Filed to story: Katy and Brayden Cooper Novel
I shouldn’t even be thinking about it, but the thought is so damn tempting. Braydon Cooper, the campus golden boy and star forward of the hockey team. He’s the guy girls would do anything to be seen with, and guys hate him because he can take their girlfriends with a smile.
He might be a player, but everyone knows he’s picky. Ruthlessly picky. So much so that girls brag if they even make it into his bed. Just being seen with him is enough to boost your social status overnight. You get invitations to events just because you’ve caught the eye of Braydon Cooper.
And right now, he’s standing in front of me, saying anything I want.
He’s perfect for my revenge plan. Not just because of who he is, but because he’s Bryan’s brother. What better way to grind Bryan’s inflated ego to dust than to show him his so-called replaceable ex is on the arm of his hotter and better brother?
I turn to face Braydon fully, heat prickling under my skin.
“You’ll do anything?” I ask, watching him closely.
He studies me, uncertainty flickering in his eyes for the first time since I walked in. Still, he nods. “Yeah.”
I take a slow breath, steadying the heat in my voice. “Then here’s the deal. I’ll tutor you, and not just enough for you to pass. You’ll ace your classes, every single one of them, with at least a B. That’s my part.”
He narrows his eyes, waiting. “And yours?”
“In return,” I say, “you’ll use your charm, your connections, your golden-boy reputation to pursue me publicly. We’ll build a high-profile relationship and everyone will see us.”
KATY’S POV
“What?” Braydon stares at me like I’ve just sprouted two heads.
“I said that-“
“Yeah, I got you.” He cuts in, stepping closer as if to read my face better. “You’re asking me to play boyfriend?”
I lick my lips before answering, my pulse hammering. “Yes.”
He scoffs, shaking his head in disbelief. “Sorry to disappoint you, Peach, but dating isn’t my thing. Anything but that.”
The sting hurts more than I expected, disappointment slicing through me. I exhale slowly, biting my lip.
I’ve heard his no-dating rule before, but dismissed it as just another line to make himself more desirable. But now… the way he shuts me down makes me wonder if he’s actually serious enough to walk away from an offer like this.
I clear my throat, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Think about it. Midterms are in four weeks, and it’s a major part of our final grade. If you want to pass, you need time with me, and that’s a month to prepare. This is a win-win deal.”
“Uh-uh.” He flicks his hand. “I’ll pass. There has to be something else you want. I mean…” His smirk resurfaces. “I didn’t take you for one of my fangirls.”
I roll my eyes, glaring at him. “I’m not interested in you. And I’ve never harbored some secret crush on you.”
“Really?” He cuts in, his tone edged with disbelief. “So why? I mean… aren’t you still with Bryan or something?”
“You should’ve remembered that before flirting with me,” I snap back. My chest heaves once, and I force myself to calm. It takes everything in me to push out the words. “Bryan and I broke up.”
His face doesn’t change, not even a hint of sympathy. He also doesn’t look like he’s about to say an empty sorry to hear that. Instead, he c***s an eyebrow. “So what? Trying to use me as your rebound?”
The urge to scream at him burns in my throat, but I bite it back. I’m negotiating, and I need this deal. Swallowing hard feels like impaling myself as I admit the truth. “He cheated on me.”
That gets him. His expression shifts, the teasing dropping from his face. His eyes darken, a flash of anger sparking there. “That son of a bitch.”
“It’s fine,” I choke out, though it’s not. “I just… I want to prove him wrong. He said I can’t find someone better than him. But-” I shrug, forcing the resignation into my voice. “I guess your rule is your rule.”
I turn, feigning surrender, pretending to walk away even though part of me is begging for him to stop me.
“Wait!” His voice rings out just as my hand grazes the door. My lips twitch into a smile, but I force it down, schooling my face into something neutral as I turn back to him.
Braydon drags a hand through his hair, and I know he’s thinking. And honestly, I don’t blame him. I already know how explosive it’ll be once the news spreads. Justin will definitely flip out, and everyone will have their eyes glued to my life like it’s their favorite show. Frankly, the only good thing to come out of this is that Bryan will absolutely lose his s**t.
“You’ll really help me ace my courses?” he finally asks, his gaze locking with mine.
I nod. “Yeah. But that depends on how convincing you are as my boyfriend.”
His brow furrows. “What does that even mean?”
“It means people have to believe we’re dating,” I say evenly.
A smirk tugs at his lips. “That’s gonna be a hard sell, considering my track record.”
I suck in a breath, my patience thinning. “Do you really want to graduate, or not?”
He nods his head, shooting me a mock glare. “You’re so annoying.”
“Then do we have a deal?” I press, refusing to back down.
He stays quiet, the silence stretching long enough for me to second-guess everything. Then he sighs. “We’ve got a deal.”
I almost squeal, but I bite it back hard. He actually agreed. I can’t believe I pulled this off.
And suddenly, the weight of it sinks in…this is huge. In the history of Cadston College, I’m his first girlfriend. First. Which makes it not just a win, but a direct slap in Bryan’s face. Another point on the scoreboard for me.
“Thank you,” I say, setting my books down before my hands can shake.
“I hope you’ll be a great girlfriend,” he replies smoothly, that tone of mischief back in his voice. “Because I’ll give this my all. Quick notice though, I’m a handsy guy.”
His teasing is back, but this time, when our eyes lock, I can’t fire back like I usually do. The air shifts between us, heavy and charged. My throat tightens, and I look away, scratching at my arm like that can distract me. It doesn’t. If anything, it only makes me more aware of how close he is.
“Ummm…let’s talk about the rules.” I manage to say.
“What rules?” He doesn’t wait for me to answer as his hand lands on my shoulder, tugging me a little closer. I go stiff instantly, every nerve locking up. His frown deepens. “You can’t freeze up when I touch you if we’re going to sell this dating thing.”
A spark of alarm shoots through me. “And why would you even touch me?”
He tilts his head, one brow arching. “Because, Peach, I’m supposed to be your boyfriend.”
My throat tightens. “Can’t you convince people without touching me?” I counter, heat crawling up my neck. “We can…hold hands sometimes.”
“Are you really that shy?” His lips twitch. “What, was your relationship with Bryan PG-12 or something?”
“No,” I snap before I can stop myself. My voice falters, then steadies again as I lift my chin. “We had s*x plenty of times. And yeah, there was PDA. Difference is, he was actually my boyfriend.”