Page 150 of There's No Us Without You
There’s no time to worry about him when Sam hits me in the chest with the back of his hand and nods towards the crowd of people. “Why is Cooper talking to Eden?”
I whip my head in her direction, my body tensing.
Goddamn it. I didn’t think he’d corner her.
“I’ll be back,” I say, pushing myself from the stool and stalking into the crowd.
Cooper’s eyes widen for a second when they land on me. But he recovers quickly, plastering on a fake smile. “Emerson.”
Keeping my focus on Eden, I place my hands on her shoulders. “You okay?”
She has her arms wrapped around her waist, her head down like Cooper has just sucked the soul from her body. “I’m fine,” she says, attempting a small smile as she looks up at me through her dark lashes.
Her smile sucks at convincing me she’s fine, and a rush of energy surges through my body. My need to punch this dickhead in the face grows stronger with every passing second in his presence.
“Listen,” Cooper says. “I’d love to stand here all night and not give a fuck what either of you have to say, or I can go not give a fuck anywhere else.”
Cooper steps around me, but I shove a hand to his chest. “Not a fucking chance.” I wrap my arm around Eden’s shoulders. “You owe Eden seventy-five thousand dollars.”
“What? Since when? Last time I checked, she ruined her chances with you by blabbing that big mouth of hers.”
I sniff and run my eyes down his chest menacingly. “Things have changed—show him, baby.” I lift my chin at Eden, who just frowns. “The photos?”
Recognition settles on her face. “Oh . . . right.”
“Photos?” Wide-eyed, Cooper watches Eden as she snatches her phone from the pocket of her jeans and taps the screen.
I grab it from her and hold the phone to Cooper’s face, the glow of our supposed lovemaking making him scowl, top lip trembling.
The stills of this morning’s carefully recorded session—all PG of course—is evidence enough that something had happened between us.
It’s literally of us sleeping in bed.
“Sleeping?” Cooper smacks my hand away. “What the fuck?”
“Direct deposit works for me. Does that work for you, Pop-Tart?” Glancing at Eden, I squeeze her hand.
Squaring her shoulders, she attempts to seem less drunk, which works.
Sort of.
“Works for me.”
“Wait, I’m confused.” Cooper rubs a hand over his forehead. “You think I’m going to hand over seventy-five thousand dollars because you slept in the same bed? Is that what you’re telling me?”
Oh for fuck’s sake. This guy is as thick as they come.
“What exactly did Eden bet?” I say, moving into his personal space.
Cooper draws back. “What?”
“What were her terms?”
Licking his lips, Cooper looks to Eden, swallows hard, then back to me. “That... she could get you to sleep with her.” His eyes widen, his tiny brain now understanding what I’m saying. “Oh, fuck that. No way. That’s cheating.”
“How is that cheating? You just assumed she meant she would fuck me. Those words never left Eden’s mouth, only yours.”
We both know that’s exactly what Eden meant, but . . . semantics.
