comes down the hall, having changed into black sweatpants and an oversized Aldridge University sweatshirt. I quickly avert my gaze before I do something dumb.
Like drool.
He’s a basketball player. Stay far away.
My vow feels moot at this point since my dad is the main reason I always said I’d stay away from anyone who played the sport, and I’ve forgiven him. But it doesn’t change the logistics of the fact that from whispers on campus Cole is headed straight for the NBA and pursuing a relationship with anyone with that kind of spotlight shined on them would be a disaster waiting to happen. The women who throw themselves at players, regardless of whether or not they’re married is laughable.
And it’s not like I’m looking for commitment from anyone. Not after Todd. I’m better off on my own for a while.
“Where’d you go?”
I jump at the feel of Cole tapping his finger against my forehead. “Sorry, zoned out.” I shake myself free of my thoughts.
“Looked like it.”
I force a smile and sit down with my plate. He grabs a root beer from the fridge and looks at me over his shoulder. “You want one?”
“Yeah.” I jerk my head in a nod.
He grabs another and settles beside me on the other barstool. “This smells amazing.”
“Thanks, I had some help from a Food Network recipe so I can’t take all the credit.”
“Doesn’t matter.” He clinks our glasses together.
We dig into our meal and we’re almost done when there’s a knock on the door. Before either of us can get up, the door swings open and Teddy is tucking keys back into his pocket.
Cole snaps his fingers, pointing at Teddy. “I’m going to need those keys back.”
“No can do, man.”
“Why are you even here?” He grumbles as Teddy stocks some of his favorite beer in the refrigerator.
“Jude said he was having a few friends over. A few turned into a full-fledged party. So, here I am.” He spreads his arms wide. “Can’t have mommy and daddy dearest catching wind of it and look I don’t mind trouble, but it’s going to be my choice.”
Cole’s chest rattles with a sigh. “You can sleep on the couch.”
“Thanks, Dad.” He tries to steal a piece of chicken from Cole’s plate, but he swats him away with his fork.
“If you were hungry you should’ve brought some food with you.”
Teddy mock-gasps, eyes drifting to me. “Mom, are you going to let him talk to me like that?”
I finish chewing a bite of squash. I should’ve baked it longer, but there’s nothing I can do about it now.
“I only made enough for two. One,” I point to myself, “two.” My finger swings to Cole.
Teddy sticks his tongue out. “Fine. I’m ordering pizza and I’m not sharing.”
“Do we look like we need you to share?” Cole indicates our almost empty plates.
Sticking his nose in the air, he huffs, “I don’t have to take this abuse.”
Cole cocks his head to the side. “Need I remind you, you showed up uninvited?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever.” He grumbles, pulling out his phone to order his pizza. Walking out of the kitchen, he plops on the couch. “Don’t mind me. I’ll be over here all by myself.” He sings the last part.
Cole presses his lips together, trying to hide his laughter. “Do you think if we put him in a box and put a sign around his neck that he’s free to a good home someone will take him off our hands?”
Before I can reply, Teddy retorts, “Hey! I heard that! And you’d miss me!”
I laugh, looking over at the pouting man-child on the couch. “Don’t worry, I’d miss you if you were gone. I won’t let him get rid of you.”
Teddy grins from ear to ear. “I knew I could count on you, Z.”
“Z?” Cole asks me with a raised brow.
Teddy answers. “We’re besties now. And besties have nicknames. She’s Z and I’m Sex God. Has a nice ring to it, like we’re superheroes or something.”
“Sex God?” Cole swings his gaze to me, stifling laughter.
“I was going to call him my little Fuzzy Wuzzy Teddy Bear, but…” I trail off with a shrug. To Teddy I say, “I’m never calling you Sex God so come up with something else.”
He straightens, his eyes losing their joking quality. “Just call me T. I like that. T and Z. Yeah,” he nods to himself, “I like that.”
I don’t know what it is about Teddy, but I want to hug him and tell him it’s all right, that he’s