Page 30 of Collateral Damage
Coop glares, and I have to stop myself from calling him out. He’s clearly being judgmental, especially given what he said to me at that New Year’s Eve party about needing higher standards.
I give him my steeliest glare. “Don’t slut shame me for having sex with Benton Beal.” I say it like it is. “It’s not a big deal when two consenting adults who want to get together and safely have fun. Besides, don’t you have a phone full of women who casually sleep with you? Are you judging them for doing the same thing?”
Coop shifts but doesn’t say a word.
“Benton Beal is a fantastic idea,” Perry cuts in. “Call him. Convince him. Whatever you’ve got to do, Sybil. Make it happen. He’sperfect.”
“Notwhatevershe has to do,” Cooper growls. “We’re not prostituting Sybil out for your show.”
I bite my tongue, a million thoughts eager to spill over.
Perry holds up his hands. “Chill. That’s not what I meant.”
“To hell it wasn’t.” Coop turns his sour expression on his friend. “I love you Perry, but sometimes you can be so singularly focused on your goals you forget to check yourself.”
I roll my eyes. “Hate to break it to you, Cooper, but Benton Beal can get any woman he wants. He doesn’t need me to convince him by offering sexual favors. Besides, he’s already slept with me on multiple occasions. He can get me into his bed because Ilikehim.”
Cooper’s jaw tightens, nostrils flaring. I’ve clearly struck a nerve and have to bite back a grin to keep myself from seeing justhow deep that nerve goes. Truthfully, I haven’t slept with Benton in a while. We’re friends more than we’re friends with benefits.
“I don’t care who you sleep with, Valentine,” Cooper cuts in.
That name again. He keeps using it, and I would keep correcting him, but an expected realization stops me. “Seems like you do care.”
“Don’t mistake this for something it’s not.”
“And what am I mistaking it for?” Because to me, it seems like jealousy and possessiveness, and as strange as that is coming from Cooper, at least it’s not cold indifference or hatred.
He takes a deep breath and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Listen, we don’t do unethical shit like that at King Media.” Dropping his hand, he pins an accusatory gaze on me. “In fact, if Benton decides to do the show, you’ll need to keep your legs closed around him from now on. We can’t have any conflicts of interest.”
Logically, I get where he’s coming from, but emotionally, my veins are burning with righteous indignation. “You’re already accusing me of being unprofessional?”
Cooper chuckles, and Perry intervenes. “Okay, I’m going to stop you twoagain. We can’t start fighting before we’ve even done anything. You’re going to have to learn how to get along. You used to be friends, remember? I’m not saying you have to be friends again, but for the love of God, figure out a way to work together without fighting all the time. If you want to talk about being professional, how about you start withthat?”
“Fine.” I extend my hand across the table to Coop. “Truce? We can be professionals andnotfriends.”
He holds my gaze, but when he shakes my hand, I don’t feel as vindicated as I thought I would. A hollowness has opened in my chest, aching to be filled. “Besides securing an athlete, are we ready for the dinner party tonight?” I ask Perry, dropping Cooper’s hand.
While we want the cast to meet each other for the first time on camera, there are a few Cooper and I are unsure about. Perry had the idea to bring them round to dinner first. They’re a brother and sister pair, children of a political dynasty who are now coming into their own, and I’m not sure they’re famous enough or interesting enough forTop of the World. No offense to them, but politics is divisive, and a lot of people try to avoid it when they’re watching television. But Perry is adamant they’re a perfect fit for what he’s looking for.
“I’ve got my private chef lined up,” Cooper says. “Tonight’s a go.”
Wait. What?
I frown. “We’re going out to dinner, aren’t we?”
Perry shakes his head. “Cooper thought it would be more discreet to have them to his place, and I agree. How about you see if you can get Benton there tonight, too, so we can talk to him about the opportunity?”
Going to Cooper’s place is the last thing I want to do, but he makes a good point, so I don’t push it. But Benton? Tonight? Already? “Shouldn’t Benton meet his potential new cast mates on camera? Maybe we should wait on him.”
Perry waves off my concern. “It’ll be fine. We might not cast all three people, and if we do, it’s not a big deal if they’ve met in advance.”
I sigh. “I’ll see what I can do.”
As nervous as I am to contact Benton, I’m more nervous about going to Cooper’s apartment. I’ve been to his building a bunch of times. Ethan and Arden live there. But Cooper’s place feels like crossing into enemy territory.
We finish lunch, and on our way out, Cooper holds the door for me. As I pass under his arm, his familiar scent nearly stops me in my tracks. He’s not covered up by the new pricy cologne he wears these days. Instead, for just a second, I’m back with theboy I grew up with, the one I considered one of my best friends. A weight presses down on my heart that I can’t acknowledge. I won’t.
We step onto the sidewalk, and his phone rings. A flash of a smile crosses his lips, and his eyes dance when the name pops up on the screen.Roxanna.
