Nice Guys Don't Win (The Boys #2) - Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,41
her hands in her back pockets. “It usually gives me a headache and I regret my life choices, and I already had two at the game today, so I better not push it. That’s all you’re getting for you, though?” She nods at the Zombie Dust as I push the cart forward.
“Nah, that’s for Teddy. Practice starts on Monday and I’m not risking getting shit-faced tonight and still feeling it then. Coach can be a hard-ass. It’s like he can smell alcohol on you even if it’s been a week, and then he pushes us harder, and I don’t want to do death sprints on the first day.”
“Death sprints?” She giggles as we turn onto the candy aisle. I grab several packs of my favorite gum as we pass.
“Well, I call them that because he makes us go until we collapse. He’s a great coach, though. Couldn’t ask for better.”
She turns away from me, but not before I see a funny look flicker over her face.
“Ooh!” she cries, running down the aisle to the cookie section. She scans the shelves for red velvet, her face falling when she doesn’t find any. “It’s not here.” The distress is evident in her voice.
“Hold on, let me look.” I scan all the packs and she’s right. “Nope, no red velvet. Maybe you should give something else a try.”
“I don’t want to give something else a try,” she grumbles, shuffling her feet. With a sigh, she crosses her arms over her chest, staring at the Oreos like they hold all the answers in the universe. “Fine, I’ll get the carrot cake.” She grabs a pack and drops it into the cart, but I can tell she’s still not pleased about the idea.
I make a vow to myself to check out some other nearby stores and see if I can even get Teddy on it, so we get her as many packs of red velvet as we can.
We head to the checkout, once again passing the floral area, and Zoey’s eyes light up.
She clasps her hands beneath her chin and pouts her bottom lip. “Do you mind if I look at the plants?”
“Go for it.” I follow her, trying not to show my amusement as she scours the flowers and plants, searching for something she might want to take home.
She picks up a tiny succulent that looks like it’s seen better days and sets it in the cart, actually petting the plant on top. “Don’t worry, I’ll save you,” she whispers at the plant, and I chuckle. She shoots me a look. “I can’t leave him here to die.”
“Him, huh?”
“Shush.” She holds a finger up to her lips. “We can go now.” She wiggles her fingers for me to push the cart forward.
After checking out, I load everything into the truck and text Teddy that we’re on our way.
The house Cree shares with some of his friends is ten minutes from the store. When we get there, the street is packed with cars. It’s a good thing it’s mostly college kids around this neighborhood or the cops would’ve already been called.
People spill out onto the lawn, laughing, dancing, just generally having a good time. I’m suddenly cursing my decision not to drink tonight, because dealing with this shit sober isn’t fun.
I shoot Teddy a text, telling him to come get his beer and hop out of my truck grabbing the root beer. Teddy runs outside, his shirt missing and a flowered bucket hat on his head that God knows where he got it.
“Thank God. I’m going to kill Murray for downing all my good stuff. Such a fucker.” He reaches inside the truck and grabs the Zombie Dust, his eyes getting big and round. “My precious,” he says in a Gollum voice, and then runs back away. “Thank you,” he yells, behind himself before he disappears into the house.
Zoey shakes her head, laughing softly under her breath. “I swear he’s some sort of experiment that got loose and never recaptured. Like Stitch.”
“I think you have a point.” We head inside the house, the music blaring loud enough to rattle the windows. It’s hot too, thanks to all the closely packed bodies. I set the root beer down in the kitchen, sticking it in the fridge. “It’s not cold, but do you want any?” I ask Zoey over my shoulder.
“Might as well.” She holds her hand out and I grab one of the drinks, passing it to her. She swipes a bottle opener from the counter