Zoey screams, dropping the bags in her hands. Something breaks, probably the jar of spaghetti sauce.
“Parkour!”
“What the fuck?” I turn on the light to find a half-asleep Teddy slicing his hands through the air like a ninja. “How the hell did you get in here?”
“I still have a key.” He rubs a hand over his face, blowing out a tired breath as he sits back on the couch. “Jude brought a bunch of girls back to the dorm after the bonfire and I can’t get caught up in that shit. If anyone posts a pic and my parents see me partying with a bunch of girls like that, I’m cut off. So, I left him and some of the other football players there, walked around campus for a while, and the next thing I knew it was morning and I hadn’t slept, but I was scared to go back to the dorm. I took an Uber here because I wasn’t sure if I was sober yet. I knocked but no one answered.”
“So, you let yourself in?”
“Exactly.” He throws out a hand, pleased I’ve caught on.
“Teddy, you don’t live here. You scared the shit out of Zoey and me. Say you’re sorry and help her clean up. And for the love of God put some fucking pants on.” Shaking my head, I mutter, “I can’t believe you showed up here, let yourself in, and proceeded to strip down to your boxers to sleep on the couch.”
“I wanted to be comfy,” he protests, wiggling his hips. “And sorry, Zoey. Didn’t mean to scare you.”
Zoey turns to me, shaking her head. Her lips are pursed. I can tell she’s pissed. “Your friend is insane.”
“I’m not insane,” he protests. “Just lonely. Won’t you love me, Zoey?”
She stares him down with a hard look. “No.”
“Dude.” I snap my fingers. “Clean up.” I point at the red sauce spreading all over the tiled entry. I’m grateful it didn’t get on the light-colored carpet.
“Right.” He sighs, getting up.
I bring the rest of the groceries in and then with the three of us, we make quick work of getting rid of the mess.
“Why didn’t you go to Mascen’s?” I ask him.
He wrinkles his nose. “You know Mascen … why would I go there when I have a key here?”
I level him with a look. “Because you’re not supposed to have a key. You. Don’t. Live. Here.”
“Dude, don’t do me like that.” He puts his hands up in a begging motion, lower lip jutted out. He’s still knelt on the floor, so he looks absolutely comical, like a scorned lover begging for forgiveness. “I feel like an unwanted child in the middle of a divorce. Just love me.”
Zoey snorts. “More like you’re the world’s most annoying Golden Retriever.” She pets his head, ruffling his hair. “Who’s a good boy? I’ll get you a treat if you can do a trick.”
Teddy looks offended for one second before he perks up, intrigue lighting his eyes. “What kind of treat?”
“One red velvet Oreo.”
“Ew, red velvet? Pass. I was hoping it was a kiss.”
She pets him again. “Sorry, I don’t kiss dogs.”
“Zoey!” He calls after her as she walks down the hall to her room. “You can’t leave me like this, we’re meant to be, I know it.”
She gives him the finger over her shoulder, laughing as she closes the door.
“That’s one girl I’d let break my heart.” He grins at me as he stands.
“Don’t even go there,” I growl, eyes narrowed in warning. “She’s off limits.”
He dances away from me. “Ooh, you got the hots for her? You calling dibs on her?”
“I’m not calling anyone. She’s my roommate.”
His eyes grow serious and he stills. “Fuck, man. You like her.”
“No, I don’t.”
He grabs a water bottle from the fridge, twisting off the cap. “Who are you trying to convince? Me or yourself?”
I grab a piece of gum from my pocket, taking off the foil wrapper and putting it in my mouth. “You’re crazy.”
“That, I am. But I’m not stupid.” He taps the side of his head. “And you like her.”
“Shut up,” I grumble, taking the groceries out of the bag so I can put everything away.
Zoey reappears, having changed from her jeans into a pair of leggings and a loose shirt. Somehow, she still looks effortlessly gorgeous, her warm skin glowing, and her eyes bright with life. The gold necklace she never seems to take off glimmers at her neck.
