Preston groaned and dropped his head to my shoulder. “You’re gonna make me work for it, aren’t you? Can’t you take pity on me and my hangover? It was all for you.”
I shook my head and grinned up at him. “Do you always get what you want?”
He shrugged. “Most of the time.”
I smiled sardonically. “Well, too bad this isn’t one of those times. Patience is a virtue, Casanova.”
He groaned again. “I’m gonna kill him.”
I laughed, and he settled back down to pull me into his arms. It was the best nap I’d ever had.
CHAPTER14
PRESTON
I was walkingon cloud nine for maybe the first time in my life. Colors were brighter, food tasted better, and Alejandro didn’t get on my nerves as much as usual. And it was all because of Nick. I never knew I could be this happy.
We’d had very little time to spend together between his work and school schedule, and the demands of my restaurant. I felt guilty for leaving Stella as often as I did, and since we were going to New York after Thanksgiving, I needed to be there and give her some time off.
“Wow,” she marveled when I walked in whistling late Friday morning. “Look at you, Mr. Sexy Pants. I take it you and the bartender worked things out?”
The stupid grin that took over my face didn’t even bother me. “Yeah, you could say that. We’re crystal clear.”
I told her all about my beer-induced confessions even though she laughed so hard she had to catch her breath.
“Well, that wasn’t very supportive, but I guess it was funny. I wouldn’t be surprised if Alejandro recorded me at my finest moment.”
Stella wiped the tears away from her eyes. “Yeah, he did. Sent it to me yesterday. But it was so much better the way you told it.”
“Motherfucker,” I hissed and pulled out my phone to text the asshole.
ME: You recorded me!
I waited as he typed away. The dots bounced, stopped, then bounced again.
ASS: Yeah, and it was priceless. Now I have proof when you deny you did it.
ME: Paybacks are hell.
ASS: Preston, you know I’d never use it to embarrass you. But what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t record it? Wasn’t sure you’d remember it. And you NEED to see yourself.
ME: Send it to me, asshole.
ASS: LMAO
I waited for ASS, otherwise known as Alejandro Sandoval Sanchez, to send me my incriminating video. When it popped up, I pressed play. Stella came to stand beside me as we watched my most vulnerable moment play out before my eyes.
“Look at him,” she said, pointing to Nick. “I didn’t notice him before. I was too busy laughing at you. But the look on his face says it all. He loves you, Preston.”
My heart swelled with love as I looked at him.
“Preston? Why did you think you’d killed him?” She was laughing at me again, and surprisingly, it didn’t bother me.
“I don’t know,” I mumbled. “It was the beer and lack of food and sleep.”
Stella wrapped her arms through mine and hugged me. “I’m so happy for you, Preston. Just don’t fuck it up, okay?”
I laughed. “Yeah, okay. I’ll try.”
