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

by Micalea Smeltzer

  19

  Cole

  I’m dripping in sweat by the time I step into the locker room after practice. Coach is drilling us hard for the upcoming season. Our first game is the beginning week of December, right after Thanksgiving break.

  “Anderson!” Coach pokes his head into the locker room as I’m peeling my practice jersey off my body.

  “Yeah?”

  “Come see me after your shower.”

  “Ooh!” Some of the guys call out like I’m in trouble. I roll my eyes at their antics and grab my towel.

  After I’m clean and changed I head down the hall to Coach’s office. I knock on the door before I enter.

  “Take a seat, Cole.”

  I slide the chair out and sit down. It’s small for my large body but I make it work.

  “What’s up, Coach?”

  “I heard from Jason and he’s coming into town the week after our first home game. Are you still up for meeting with him?”

  I sit forward, eyes wide. Hands on the knees of my jeans. “Absolutely.”

  “Excellent,” he threads his fingers together on top of his desk, “I’ll let him know you’re still agreeable and give him your number if that’s okay?”

  “Yeah, yes, of course.”

  “Remember, this is just a casual lunch to get to know you. It doesn’t mean anything.”

  Sitting back, I try to calm my nerves. “I know, sir.”

  But neither of us can deny what a great opportunity it is, even if it leads to nothing.

  “I’ll pass your information along and he’ll be in touch.”

  “Thank you.” I stand, shaking his hand when he offers it to me.

  His face brightens, a smile I know isn’t meant for me thrown over my shoulder to whoever has approached the door. “Zoey.”

  Zoey? My blood runs cold. Surely, he doesn’t mean my Zoey. There has to be plenty of Zoeys on campus, and yet as I make a slow turn to the door I know, I just fucking know it’s going to be her.

  She freezes in the doorway, her eyes darting from me to Coach.

  “Hey, Dad.”

  Dad? Her fucking dad?

  I look over my shoulder at Coach Reynolds and back to her, horror spreading through my veins.

  Zoey. Zoey Reynolds. My roommate. My friend. The girl I’m falling for.

  She’s my coach’s daughter.

  The world has never been so cruel to me. Am I cursed? Am I this unlucky when it comes to the girls I like? What the hell is happening?

  I keep standing there, even though I should leave. Coach and I are done, there’s no reason for me to still be here, except my feet won’t move.

  Zoey’s eyes don’t leave mine. It’s like her father, my coach, isn’t even in the room.

  She’s known. She knows I play basketball, and she never said a word.

  “We’re done here, Anderson,” Coach reminds me, trying to nudge me out of the room. “I’ll see you on Monday.”

  “See you then, Coach,” I manage to grind out, pushing past Zoey, careful not to touch her.

  I trudge back to the now empty locker room and slam my hands against the metal. I do it again, just because, letting out a groan of frustration.

  My feelings and situation with Zoey were complicated enough.

  Both of us have been avoiding the feelings, fears from our pasts holding us back, but now on top of that she’s my coach’s daughter, the embodiment of forbidden fruit. I didn’t even know Coach Reynolds had a kid our age.

  Collapsing on the bench, I bury my face in my hands.

  I’m royally fucked.

  Grabbing my bag, I sling it over my shoulder and go to leave the locker room.

  I fully plan on just leaving the building, letting my anger cool down before I see her next, but when I swing the door open, she’s walking by and instinct takes over. I clasp her wrist and she lets out a tiny cry of surprise as I pull her into the locker room, pinning her against the wall.

  “Cole,” she squeaks out.

  “You knew,” I accuse. “You knew your dad was my coach and you didn’t say a word.” Her eyes drop to the floor. I place a gentle finger on her chin, raising her face back up, refusing to let her not face this. “Why?”

  Her teeth grind. “Because we’re complicated enough, Cole. I like you. You like me. But we’re both protecting our hearts. You knowing about my dad … that only gives you more arsenal to stay away from me.”

