17. Cole
CHAPTER 17
COLE
“Tell me again, why we’re at a third store looking for some kind of magical Oreos?”
“For Zoey,” I remind Teddy. “If you’re going to keep crashing on our couch several nights a week, at least make yourself useful and help me stock up on these. They’re her favorite and they’ve been discontinued.”
“Oh, so this is why you wanted me to go on my own and not tag-a-long. And here I thought you were just trying to get rid of me.”
“Why would I ever want to get rid of you? You’re a glimmering ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.”
“Damn straight.” He ignores my sarcasm, looking behind the neatly stacked rows in case there’s a pack of red velvet hiding there.
“Can’t you order Oreos on the computer? I’m sure eBay has some.”
“I’m not ordering Zoey cookies from eBay.” I let out a disgruntled breath when I come up empty handed again.
“Found one!”
“You did!” I jump up from my crouched position.
“False alarm, they’re just regular.”
I glower at my friend. “I’m going to kill you.”
“I really thought they were red velvet.” He returns them to the shelf. “Why are we wasting our time with this?” Before I can retort with yet again, that I’m doing this for Zoey, he adds, “We could just call places and see if it’s in stock.”
My jaw drops. How the hell did I not think of that? “Teddy, you’re a genius.”
“That’s what they tell me.” He shrugs his shoulders, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “Everyone underestimates me, but I do have a brain.” He leans against the shelf and pulls his phone out. “Let’s get back in the truck and I’ll start calling places.”
I grin at him. “I could kiss you right now.”
He wrinkles his nose. “You’re a good-looking guy and all but you’re not my type.”
I shove his shoulder as I walk by him, yanking my keys from my pocket. “Just get on the phone.”
“Hey.” Zoey smiles when I walk in the door, looking up from her laptop where she’s snuggled up on the couch beneath a blanket. Her hair is piled on her head in a messy bun and the zip up hoodie she’s wearing is falling off one shoulder. She shouldn’t look so delectable, but damn if I have to fight the urge to walk over and kiss her.
She’s not yours , I remind myself.
“Hi,” I say back, locking up behind me. “I got you some things.”
“Oh.” Her eyes widen at the bags in my hands. Her smile grows as she sets her laptop aside and stands. “What is it?”
I shove the bags into her hands, and she takes them to the kitchen, eyes widening when she sees all the packs of red velvet Oreos that Teddy and I spent the afternoon and evening tracking down.
“How did you find all these?” Her voice is whisper soft with surprise.
“Let’s just say a lot of driving was involved and Teddy was on the phone all day.”
“You didn’t need to do this.” Her voice catches, and her eyes glimmer with emotion. “But thank you. Thank you so much.”
“I know I didn’t have to. I wanted to.”
Walking away from all the cookies she shocks me when she wraps her arms around my middle, pressing the side of her face into my chest. My arms come up slowly, hugging her back.
“I can’t believe you did this.” She lets me go and starts unpacking her cookies, stacking the packs on top of each other. We were able to hunt down nearly twenty of them.
“I wanted you to have as many of your favorite cookies as possible.”
She appears deep in thought as she moves the stacks to our pantry cabinet.
I edge down the hallway and use the bathroom before changing out of my clothes. I have some homework I need to get started. The last thing I need to do is get behind on my studies. It can be hard to keep up with everything, school, my job, basketball, but somehow, I always manage to make it work.
Grabbing one of my textbooks and laptop I join Zoey back on the couch.
We work in companionable silence, but every so often I feel Zoey’s eyes drift to me, like she’s trying to figure out my motivation for hunting down her favorite Oreos.
The truth is, I would’ve done that for any of my friends for something they cared about, but would I have gone so far out of my way after the first few failed attempts?
I’m not so sure.
Zoey closes her laptop. “I’m going to make tacos for dinner. Is that cool?”
“That’s fine,” I mumble, pretending to be absorbed in my paper, when in reality my body is in tune to every movement of hers as she sets her computer on the coffee table and stands.
My chest tightens. I need to move past my feelings for her. I can’t do this again—pine for someone who clearly doesn’t want me. But knowing it and actually accomplishing it are two different things.
Desperate for fresh air, I shut my computer and grab my basketball from beside the door. I’m out in seconds, jogging down the stairs to the small court beside the building.
Digging in my pocket, I hope to find a piece of gum stuffed there. Luck is on my side when my hand closes around the foil wrapped rectangle. I take it out and pop the cinnamon gum in my mouth.
Dribbling the ball, I close my eyes, focusing on the feel of my fingertips grazing the surface and how in tune I am with it and my surroundings. Keeping my eyes squeezed shut, I shoot the ball, opening them in time to see it glide easily through the net.
Basketball is second nature to me, as easy as breathing. It’s been like that since the first time I stepped on a court. I’ve always felt like I belonged once I got a ball in my hands. I think of the smiles my parents and sisters have always worn when watching me play. I know I’ve been fortunate to not only have a talent for something, but the support of my family as well. Not everyone is as lucky. Look at Zoey and what she’s been through, a strained relationship with her dad and her mother passing. At least she’s trying to mend things with him. I know that takes an incredible amount of courage when you’ve been hurt.
I don’t realize how long I’ve been out there until Zoey emerges in the darkness; her arms wrapped tightly around her body. Her hair is down now, and she’s slipped her feet into a pair of flip-flops she’s taken to keeping by the door.
“Are you okay? Your tacos are getting cold.”
I tuck the basketball against my side, scrubbing my other hand over my head. My curls are getting a little out of control and I’m in desperate need of shaping them up. If my mom saw me now she’d strap me to the kitchen chair and go to town.
“I’m fine. Just needed some air. That paper was getting to me.”
It’s a lie. It wasn’t the paper at all, but the beautiful girl I’m forced to live with.
She’s everything I want, and everything I can’t have.
“Oh.” She gives a small smile. “I’d offer to help but I don’t think I can do you much good with the difference in our studies.”
“No, I guess not.” I give her a flicker of my own smile.
“Cole,” she starts, her eyes drifting to the ground. She wiggles her toes, staring at them like they hold all the answers in the world. “Look, I like you, a lot. But … I’m scared.” Her dark eyes lift to mine. “I was screwed over in my past, and really hurt, and even though I realize now that he was never the guy for me that doesn’t mean damage wasn’t done. I’m just … trying to figure out who I am.”
I stare into her eyes, trying to convey a thousand unsaid things. “From where I’m standing, Zoey, you’re pretty remarkable.”