Page 76 of Play the Game
Me
You bet I do.
Jordan
It’s really wasted on you, dude. What good is an epic kitchen if all you do is dump takeout on plates?
Me
I like to look at it while I sit on the couch. It’s all pretty and stuff.
Gotta run too. Need to kiss my girl.
Noah
Oh my god, seriously. Coop swoon FTW.
Jordan
I’m showing that last message to Jo. She is seriously team Cooper and Evan.
Noah
Same with Han. She showed me Evan’s fanfiction last week, and holy hell your girl is talented. We need to keep her, so don’t mess it up, Coop.
Elliot
Amelia too. She said if you fuck this up, they’re keeping her and getting rid of you.
Me
Thank you all so much for this overwhelming show of support. I’m really feeling the love this morning [eyeroll emoji].
Jordan
Just trying to help you get the girl.
Noah
I made you muffins. That’s love.
Elliot
Serious moment. I’m proud of you, Coop. Falling for the girl and impending fatherhood looks really good on you.
Me
El is my favorite today. The rest of you can fight for second place. Later assholes.
In a great mood from early morning texts with my brothers and the knowledge that I’m about to see my girl, I stick my phone in my pocket and walk the rest of the way down the darkened hallway to Evan’s office. When I get there, I lean against the doorway and watch her. She’s bathed in the light of the single candle on her desk, eyes focused on her computer screen. Her lips curve into a small smile as she types, lost in the world she’s creating.
My arms practically ache to get around her.
“You are so hot when you’re writing spicy scenes.”
Evan sucks in a breath, her head whipping up from her laptop screen to where I’m standing. “Jesus Christ, Cooper, you scared the shit out of me.”
I grin, sauntering over and dropping my bag on one of her chairs, rounding her desk to kiss her. Her candle today is a sugar cookie scent, and she’s wearing pajama pants covered in hearts, a purple sweatshirt that saysWomen Don’t Owe You Shit, and her pink fuzzy slippers, her hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun. Her desk is littered with piles of cherry Jolly Ranchers, two coffee cups, and her ever-present pink notebook, which reminds me of the work I left unfinished last night, and I make a mental note to get back to it this morning before my workday starts.