  “As if you’re not carrying enough of your own,” I bite back.

  She wets her lips. “Things are difficult with my dad. Everything I’ve told you is true. And a part of me was protecting you from that. He’s been your coach all these years. I’m sure you like him. He’s good at what he does. I don’t want my relationship with him to skew how you see him.”

  I lean in closer to her, helpless to stop myself. I inhale her scent, coconut and lime.

  Brushing my lips over her ear, I growl out, “You’re so fucking deep under my skin I’m never going to be able to get you out and you’re worried about protecting my feelings when it comes to your dad?”

  She shakes her head in the tiniest of nods, pulse pounding in her throat.

  I don’t know what makes me do it, temporary insanity maybe, but a dam breaks and I can no longer hold myself back. Hand on the back of her neck, I move in and she doesn’t fight me. Her eyes flicker to my lips and I know then that she wants this as badly as I do.

  This time, I don’t hold myself back from what I’ve wanted since that night at the bonfire.

  Our lips connect and it’s like fireworks shoot down my spine. This girl has been driving me crazy for months and I’ve dreamed about what it would be like to touch her, kiss her, hold her. To have her be mine.

  She gasps against my mouth and our tongues meet. It’s a passionate kiss, not a timid first meeting of lips. Her pulse drums against my hand at her neck, her heart beating as out of control as mine. I wonder if she can feel it where her palm rests against my chest.

  I push into her, spreading her legs with one of mine. She rolls her hips against my leg. I don’t think she even realizes she’s doing it. My hands skim lightly down her sides and she shivers like the last leaf left before winter comes. Settling my hands on her hips I hoist her up and she wraps her legs around my waist. Her arms twine around my neck and I push her into the wall.

  Kissing her feels like the closest I’ll ever get to heaven. Her lips are pillow soft and she makes the tiniest sounds in the back of her throat.

  My fingers dig into the skin of her waist, exposed from her shirt riding up between us.

  Her hands move to my cheeks and she attacks my mouth like she wants this kiss as much, if not more, than I do.

  I lose myself in the moment, in her. I allow myself to be selfish and take what I want.

  A door in the hallway slams and we jump apart like we’ve been electrocuted. Her legs fall from my waist to the floor, and I keep a steady hold on her hips. Her eyes drop to the floor like she doesn’t want to look at me, and I worry that it’s shame over us finally succumbing to this thing between us.

  “Zoey?” I prompt, pleading with her to say something or at least look at me so I know where we stand.

  She doesn’t say anything, her eyes staying glued firmly to the gray locker room tiles.

  I sigh, stepping back. I don’t even know how to interpret how I feel. We both wanted that kiss. I felt it in the way she kissed me back. It wasn’t just me.

  But now…

  Her silence speaks volumes.

  Hanging my head, I speak softly, “I’m sorry, we’ll forget this ever happened.”

  Her head jerks up, lips parted like she wants to say something, but before she can—before I have to hear the rejection on her tongue—I swing the locker room door open, and I’m gone.

  20

  Zoey

  Cole didn’t come home last night.

  He found out about my dad, gave me the best kiss of my life, and then he didn’t come back to the apartment.r />
  I know Cole. There’s no way he kissed me and was out spending the night with some other girl. That’s not his style. But it doesn’t mean it hasn’t worried me. When I texted him, asking if he was okay and that I was worried, all I got back was an I’m fine text.

  I certainly didn’t expect him to kiss me, especially not when he learned my dad is his coach. It took me by complete surprise. That kiss … it was everything, and it reminded me of everything I would’ve been giving up if I hadn’t caught Todd cheating on me.

  I was complacent with him.

  But Cole awakens a passion inside me I didn’t know existed.

  It’s electric.

  As much as I want to wait around the apartment and see if he shows up, I have to go pick up my brothers for our movie day.

  I scribble a note for Cole, letting him know where I’m at. Sure, I could easily text, but after his basic two word reply last night I’d rather not.

