Nice Guys Don't Win (The Boys #2) - Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,4

meant. Just this fucker here bails on me last minute as my roommate, and even though he promised to find a replacement he doesn’t have a very good track record for keeping his word.”

“Hey!” Teddy protests.

The guy continues on like Teddy didn’t interject. “Forgive me for thinking maybe there’s a catch here.”

“No catch, I swear. I ran into her when I went to see Mrs. Jostin—”

“Did you lose your fucking ID already?” He pinches the bridge of his nose.

“No.” When Teddy finds both of us staring at him in disbelief he gives a sheepish smile. “Yes, okay, I did. But that’s not the point here. The point is, I ran into the lovely Zoey there. Care to fill in the rest?” He prompts me to speak.

I eye the guy still standing in the doorway. “I’m a transfer and apparently somehow there was a mix up and I never got a dorm assignment. Now they’re saying there aren’t any free beds for me and I’m basically screwed.”

His eyes turn sympathetic. “Can you cover half the rent?”

“Depends on what it is?”

“Eight-hundred for half.”

I bite my lip, calculating in my head. It’s high, but I can swing it. I’ll have to cut corners in other areas if I like the place.

“Yeah, I could do that. Can I at least check it out first?”

He doesn’t answer, merely steps aside and allows entry. Teddy follows me in, muttering to his friend, “See, I told you I’d help.”

“Shut up,” my possible new roommate grumbles.

The place is gorgeous, well worth the eight hundred I’d be spending a month. Everything is new, from the floors to fresh paint, and the stone countertops. The kitchen has a decent amount of counter space for an apartment. In the living area, there are French doors opening onto a decent sized balcony. It’s sparsely furnished, but if this guy is so desperate for a roommate then I doubt he has the extra money to spend on things. Plus, he’s a guy, so décor and comfort probably aren’t high on his list.

I venture down the hall on my own, peeking into a bathroom that’s surprisingly clean—no pee stains on the floor or toilet, which is a total win. I was always grumbling at Todd to either aim correctly or wipe his pee up. He never did either.

Peeking into the first room I find a bare mattress on the floor with a blanket tossed over it with a pillow that still has an indent from being slept on. Moving on, I open the final door in the hall to an empty bedroom. It’s large, plenty of room for a bed, dresser, and desk.

I hate to admit it, but running into Teddy might be the best thing that could’ve happened to me. As long as his friend is okay with me living here.

Walking back out to the main living area, arms crossed over my chest, I stop in front of the two guys who cease conversation.

“Would you mind having a girl for a roommate?”

His brow curves upward. “I have four sisters. I’m used to girls. Will you mind having a guy for a roommate?”

I glance around quickly, trying to ignore Teddy’s giddy puppy dog like expression.

“Nope, not at all.”

“Welcome home then. I’m Cole.” He holds out a hand for me to shake.

“Zoey.”

“Oh, guys.” Teddy wraps an arm around each of us, pulling us into the most awkward group hug ever. “We’re going to be the best of friends.”

3

Cole

“More boxes?” I open the door, incredulous by the number of boxes outside. Most with IKEA on the outside of them, but a few others from Target and Amazon.

“I’m sorry,” Zoey says sheepishly, appearing behind me. I didn’t even know she was anywhere near or I would’ve kept my mouth shut. It’s not my business what she orders. “They’re from my dad,” she explains, and I feel a smidge bad for assuming she had some extreme online buying addiction. “We don’t have the best relationship.” I can tell it pains her to admit this, not because she’s butthurt over a strained relationship but because it doesn’t take a genius to see that Zoey is tight-lipped about her life. In the three days since she moved in, I haven’t learned much about her except that her last name is Reynolds and she’s addicted to some real estate reality show on Netflix. “Anyway,” she nervously tucks a piece of curly brown hair behind her ear, “I guess he’s trying to make up for things by showering me with unnecessary furniture