Teddy smacks me in the stomach, and I turn to glare at him. “Tell me again that you’re not into her,” he mutters under his breath.
I don’t reply. There’s no point. I’m a liar and he’s right. We both know it. No need to confirm it.
Zoey grabs one of the boxes of Oreos and rips it open, snatching three cookies. “God, I love these. They’re not good for my ass, but I can’t seem to stop eating them.”
“Nothing’s wrong with your ass. Believe me.”
“Teddy.” I slap the back of his head. “Don’t say shit like that.”
“What? She has a nice ass. It’s a compliment. Did you guys get any orange juice?”
I blink at him in disbelief. “We’re talking about orange juice now?”
“Yeah, I want some. You get any?” He tries to peer at the groceries behind me.
“Sometimes I wonder how your brain works,” I mutter, passing him the bottle. He takes the top off and removes the seal, lifting it to his lips to drink straight from it. “Whoa, I don’t think so.” I swipe it back.
“Dude, are you the orange juice police?”
“I don’t want your backwash in it.”
“A little spit won’t kill you. Germs are good for you. Immunity and all that shit.”
I shake my head in disbelief, grabbing a glass and pouring some out. I hand the cup to him and recap the bottle. “There’s a difference between normal germs and yours.”
“I don’t have to take this abuse,” he scoffs, taking his glass with him over to the couch where he sits beside Zoey. “Protect me, Mom. Dad’s being mean.”
She giggles at his antics. “Aw, poor baby boy not allowed to drink from the carton. What a tragedy.”
“Truly. It’s a crime. Don’t tell Cole but you’re my new best friend.”
“I’m right here!” I toss my hands up. “I can hear you. Besides, since when have we been best friends?”
“Since Mascen ditched us for Rory. We were the three best friends anyone could have, but now we’re just two bros chillin’ in the hot tub five feet apart cuz we’re not gay.”
“Wow, you managed to get two references in there. That’s impressive.”
He bows from his seated position. “It’s a talent, I know. Hold your applause.”
Zoey laughs, and fuck if that sound doesn’t stir something inside me. I tamp it down, focusing back on the remaining groceries that need to be put away.
“So,” Teddy continues, I swear the guy could carry on a conversation with an inanimate object, “Mom, Dad, can we watch a movie? I vote for the classic two-thousand-and-two film Ice Age. It’s a cinematic masterpiece and Sid, oh dear sweet, confused Sid, is my spirit animal.”
“Should I give you a baby to take care of?”
“Fuck no, don’t even put that juju out there, dude.” He wipes his body off like he’s trying to rid himself of said juju. “I always wrap it before I tap it. I’m not ready for any Teddy Juniors running around.”
“We could give you a sack of flour to pretend with.”
“Does this mean you don’t want to watch Ice Age? ‘Isn’t there anyone who cares about Sid the sloth?’” He taps his chest, and adds, “Besides me, of course.”
I stare at him, my mouth half-open. “Is your brain full of useless information like that, that you just pull out when you feel like it?”
He points at me. “You say useless, I say useful. Tomato, potato.”
Zoey bursts into laughter, shaking her dead. “Come on, honey, can we keep him? I’ve always wanted a dog.”
“Don’t entertain his insanity. We’ll never ge
t rid of him.”
“Hey!” he protests.
I continue on, undeterred. “He’s like a stray cat, you feed it once and it adopts you.”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “Cat? More like a panther. Or a lion. Or a tiger. I’m no house cat.”
“No, you’re a puppy.” Zoey musses his hair again.
I throw my hands up. “Put the damn movie on.”
Like an eager five-year-old Teddy excitedly gets the movie going.
“You want anything?” I ask Zoey, pointing to the fridge.
“Nah, I’m good.”
Teddy settles on the couch beside her and I give him a warning glare, pointing my finger. “No funny business.”
He mock-gasps. “I’m a gentleman.”
Mhmm, sure he is.
“I can’t believe we’re watching this.”
“Shh,” Teddy hushes me.
Zoey giggles, her eyes glittering with happiness when they connect with mine. I let out a small laugh too.