  Hopping in my car I do my best to ignore the empty space beside it where Cole’s truck would normally be parked.

  “Get your shit together,” I mutter to myself, backing out and heading for my dad’s neighborhood.

  I’ve barely parked in the driveway when the front door opens, and two little boys come flying out.

  Allison walks behind them, the baby on her hip.

  Putting my window down she stops beside the car. “Thank you for doing this. They’re so excited. Your dad is grabbing Isaac’s car seat.”

  “Mommy, I don’t need it!” He stomps his little foot.

  “Yes, you do.” She ruffles his hair.

  The garage door goes up and my dad comes out with the car seat and secures it in the back. Once the boys are loaded, I wave goodbye and we head over to the theater a few miles away.

  “Do you like Spiderman, Zoey?” Gabriel asks from the back.

  “Who doesn’t like Spiderman? He’s the best.”

  I know nothing about Spiderman.

  “Can we get popcorn?” Isaac pipes in.

  “Ooh, and candy?” Gabriel adds.

  I laugh, turning into the shopping center where the theater is. “We’ll get drinks and snacks. Don’t worry.”

  I’ll probably end up spending a boat load of money before the day is over, but it’s worth it to make the boys happy.

  I park the car and make each of them hold my hands as we walk up to the front to buy the tickets. After purchasing two buckets of popcorn and a small bag for myself—since they insisted on having the biggest and there was no possible way they could share because they’d eat it all, they promised—we stocked up on candies and sodas.

  Somehow, I manage to wrangle the two kids and all our stuff into the theater and to our seats. Sure, we leave a trail of popcorn in our wake, but it could be worse.

  I sit between the two boys so I can keep an eye on both of them easily.

  The lights dim and the boys sit back in their seats, growing quiet with wide eyes. I watch them with an amused smile, snacking on my popcorn. As the movie starts, I do my best to pay attention and let go of my thoughts and worries about Cole. It’s difficult, but I manage for the most part.

  When the end credits start both boys look at me with wide, round eyes.

  “Can we watch it again?” Gabriel asks.

  “Please, Zoey! It was so good!”

  I laugh at the excited children. “Maybe another weekend. I need to get you guys home.”

  “Aw, man.”

  “But I want to spend more time with you.” Isaac’s bottom lip juts out in a pout.

  My heart tugs at his words. “That’s so sweet. I need to get back to my home and study, though. I’ll see you guys for dinner soon.”

  And by study I mean obsessively watch the door for Cole to return.

  “We can help you study!” He jumps up and down.

  Gabriel grabs his little brother’s elbow. “No, we can’t, Issy. She’s like super smart. She’s in college.”

  I hide a laugh behind my hand and unlock my car, letting them scramble into the back. After I’m sure they’re safely secured in their seats, I drop them off at their house with promises to see them soon, and then I race to the apartment.

  It’s all in vain, because when I pull into our reserved spots his truck still isn’t there.

  I tap my steering wheel, feeling treacherous tears sting my eyes. I don’t even know why I feel like crying. It’s not like Cole and I are anything other than friends, but I hate feeling like what we do have might be ruined over the fact that my dad is his coach. I know it puts him in a complicated situation and I should’ve said something as soon as I realized he played basketball, but … he found out and he finally kissed me for the first time, so maybe it’s not as bad as I think it is?

  Grabbing my purse from the passenger seat, I head up to the apartment, telling myself I’m not going to think about Cole for the rest of the day.

  Fat chance.

  Opening the door, a figure stirs on the couch.

  “Ah!” I scream, throwing my purse as hard as I can at the body.

  “Jesus Christ, woman! What do you have in here?”

  Teddy’s voice jolts me back to reality.

  “What the hell are you doing in my apartment, sitting on the couch, with the lights off?” I shriek, turning on the table lamp. I hadn’t noticed Teddy’s car in the parking lot, and it’s not like it’s hard to miss. Then again, all my thoughts were focused on Cole.

