“I’m a great friend.” He popped his hip out and pretended to buff his nails on his shoulder.
“I thought you were just being nice by making me coffee every day.”
“I was. I’m an absolute delight, and I’ll continue to make you coffee every day. I’ve got to test my flavors on someone.”
“You’re a good friend, Preston. I’m glad I have you.” There were a lot of things that Preston did for me early in the pregnancy when I was still in denial. Like bringing home a new tea that was supposed to help with tummy troubles.
“Well, it’s been such a hardship being whisked away to this luxurious mansion where I have access to a pool, and a spa, and a masseuse, and a chef. But you’re worth it.” He gave me a side hug as we chuckled.
“So where are we all going today?” I asked.
“One of Cael’s business managers gave me four different properties to check out. All of them are places we never even thought of because we didn’t imagine we’d have the funds to rent or own a place in this area.”
I looked at the map that was in front of me. It was indeed in an area that we had never looked at. Preston and I had spentmonths working on our business proposal that one day we were hoping to present to a bank to get a loan. Now we didn’t need to.
“Our business model isn’t for this area. Will that be an issue?” Preston and I had based our business plan on the area we had lived in. The bank had refused a loan for it, multiple times, but it was a solid business plan. Bankers were just assholes.
“Based on what the person said, our business plan could still work just as well here. These places are all closer to the manor, which was one of the larger selling points.”
“Right. Because now I would be commuting from here.” Though I didn’t have a car. I suspected that Dain would insist on me having a driver. I doubted I’d be able to convince him otherwise. But where did that leave Preston? “Have you given any thought to—”
“Oh, I’m staying here. There’s no way Cael is kicking me out of this place. I told him as much yesterday when we had dinner.”
I stood up straight and faced my friend. “You had dinner with my dad?”
Preston’s cheeks heated. He pressed his lips together tightly, and his eyes focused on anywhere but me.
“Pres… Did you have more than just dinner with my dad?”
Preston waved a hand in the air. “Don’t ask for details you don’t want, Nym. It just sort of happened… Not a lot happened.”
“But you want more to happen?”
He nodded. “Unless you would prefer I didn’t?”
“No, of course not. I mean, I don’t want details, but you’re an adult, and I know you’re capable of making your own decisions. I just don’t want you to get hurt. Cael’s a force to be reckoned with. I don’t think he’s the settling-down type.” Plus, if they were mates, they would already know.
Preston scoffed. “Like any alpha would ever have the ability to hurt me. It’s just a bit of fun.”
“Well, in that case, just don’t hurt Cael.”
Preston smiled, it seemed like he was aiming for sassy, but it didn’t quite land. “Like I’d be able to. It’s just fun for both of us. Nothing serious. I won’t spend time with him if it makes you uncomfortable.”
“You’re fine, Preston. Both of you are consenting adults and you deserve a bit of fun.” In all the time I’d known him, Preston had never had a serious boyfriend. He had guys he messed around with, but no one he let get close.
“Thank you. I appreciate it. Okay, so Dain’s gonna be doing all the driving around. Perfect. I’ve been wanting to get to know him better.”
“By get to know him better, you mean grill him?”
“Damn straight! He doesn’t get off scot-free just because you forgive him. I gotta make sure he knows that there will be hell to pay if you are even a smidgen unhappy.”
I pulled Preston into a hug. “You’re the best kind of friend, you know that?”
He hugged me back and put a hand over my tummy. “You’d do the same for me.”
Chapter 16
Dain
