Nice Guys Don't Win (A College Sport's Romance)

by Micalea Smeltzer

  “And the pain?”

  “Manageable. I love these drugs.”

  Coach shakes his head and sits in the empty chair I was in earlier. “What happened, baby girl?” He reaches for her hand but drops his like he’s afraid she might reject his touch.

  “I’m not sure. I woke up covered in sweat and hurting so bad.” She clutches her abdomen reflexively. “First, I tried the hot water bottle, but I wasn’t getting any relief. I thought a bath might help so I crawled into the bathroom, but then the cold tile felt so good that I just laid there. That’s when Cole found me.”

  “You could’ve called me,” he tells her. “I would’ve come.”

  She shrugs. “I wasn’t even going to go to the hospital but this one was worried.” She points in my direction.

  “You were in obvious pain.”

  “I could take it.”

  “You shouldn’t have to take pain like that. Especially when something could be wrong.”

  “Maybe you’re just dramatic,” she counters with a tiny smile.

  Coach chuckles. “Well, I’m glad Cole insisted on getting you to the hospital since you’ve always been too stubborn for your own good.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she chants. “Overprotective males. What are you going to do?” She shrugs her shoulders.

  We have to wait an hour before her results come in. The doctor breezes in with his clipboard, introducing himself to her dad before he goes over the results.

  “In the ultrasound we found an ovarian cyst and based on your symptoms we’re assuming you had another and it burst.”

  “You’re assuming?” I interrupt. “You’re the doctor. Shouldn’t you know?”

  The man sighs like this is a question he gets a lot. “Once it bursts there’s little evidence left behind, but I’m fairly certain that’s what happened based on the fact there’s another.”

  “Will the other one burst and hurt just as bad?” Zoey looks terrified by the very thought.

  “There’s always the possibility yes, but lots of times the body reabsorbs them, and you don’t even notice.”

  “What’s to be done?” Coach Reynolds asks. “Does she need to stay overnight?”

  “I’ll give you a script for a pain medicine to take over the next few days and you’ll be good to go.”

  “That’s it?” I scoff in disbelief.

  The doctor’s eyes slide to me. “Yes.” Looking back at Zoey, he says, “I suggest making an appointment with your OBGYN and if this problem persists discuss treatment with them. This type of thing doesn’t really merit a trip to the emergency room.”

  He steps out of the curtained off room before I can deck him in the face.

  “What an asshole,” I growl, hands clenched at my sides. “Who says that? You were in pain, Zoey. I bet that dude couldn’t handle a fucking cyst bursting.” I swing the curtain open to go after the rude ass doctor, but Coach jumps up and grabs my arm, stopping me.

  “He’s not worth it. Let it go.”

  “I won’t let him talk down to her like she’s ridiculous for being here. I’m the one who insisted she come, and she needed to.”

  “She is sitting right here.” We both turn to find Zoey pointing at herself. “I’m not going to let some dick head make me feel bad about myself. I bet he cries over a papercut.”

  I laugh. “Damn straight.”

  “Do you want to come home with me?” Coach asks. “Allison and I can look after you.”

  Zoey’s eyes widen and she shakes her head. “No, Dad. Thank you, but no. I’d rather go home to my own bed. Besides, Cole will watch out for me.”

  I grip the end of the bed. “I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

  Coach’s eyes bounce back and forth from each of us. His lips twist in contemplation like he’s trying to puzzle something out, but I don’t know what.

  “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

  She reaches for his hand and he gladly gives it to her. “I’m fine, Daddy. Promise.”

  Emotion flickers over his face at her calling him that. “Okay.” He turns to me. “You call me if anything else happens. Take care of her.”

  “I will.”

  He gives her a hug and sends me a look that says thank you before slipping out of the room.

  It’s another hour before we get out of there, and I call an Uber to pick us up. They called her prescription into a local pharmacy, but they won’t be open for a couple more hours.

  I get her into the apartment and back to her room. She climbs beneath her covers, pulling them up to her chin.

