He pressed L and leaned back against the rail as he slipped his hands into his pockets. “Bruce Wayne leads this double life — one where he has to pretend to fit in for the sake of appearance and another where he’s doing what he feels he’s meant to do. The sad thing about him is that neither one of those versions are real. They’re two identities, both meant to mask who he really is, and he’s lost somewhere between them. He’s almost as bad as the villains — everything he does is driven by a blind part of himself that can’t move on. He just chooses to do good, or what he perceives as good.”

I shook my head, impressed. “Pretty deep, for a Batman rundown.”

He smiled at me, and my heart sped up. “I’ve read a comic or two.”

“Who knew? Cooper Moore, closet nerd.”

He laughed as the doors opened. “You have no idea.”

I stepped out first, smiling down at the ground.

“Something funny?”

“You just surprise me sometimes.”

He pushed open the door to the building, and as I passed, he whispered, “I’ve got surprises for days.”

I nearly swooned.

We stepped onto the sidewalk, and I felt a little higher, a little lighter as we walked to the corner, the park stretching out across the street, green and inviting.

“So, where did you apply?” he asked.

“Elementary schools and a few charities, but the job I really want is with Project Homestead. I’d be working with the enrichment programs director to plan and teach reading workshops, sort of like library programs for kids, except run entirely out of the shelter.”

“Oh.” There was a strange quality to the word, like that one syllable held layers of meaning.

“What?” I asked earnestly, glancing over at him.

“Their headquarters are near my house.” He put on that smile of his that scrambled my brains.

“And?”

“And I was just thinking how convenient it would be if you were working there.”

I laughed and shook my head as we came to a stop at the corner and he hit the crosswalk button. “Of course you were. Always thinking with your Mini Cooper, aren’t you?”

He gave me a look that might have blown up my panties. “Oh, I don’t think mini would be the adjective most people would use.”

I wet my lips, scrambling for composure under the heat of his gaze. “No, you’re probably right about that. But Giant Hammerhead Cooper doesn’t quite have a ring to it, does it?”

He laughed, the sound deep and easy. “Guess not.”

The city on this side of town was quiet, for New York, at least. The park seemed so peaceful, and we were far enough up 5th to have plenty of distance from the bustle of touristy Midtown. It was no wonder that the area was the residency of choice for, well, anyone who was able to live there.

I could feel him next to me as we crossed the street, even though we weren’t touching. It was the first time we’d been in public together. Like together together. Not that it was a date or anything. Just a walk in the park with my fuck buddy. Totally normal. No big deal.

Discomfort snuck into my brain at the reminder that I shouldn’t be hanging out with him like this. If it weren’t for the gorgeous day and the fact that there was no way Cooper would give up, I might have tried to bail. Maybe. I didn’t know how he was able to talk me into stuff. I mean, outside of him being the most charming bastard I’d ever met in my life. It was like I couldn’t say no. The thought annoyed me.

Two weeks. 

I stood up a little straighter as we turned into the park. Being with Cooper felt good, and I didn’t want to fight it. I’d fought enough lately. Right now, I just wanted to coast. A smile played on my lips.

We wandered away from the packed lawn and down a path, cutting off into the grass a ways. We were deep enough that you could barely see the city. It was another great thing about this part of Manhattan. The buildings around the park weren’t towering skyscrapers, but lower, older residences, which made the magic of the park all that much more spectacular. You’d barely even know you were smack in the middle of the biggest city in America.

Cooper stopped and looked around. “What do you think? This work?

“Works for me.” I took off my bag and sat down in the grass.

“Hang on, I brought a blanket.” He pulled it out of his bag and unfurled it.

“That’s too fancy to sit on.”

“That’s not a thing.” He laid it down and stretched out on his back, watching me expectantly. When I didn’t move, he patted the space next to him with what I could only call a come-hither smile.

I shook my head and laughed. “It’s so wrong, Cooper.” I got up anyway and lay down next to him on my stomach.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and tossed it between us before reaching for his bag. It buzzed almost within a second, and I glanced over.

I didn’t mean to pry. I really didn’t. But I didn’t expect to see boobs on his lock screen either.

Natasha: Missing you. Wish you were here. 

Adrenaline shot through me. “Uh, I think you got a message.” I sat up and reached for my bag.

He picked up his phone and laughed. “Mags, wait—”

“Nah, I’m good.” I made to get up, but he grabbed my arm.

“Hey, hang on. Come here and look at this.”

“I just saw plenty.” I tried to get up again, but he pulled me down and moved so I had to look at his stupid, gorgeous face.

“Look through my texts.”

I frowned. “I hardly think that’ll—”

“Maggie, just do it.” He put his phone in my hand.

I made a face at him.

“Like this,” he joked, his voice overly patient as he unlocked his screen and opened his messages.

Text after text was stacked up in his phone — it looked like a laundry list of sex kitten booty calls. I scrolled back.

Jeanette: Where’ve you been, handsome?

Taylor: Saw Ash tonight, wished you’d been there.

Marie: When can I see you again? It’s been too long.

Chelsea: Lonely tonight. Are you free?

Sarah: Come to Noir tonight. We’re in VIP.

They just kept going. Part of me wanted to barf at the sheer number of women who had texted him with the apparent intent to bone. But a much bigger part of me was shocked that he hadn’t responded to a single one. I looked over to find him still smirking.

“I told you I wouldn’t see anyone else, and I haven’t. I keep my promises, Maggie. Delete their numbers if you want.”

My face scrunched up. “What?”

“Delete them. The numbers.”

“What will you do when we’re through?”

He shrugged and looked at his phone, angling his face just enough that I couldn’t quite see his reaction. “Oh, I’ll manage.”

I handed it to him. “You don’t have to delete them for me. I believe you.”

Cooper took it and flipped over onto his stomach again. “All right, I’ll do it.”

I laughed and reached for it. “Don’t, you’ll regret it.”

He stretched to keep it out of my reach. “Maybe. Maybe not.” He was in a list in his contacts, selecting name after name.

“Oh, my God. Cooper, don’t.”

“You can’t tell me what to do.” He made a dramatic surprised face at me, moving his finger super slowly to the delete button before touching it.

The contacts disappeared.

I gaped at him. “I cannot believe you just did that.”

But he just smiled. “Believe me now?”

“I already told you I believed you, asshole!”

He laughed. “I just deleted a hundred numbers from my phone to make a point. How am I an asshole?”

“Ugh. I don’t know. You drive me crazy.”

God damn that smile. “Then we’re even.” He reached into his bag for his book.

I just sat there for a second as he opened his book like nothing had happened.

I watched him reading, admiring the line of his nose, the curves of his lips and chin. His dark brow and long, black lashes. And then, I sighed and stretched out next to him.