Nice Guys Don't Win (The Boys #2) - Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,77

the perfect couple and I was jealous. I wanted that. Wanted him. And when he started to pay attention to me, flirt … I went along with it. I liked the way it made me feel wanted. I didn’t think about what I was giving up by being flattered over his flirting. I threw away our friendship. I realize that now and it’s the biggest mistake I’ve ever made.” She wipes tears from her eyes. “Anyway, I know you probably never wanted to see me again, but I wanted you to know that it’s my biggest regret and I’ll forever be sorry.”

It takes me a moment to wrap my brain around everything she’s said. “You were jealous? Why?” I don’t know why I choose this to focus on.

She snorts like it’s unbelievable that I don’t understand. “You’ve always had your shit together, Zoey. You’re smart, beautiful, going places, and then you were engaged. It’s just felt like I was falling behind while you were propelling forward.”

I rub my hands over my face. “I’d lost my mom, hated my dad for no good reason, and I was in a relationship that might’ve looked good on the outside but now I see how incredibly flawed it was. I’m not trying to dismiss your feelings, but Liza you had no reason to be jealous. Not everything is as shiny as it appears on the surface.”

“I know.” She wipes her eyes with a napkin. “Like I said, I see how dumb it was now. I don’t know what happened to make me feel so vindictive. It made me feel powerful, having his attention on me when he was yours.”

I frown. I know I should be mad, hurt even, but as I look at her all I feel is sorry for her.

“I think it’s really sad you felt that way, Liza. You’re all those things you think of me. And we both deserved better than Todd.”

Her lips twitch. “He was a prick, wasn’t he?”

“The worst.”

“You never miss him?”

“Not at all.” I smile, thinking of Cole.

As if my thoughts have conjured him, I see him walk into the shop. He must sense me staring at him, because our eyes connect, and he grins. He strides back to the table, oblivious to Liza and bends down, kissing me in front of everyone. I swear I hear a girl a table over gasp.

“Hey, beautiful. What are you doing here?”

I wave a hand toward Liza. “Catching up with an old friend. What about you?”

“I have a meeting with a scout for Atlanta.”

“Really?” My eyes widen. “Cole, that’s amazing! Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Nerves,” he admits with a shaky smile. Extending a hand to Liza, he says, “Hi, I’m Cole. Zoey’s…” He looks to me, like he’s seeking clarification before he blurts out, “boyfriend.”

I press my lips together, trying to hide my smile, but it makes me happy to hear him say that.

The girl who swore off men, especially basketball players, fell for one.

Oh, the irony.

I suppose fate knew better than me.

After the introductions are done, he gives me another kiss before ordering and sitting at a table to wait for the scout.

“He’s hot.” Liza looks over her shoulder at him.

“Don’t even think about it,” I joke, her jaw dropping.

“I-No-I-I wouldn’t.”

“I’m kidding.” I take a sip of my drink.

“Right.” Her cheeks are bright red. “Anyway, I guess I’ll let you go. I just wanted you to know that I’m sorry.”

“I forgive you.”

She exhales a weighted breath and starts crying again. “You have no idea how badly I needed to hear that.”

Reaching across the table, I take her hand and give it a small squeeze. “Don’t ever let another douchebag like Todd get in your way. You’re worth more than him.”

“Thank you.” She stands, cradling her coffee cup. “Good luck with everything, life, I guess.”

I laugh. “You too.”

I watch her leave and wait for her to disappear from my sight before I get up to go. A man has joined Cole, and as I walk out, I give him a sly thumbs up. His tense shoulders relax, and he gives me a tiny nod.

Pushing the door open, I step out into the cold so I can head to my parked car.

Once again, my name is called after me and I jerk to a stop looking around.

Teddy jogs over from a group of guys, most faces I recognize. Cree lifts his hand in a wave, and I wave back.

“What’s up, T?”

Teddy pushes his shaggy brown hair out of his eyes. “Cole’s birthday