He shrugs, unaffected by Bex’s comments. “Hey, you never know. You could be good on your feet and horrible on skates. My older brother can’t skate to save his life, even with my dad teaching him.”
Her eyebrows rise. “Really?”
“It’s true,” Preston confesses. “JP never took to hockey, at least not how I did, and he hates the cold.”
She laughs. “That’s interesting. I would have thought hockey was a requirement in your family.”
“He’s the brains?—”
“And you’re the beauty,” she finishes for him, laughing.
My cheeks flush for her as if this is all happening to me. Oh my God, Bex has just admitted she thinks he’s hot. She’s so into him it’s insane. And Preston doesn’t miss a beat. He knows exactly how she feels about him.
“No, that wasn’t what I would say,” Preston offers. “But... thanks, I guess.”
She bites her cut lip, most likely forgetting about the pain with Mr. MVP standing before her. I’ve never seen Bex so out of sorts before.
Preston does something neither of us expects, removing the glove from his hand to touch her cheek. He slides his thumb over her lip. “How did this happen?”
His movements are so sensual that I feel like I’m sharing a private moment between them.
Should I leave?
“I took one for the team,” she says.
“Bex likes it rough,” I add to take the edge off this moment. I’m always good for an inappropriate joke when necessary. That’s how I handle awkward moments. Comedy is my go-to when things get weird.
Preston laughs.
An awkward pause passes before Bex says, “You stink, Parker. Go take a shower.”
“What about your dad?” I point out.
“We’re supposed to have dinner with my dad. I can’t. But I’ll see you this weekend.”
“Can I call you?”
She shakes her head. “No, I don’t enjoy talking on the phone.”
While that’s true, what the hell is she doing?
He cocks an eyebrow at her. “Texts, then?”
Bex shrugs. “Um…” She looks to me for confirmation.
Is she hoping I will give her a way out of talking to him? Hell, no. Bitch, you’re going on that date. She’s giving him her number. I know Bex likes Preston and tries to dodge him because of her intimacy issues.
“Yeah,” I say. “Text her later.”
Bex doesn’t look thrilled with me, while Preston is happy as a pig in shit.
He extends his hand to me. “We haven’t met. I’m Preston Parker. And you are?”
Oh, please. You know my name, Parker.
“Taylor Bradshaw.” I clear my throat and stand up straight. “Bex’s roommate.”
“You forgot teammate,” Bex says. “Taylor’s also my best friend.”
