think it’ll be fun.” He continues to openly glare at me. “I’d better go find Grayson. I’d hate for someone else to try and step into my shoes. Someone might end up looking like you if they tried. Is