Nice Guys Don't Win (The Boys #2) - Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,51
me each whatever concoction Cree bought, some sort of Halloween special if the fake eyeballs floating in the glass are any indication.
I shrug, eyeing the drink and take a sip. It’s not bad, there’s definitely berries mixed in with whatever alcohol has been used. It’s one of those drinks that tastes harmless but will get you shit-faced in no time.
“Are you hungry?” Cole asks, passing me a menu.
I didn’t realize it until he spoke, but I’m starving, and with the amount I’ve already drank I definitely need to get some food in my system to absorb it.
“Food. Yes. We should get that.” My words come out disjointed, not because I’m drunk but because staring at Cole renders my brain useless.
He chuckles. “Order what you want. It’s on me.”
“No.” I wrinkle my nose. “I can buy my own food.”
“I know you can, but I’m buying.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“Mom. Dad,” Teddy interjects. “No fighting in front of the kids.” He spreads his arms wide to encompass the table where he’s finally taken a seat. It’s hard to take him seriously, considering he’s lacking a nose at the moment.
“Say that in parseltongue,” I challenge.
“Hiss-hiss, motherfuckers. No hiss-hiss fighting.”
I snort, slapping a hand over my face in hopes no one heard the horrid noise but from Cole’s amused look he definitely didn’t miss it.
Cheeks flushed, I hold up the menu to hide my face from everyone at the table.
When a waitress comes by, I order a cheeseburger called the Wild Cowboy Ride. I hate to admit it, but the name is what sold me on it. I’m easily amused.
My phone lights up on the table and I pick it up, grinning at the photo my dad sent me of the boys in their Halloween costumes. Gabriel is dressed as Buzz Lightyear and Isaac as a pirate.
Dad: The boys had fun. They’re already passed out from a chocolate coma. Wish you could’ve joined us. Hope you’re having fun with your friends.
Me: They looked adorable.
Dad: They’re really excited you’re taking them to the movies this weekend.
Me: I’m excited too.
“Are those your brothers?” I jump at the sound of Cole’s voice, somehow having forgotten in the past minute that he was beside me.
“Yeah,” I bring up the picture of them in their costumes, “aren’t they cute?”
He smiles, eyes crinkling at the corners. “They’re adorable.”
I put my phone away and pick up my glass of water, taking a couple of sips to help cool me down from the sudden heat I feel rolling off the man beside me.
I smile gratefully at the waitress when she drops off our food. I stuff my face, so I don’t have to look at him or talk to him and try to slow down the racing of my heart.
Why. Why does he have to affect me this way? My attraction to him isn’t dimming, it’s only growing. But I’m scared. To make that move. To ruin a good thing. To put myself out there at the risk of being hurt again.
Just because I realize Todd is a piece of shit now, doesn’t mean the hurt at the time wasn’t real.
Scarfing down the rest of my burger I then allow myself to be dragged onto the dancefloor by the girls.
Lately I haven’t had the best luck dancing. It seems to lead to a dangerous temptation with Cole and me, but I figure dancing with them is safe enough.
Letting myself get lost in the music, I lose track of time, until my body’s demand for me to quench my thirst is too much to take and I return to the table to gulp down some water. I feel Cole’s eyes rake over my sweat dampened skin.
“Having fun out there?” He raises a glass of beer to his lips, his eyes darker than normal in the shadowed bar.
“Yeah. I like to dance. I took classes for years.”
“Hmm,” he hums, and I can tell he’s filing back that tidbit of information.
Gulping down every drop of water from my glass, I wink at him.
Teddy appears from out of nowhere, grabbing my elbow. “Come on, Z. They’re about to announce the winners.”
I guess there is a costume competition then.
I allow Teddy to drag me away toward the front of the stage where Cole sang weeks ago.
A guy, the owner perhaps, stands at the mic and calls out the top five costumes as voted by the patrons. Teddy beams proudly on the stage, but that smile falls when he’s announced as second place.