  “I’m okay, Cole,” she murmurs sleepily. “Stop looking at me like I’m going to disappear.”

  “I can’t help it. I’m worried.”

  “I’m better, promise. The magic drugs they gave me are a-okay.” She holds her hand up with her thumb and forefinger making the okay gesture.

  “I’m going to try to get some sleep, but holler if you need me. Or text. Or—”

  She grabs my wrist, brown eyes pleading with me. “Don’t leave. Sleep here. There’s room.”

  I eye the empty side of her bed, my heart speeding up. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” I eye the floor, wondering how badly a few hours of sleep on it will fuck up my back.

  “Please.” She bites her lower lip. “I … I don’t want to be alone.”

  Just like in the bathroom when she asked me not to leave, I can see how much it takes for her to admit that. “Okay.” I jerk my head in a nod. “But I’m getting up early to go get your medicine.”

  “Thank you.”

  I yank my shirt off, but my leave my jeans on as I lay on the bed beside her.

  “You can get under the covers,” she says, rolling toward me.

  “I’m good like this.” I curve my arm behind my head.

  “Whatever you say. It’s not like I’m going to maul you.”

  In minutes, her breaths are even with sleep. Her body seems relaxed and I’m glad she’s going to be able to get some much-needed rest.

  Right now, I’m wide awake, far too wired to fall asleep. I lie there, staring up at the ceiling and doing my best to ignore the presence of the slumbering woman beside me, the woman who has clawed her way under my skin without even trying.

  I jerk awake a little after eight in the morning, light pouring in through a crack in Zoey’s blinds. She snores softly, her breaths tickling my neck since at some point in the past few hours she’s scooted her body against mine. The covers are kicked off her and her leg is draped over top of mine. Her right arm is curled over my shoulder and her head is buried in the crook of my neck.

  I have no idea how I’m going to extract myself from her hold on me, but I need to get up and head to the store for her prescription and pick us up some breakfast.

  It’s Monday, but there’s no way either of us are making it to class today.

  Slowly, working a little at a time, I manage to remove her limbs from my body and slip from the bed. I scribble out a note, so she doesn’t wake up and panic that I’ve left her.

  In my room I change my clothes and grab my wallet and keys.

  I shoot a text to Coach and let him know she’s still sleeping but doing okay, since I figure the man has to still be worried. Immediately he texts back a thank you.

  Cranking my truck up, I drive down the road to the strip mall and run into the CVS there. Afterwards, I swing by McDonald’s and pick up breakfast biscuits and hash browns. Paranoid that she might not want either, I grab donuts from the nearby Krispy Kreme.

  I hope Zoey won’t mind the fact there’s one missing from the box, but I couldn’t resist the fresh glazed goodness.

  When I get back to the apartment, I open the door, balancing the McDonald’s and CVS bag on top of the donut box, and find her sitting on the couch wrapped in a blanket with her stuffed Teddy dog in her arms.

  “Morning.” She gives me a wane smile. “Please tell me those are the magic drugs.”

  “Yep, and food. You need something i
n your stomach.”

  “So bossy,” she jokes.

  I set everything down on the kitchen counter. “Are you okay with a sausage and egg biscuit?”

  “Gimme.” She does grabby hands.

  I pass her a biscuit and hash brown then grab her some water from the fridge. “You need to hydrate.”

  “Again, so bossy.” She giggles, then winces, grabbing her abdomen again. After a few deep breaths she forces a smile. “After I eat this will you let me have the drugs?”

  “Absolutely.” I hate seeing her in pain, but I know she needs to eat first. “I got donuts too if you want one. Even got an Oreo one for you to try. No idea if it’ll be any good since you prefer the red velvet ones, but—”

  “Cole?” She silences me. “Thank you … for everything.”

  “You don’t have to thank me.”

  She rolls her eyes. “Can you just accept my thanks and sit down to eat with me?”

  I laugh, grabbing my breakfast and joining her on the couch. “You’re welcome.”

