Page 20

PRESTON

I said the words. I asked her the question.

I couldn’t take them back and erase them.

It happened, and I regretted it. The answering silence went on too long.

Ten seconds at least. Then twenty of her breathing against me, her muscles tightening like she was preparing for an attack.

She hadn’t shifted away from me yet, which was good, but she sighed, like my question pained her.

I hugged her closer, wanting to feel her breaths. Deep down, I knew if she said no, this would probably be the last time I held her like this.

“I-I don’t date,” she whispered after what felt like three years.

“I’m asking about me. What would it take for you to go on a date with me ?”

“Preston.” She swallowed so hard her throat clicked. “What are you doing?”

“I want to date you.” I kissed her temple, letting my lips linger on her.

She smelled divine, forbidden, and delicious.

Her silky hair was smooth and always smelled so good.

Even now, messy and sweaty, I glided my fingers through her locks.

Her body reacted to me instantly, her back arching into me.

“I want us to get dressed up and have a nice dinner. I want to touch you and kiss you.”

She trembled. “We c-can’t.”

“Tell me why.” I knew her in and out and loved her anyway.

All I wanted was a damn chance, and this was the best one I had.

We were snowed in and cuddling. There wouldn’t be a better option.

She couldn’t run away from me or avoid me.

We were stuck, and I used that to my advantage. “Give me one good reason why.”

“You don’t want to date me.”

“Pretty sure I do.” My stomach twisted with worry. She could say no, and I’d accept it. Try to move on, but after watching her play the game and talk shit to my brother, my brother’s taunts…I had to take the leap and try. “So give me a reason. If it’s legit, then I’ll back off.”

“Who are you to tell me if my reason is legit or not?” she sassed back, sounding more like herself.

“You’re forgetting I know you.” I let my lips graze the shell of her ear, and she sucked in a breath. “I want a shot with you. One shot.”

“We don’t have time. The season, my event. I don’t have time for a date,” she said, her words blurring together as she spoke faster. “So, nope. Can’t do it.”

“Jordan, I’m not saying right now. I’m saying soon, at some point.

” I swallowed the desperation in my voice.

I didn’t want her to know that I was dying.

When Price asked me about dating, my stomach bottomed out.

I wanted to date Jordan. “When we’re not busy, when we have a free night, and we both will. We live together.”

“That’s the thing, we live together . What if it goes terribly wrong and then we’re stuck in this house for months?”

“What if it goes wonderfully right? ”

“You can’t know that. You have no way to know if it’ll go well or not.”

I chuckled and adjusted her so our bodies had no inches between us. Her ass rested against my groin, her back on my chest. She snuggled deeper into me, and I adjusted the blankets so we were nice and cozy. “How many times have we grabbed food together?”

“Uh, a lot.”

“Yeah, and was it fine? Did you enjoy grabbing a sandwich at Reds or a burger at Freddys?”

She nodded. “Your point, Preston?”

“This wouldn’t be any different, except I get to touch you.”

Her breathing hitched. “Why are you doing this?” she whispered, her voice sad and filled with worry.

I hesitated. I didn’t like that sadness in her tone. “Doing what?”

“Crossing this line. We’re best friends, Preston.”

“We already crossed the line when I tasted you when you came. We’ve just avoided the line for a while, and now that you’re stuck here with me, we’re gonna talk about it.”

I ran a hand over her back and shoulder, then rested on her neck where her pulse raced. “We have chemistry and trust, two important things. I want to explore them.”

“If I say yes to one date and then never want another, you’ll back off, and we’ll remain friends?”

I tried deciphering her hidden meaning, the real question she was asking. She wanted to remain friends. The idea of backing off pained me. “Sure.”

She spun around in my bed so she faced me.

Her fingers grazed the side of my face, and she stared at me in the dark.

I could barely see the outline of her lips, but her eyes were wide open.

“I need to know you’ll always be friends with me.

