“Come on, let’s go to the friends and family section.”
Logan and I weaved our way to the special gate, just for friends and family. Our arms looped together as we avoided the opposing team’s fans. They were rowdy and proud. Our boys would’ve been too, but there was always a winner and a loser in every game. It was part of life. Survival of the fittest and all that shit. That was what my dear mother taught me the most.
“Wait, are those Preston’s parents?” Logan nudged my side and pointed toward one of the columns. We’d met his parents a few times the last couple of years since we became so close, butafter his bombshell of their divorce, this seemed weird. No idea how to approach them.
They stood close but distant. Their faces were pinched tight, and his mom’s cheeks were red. Both crossed their arms, both looking miserable. “Shit, he doesn’t need this right now.”
“I mean, some people like being down with their parents. I would. If I lost, I’d probably cry and ask for a hug.”
“Yeah, but your family is one of a kind. Act like you don’t know, but his parents are going through a divorce. He’s only known a few weeks and just told me,” I whispered. “It’s really bothering him.”
She sucked in a breath. “That totally sucks. I would be a full mess if mine were.”
“Yours never would. They are soul mates.” A world without her parents together didn’t make sense, and it wasn’t a world I wanted to live in. Plain and simple. They were the truest example of a happy marriage, and if that fell apart, all hope would be lost.
We found an empty area, out of sight from his parents, and waited. If I didn’t know the truth, I’d probably go up and say hi to them, but I didn’t know the game plan. If Preston wanted to avoid them, then he wouldn’t want me talking to them. I’d follow his lead. I had to ask more probing questions to get to the bottom of his stress though.
Logan rubbed her hands over her arms, a thoughtful, concerned look on her face. “Hey, if the divorce thing is for real… you need to be super careful with him, okay? He’s gonna be vulnerable and upset. He might be a himbo most of the time, but he feels a lot. That’s why him and I bond so much.”
“I’d never hurt him, Log,” I said, a little firmer. I didn’t like how she’d warned me about hurting him twice now. Did she think I would? My worry from earlier snuck in, but I knewmyself. I’d never upset him. “You know I’m a caretaker,” I added, my tone more defensive.
“Hey, hey,” she said, pulling my hand. “You would never hurt anyone intentionally, ever. Your heart is massive, but I’m saying how you view feelings is different than how Preston does, and with the divorce, he’s probably all over the place. You’re an easy person to get attached to, Dan.”
“Psh.” I waved her comment away. If that was true, then my dad would’ve stuck around and my mom would’ve tried more. My grandparents would’ve been in my life. Logan and Preston were the only two people who hadn’t disappointed me. “I won’t let that happen, okay? Trust me.”
“Oh, here they come.” She stood on her tiptoes, her gaze searching for Quentin. Her boyfriend was having the season of a lifetime, which he needed to have a shot at the NHL. He’d missed the draft the year earlier and played like his future was on the line. He once worried that having any distractions, aka my best friend, would cause him to not play great, and I begged to differ. He’d been incredible since they got together.
Preston didn’t have to play for his future. I was sure of it. Right? I scratched my chest, an uncomfortable truth wedging itself behind my ribcage. I actually didn’t know what Preston’s plan was. He was majoring in…business? Fuck. I was a shit friend, and that was unacceptable on so many levels.
I vowed to ask him a thousand questions immediately. God, I talked about my classes all the time. I was annoying. Usually when we hung out, we chatted about Logan’s librarian drama, my classes, or we played video games and shit talked. We didn’t talk on deep levels, and that was on me.
My heart beat twice as hard as I scanned the slumped shoulders leaving the locker room. Brady’s head hung, his gait slow as he walked past everyone and outside. I imagined he’d blame himself for the loss. There were quite a few families presentsince this tournament was such a huge deal, and they all would probably get a late dinner, or drinks, and talk about the good stuff.
What an opportunity to play in this. You played your heart out.
I could be that person, but I had no idea what Preston was gonna do with his parents. He walked out, his jaw tight and his eyes downcast. He displayed his mood when he walked, quite like Logan, where his emotions radiated off him. Typically, they were upbeat, but today it was clear.
He was upset.
I had to find him before his parents did. I pushed off the column and sprinted toward him. “Preston, hey,hey.”
His gaze snapped to me, his strong brows coming together in confusion. He either wasn’t expecting to see me, or my tone put him on edge. He scanned me up and down, his mouth parting. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine. Your parents… they’re here.”
8
PRESTON
My chest ached with worry at the expression on Jordan’s face. Her large blue eyes were wider than normal, her mouth set in a hard line, and her posture stiff. It took a second for her words to settle.Your parents are here.
I blinked away the urge to shove everyone out of the way and carry her out of here and sighed. My mom and dad being here was less serious than Jordan being hurt, but the relief was short-lived. “Where are they?”
She pointed over her right shoulder. “Your mom is there, and your dad is on the other side. I didn’t—do you want to avoid them? I’ll help you escape if you want.”
“They’ve been wanting to talk to me.” I ground my teeth together, annoyance flaring. We lost the fucking championship, and the last thing I wanted to do was hang out with my parents. They’d ask about the draft, about playing better for a real chance at the NHL. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, damnit!
Hell, I didn’t want to see Jordan either. My head was a mess over her and what we’d done.
