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“Why are you going with this chick who’s cooking us dinner? She’s going to cockblock the shit out of you, and probably us, too.”
“Whatever,” he growls. “Shan’s pretty cool. You’ll like her. Her friends are hot.”
“Are they stripping? What kind of contest are we talking here?”
“Nope, I wish.” He licks his lips. “I’d pay good money to see that. There’s a five-hundred-dollar prize for the best group.”
“And it’s all girls?”
“Yeah, it’s kind of like Coyote Ugly, you know how they dance on bars in the movie? Shan said they have to dress up. Sounds hot. You should take out your tampon and come with us.”
I make a fist and tap his arm, not enough for it to hurt, but for his stupid remark.
He laughs and shakes it off.
“Hot chicks and beer.” I wink at him, slinging my towel over my shoulder. “That was your sales pitch right there, and I’m sold. See ya at home.”
Jamie counts out a few reps. “Later.”
I walk toward the locker room wondering if I can convince Bex to come out with us on Saturday night. I have to find a way. Because Jamie is right about one thing—I have it bad for my coach’s daughter. And I can’t get her out of my head.
Chapter Four
Bex
“I still can’t believe you had dinner with Preston Parker,” Taylor shouts, her voice far too loud for those passing by us. “My ovaries would have exploded sitting next to him.”
“Would you keep it down?” I lower my voice to a more audible level, my feet moving faster to get away from any lingering ears. “I don’t think everyone heard you across campus.”
She fixes the strap of the gym bag slung over her shoulder, matching my pace. “Shit. Sorry, I wasn’t thinking. But this is kind of a big deal for you. After obsessing over his mom for like ever, how are you not as excited as I am about this? He talked to you. Preston sat next you.” She fans herself with her hand, with a dreamy look on her face. “I would die if he even breathed in the same airspace as me.”
“Okay, that’s a bit dramatic, even for you. Don’t you think?”
“He’s just a hockey player. Stop acting like a girl.”
“Must I remind you I am a girl,” she counters. “And he’s the hottest guy on campus. Preston is taking you to meet his mom. Hello, that’s major. Wake up, Bex. You have a date with Preston Parker this weekend. I’m so jealous right now I almost hate you.”
I nudge her in the arm with my elbow and laugh. “You’re not allowed to hate me over boys. It’s in the roommate agreement.”
Dodging my second elbow, she snorts. “Roommate agreement?”
“Yeah, it’s like our unspoken rules we both have to follow. No fighting over boys is one of them.”
I became friends with Taylor during freshman orientation. We were paired together, became fast friends, and even made the basketball team together. Sophomore year, we became roommates and have been inseparable ever since.
“But he’s Preston Parker.”
“Will you stop saying his name like he’s a big deal?”
She gives me a perplexed look. “He is a big deal, silly. Did you fall down and bump your head? Just because you have more of a crush on his mom than him doesn’t make him any less yummy. Hey, if you don’t want him, I’d be more than happy to be your substitute.”
On this campus, athletics reign supreme. Even my teammates and me are treated differently because of it. If anyone is deserving of godlike praise, it’s Preston Parker. There’s no debating that he’s the most athletically gifted player on the men’s ice hockey team. He’s broken most of the records set in previous years, putting other players to shame. My dad talks about him all the time. I never saw him so excited to coach a player until Preston.
“Does all your fangirling have a point?”
She scoffs. “Of course, it does. You have a shot with Preston. Take it, girl. This is your one chance. Girls like us don’t get these kinds of opportunities to date guys like him. They usually go for cheerleaders or sorority girls.”
“My dad has rules about his team. You know them well.”
“How can I forget? No talking to his players. No hanging out with his players. No dating his players.”
“Technically, I already broke one of them when I talked to Preston in the locker room.”
“Your dad broke his own rule by introducing you to his players. He shouldn’t have done that if he was going to be such a hard ass.”
She’s right. The pizza shop was the first time in all these years that my dad had allowed me to communicate more than a hello or goodbye. His team was always off-limits to me. And for good reason.
“It’s not just his rules,” I admit. “After what happened with Kellan, I had no interest in dating, let alone his players. I still don’t. Kellan left a lasting effect on my life, one I never want to repeat.”
