“Okay cool. Just…let me disappear in silence and never speak again.”
I chuckled and actually found her charming. If I wasn’t inlove with Jordan, then I’d want to give this girl a chance. I wasn’t ready to give up on my roommate, even if I’d looked at new places to live that morning. I held out my arm, feeling Price’s pleased glance. “Nonsense. I can’t promise I’ll be a great date or that we’ll ever be friends after this, but I can be more charming than my brother.”
“Not possible,” Price chimed in.
“Get lost.”
Emery laughed and looped her arm in mine. “I swear to you I’m not some hockey chaser or anything. My sister forced me into this and then your brother is convincing?—”
“Say no more, truly. I know it. I’ve lived with him my entire life, and it’s exhausting. Can’t tell you how many weird situations I’ve been in because of my twin brother.”
“I kinda want to hear about them, but hey,” she said, putting her hand on my shoulder and speaking softly. “I don’t want you to feel forced or awkward. You could have a girlfriend or a situationship, and I don’t want to make anything complicated.”
“I don’t have either of those.”Just hopelessly in love with someone who won’t give me a chance and has a million demons.“And truly, it’s no problem. I won’t be able to sit and talk long, but I can be a decent date for a few hours.”
She beamed at me. “Grawesome. Wait, great or awesome. Oh my god, I can’t believe I said that to you.”
I cackled, loud. Her face was tomato red, and she blinked a million times, like that would make it better. My laugh was so loud a bunch of people glanced over at us, and my skin flushed. I didn’t mean to draw that much attention, but Emery was funny. I felt more than saw Jordan’s gaze, and I scanned the group to find her staring at me, eyes wide and lips parted.
Her eyes moved toward Emery, and I swore Jordan flinched. My stomach bottomed out from the visceral pain on her face,like I’d upset her. Her nostrils flared, and she shook her head at me with fury in her eyes.
What the fuck?
She was mad at Emery? A girl I didn’t even bring myself?
“Where should I go? I’m not really the smoothest or most confident right now.” Emery clung to my arm.
“I’ll seat us at a table near your sister.” I swallowed the ball of emotion in my throat, pissed at my brother and Jordan.
I needed to talk to her, but the event wasn’t the time. Despite my pulse pounding and my skin feeling too small for my body, I couldn’t approach her. I walked Emery down the stairs toward the ice, where she shivered. Cursing, I gritted my teeth together. “Are you cold?”
“My s-sister didn’t tell me it was on the ice.”
“Here.” I shed my jacket and put it on her shoulders.
“Oh, no, I can’t… Preston, you’re way too kind about this. Seriously.” Her large eyes watered, and she gave me a gooey smile. “Thank you.”
“I can’t let you shiver. I’m used to the cold.” I gave her a tight smile, hating the rock growing in my gut. It doubled in size, like I’d done something wrong. But Jordan said she didn’t want to date me. Did she expect me to just pine for her? Not go on dates? Not look at other women when she’d turned me down?
Fuck. I scrubbed a hand over my face as Quentin caught my eye and jutted his chin. “Emery, I’ll check in with you in a minute. One of my teammates is calling me over.”
“No worries at all. Please, leave me alone in my shame.”
My lips twitched as I moved toward Q. “What’s up?”
“Logan needs to start DJing, so we’re on drink duty. Jordan just radioed to me. They’re setting up an open bar with wine and beer, and she needs us to host it. Cash tips only.”
“Done.”
I was grateful to have something to do besides tend to Emery and stew over Jordan’s reaction to her. I helped her plan the event, and she waved off every attempt at letting me help. It annoyed me, but serving drinks was easy. Quentin and I stood behind the bar when Jordan approached us.
She stood out in the room of beautiful people. Her long black hair was down, her eyes smokey. Her bright red dress dipped low and showcased every curve she had. My mouth watered from looking at her, lust fighting against my annoyance.
“Andrew is bringing the beer and wine from storage to serve. Free of charge. Tips can be cash or to this QR code.” She set a piece of paper down on the top, avoiding my eyes completely. “Is everything going okay down here?” she asked Quentin.
“I haven’t been down here. I was up there with Logan.”
“They’ve seemed great so far,” I replied, waiting for her to look at me. She didn’t. “People are having a good time.”
