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“You have an admirer,” I inform her.
She turns her head, and once he has her attention, he winks. Bex doesn’t return his gesture or even acknowledge him. Weird. Despite her defensive demeanor, she seemed excited about her date with him this weekend. I would have thought she would at least wave to him. Typical Bex. She’s always so closed off that she pushes everyone away except for me.
“The way he’s looking at you is giving me chills,” I say to break the silence. “What I wouldn’t give to have someone look at me like that.”
Still burning a hole through her with his eyes, Preston removes his helmet, his sweaty hair sticking up in different directions. His dark, messy hair and the sexy look on his face catches Bex’s attention. She stares at him, her mouth agape, a soft sigh escaping her lips. He has an effect on her whether or not she wants to admit the truth. I know my friend well enough to see she will fold like a cheap chair if Preston as much as brushes his fingers along her skin.
Once practice ends, Coach Bryant orders his team to hit the showers. Bex is busy lusting over Preston, and I’m still enamored by Drake Donovan. As Drake steps off the ice, headed toward the locker room, I get a better look at him. His eyes meet mine for a second, and a ripple of pleasure shoots through my body. Dammit. One glance, that’s all it takes for Drake to have an effect on me. I wish I didn’t want him. But damn him for being so sexy I can’t formulate a single thought when he looks at me.
I’m not the type of girl to fall head over heels with a guy or even give a shit if one likes me. So, why do I care that Drake can’t stop looking at me like I’m his dinner? Speaking of food…
“Where do you want to eat?” I rub my stomach. “I worked up an appetite watching these hockey hotties.”
“I bet that’s not the only appetite you worked up,” she deadpans. “Don’t think I missed you obsessively watching Drake. I don’t blame you. I was doing the same to Preston.”
Holy shit, Bex has no idea that Preston is now behind her. I didn’t even hear him approach until he was on her heels.
I clear my throat and tilt my head to indicate someone is behind her. When she spins around, her eyes bug out. Busted.
A wicked smirk turns up the right side of Preston’s mouth. “Funny meeting you here.”
Speechless, Bex opens her mouth but nothing comes out. This is a first. Even I’m stunned by his sudden appearance. He must’ve overheard our conversation. So, now he knows I like Drake, even though I don’t want to like him. Ugh, how awkward?
“Did you watch me play?”
Bex nods. “Uh-huh. My dad asked me to stay behind.”
“Parker, stop bothering my daughter,” Coach Bryant yells. “Time to hit the showers.” He claps his hands. “Let’s go.”
Bex lets out a sigh of relief. “Saved by the bell.”
“For now.” Preston wiggles his eyebrows in this adorable way that makes him even sexier. “Wait for me. Right here.”
Bex makes a strange face. She hates being told what to do. “And why would I do that?”
“Do you know how to skate?”
She snorts. “My dad is a hockey coach. I grew up at a rink. Are you serious?”
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.”
“Really?” Her eyebrows rise. “I find that hard to believe.”
“It’s true,” Preston confesses. “JP never took to hockey, at least not the way I did, and he hates the cold.”
She laughs. “That’s interesting. I would’ve thought hockey was a mandatory 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 was going to say,” Preston offers. “But... thanks, I guess.”
She bites her cut lip, most likely forgetting about the pain with Mr. MVP standing in front of her. I’ve never seen Bex so out of sorts before.
Preston does something neither of us expects and removes 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 it’s like I’m sharing a private moment between them.
Should I leave? I have no idea what to do right now.
“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.