Even if this blows up, which it could, because I’m not dateable.

But I need you to promise me you’ll still be my best friend no matter what. ”

I chewed my lip and sighed, finally getting her worry. “You’re worried I’m going to leave you eventually.”

“Of course you will. What else will happen? We marry?” She laughed, the bitter, sad sound echoing in my room.

Her words stabbed me in the chest.

“I’m never getting married, Preston. You shouldn’t want to either, not with your parents divorcing. So yeah, eventually you’ll leave me. Why risk our friendship for that? Our friendship is so fun and easy.”

Fuck.

I thought I had her, but I could feel her pushing away. I could almost hear her mind swirling, holding onto our friendship because most people in her life let her down. I wanted to beat the odds and show her I wasn’t like them, but she had to agree to it. I wouldn’t force her.

“Are you telling me you still believe in love and marriage?” she asked, softly. “How?”

“Of course I do.” I took a second, taking a deep breath to settle my racing heart.

The disappointment weighed me down. I foolishly thought she’d say yes and agree to one date, where I’d woo the fucking shit out of her, and we could take us being together step by step.

I never thought I’d have to convince her like this.

“I believe in finding your person, the one who knows the best and worst parts of you and loves you anyway. That’s what I’ve always wanted, having the person who gets you and supports you.

I want a best friend inside and outside the bedroom, someone to match my freak, as you said, and someone to call me out when I’m being a shit.

My parents were super happy when we were kids, and something changed, but that’s on them.

” My voice cracked. “I hate that they’re tearing up our family, but I refuse to let that cloud my view on relationships. ”

Jordan found my hand and intertwined our fingers, her breathing heavier than before. “You really are a romantic.”

“Yeah. I am.”

“I’m the opposite of romance, Charming. I’m not what you want or need. You need someone—” Her voice broke, and she stilled. “No one will ever be good enough for you.”

I kissed the back of her hand, letting go and adjusted her so there was a little space between us. “We should sleep. We got a shit ton of stuff to do tomorrow.”

“Yeah, right.” She cleared her throat and scooted closer to me. “Are we okay, Preston?”

Were we?

I wanted to say no we’re fucking not, but that wouldn’t be fair. I broke the rules and fell in love with my best friend and roommate. I asked her for a date, and she turned me down. This was the end of our story. There was no more, and I had to let the idea of her go.

Emotion clogged my throat, but I owed it to her to not be upset. I never wanted hurt or worry in her voice. “We’ll always be okay, J.”

I didn’t move when she snuggled against me, even though every part of me wanted to push her off me. Instead, I took in everything. There’d never be a night like this again, the girl of my dreams sleeping on me. Tomorrow, I’d start trying to get over her.

“Dude!”

I woke to my brother’s voice barreling through my bedroom door. He kept turning my lights on and off, creating an annoying disco.

“Knock it the fuck off. ”

“Grumpy. I take it you didn’t get any last night.”

My face flushed. The spot next to me was cold and empty. I had no idea when Jordan had snuck out, but she was great at it. Mastered the ghosting tactic, just like she did at the hotel. Heartbreak was slower than I thought. I assumed I’d wake up devastated and moody, but the pain was drawn out.

It was the what-ifs that got me. What if she said yes and woke up with me? What if she stopped worrying about people leaving her and focused on what she had? What if… no.

She’d made her choice.

I stretched, got out of bed, and followed Price downstairs. Jordan’s back was to us, and she wore tight leggings and an oversized sweatshirt—mine, of course. She either stole it from my room or I’d given it to her at some point.

“Gentlemen,” she said, spinning and putting her hands on her hips. She wore a huge smile, her cheeks red with excitement. “We’re enacting the backup plan.”

“Am I supposed to know what the hell that means?” Price scratched his head, sleep evident on his face.

“The hockey fundraiser tomorrow night. It won’t be at the event hotel anymore; it’s moving to the rink.