  “See, that wasn’t so hard.” She bites into the biscuit. “Wow, this actually tastes amazing. I didn’t realize I was so hungry.”

  “Aren’t you glad I’m forcing you to eat now?”

  “Don’t be smug.” She looks at the time and then me. “Don’t you need to be going to class soon?”

  I turn the TV on, flipping through the channels. “I’m staying here with you today.”

  “Cole,” she breathes, her eyes softening, “please don’t miss class because of me.”

  I take a massive bite of my sandwich, nearly eating half in one go, and ignore her plea. “What are you more in the mood for—a rerun of Charmed or Law and Order?”

  “Charmed,” she answers, “but seriously, Cole. You already got me breakfast and my medicine. You looked after me all night. I’ll be fine. You can go.”

  I turn my head to look at her. “Now who’s the one bossing. I’m staying here and that’s that. Coach already told me not to worry about practice and stay with you.”

  She blanches. “You can’t miss practice too!”

  “Can and will.”

  “You’re unbelievable,” she grumbles.

  “Unbelievably amazing,” I counter.

  “All right, Teddy 2.0 simmer down.”

  I glance at her, leveling her with a look. “I’m taking care of you and that’s that. I need to be here to make sure you’re okay for my peace of my mind. Even if all you do is nap today, I don’t care.”

  She rubs her lips together and dips her chin. “Okay.”

  She finishes her breakfast and then says she’s going to shower, rolling her eyes when I tell her to leave the door open in case she needs me.

  “I’m not going to need your help.”

  “What if you fall from a bout of pain?” I counter. “What if the pain meds kick in and you fall asleep standing up? What then?”

  “Fine,” she agrees, knowing I won’t give in easily. “I’ll leave it open.”

  “I promise I won’t peek.”

  She groans, muttering something about stubborn ass men under her breath.

  The shower starts up, and I stay seated on the couch keeping an ear out. Seeing her like that last night was scary. I know she thinks it wasn’t a big deal but seeing someone writhing in pain on the bathroom floor isn’t exactly fun.

  My phone buzzes from between the couch cushions and I fish it out.

  Coach: How’s she doing?

  Me: You didn’t ask her?

  Coach: All she said was fine. I figured you’d give me more details.

  Me: She ate some breakfast and took her medicine. Now she’s showering. I have a feeling she’ll want to go back to bed after.

  Coach: Thank you for looking out for her. I’ll stop by after practice tonight.

  Me: Okay.

  I try not to cringe over the idea of my coach showing up at our apartment, but he’s Zoey’s dad and has every right to want to check on her. I glance around, resolving to clean up today. It’s not that messy, both of us are fairly neat, but the kitchen counters need a wipe down and I could probably vacuum.

  Coach: I can’t believe you live with my daughter.

  It’s over text, so there’s no real way of knowing his meaning but I think he’s in disbelief more than anything else.

  Me: I know. What are the odds?

  Not only that I’d live with her but be falling for her too.

  The shower screeches as it’s cut off and Zoey calls out. “I’m getting out now and I’m perfectly fine! I told you!”

  “Better safe than sorry,” I call back.

  I stay seated on the couch until she emerges changed in a pair of fresh sleep shorts and a tank top.

  Do not look at her boobs. Whatever you do, Cole. DON’T. LOOK.

  Swallowing thickly, I watch her scrunch her hair with a t-shirt. “I’m going to try to get some sleep. You should too.”

  I jerk my head in a nod. “I’ll clean up out here first.”

  “There’s not much to clean.”

  I open my mouth to tell her about her dad stopping by tonight but decide against it. More than likely she’d call or text him and convince him not to come and I’m sure for his own peace of mind he needs to see her.

  “I know,” I say instead, “I just like to stay ahead of it.”

  “Suit yourself.” She yawns. She turns to go down the hall but pauses. “You … you can nap in my bed if you want.”

  My fists clench on top of my legs. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea.”

  Her dark eyes flit over my face and she sighs, looking away. “You’re probably right.”

  Her feet pad down the hall and then her door clicks shut quietly behind her.

