Page 22

PRESTON

I t was happening—the event kicked off and surpassed any hopes I had for Jordan’s huge project. I smoothed the front of my tux down as I smiled at the people lining up inside the rink to check-in.

The Harts sat at the entrance table signing people in, being so gracious and kind. Logan and Quentin walked around with radios, ensuring everything was on track with our head maintenance crew. Coach Reiner and Coach Daniels walked in with their wives, smiling and shaking hands with everyone.

The hashtags Jordan set were trending. We’d already surpassed the donation goal she had of ten thousand, and the event hadn’t even started. I was so damn proud of her. My heart wanted to beat out of my chest every time I saw her.

The football team—due to Price—showed up to support. Our entire team was here, all dressed nice with dates on their arms. Jordan’s vision came to life—the ice looked packed with all the players and their dates at the tables.

“Brother.” Price approached me with two beautiful girls on either arm. “This looks sick. ”

“Jordan did a great job.” I sought her out, trying to see if she needed help, but every time I asked, she told me to enjoy the event. “Thanks for bringing your guys.”

“Of course. I like Jordan.” Price smiled, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “This is Emery and Amanda. We met a few weeks ago, and they didn’t believe me when I said we were twins.”

Oh god. I knew what was coming next even before he said the words.

While I’d thought about bringing a date tonight, I couldn’t do it.

Not that Jordan would care, but I wanted to be available to help her, and it would be shitty to abandon my date every few minutes.

That was why I didn’t bring one. But my idiot brother looked too smug and annoying.

Jordan spoke with Coach Reiner, a smile on her face as she shook his wife’s hand, and I wanted to know what made her laugh. Reiner wasn’t that funny.

“…date for the night,” he said.

“I’m sorry, what?” I asked, shooting daggers at Price.

“Emery offered to be your date for tonight.”

“I—”

“She knows you’re helping your housemate with the event, so she understands if you have to go help out.”

“I can speak for myself, Price, Jesus.” Emery blushed and closed her eyes. “This looks really bad, and I’m sorry for this. I’d love to be your date if this isn’t awkward as hell. Your brother is quite convincing, and I now realize that you didn’t know about this.”

Fuck. Emery seemed nice, which made this harder. I exhaled and smiled. She truly looked uncomfortable. “My brother gets into trouble often, but yes, I wasn’t aware of this until right now.”

“Okay cool. Just…let me disappear in silence and never speak again.”

I chuckled and actually found her charming.

If I wasn’t in love 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.”

“Good. Now excuse me, I need to make sure the food is on time.” She walked off, her hips swaying, but her lack of attention grated me.

How fucking dare she ignore me?

“What did you do?” Quentin asked, laughing. “That was rough to watch.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, anger seeping out. “I didn’t do shit.”

Quentin hit me on the back, understanding on his face. “Jordan is an open book of emotions despite her thinking she has a handle on them. She’s pissed at you for something.”

“My brother brought a girl to be my date.”

“Ah, yup. That’ll do it.”

Andrew, our event lead, showed up with a cart of drinks, and we helped him unload into the back of the temporary bar. We had them all stacked as the line opened up. I served around twenty beers before I could have Quentin clarify .

“What do you mean that’ll do it?”

“She’s jealous, you moron.” Quentin popped a cap off three Coronas and set them on coasters. “We’ve all known how you felt for a while. Jordan refuses to see it. You always put her first and now you have a date? Even if it’s not your doing? She’s gonna lose it.”

“I asked her to date me, and she said no,” I said, the familiar rush of angry heat spreading through my body. “This is bullshit.”

“I agree with you.” Quentin smiled as two women tipped him a hundred bucks. “This is fun.”

I barked out a laugh but then Emery walked up, her gaze soft and nervous. “Hey,” I said, “What can I get you? I’m sorry I got roped into this.”

“Do not apologize to me. You’re being way too kind about this.” She held my jacket around her tighter, her lips curving. “Do you want your jacket back?”

“I’m alright.” I flashed her a smile. “Truly, I’m okay.”

She smiled at me, and it just did nothing for me. She was funny, pretty, kind, all of it, but I felt fucking zero attraction. “I’ll take a white wine, please.”

“Coming up.” I poured her a glass and slid it to her, the back of my neck prickling like someone watched me. I knew it was Jordan, but I didn’t give her the satisfaction of looking back. Instead, I flirted. “Let me walk you back to your table. Quentin can handle this for a minute.”

He shook his head, but he smiled. Jordan had always come first for me, but if she expected that to happen forever, then she was mistaken. She couldn’t have me pining after her when she refused to even try.

I placed my hand on Emery’s back and led her to the table with Price and her friend. My brother winked at me, but I ignored him. “I’ll try to sneak away soon. ”

She blushed, and I lingered, just for a beat, before leaving the table. I didn’t want to lead her on because I wasn’t an asshole, but knowing Jordan was pissed for no reason… yeah, I liked the idea of her reacting.

She pushed me all the time. She always egged me on, pushed my buttons to rile me up. Now, the tables were flipped, and damn, it was fun. Smirking, I let my fingers graze over her shoulder before heading back to the bar.

Quentin gave me a knowing look. “I’d tell you to be careful playing with fire, but Jordan deserves it.”

“Thank you, my friend.” I smiled as I served more drinks. “I’m having fun now.”

The event went on without a hitch. They raised more than double the goal, and news stories picked up on the creativity of the event. On a rink? After a snowstorm? Virtual and in-person? Jordan fucking crushed it, and I was so proud of her.

That was Preston-the-friend-speaking.

The other side of me, the one who wanted her for myself, couldn’t wait to face off. It’d be glorious, I had no doubt. Jordan was a spitfire, and the longer she and I went without speaking, the fierier our chat would be.

Everyone left the rink, Price and his dates included, where I gave Emery a hug and a wink, which Jordan saw. Now, I was rolling up the carpets with Quentin and Logan when Jordan came onto the ice. “You guys can stop. The facilities crew said they’d finish for us.”

“We don’t mind!” Logan beamed at her friend. “Jordan, this was amazing. You should be so proud of yourself.”

“You should,” I added, but she wouldn’t look at me. It was interesting seeing my best friend be so petty. “There is media buzz around the event too. You made a name for yourself, my friend.”

Her eyes blazed as she finally met my eyes. Her blue ones widened before something flashed in them. I winked and went back to my task.

“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 be fine .”

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 careful it 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? ”