“Don’t look at me, she’s the boss here.”
“Your boss is prettier than mine.”
“Why thank you.” I patted Price’s shoulder but kept my attention on Preston. It was so simple, but I liked him calling me pretty. “Pres, can you help me carry everything down here so we can work?”
“Sure, but suggestion.” He swallowed. “I think we should do it in the living room since there is a fireplace. I’d rather be in there if the power goes out.”
“Preston hates blizzards, J. Did he ever tell you the time our power went out and we had to sleep in our car for half a night just for heat? It was fucked.”
My gaze snapped to Preston. I never knew that story. The ball of regret deep in my gut doubled in size. If that happened to him and I was careless…I swallowed, the emotion aching in my throat.
“Price, that was a long time ago.” Preston’s voice was light, but his jaw flexed. “Let’s grab your stuff,J.”
Did he say that with a tone?
I shook it off and jogged up the stairs to my room where ten bags of stuff lay. Once Preston stepped into the room, I jumped to shut the door and lean against it. “Hey,” I said, breathless.
He picked up a few bags and frowned once he saw me. His hazel eyes shifted, almost like he was concerned. “Uh, what are you doing?”
“I’m apologizing.” My heart raced, and my palms sweat, and everything felt weird.
“Oh, well then, carry on.” He set the bags down and crossed his arms. He had no business being this sexy. He wore a green sweatshirt and joggers, the material clinging to all his thick muscles. His hair was also messy from wearing a hat earlier, and I had the urge to run my fingers through it.
“I-I—” I stopped, nerves gripping my throat like daggers. My eyes prickled, and my chest ached. I stared at my unmade bed, my pajamas from last night all crumpled and in a ball. “I’m sorry. God, this is hard.”
“Jordan,” he whispered my name kindly. “Hey, look at me.”
I did, and he smiled. With that simple gesture, my nerves left, and I took a deep breath. “Apologizing is so difficult for me. I don’t know why.”
“Family trauma. It tends to stay with us.”
I snorted, but the tears spilled over, and I quickly wiped them. “I’m sorry I worried you. I had no idea…”
He waved a hand in the air and stepped toward me,squeezing my forearm in a comforting gesture. “Price shouldn’t have shared that.”
“I wish you would’ve. I wouldn’t have acted so?—”
“Careless? Stupid?” he finished.
“Mm, careless, yes.” I sighed and moved closer to him, resting my forehead on his chest. He rubbed my back with one hand, the other arm wrapping around me. “I’m sorry, Preston. I shouldn’t have acted like that or been so obsessed with the project that I forgot to be safe.”
“I’m sorry I told you I’d tie you to my bed. That wasn’t my best moment.”
I weaved my arms around him, his body thick and strong and hard compared to my soft curves. “In the right context, it could be fun.”
He laughed before resting his chin on top of my head. “Also true. Now, can you tell me what happened? You only act out when something upsets you.”
He tried pulling away, but I gripped him tighter, resting against him instead of facing him. “It was my mom. She gave me two days to come home and get my stuff before she throws it out. Called me dramatic, threatened if I get a C in my event internship she’ll pull my financial help. The usual.”
Preston’s muscles tensed while his touch remained light. “I’m so sorry, Jordan.”
“I’ve lowered my expectations for her for years. I have zero expectations for her to be in my life, but I don’t know why it still hurts every time.”
“Because parents are supposed to love us unconditionally.” Something soft touched my forehead, and I was pretty sure he kissed me.
That simple gesture caused my heart to flutter. No one did sweet things to me like that. Just Preston.
“Despite the divorce and how uncomfortable it is, I know myparents love us in their own way. That was never in question. I could call now, and they’d drop everything to help out, to be here, whatever. You might not have that with your mom, but you do with Logan, me, the Harts.”