  “Well, someone’s roommate has taken up permanent residence sulking in my dorm, so here I am.” He spreads his arms wide.

  “You have got to stop coming in here and scaring the shit out of us. Why are you even sitting in the dark?”

  “I was reading on my phone.”

  I stare at him, blinking a few times. “Reading … what?”

  “Fanfiction.”

  “Fanfiction?” I repeat, sitting down in the chair and eyeing the man on the couch. “What kind of fanfiction?”

  He looks away. “The fan written kind,” he hedges.

  “That was implied.”

  He throws his hands up in the air. “Fine, okay! It’s Kylo Ren. Ben Solo deserved better.”

  I press my lips together, because I don’t want him to think I’m laughing at him. I’m amused, and sort of impressed more than anything. Teddy isn’t at all who he comes off as and I think that’s why I like him so much.

  When I don’t say anything, he continues, “I like the spicy ones. You know, the smut? Not gonna lie, who needs porn when you have words? Don’t get me wrong, though, I do like some good old-fashioned porn every now and then. Particularly—”

  “Don’t finish that!” I throw up a hand. “I do not need to know about your porn preferences.”

  “Are you sure?” He grins, messing with me.

  “Positive.” Standing up, I wave a hand in his direction. “You get back to your fanfiction and I’m going to … I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I’m going to find something.”

  Before I can walk away, he asks, “What happened with you and Cole? At least I’m assuming it’s something to do with you. He wouldn’t say.”

  My shoulders tense. I turn around, biting my lip nervously. Teddy and I have become friends, but he was Cole’s friend first, so I’m not sure if I should say anything or not. But with him sitting there giving me pleading puppy dog eyes I can’t help myself.

  I walk back over and sit on the coffee table in front of him.

  “He found out my dad is his coach.”

  Teddy rears back. “What did you say?”

  “My dad is—”

  “Your dad is Coach Reynolds? Holy shit.” He runs his fingers through his hair. “No wonder he’s acting so strange.”

  “That’s not all of it.”

  “There’s more?” His eyes widen and he leans forward, ready to absorb the juicy gossip.

  I rub my hands over my jeans, trying to wipe the dampness from my palms. “Um, so after he found out, he kind of…”

  “Yes?”
Teddy prompts, gesturing for me to go on.

  “Pulled me into the locker room and we made out.”

  Teddy jumps up from the couch, letting out a low whistle. He grins at me, snapping his fingers. “Ooh, this is good.”

  “No, no. This is bad. As you can see, he’s not here.” I spread my arms wide, encompassing the otherwise empty apartment.

  He sits back down, growing somber. “Look, Cole … he’s the serious type. He cares deeply about people. His friends, family. He can be intense. And if I had to guess, right about now he’s probably scared of his feelings for you. He doesn’t want to get hurt or do the hurting. And yeah, your dad being his coach royally complicates things because Cole isn’t going to want to show any disrespect towards your dad by going after his daughter. But he wants you. It’s been obvious since pretty much the beginning. Give him time to sort through his thoughts. I don’t think he’s avoiding you. He’s probably trying to sort things out and he needs to do that on his own.”

  “On his own,” I repeat. “In your dorm?”

  Teddy shrugs. “It’s not like Jude’s gonna help him. The dude had three girls in his room this morning and obviously, I’m here. Need to read my Reylo smut in private, ya know?” He winks.

  I eye him. “In private? Don’t tell me you jerk off to fanfic?”

  He rolls his eyes and snorts. “No.” He sighs. “Okay, fine. Sometimes. But don’t act like you ladies haven’t ever rubbed one out to some word porn, too!” He wags a finger in my face. “Now,” he picks up his phone, “I’m ordering some food. I’m in the mood for some chicken nuggies. You hungry?”

  21

  Cole

  It’s late Sunday night when I return to the apartment. I figured if I came in well after midnight it would ensure Zoey would be in bed and I might even be able to leave in the morning before she gets up.