“Is there anything else you need us to do or should we head home? My parents wanted us with them one more night.” Logan asked the question for me.
“You can head home. I’ll stay here until they finish everything.”
“I’m staying with you,” I said, not looking at her. “You’re not walking back alone.”
“I’ll befine.”
I shook my head, continuing to roll up the carpet. I stacked it on top of the others, trying not to smile at her gaze boring into me. Her attention felt like little stabs all over my skin. “Log, you and Q should head out,” I said, daring Jordan to disagree with me.
“We don’t mind helping though.” Logan’s voice had a lilt to it.
“Nah, they’re okay.” Quentin joined his girl and sent me a knowing look.Be carefulit said. “We’ll head back. Congrats, Jordan. Tonight was incredible.”
She blushed before shaking her head, like it was no big deal at all. “I can’t thank you all enough. Lo, your family… Quentin… I’m so grateful for you.” Her chin quivered, but it didn’t last long. I bet that only I noticed since I was so attuned to her.
Jordan threw her arms around Logan for a full minute, then Quentin. “I appreciate you both. I can never make this up to you.”
“You never have to, you beautiful goon.” Logan’s eyes watered as she waved her hand in the air. “You are amazing, Dan the Man. Absolutely amazing.”
Jordan waved to the couple one more time before they disappeared out of view, leaving only her and I on the ice. My skin heated in anticipation the same way it did right before the puck dropped to start a game. I winked at her, opening my arms. “Don’t I get a hug too, or is your jealousy ruining the moment?”
19
JORDAN
“Jealousy?” I repeated, my voice raising two octaves. My pulse spiked, like I sprinted up the stairs without breathing. Every part of my body tingled with anger. I wanted to punch him in the gut, then cry over how he’d brought a date. Howdarehe bring a date to my event?
Not even a day after he asked to takemeout on a date. “I’m not jealous, you asshole. I’m fucking pissed.”
“And why is that?” He crossed his arms, his face open and amused. His stupid eyes sparkled at me, like he enjoyed this. It made me want to tackle him.
“How dare you be happy right now?” I yelled, my voice betraying me. I couldn’t describe the shattering feeling at seeing him with someone else. How he held her back, gave her his jacket, laughed with her…every time he touched her, I saw red. I wanted to burn the event down, say to hell with it. He wasn’t supposed to touch other women.
Just me.
“Uh, because I’m proud of you? You look beautiful and did an incredible job tonight. I’m happy for you.” His eyes warmed, and he placed his hands in his pockets. He wore a tux so fuckingwell. The material clung to his thick muscles, and he loosened his tie, looking more like he should be on the cover of a magazine.
My gut swooped at how delicious he was. I wanted to lick him then and there, consequences be damned. He stared at me, expecting an answer, but my mouth wouldn’t work.
“No response? The first time ever, I’ve left you speechless.” He licked his bottom lip as he stepped toward me. “Explain it to me. Explain why you’re fucking pissed.”
“I-I…” I stopped. If I admitted I was jealous, then he’d want more of an explanation. I wasn’t sure I had one. “You promised to help me tonight, and instead, you brought a date.”
“I did promise to help you, and I did.” He smirked and stepped closer. “Was there anything I didn’t do that you needed? If I recall, you wouldn’t take my help a few times.”
“Yeah, because it would be rude to yourdate.”
“You seem to have a problem with Emery. She was nice,” he said, his voice light.
Emery.
My eye twitched as images of the two of them laughing took root in my brain. She’d learn Preston’s favorite foods and games, and she’d come over and share meals with him. She’d be at our house, sleeping with him in his room. My chest broke open in pain. Imagining them together hurt my soul. Physically felt like someone stabbed my heart. “I-I don’t have a problem with her.”
“Little liar.” Preston stepped even closer to me, his hazel eyes swirling with something deep. “Tell me the truth, Jordan.”
“I am! I don’t have a problem with Emery or whatever. I don’t!” I stomped off, hating the way my body betrayed me. I didn’t get far before Preston gripped my elbow, spinning me around.
He stared down at me with so much warmth that it took everything in me not to lean into him. “You’re not running fromme. I will catch you. Now I can do this all night, play a game with you, or you can tell me the fucking truth.”