  “Fuck,” I growl to myself, covering my face with my hands.

  What am I doing?

  22

  Zoey

  It’s been two weeks since my ER visit and being smothered with the pure overprotectiveness of Cole. I might’ve balked, but damn if I didn’t actually enjoy it. I saw a gynecologist last week and was basically told it was normal and sent on my way. So much for doctors, huh? I’m going to have to make another appointment with a new doctor and hope I actually get some help.

  But now Cole’s gone for an extended weekend in Michigan with his family for Thanksgiving and I’m headed to my dad’s house to spend the day with him, Allison, and my siblings.

  Surprisingly, I’m not dreading it.

  My relationship with my dad is a work in progress, but we’re repairing it and I don’t feel the need to flee every time I’m in his presence.

  I check my appearance one last time—hair curly and wild, simple makeup, and a long-sleeve lavender sweater dress. I figure Allison is the type to want to dress up for the occasion, though no one told me any sort of dress code. But I’m sure my baggy sweatpants wouldn’t have been appreciated. Not that Allison would have said anything even if I did show up in them. She’s too nice for that. I’ll give her credit, she might not be much older than me, but she’s never fit the wicked stepmother role.

  Swiping my keys and bag, I head out the door and to their house. My dad said to get there around three and that we’d eat at five.

  Before I can back out of my parking spot, I get a text from Cole and smile when I see the selfie of him and what I assume is his mom. The dark-skinned woman is curled under his big arm, beaming not at the camera but her son. Her eyes slightly crinkled at the corners like she smiles and laughs a lot. Before I can reply another photo comes through, this one of Cole on the couch with his four sisters. Two little girls sit in his lap. They must be twins and not older than two or three. And finally, a photo of him and his dad hits my phone. They’re on the driveway playing basketball. The light-skinned man is taller than average, with graying hair and a beard. The look of pride in his eyes as he watches Cole about to make a shot warms my heart.

  Me: Your family is beautiful.

  He replies immediately. Yours is too.


  A lump lodges in my throat and I vow to send him some pictures with my family today. For now, I take a selfie in my car and send it to him.

  Me: On my way to their house now.

  Cole: You look gorgeous. But you always are.

  He’s not even here and I can feel my cheeks heat with a blush. “What is he doing to me?” I say out loud. I stick my phone in the cupholder, choosing not to reply.

  Arriving at my dad’s house, I don’t even have my car in park when two little boys come barreling out of the front door.

  “Zoey!”

  “It’s Zoey! Daddy! Zo-Zo’s here!”

  I put the car in park and shut it off, hopping out in time to be tackled by my brothers.

  “I missed you!” I smother them in kisses.

  Their giggles are music to my ears and tears prick my eyes thinking about how much of their lives I’ve missed out on because I was so fucking stubborn. But no more. These are my siblings and I love them.

  “Come on, Zoey.” Isaac grabs my hand in his much smaller one. “Daddy got us a VR headset and it’s so cool. You have to check it out. The zombies aren’t that scary.”

  “Zombies?” I squeak.

  “It’s not that bad,” Gabriel promises, taking my other hand. “Issy only peed a little bit when it scared him.”

  “Great.”

  Inside the house, Isaac screams out again, “Zoey’s here!”

  Allison’s laughter bounces around the room as she comes into the foyer from the kitchen. “We heard you the first time, Issy.” Smiling at me, she says, “They’ve been asking when you’re getting here since they woke up.”

  “Really?” I look down at the two boys who still haven’t let go of my hands.

  “Oh, yeah. They love you.”

  I smile at her. “I love them, too.”

  She beams at that. “Well, I’m sure they’ll keep you occupied until dinner’s ready.”

  “Where’s Rose?” I ask, not hearing any babbling from the baby.

  “She’s taking a nap. She’ll be awake soon enough and your dad had to run to the store. I didn’t have enough milk or butter. Can you believe that?” She hangs her head in shame.

  “Come on, Zo.” Isaac squeezes my hand. “We want to show you the zombies.”