Page 118 of Something Rad
Robbie scoffs a laugh. “You really haven’t noticed it? The way everybody looks at you when you walk into a room? You haven’t heard them all whispering?”
My brows knit together. “I mean, sure. I’ve seen some people looking at us–”
“Not us,” Robbie says. “You, Cooper. They’re all fascinated with you.”
“Because I’m withyou,” I retort.
Robbie shakes his head. “Maybe for the first week. But now you’ve got everyone’s attention all on your own.”
My mouth falls open, my brain clouding with this absurd information. I know this was what I hoped for when I agreed to Robbie’s deal, but…I guess I just never thought in a million years that it would actuallywork. That there would be a world whereGinger Matthewswould be intimidated byme.
“I also heard something else,” Robbie says, pulling me from my thoughts.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“The other couple of other people that signed up to run either didn’t meet the qualifications or never followed through on turning in their paperwork,” Robbie states. My back straightens, realization hitting me. “So it’s just–”
“Me and Jesse.”
“You and Jesse,” Robbie confirms.
A boulder settles its weight on top of my chest. “Wow,” I mumble.
“Cooper.”
“Yeah?” I croak. My gaze raises, and I find Robbie’s eyes darting between mine.
“I meant what I said. I don’t know if it makes me an evil genius, but this plan…our arrangement…it’s going exactly like I told you it would. You reallydohave all the attention on you.” He takes a step closer to me. “Now, the question is, what are you gonna do with it?”
I swallow against the gravel in my throat. “I guess I’m gonna try to win this damn election.”
“Damn right you are,” Robbie nods, smirking. “Do you want all this time we’ve spent together to be for nothing?”
“Oh, God,” I shake my head. “Well, when you put it that way…”
“There we go.”
“Yeah, I don’t know about what weird crap you’re into,” I say, “but I’m no masochist.”
“Cooper, I may be into plenty of weird crap, but masochism surely isn’t one of those things,” Robbie insists. “We can go over the rest of the things on the list though if you’re free later–”
“No, really,” I hold up a hand, “that won’t be necessary.”
Robbie chuckles, which makes me chuckle. I let out a sigh, rolling my eyes at him.
“You know, you’ve got this, Cooper.” I look up at Robbie, waiting for another punchline to hit. But it doesn’t. He ducks his head, holding my eyes. “I mean it. I believe in you.”
I blink back at him, not believing myself.
Because I think I might actually believe that he believes in me.
twenty-four
ROBBIE
I shake my head, taking a bite of my sandwich as I hit the play button on my Walkman, Van Halen’s1984album beginning to flow through my headphones. I glance over at Cooper, watching her from five tables across the courtyard.
Why is Cooper five tables across the courtyard?, you ask?
