Nice Guys Don't Win (The Boys #2) - Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,24

I’m already fighting my attraction.

“I’m good, thank you.”

He walks around me to leave. “If you need me, just wake me up again. I don’t mind.”

I jerk my head in a nod.

Setting the hot water bottle on the bed, I grab a towel from the bathroom and lay it down. I’m praying the worst is over, but I’d rather mess up a towel than my bed all over again. Burrowing beneath the covers, I hold the heat against my stomach. The Midol starts to kick in, and I fall back to sleep easily.

“How are you feeling?” Cole asks, when he ventures out of his bedroom in the morning. I got up earlier than normal, paranoid about bleeding through my clothes again. The few hours of extra sleep I did get were a big help.

“Better. Thanks to you.”

He waves off my praise, heading for the fridge. He pulls out the orange juice and pours it into a cup. “I’m going to make an omelet, you want one?”

I frown at the idea of eggs. “No thank you, but would you mind bringing me one of my Oreos?”

I’m currently laying on the couch, burrowed beneath a blanket and don’t want to leave my comfy spot if I don’t have to.

He grabs me two Oreos—smart man—and brings them over.

I nibble on one, not allowing myself to worry about how this is hardly a suitable breakfast. Sometimes you have to say screw it and eat the dessert first.

There’s a knock on the door and he arches a brow. “Are you expecting someone?”

I shake my head.

He crosses the room to the door and swings it open, revealing Teddy standing there with a Krispy Kreme box.

“Morning, Dad. Mom.” Teddy smiles in my direction. “I come bearing gifts. The light was on.” He lifts the box. “Hot and delicious glazed donuts. Except for the cake batter one—the yellow with sprinkles—that’s mine, don’t think about taking it.”

“Why are you here?” Cole asks him as Teddy pushes his way inside, setting the box on the coffee table. He picks up my feet, blanket and all, and sits down, letting my legs rest back on his lap.

“My spidey senses were tingling and I knew you guys were missing me. Surprise! Here I am.” He tosses his hands in the air.

Cole shakes his head, locking the door. “Trust me, we weren’t missing you.”

“Dad, don’t hurt my feelings. They’re fragile.”

“Yeah, talk nice to our doggy.”

Teddy grins at me. “I like belly rubs.”

“Go somewhere else for those. But I will take a donut.”

Teddy leans over and opens the box, passing me a glazed. Cole shakes his head, resigned to the fact that we just can’t seem to get rid of Teddy, which is honestly comical since he was supposed to be his roommate. I’m not going to complain, though. I’m happy that didn’t work out and I ended up with a nice place to say. Honestly, this is way better than living in a dorm and Cole’s much easier to get along with than a girl can be.

“We should do something fun today.”

“No,” Cole and I say simultaneously.

He’s chopping some peppers, preparing the ingredients for his omelet.

“Fun suckers,” Teddy mutters, picking up his donut. It’s just as bright and colorful as his personality. Glancing at me, he inquires, “Do you like baseball, Zoey?”

“No.”

He gasps. “But I play baseball.”

“This is good news then. You can be my favorite player.”

“Damn straight.” He grins, holding up his fist.

I reluctantly pull my arm from beneath the blanket and bump my hand against his.

“You better be cheering me on in the stands in the spring.”

“Keep dreaming.”

“Leave Zoey alone,” Cole grumbles from the kitchen. I can’t help but notice the way his back muscles flex, even in his cotton shirt.

“Zoey loves me.”

“Did she say that?” Cole retorts.

“Well, no, but—”

“Why aren’t you with Jude?”

Teddy pretends to gag. “He went for a run. Asked me to go, but no way in hell am I doing that. Learned my lesson with Mascen. Running’s the devil.”

“Who’s this Mascen you guys are always talking about? Am I ever going to get to meet him?”

“He was at the bonfire. Sorry we didn’t introduce you.” Teddy gives me a sheepish smile. “It seemed like you two had a good time, though.” He winks, reminding me of Joey from Friends. Honestly, they even have similar personalities.

I was kind of surprised he didn’t bring up the bonfire yesterday, but maybe he was still hungover enough to not remember.

“It was fun,” Cole replies in a monotone, sliding his breakfast onto a