Page 68 of How to Prevent a Fumble

I scowl. “Coop, I’m gonna start by telling you to knock it off with that nickname.”

“But you were the one who started it!”

I was. The first time she completely ignored me. And the second time. And the third.

But things are different now, and hearing him say it doesn’t sound right. It doesn’t sound fair.

If there’s one person tormenting her it’s going to be me.

“A list, guys. What’s like catnip to women?”

Emmett thinks for a moment. “Baths.”

I rear back, sending him a questioning look. “Baths?”

“Girls love baths.”

“I don’t know when the last time I took a bath was,” I mutter.

Cooper smacks the back of my head. “It’s not about you, dumbass. It’s about her. Bitches love baths.”

I smack the back of his head in return. “Don’t call her a bitch,” I hiss with enough venom for him to know I’m serious.

“It’s a saying?—”

“I don’t care.”

“Oranges,” Emmett says quietly.

“Oranges?”

He nods. “Saw it on the internet today.”

Maybe he’s the wrong person to ask.

“I know when I’ve had girlfriends, they’ve really liked doing activities together,” Cooper smirks.

“What kind of activities?”

“All kinds.”

“That doesn’t really help.”

He shrugs.

“You guys are killing me, you know that?”

21

BRIAR

“Ican’t believe you agreed to do this,” Zara says as she scowls at Leo from across the room.

I lean against the bar, watching him whisper amongst his friends. True to his word, Leo has been great tonight. He’s only had two drinks, which is hardly enough to do anything at all to him.

“I was already helping him with everything else. Honestly, it’s mainly for Elara.”

“I just hope you know what you’re doing, because that boy needs some work.”

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