“Hey, that wasn’t fair of me either. I know you don’t think that.” She sighed and covered her face with her hands. “I get defensive when I’m embarrassed or scared. It was easier to attack you than admit you were right. I shouldn’t have gone there, okay?”
All the anger slipped out of me, and I wanted to pull her into a hug. Maybe it was a good thing I was driving. I reached over and gripped her knee, letting my fingers linger longer than I was supposed to. “That was a little scary, and our adrenaline is high. We both said things in the heat of that.”
“Why were you there though?”
“Why do you think?” I laughed, squeezing her thigh one last time. “I needed to know you were safe, J. That place is known for bad shit, and I couldn’t drop you off without seeing you were fine.”
“So you were going to what… watch me on my date, make sure I was okay?” she asked, her voice small.
“Yes.” I swallowed the uncomfortable tension again.
“What if we made out or did something?”
“What about it?” I asked through gritted teeth. “I’d ensure you consented. If you said no, and he kept going, then I’d kill him.”
“Hm.” She took a deep breath before smiling. “This protective Preston is kinda hot.”
“Stop. Don’t do that, please.” This woman would be the death of me. Truly.
“Don’t tell you it’s hot that you were ready to protect me? I love it, Charming. No one in my life really gives a shit about me except you and Logan.”
“While that might be true, I wouldn’t have to protect you if you weren’t so reckless.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” She pulled her knees up to her chest andwrapped her arms around them. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m like this because all I wanted was my mom’s attention. Then I feel weird because I’m twenty-one years old with mom issues. I should be over them and all that but then I do stupid shit like this.”
“You’re not the only one,” I mumbled, scrubbing a hand over my face.
“What? Your family is perfect.”
“Not really.” I turned the corner toward our street, adjusting the heat in the car as Jordan shivered. Another flicker of annoyance grated me that she hadn’t worn a coat.
“What does that mean? Preston, you tell me everything.”
Not everything.“My parents are getting a divorce. They told us a few weeks ago, and I’m not handling it well.”
“Why didn’t you say anything? I never would’ve gone out if I knew. Preston, I’m so sorry. What do you need? What can I do? Snacks? Movie? Video games?”
This was the version few people knew about Jordan. She’d give me the clothes off her back if I told her it’d make me feel better. She was a caretaker to a small group of people in her life, and I never wanted to be removed from that circle.
“I don’t know.” I parked in the driveway and took off my jacket. “Here, wear this when we walk inside. You’re barely wearing anything.”
“I can run. I’m fine.” She frowned at me as I held the jacket between the two of us, her large blue eyes wide and filled with worry. “I hate that you didn’t tell me this. We tell each other everything.”
We exited the car and walked inside, then I hung the jacket up on the closet door. Logan must’ve had a candle going because it smelled like Christmas, but Jordan’s question lingered in the air.
“I honestly avoided thinking about it. Haven’t texted mybrother or parents back. I have no idea what we’re doing for the holidays, and it makes me sad.”
“Preston, honey.” She hummed and sighed at the same time. It was this thing she always did that made it sound like she was about to break out into song, but she’d just nod. It charmed me in every single instance.
“Don’t look at me like that.” I rubbed my chest, the pang growing near my heart by the second. Talking about my family caused it, along with the fact she’d never view me as anything other than her best guy friend. “I’ll deal with it my own way.”
“What is the point of having friends then if they don’t help you with the hard shit?” She wrapped her arms around my shoulders, our faces a foot apart as she stared hard at me. “You are such a good human, Preston Charming. Let me help you. Tell me what would distract you most.”
You.
I wanted to say it. If I was brave or bold enough, I’d say it and then kiss her. But I wasn’t that bold with Jordan. To everyone else I was but never with her. I swallowed the thought, pushed the uneasy feelings about my family away, and jutted my head toward the TV. “Few hours of video games.Rocket League.”
“You got it. Let me change real quick and then it’s on.”
