Nice Guys Don't Win (The Boys #2) - Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,20
hands. Something breaks, probably the jar of spaghetti sauce.
“Parkour!”
“What the fuck?” I turn on the light to find a half-asleep Teddy slicing his hands through the air like a ninja. “How the hell did you get in here?”
“I still have a key.” He rubs a hand over his face, blowing out a tired breath as he sits back on the couch. “Jude brought a bunch of girls back to the dorm after the bonfire and I can’t get caught up in that shit. If anyone posts a pic and my parents see me partying with a bunch of girls like that, I’m cut off. So, I left him and some of the other football players there, walked around campus for a while, and the next thing I knew it was morning and I hadn’t slept, but I was scared to go back to the dorm. I took an Uber here because I wasn’t sure if I was sober yet. I knocked but no one answered.”
“So, you let yourself in?”
“Exactly.” He throws out a hand, pleased I’ve caught on.
“Teddy, you don’t live here. You scared the shit out of Zoey and me. Say you’re sorry and help her clean up. And for the love of God put some fucking pants on.” Shaking my head, I mutter, “I can’t believe you showed up here, let yourself in, and proceeded to strip down to your boxers to sleep on the couch.”
“I wanted to be comfy,” he protests, wiggling his hips. “And sorry, Zoey. Didn’t mean to scare you.”
Zoey turns to me, shaking her head. Her lips are pursed. I can tell she’s pissed. “Your friend is insane.”
“I’m not insane,” he protests. “Just lonely. Won’t you love me, Zoey?”
She stares him down with a hard look. “No.”
“Dude.” I snap my fingers. “Clean up.” I point at the red sauce spreading all over the tiled entry. I’m grateful it didn’t get on the light-colored carpet.
“Right.” He sighs, getting up.
I bring the rest of the groceries in and then with the three of us, we make quick work of getting rid of the mess.
“Why didn’t you go to Mascen’s?” I ask him.
He wrinkles his nose. “You know Mascen … why would I go there when I have a key here?”
I level him with a look. “Because you’re not supposed to have a key. You. Don’t. Live. Here.”
“Dude, don’t do me like that.” He puts his hands up in a begging motion, lower lip jutted out. He’s still knelt on the floor, so he looks absolutely comical, like a scorned lover begging for forgiveness. “I feel like an unwanted child in the middle of a divorce. Just love me.”
Zoey snorts. “More like you’re the world’s most annoying Golden Retriever.” She pets his head, ruffling his hair. “Who’s a good boy? I’ll get you a treat if you can do a trick.”
Teddy looks offended for one second before he perks up, intrigue lighting his eyes. “What kind of treat?”
“One red velvet Oreo.”
“Ew, red velvet? Pass. I was hoping it was a kiss.”
She pets him again. “Sorry, I don’t kiss dogs.”
“Zoey!” He calls after her as she walks down the hall to her room. “You can’t leave me like this, we’re meant to be, I know it.”
She gives him the finger over her shoulder, laughing as she closes the door.
“That’s one girl I’d let break my heart.” He grins at me as he stands.
“Don’t even go there,” I growl, eyes narrowed in warning. “She’s off limits.”
He dances away from me. “Ooh, you got the hots for her? You calling dibs on her?”
“I’m not calling anyone. She’s my roommate.”
His eyes grow serious and he stills. “Fuck, man. You like her.”
“No, I don’t.”
He grabs a water bottle from the fridge, twisting off the cap. “Who are you trying to convince? Me or yourself?”
I grab a piece of gum from my pocket, taking off the foil wrapper and putting it in my mouth. “You’re crazy.”
“That, I am. But I’m not stupid.” He taps the side of his head. “And you like her.”
“Shut up,” I grumble, taking the groceries out of the bag so I can put everything away.
Zoey reappears, having changed from her jeans into a pair of leggings and a loose shirt. Somehow, she still looks effortlessly gorgeous, her warm skin glowing, and her eyes bright with life. The gold necklace she never seems to take off glimmers at her neck.
Teddy smacks me in the stomach, and I turn to glare at him. “Tell me again that you’re not into her,”