Nice Guys Don't Win (The Boys #2) - Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,17

like last year.” I’m rolling up the window when he clears his throat. “Look, if you decide to go back home with someone tonight … let me know. I…” He scratches the back of his head awkwardly. “I worry,” he finishes with.

I stare at him with an arched brow. “And what if you decide to do the same? Am I stranded here?”

He snorts, rolling his eyes. “I won’t be bringing anyone back.”

“Well, I won’t be going home with anyone. I’ve sworn off men.”

He cracks a grin. “What did my fellow man do to you?”

I press my lips together, weighing whether to be honest, lie, or flat out ignore him. Taking a steadying breath, I meet his eyes. “My ex cheated on me.” He lets out a low whistle. “With my best friend.”

“Damn.” His eyes fill with sympathy. “I don’t know exactly how you feel, but I liked this girl last year, a lot, but it turned out she used to know my best friend and there was a spark there for them.”

I smile in understanding. “We’re two sad saps aren’t we?”

He chuckles, pulling the key from the ignition. “No point in being sad when there’s free beer just around the corner.” He winks.

He opens his door and I do the same, meeting him in front of the truck.

Insects chirp from the nearby grasses along with the occasional hoot from an owl. There’s a path cut through the woods that we follow, music in the distance growing louder.

“You ever go to anything like this at your old school?”

“No, never.” Not that I didn’t go out, but if we had things like bonfires, I never knew about it.

We approach an open field and I’m astounded by the amount of people here. It’s hundreds of students, enough to get lost in. I’m glad I have Cole’s number, because I’m not about to get left behind here.

Cole checks his phone and motions for me to follow him to the right where we meet up with the group of guys that were at the apartment on Monday along with some girls that are either girlfriends or just hangers-on.

“My man.” Teddy approaches, doing that guy hand-grab-hug thing with Cole. “Let’s get you guys some drinks.”

We follow him over to an open cooler and he pulls out two of the beers he was drinking at the apartment and passes them over.

“Thanks,” I say, popping the top off on the side of the cooler.

I feel a little awkward standing there with Cole and his friends. They’ve known each other for years and I’m just his roommate. I sling back the beer, gulping down half.

Teddy watches with wide eyes and grins. “My kind of girl.”

“Find another,” Cole growls at him.

Teddy turns his smile to Cole. “Interesting.” Gaze flicking between the two of us he gives a shrug. “I’m going to find me a lady to dance with. Unless you wanna be my girl?”

“Teddy.”

Teddy winks at me. “Sorry, I think you’re claimed.”

“Claimed?” I look at Cole, unable to keep the snarl off my face.

He rubs his jaw, blowing out a breath. “He thinks I … it doesn’t matter. I just don’t want him messing with you with unwanted advances … unless you do want them.”

“I’m not interested in him.” I try to ignore the obvious relief on Cole’s face as he turns away, hoping I don’t see it. “He’s a goof and fun to have around, but not my type.”

He rubs his lips together, and I know there’s a question on the tip of his tongue. But he doesn’t voice anything. Instead, he slides his hands into his pocket and pulls out a fresh piece of gum. This time I think it is because he’s nervous.

I finish my beer and add it to the growing empty pile beside the cooler. Fluffing my hair, I shake out my arms and smile at my roommate. “I’m going to dance. Alone.”

His eyes follow me as I walk over to the actual fire where some people sit on the ground but quite a few are dancing. Sail by AWOLNATION plays, the beat vibrating along with the pulse of my blood flowing through my veins.

I danced from the time I was four through high school. Even though I love math and the sciences, and consider myself on the more studious side, dance has been my creative outlet, a passion. I know I’m good at it, and as I move my body, eyes closed, I know people are watching. When I dance I don’t care why