Sure, there are plenty of other things we could be doing on a Saturday afternoon as college kids, but I guess this isn’t so bad.
10
Zoey
I wake up in the middle of the night, pain spasming in my abdomen.
Oh no.
“Oh no, oh no, oh no,” I chant turning the light on.
I knew my period was due to start in a few days, but I didn’t think it would start this soon. I went off birth control after Todd and I broke up. The one I was on never suited my body, but he was so adamant on not wearing a condom that I couldn’t risk going off of it to switch. My doctor suggested I give my body some time without it before I tried something else. I wasn’t keen on the idea since I’ve always hard horrible periods, but I went along with it.
I’ve regretted it ever since.
I can feel the wetness in my pajama pants but it’s nothing compared to the pain that woke me.
Reaching over, I turn on my bedside light and toss back the covers to reveal the murder scene. It’s not the worst I’ve seen, but bad enough to let me know a blood clot probably burst.
The joy of being a woman.
I make a mental note to make an appointment at the student health center as soon as possible. Screw my old doctor, I’m not dealing with this shit any longer.
Easing from my bed, another cramp clenches my body and I bite down on my lip to stifle the whimper that’s desperate to escape.
I grab a clean pair of pajamas and the granny panties I save for Aunt Flo.
Okay, I wear them other times too but that’s because they’re so comfy.
I tiptoe into the hall, sweat on my brow from the painful cramps. Shutting the bathroom door as quietly as possible, I sit down on the toilet to deal with the blood bath. Reaching across to the bathroom cabinet, I reach for the bag that I keep my tampons and pads in.
I flail through it.
Nothing.
Zilch.
Nada.
I silently curse myself for not restocking. What the hell was I thinking?
The truth is I was focused on preparing for my move here and forgot to buy more.
I cringe, knowing what I’m going to have to do because there’s no way I can drive to the store in pain like I am.
After cleaning myself up, I stuff some toilet paper in my underwear for the time being and treat my soiled clothes, tossing them in the washer. I don’t start it. I’ll have to add my sheets too.
Whimpering as another painful cramp hits I knock on Cole’s door and ease it open.
“Huh?” His sleepy voice is gruff, deeper than normal. “Zoey?” He turns his light on, blinking from the brightness. “It’s three in the morning. What’s wrong?”
I scrub a hand over my face. I hate doing this—asking anyone for a favor. But desperate times call for desperate measures. “I need your help.”
“Sure.” Cole rolls out of his bed and I have to catch my breath at the site of him in only a pair of black boxer-briefs. He’s so tall and muscular and perfect. It’s annoying really, for anyone to have a face that gorgeous and the body to match. It’s unfair to every other male on the planet.
Now’s not the time to stare at him, Zoey!
Rubbing my eyes as he grabs a pair of sweatpants, slipping his long legs into them, I sigh and say really fast, “I need you to go get me pads and tampons. I’m out. Honestly, my intense craving for red velvet Oreos should have tipped me off that it was coming, but even if it had, I didn’t realize I was out of everything I need and—”
I jolt at the feel of his warm hand on my elbow. He lowers himself so he can look me straight in the face. He has a shirt half-tugged on and he looks fully awake now. “Zoey, it’s fine. Just tell me what you need and I’ll get it.”
“Really?”
My brain instantly goes to Todd who turned his nose up at anything female product related.
“Yeah.” He grabs his wallet and keys off his dresser. “Do you need any medicine?”
“Some Midol. Extra strength.”
“Okay, and what kind of pads and tampons do you want? I know you girls can be really specific about that kind of thing.”
I blink at him in awe. Who is this man? He’s too good to be true.
“Girlfriend?” I ask.
Somehow, he knows exactly what I mean despite my vague question.
“Four sisters, remember? I’m a pro at this despite being the youngest. They made sure I was well-versed in dealing with this very situation.”
Tears prick my eyes, because in this moment I’m just so freaking grateful. I wince when another bad cramp rips through me. Cole’s grip on my elbow tightens, his gaze sympathetic.
