Page 30 of The Off-Limits Rule: Extended Edition

“Pumpkin, I’m not ignorant. You don’t come away smelling like yourfriendwhen you’re just hanging out.” I wish she wouldn’t do that—plant ideas in my head that shouldn’t be there. It’s every parent’s responsibility to think their child poops rainbows, but she shouldn’t be trying to make me think that about myself too. I tried going after someone above my level before…It didn’t work out for me, and I don’t care to do it again. Cooper had a chance to prove me wrong last night, and he didn’t. He pulled away from my kiss, and that told me everything I needed to know.

“I only smell like him because after we got done swimming, he let me wear his clothes.”

Her eyebrow rises another centimeter into the smug-mother-who-knows-everything zone.

“Mom, I’m serious. Please don’t make this something it’s not. I’ve embarrassed myself in front of him more times than I can count, and it’s clear that he isnotinterested in me like I am in him. I need to get him out of my head, and your meddling is not helping.”

“But—”

“Mom.”

“I just—”

I cut her off with azip it upgesture and matching sound.

Her shoulders slump over adorably, and she rolls her eyes likeshe’s the teen and I’m sucking all of her fun. “Fine, I’ll zip it up. But are yousurehe’s not interested and you’re not maybe projecting your own insecurities onto the situation?” Clearly, she doesn’t know the meaning ofzip itup.

“Unfortunately, yes…I’m positive he’s not interested.”

Chapter 12

Cooper

“I’m interested in your sister,” I say to Drew after he takes the last sip of his second beer. It’s Friday night, a couple days after my pool adventure with Lucy; and yep, I did bring Drew out for drinks, buy him wings to butter him up, and then get him a little bit buzzed in hopes that he would not knock my teeth out when I announced I had feelings for Lucy. I also brought him to a crowded sports bar so there would be witnesses.

He blinks with wide eyes, reminding me of Lucy a little, then slowly sets down his empty glass. “Now the large basket of wings makes sense. You probably should have thrown in some jalapeño poppers too.”

I tap my finger on the table, debating flagging down the waitress. By the slightly grim look marring Drew’s brow, though, I get the feeling cheese-filled peppers aren’t going to be my saving grace tonight.

I wait for him to speak, to acknowledge what I said about Lucy, but instead he turns his eyes up to the TV and is suddenly soengrossed in a hockey game you’d think he was an actual fan. Which he’s not. Drew is not into sports, but apparently tonight he’s the biggest Preds fan you’ve ever seen.

He throws his hands up and groans when they miss a shot, and I blink at him. “You don’t even know what the little black thing they’re fighting over on the ice is called,” I say, narrowing my eyes and daring to call his bluff.

He swings his gaze to me and smirks. “Puckoff, Cooper.”

Sport puns—this is bad. Uncharted territory, even. “Okay, can we stop pretending we like hockey and just have it out? You’re pissed I like your sister. Just say it.”

Drew’s jaw tics, but he shakes his head. “Not pissed.” He says it in the same tone a woman uses when she saysI’m fine.She’s never fine, men, and you’re going to sleep on the couch that night.

I stare at Drew, waiting for more, but he just seals up his lips and leans back in his chair to aim his attention at the TV again. I’m going to buy him a shirt that saysWorld’s Biggest Hockey Fan.

“That’s it? You’re not going to talk about it with me? Just going to pout and watch your new favorite sport?”

He cuts his eyes to me. “Really? You think it’s a good idea to poke me until I fight you?”

“Yeah. I’d rather you fight me than ignore me for sports. I never thought I’d sympathize with a married woman so much, but tonight has changed me.”

Drew looks like he wants to smile but has already set his face to frown mode and won’t budge. “Look, I’m not upset, because I know I can trust you…”

I let out a breath I’ve been holding all night. I gotta say, I didn’t see him—

“…to ignore your feelings and stay away from Lucy like we discussed.”Oh.Well, that was a letdown.“I appreciate you owningup to it, though, telling it to me straight. You’re a good friend, Coop.”

If that isn’t some manipulative crap, I don’t know whatis.

He reaches across the table and slaps me on the back. It jars my body a little, and I feel lost. He’s just masterfully steered this conversation in exactly the direction he wants it to go, leaving no room for argument. He’s brilliant, actually, because he almost managed to make me think I’m on his side on this, like I really never intended to go after Lucy. This way, we both get to be the good guy and leave here as jolly best friends.So jolly.

Drew shifts the conversation and tells me that, this Monday, he’ll be headed to Costa Rica for three weeks on a volunteer medical trip. He’s been doing these once a year since he graduated med school, and he spends grueling hours providing obstetric and gynecological care to women who otherwise might not receive it. It’s amazing and yet another reason why I like Drew and care about his opinion. He’s a good guy.

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