” Jordan’s eyes lit up. “Preston had the best idea since it’s easier to access with the roads, but we need a lot of help.

I wrote out a plan for everyone if you are both okay helping.

Damn, I never asked. Price, can you help out? ”

“I ain’t got shit to do, girl, so yeah. I can help you. What do you need?”

Jordan laid out the plans, handing us each a to-do list. She went over every detail, from who was shoveling the path to the rink to who would work security. It involved a lot of people, but that was what Jordan didn’t realize. She gave her heart to so many, and everyone was willing to help her.

Pride radiated from my chest the way she took ownership of this event. Her professor and mom had rattled her, made her feel less than, but she was going to kick ass. And I’d do whatever I could to help her. As her friend .

It was all I’d ever be, and while the thought of not being more with her fucking ached in my chest, it was the only way to keep her in my life. Maybe, in time, I’d move on.

“We want it to look like a lot of people are there. I need all the guys to bring dates for the event.” She chewed the tip of her pen as a strand of her hair fell on her face.

Her large blue eyes met mine and sparkled with life.

“Can you make sure they all bring dates to the rink? We’ll also need to have them sign a waiver about not being an idiot on the ice. We can’t have any injuries.”

“You got it.”

With marching orders, we got to work. Price rallied together his offense line to shovel, the ones who were still in town at least. They’d get started this afternoon. I called Liam first, who was totally on board, then Quentin.

He called Theo and his sister.

The word spread fast with social media. Everyone was snowed in, glued to their phones, so people loved the idea of a live fundraising event. Accounts were made, forms filled out, all while the three of us sat in the living room. Jordan called it HQ. Price was on the phone when Jordan cussed.

“What is it?”

“Decorations. I don’t know the layout of the rink or if they even have tables we can rent or use for the night. I’d like at least eight tables and a podium.” She paced the room, her face thoughtful. “Wish I could break into the rink right now.”

“We can get in.”

“What?” She faced me, hope swirling in her gorgeous eyes. “What do you mean we can get in? ”

“If the weather allows, we can walk to the rink and take a look. I can get us in.”

“Oh my god, you’re my hero. Yes, let’s go. I need a visual on it. Talk to the maintenance manager there.”

“Want to eat something first, then we can go?” I noticed she’d barely touched her food. “I can warm up some waffles for you.”

She grabbed her stomach. “Shit, I didn’t realize how hungry I was until right now.”

“Sit down, finish what you need to. I’ll get everyone waffles and then we can go.”

“Thank you, Preston.” She swallowed, staring at me, her eyes swirling with gratitude. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

I offered a half-smile, hoping that appeased her before I went into the kitchen. My chest ached with those damn what-ifs again, but I focused on the task. It didn’t matter that I would legit do anything she asked, any time of day. I’d only be in a friend capacity.

“It might be a fun twin thing, but I can read your emotions across the room.” Price entered the kitchen, his hair in a super chaotic bun. “No luck with Jordan?”

“I asked her on a date, and she said no.”

“Well, fuck. I wasn’t expecting that.” He winced and grabbed my shoulder. “Sorry, brother.”

I shrugged him off me, hurt and annoyed. “I’m friend-zoned for life. I’ll get over it eventually. Probably.”

“You need a distraction.” Price’s voice dropped lower. “Dude, I know exactly what you should do.”

“What’s that? Move out?” I barked a sharp laugh. “Already thinking about it.”

“Are we finally gonna be roomies?”

“No, we’re not.” I fought a smile. “You’re annoying.”

He ignored my comment and shrugged, the carefree aura he wore so well radiating off him. “You need to bring a date to the event tomorrow night. It’ll show her you listened to her and respected her decision, and it’ll force you to start thinking about someone else that way.”

Fuck. I closed my eyes and groaned. Price was right. My stomach felt like lead grew inside it, but I ran a hand over my face. “Yeah, I’ll think about it.”

“If you need help getting a date, let me know.” He winked. “Some of my seconds would love a night with you.”