“How are you getting there?”
“Rideshare or the free bus.” My mom hadn’t sent me money in a while, and it was what I referred to as her guilt bills. I used to let it sit in an account and rot, but then Logan and I said fuck it. I only used it for fun things, like this.
“No. I’ll drive you. You’re not getting in a car with a stranger to head to that place.” Preston ran his hands over his thighs, drying them off as he slid on his house slippers. It was funny how living with someone showed you different parts of them. Preston was obsessed with his house slippers. “Get a coat.”
“Ask nicely.”
“Jesus, are you extra sassy today?” He shook his head as he grabbed his keys from the hook, the keychain I bought him last year still there. That pleased me. I loved giving small gifts to my friends. It brought me so much joy, even if it was a silly Buckee’s keychain I found on a road trip.
“Maybe I’m justhorny, hence the dating. You understand.”
Preston cleared his throat as he opened the front door andmotioned for me to walk. I waited for his reply, his snarky or witty response, and we’d banter back and forth.
“No snarky comeback, Charming?” I winked at him as he opened the passenger door for me. His gaze moved to my legs for a beat, then he shook his head. It wasn’t often I made him speechless. “This is a new one for me. Want to mark it down in my calendar.”
He shut my door then walked to his side, hopping in and staring at me with a smirk. I knew that smirk. “Jordan,” he said, his voice lower than normal. “There are other ways to take care of that than going on a date at a shitty location.”
“You offering to help me out?” I teased, my stomach doing a little swoop. We always flirted and teased each other. It was as natural as breathing. “Or do you mean my vibrator?”
His only reaction was a sharp inhale. He started the truck, reversed down the driveway, then barked out a laugh. “You are such a pain in the ass, you know that?”
I grinned, the brief tension in the truck obliterated with his chuckle. “Yup, but you love me anyway.”
“Yeah, that I do.”
2
PRESTON
Watching my closest friend walk up to a shitty-ass bar, wearing an outfit that showed too much of her curves, caused my pulse to race. Jordan was wild. It was one of the things that I liked about her. She laughed like she didn’t give a fuck and lived how she wanted. Her ability to live life how she wanted was sexy and freeing—something I really couldn’t figure out how to do.
She was addicting to be around with her free spirit, but sometimes, like now, she made dumb choices, and Logan and I couldn’t talk her out of them. Jordan was hot as hell, knew it, and people gravitated toward her. So even if her date wasn’t a shitbag, other people in the bar would hit on her, approach her.
It was tough being supportive of her adventurous ways, knowing she could take care of herself while also wanting to protect her. Trying to find the right balance was exhausting. I pinched the bridge of my nose, debating what to do.
I could head back to the house and text some of the guys to hang out. We lost last night, so everyone was in a bad headspace. Not exactly up for a party or a good time. Jordan was my video game buddy, and playing without her wasn’t as fun.
My brother texted that he wanted to talk, but I put that off too. I knew why he wanted to discuss our holiday plans. Our parents were getting divorced after twenty-five years and selling our childhood home. Yet, they constantly pushed me to focus on hockey and my future in the NHL. They wanted me to have a determined plan and answer, and I just didn’t have that. I wanted to coach some days… other days, I couldn’t imagine not playing. I knew I had to pick a damn path, but there was too much going on around me. So, despite my dad asking for anupdate on my future,I ignored him.
I wanted to respond with “If you guys spent less time worrying about me, then maybe your marriage wouldn’t fucking be falling apart.” But I would never do that.
The physical ache behind my heart gutted me at the thought of our family changing.
We wouldn’t celebrate Christmas with the four of us for the first time ever. We’d have to do two holidays, separately.Fuck.How would I be able to focus on our hockey tournament, the existential crisis of what I wanted to do in life,andmy family disaster?
I hopped out of the truck and charged inside the bar. I’d sit at the bar, have a drink, and make sure Jordan was fine. I didn’t want to be alone right now, and a distraction sounded kinda nice.
The second I walked in, I sensed something was off. The air shifted, and I immediately searched for Jordan. She sat on a high-top chair, her long legs on clear display despite it being cold outside. Some punk ass sat across from her ogling her with a stupid-ass goofy smile. I got it. She was fucking hot, but I bet he had no idea how smart or kind she was either.
Annoyance worked its way down my spine. I hated how she was doing this dating thing to get it out of her system. It was a double standard because the guys on the team behaved like this,and no one gave a shit. The issue was I had a secret crush on her.
A drink would help.
She didn’t see me, but I headed to the bar and plopped down. It wasn’t exactly relaxing since I was on edge, listening to the chatter around me. I grew up with a sixth sense almost, always knowing when to leave a party before the cops showed up. It felt like that now.
“Want a drink, handsome?”
“Draft of a Guinness, please,” I said, glancing over my shoulder as Jordan laughed louder.
