Page 26

JORDAN

I woke up plastered to a warm, thick chest. My face stuck to bare skin, and it took all of two seconds for last night to come back to me in flashes.

The event.

Preston.

Preston.

Heat flooded my face, dancing along my veins toward my limbs as I snuggled deeper into him.

He was insatiable last night, meeting me every step of the way and then some.

It was unbelievably hot, and I wanted more.

I’d never slept with someone I had such a connection and trust with, where I wasn’t worried about actually getting hurt.

We could do so much more when there was trust.

Unreal. I snorted, smiling to myself at how amazing it had been. I shouldn’t have been surprised after our insane chemistry at the hotel, but I expected to freak out. That, I prepared for. But nothing. No inner voice telling me to run.

“If you’re trying to plan your escape, it won’t happen.” Preston’s sleep-filled, deep voice sounded right against my ear. His lips grazed the shell, causing goose bumps to burst. His grip on me tightened, and he adjusted the blankets to cover both of us. “But feel free to try.”

“I wasn’t planning it,” I admitted, those words feeling huge for me. “I was actually thinking about how much I’m not freaking out.”

“Mm.” He kissed my temple and snuggled me more. Every part of our naked bodies touched right now, and it was like I was in a Preston-hug-blanket. He might be right. I didn’t think I could slide out of his grip with how he held me. “That’s good, baby.”

Fuck. My stomach did that swoopy thing it did when he kissed me in the rink. I liked him calling me that. It made me want to giggle and twirl my hair like a lovestruck fool. This wasn’t love like that, but it had the signs.

“I can hear you thinking though, so can you share what’s going on?” he asked, thoughtful, patient. No worry or edge to his voice.

“Replaying last night over and over.”

“Well fuck, if we’re doing that, I’m gonna be hard in half a second.”

I laughed but made no moves to push him off.

“I mean, yeah, that was…amazing between us. I meant the whole night, the event. I wonder if my professor appreciated the work, if she told my mom…if Coach Reiner speaks to my teacher, and if I get an A. I texted my mom about how I killed it, yet she read it and didn’t respond. ”

“Hey.” Preston adjusted us so he could look down at me. His hazel eyes were filled with warmth and kindness, like he’d catch me no matter how many times I fell. “You were incredible, and I hate that you want your mom to know it. You have nothing to prove to her, and some day, I hope you get there.”

“Yeah, I wish.” I swallowed the slight ball of emotion in my voice. “Maybe it’ll happen. ”

“It will. One day, you’re gonna wake up and realize you’re the fucking shit, and you don’t owe anyone a damn thing.

You’re gonna see yourself and see a beautiful badass who works harder than anyone I know.

” Preston ran a hand over my hair, a soft smile on his face.

“Hey, what are you doing for dinner tonight?”

“That was off topic,” I said, unable to stop myself from smiling. “Uh, nothing?”

“I’m taking you on a date.”

“Didn’t sound like an ask in there. That was a little bossy, Charming,” I teased. My stomach filled with butterflies at the insistence and commanding tone though. I loved seeing him this way.

“That’s cause I’m not asking. I’m not giving you a chance to change your mind. You agreed we’re doing this, so baby, I’m taking you out.”

“Alright. So, where are we going?”

“Leave that to me. You planned last night, and I’ll do tonight. You are going to wear that see-through black dress thing though.”

“Oh, am I? That seems mighty demanding of you.”

Preston flipped us over, so his forearms rested on either side of my face as he stared down at me.

His eyes lit up. “You wore it out once, two months ago. I couldn’t take my fucking eyes off you and how it fit your body.

You danced, and it took everything in me to not haul you into a room and rip it from your body. So yeah, wear that dress for me, okay?”

God, with a response like that, how could I not?

“Okay, yeah. I guess I can do that.”

“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 his friends are 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—cooking eggs and toast together and analyzing the event data. It was utter perfection.

Logan paced my 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 a date. 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 go out 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 was in love with 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. ”

I rolled my eyes, laughing at Logan’s ridiculousness. “You are making this worse!”

She fell onto my bed giggling, tucking her knees to her chest. “You’re so cute. I’m texting Quentin about it.”

“Ugh.” I grabbed some lip gloss, applied a layer, and stood in front of my floor-length mirror hanging on the back of my door.

The black dress hugged my curves, the sheer parts of it exposing skin at my hips and sides.

The front dipped low, providing a great view of my cleavage, and I made sure to spray some perfume there.