“I’ll text you what I want.” My body feels heated all over from the pain. “Let me get you some money.”
“Zoey,” he says in that deep, steady voice, “don’t worry about that right now. Just text me what you want, and I’ll get it. You’re hurting.”
“Thank you.” A tear falls.
Before I have the chance to swat it away, he captures it with his big thumb. “Don’t cry,” he practically begs.
“Hormones.”
It’s so much more than that. In the past five minutes this man who’s my roommate, and maybe slowly becoming my friend, and yeah that I’m attracted to, has shown me more kindness than Todd ever did in our relationship and I was too blind to see it. I hate that I stayed so long and got even more hurt in the end.
“You’re just not enough for me, Zoey. You aren’t what I want.”
I remember his words so clearly when I caught him in bed with Liza.
Liza with her pale blonde hair, her big blue eyes, and pert small boobs was the complete opposite of my darker complexion, black hair, and brown eyes. I’d always thought I was pretty enough, but in that moment his words brought back a long-ago buried fear that I was too different to truly be beautiful.
“Hey,” Cole whispers, rubbing his thumb over my cheek. “Where’d you go in that pretty head of yours?”
I smile faintly at the word pretty. “Thinking about people who aren’t worth my time. Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me.”
“It’s not a big deal. I’d do this for anyone.”
I know he means that too. It hasn’t taken me long to realize that Cole is a special, rare kind of guy.
The most amazing thing is I think he’s completely unaware of it.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
I feel cold when his hand falls from my cheek. The door closes behind him a few seconds later.
I waddle back to my room, uncomfortable thanks to the toilet paper stuffed in my underwear. Grabbing my phone, I text him what I want and get my comforter off the bed and one side of the fitted sheet before I feel wetness seeping down my leg. I look down, cursing at the line of red.
I hurry back to the bathroom, whimpering at the mess.
I do the best I can and start a bubble bath, grabbing a fresh set of pajamas from my room for the second time.
It’s the only way I’ll truly feel clean. I send a text to Cole, letting him know that I’m getting in the bath and to hang the bag on the bathroom door, along with another long-winded thank you.
The bath helps immensely with the cramps and helps slow down my flow as well.
Slipping out of the bath, I dry myself off and wrap the towel around myself before I take the bag from the door.
Bless him.
Coming out of the bathroom, I pause at the entry to my bedroom in stunned silence. Cole looks up, giving me a half-smile. “I saw the…” He flicks his fingers at the bed. “Anyway, I started the laundry and I’m almost done putting these on.”
He’s putting clean sheets on for me.
I woke him up at three in the morning for tampons and he comes back and doesn’t crash like a normal person. No, he sees the state of my bed and finishes removing my sheets, adding it to the washer and starting it, and then proceeds to put clean sheets on.
Hormones, get ahold of yourself. I’m not going to cry again.
“Thank you. I can finish this.”
“Nah, I got it. Go take some medicine. I also got you a hot water bottle. It’s in the kitchen.”
“I don’t want this to go to your head or anything, but you’re really kind of amazing.”
He gives me a small half-smile. I know he’s going to say it’s not a big deal again or something of the sort so I leave before he can. I take the Midol and fill the bottle. I didn’t even think about how much help one of these might be. But he did.
I wander back down the hall to my room, just as he’s finishing putting the pillows back on my mattress.
“Is there anything else I can do to help you?”
It’s on the tip of my tongue, to ask him to stay, because I hate being alone when I’m hurting, but I don’t. It’s not right to ask him of that, especially when we’re still getting to know each other and when I’m already fighting my attraction.
“I’m good, thank you.”
He walks around me to leave. “If you need me, just wake me up again. I don’t mind.”
I jerk my head in a nod.
Setting the hot water bottle on the bed, I grab a towel from the bathroom and lay it down. I’m praying the worst is over, but I’d rather mess up a towel than my bed all over again. Burrowing beneath the covers, I hold the heat against my stomach. The Midol starts to kick in, and I fall back to sleep easily.
Nice Guys Don't Win (A College Sport's Romance) Page 6
