Page 98 of Clinch'd

Burying my face in my hands, I laugh because that’s all I can do but when I drop them, it’s Cooper sitting down next to me with a bemused expression.

Warily, I turn away. I have nothing to say to the jerk who’s gone out of his way to be nothing but cruel. Why he’s here is beyond me. I’m pretty sure he’s done enough.

“Why don’t you tell me what’s going on?” he says quietly.

“What’s going on?” I snort. “My sister is pregnant. My friend is an asshole and you…”

“Me?” he asks, his eyes boring into mine.

“You’re a dick,” I say, dropping my gaze. “Why are you here?”

“Because I’m stupid,” he says.

“Yeah, well join the damn club. Can we just be done, Cooper? I’m tired of the fight. I did something to you. You definitely got your revenge. It’s over now.”

“Is it?” he says, and I eye his hand on the bar top, curling into a fist. “You ruined my career.”

“You fucked my sister,” I say, annoyed when his brows slam over his eyes.

“You fucked me to get close enough to me to plant drugs in my locker,” he says leaning in until our mouths are practically touching.

“Yeah, well you fucked me because you thought I was Beast’s cousin. Can we be done now?” I ask tiredly, bowing my head.

Grabbing my chin, he pulls me around and says softly, “I never fucked your sister, and I planned to fuck you, Beast, or no. Can you say the same?”

Searching his eyes, I hesitate because I’m afraid this is another game, and he drops my chin and pulls away.

“I guess that answers that,” he says coolly.

“I don’t have casual sex with strangers,” I mumble. “If you had genuine interest in me, I would have gone out with you but all you wanted was a good time. I’m not a good time girl.”

He eyes me consideringly but doesn’t comment and I say, “You never fucked Lorri?”

“No.”

“So, it really was just to torture me?” I whisper both relieved and appalled.

Although why I’m surprised, I don’t know. We’ve both done horrible things. I’m no better with the exception of Lorri’s life hanging over my head.

“Yes, you wheedled your way into my world and took it down in one fell swoop,” he says with a wry twist of his lips.

Desperately, I sip my drink and nod at the bartender. He sets about making another while we sit together, each lost to our thoughts.

“Well, I guess we’re both assholes,” I finally say before slamming my next drink.

“Minnie,” he growls, grabbing the now empty glass with a frown.

“Seriously,” I say, before I hiccup and cover my mouth. Shit.

When he raises a brow, I frown and snarl, “Fuck off.”

Shaking his head, he says, “What did you mean about your sister?”

My anger pops and with a defeated sigh, I say, “I can’t…I don’t know.”

“Minnie,” he growls, “you ruined my fucking career. Don’t I get to know why?”

“You didn’t even like it,” I say waving my arm.

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