“Good girl.” He smirked, bending down and nipping my bottom lip. “Mm, might need to demand that we sleep together every night too. I like seeing you like this. Soft and sleepy and beneath me.”
“It could be arranged. We’ll see.” I couldn’t stop smiling.
In every hookup I’d ever had, I wanted out the second sun burst through the window. I’d prefer to never see the guy again, yet with Preston, I was in no rush. I wanted to stay naked in bed, talking, teasing, and hanging out. My chest felt lighter. My heart beat stronger. My breath, easier.
“So, should we chance going downstairs and showing our faces?” Preston asked, grinning. “See if Price and hisfriendsare here? We could show off this massive hickey on your neck.” He trailed a finger beneath my ear, his smile doubling as he trailed that touch over my neck, to my breast. “Oh shit, baby, do these hurt?”
“Not at all.” I stared down, noting at least three marks he left. “I like having these here as little reminders.”
“Yeah, seeing them on you is doing some weird things to me right now.”
“What kinda things?”
“Annoying, caveman things.” He bent down and kissed the marks, his breath dancing over my skin. “Toxic masculinity things where I want you to waltz naked downstairs and show off this body to everyone so they know you’re with me.”
“Oh. Right. Obviously.”
He snorted and pulled back, gazing at me with such tenderness my breath caught in my throat. He had to stop looking at me like he loved me because it was causing me to have weird thoughts. “Can I cook you breakfast?”
“What?” he asked, a dimple popping out.
“I want to cook breakfast for you. Something, I don’t know. I want to do something for you. The feeling is overwhelming me. Can I take care of you?”
“God, I love that.” He kissed my forehead. “Yeah, I can help you too. We can eat and check everything online. See the buzz from last night.”
And that was how we spent the morning after—cookingeggs and toast together and analyzing the event data. It was utter perfection.
Logan pacedmy bedroom hours later, her hair in braids and her headphones around her neck. My best friend kept staring at me, clicking her tongue, and smiling at me.
“Would you knock that shit off?” I said, also smiling. “You’re making me nervous.”
“Well forgive me, but this is huge. I can’t decide if this is the best or worst idea of all time. I mean, good gravy, Jordan. You are going on adate.A date with another human. You’ve never been on one? Maybe homecoming freshmen year?”
“Eh, that was a pity dinner. I didn’t have feelings for the kid.” I applied another layer of mascara and added my fake eyelashes before blinking at myself in the mirror. I looked fucking good.
“That’s what I mean!” Logan grabbed my shoulders, her eyes wide as she shook me. “This is big news! My mom wants photos by the way.”
“Oh my god.” I blushed. This was the thing I wished my mom would care about. That she’d care enough to ask what was going on in my life. “You didn’t take one, did you?”
“I’m going to. You look beautiful and hot and spicy, just like you are.” Logan’s eyes widened, and she jumped back. “’HOTTOGO.’ That is the theme song. You look damn hot to goout on a date.”
I snorted. “You’re something else, Log. My god.”
“No, I get to have this. I’m so happy I get to live through this with you. You getting ready for your first date at twenty-one. It’s adorable and precious.”
Her words hit me in the chest though. It was my first one, and while she teased me and was happy, the reality got me.Nerves. Butterflies. What-ifs. Logan must’ve sensed my shift because she froze. “What is it?”
“Are you a mind reader?” I fake-laughed, sitting on the edge of my bed—the one Preston and I woke up in—and ran my hand over the sheet. “Okay, I’m…nervous? Is that stupid?”
“Oh, sweetie. No, that’s not stupid at all. It’s okay and normal. What are you nervous about? It’s Preston. That man is in love—he loves you and will take care of you.”
My stomach did that silly swoop thing at the mention of love. There was no way he wasin lovewith me. He loved me, like I loved him as a close friend. But love? No. Our chemistry was off the charts, and we got along well, but love took years. “I know he’ll be nice and shit, but it’s weird. Like, what do we even talk about? Do we hold hands?”
Logan laughed deeply, the honking sound one of my favorites of hers. Her joy made my own lips twitch, and I stopped fumbling with a loose string on the bed. “You might hold hands. He might grab your leg under the table or something. From what you told me, Preston matches your vibe, so who knows what he’ll do. But as far as talking? Have you ever had an issue talking with anyone?”
“Well, no.”
“Okay, then channel that. Worst case, talk about the weather. We’re Midwesterners, and that is the safest go-to topic.Oh, wow, Preston. You look so handsome on this cold, cold night in January.”
