Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
He laughs. “I think it’s time I take you out, don’t you?”
I can’t stop smiling. “You want to take me on a date?”
“That’s what I said.” He kisses the top of my head, holding me close. “I’m not in the habit of saying things I don’t mean. I’ll make a reservation for a real restaurant. You know, like cloth napkins and candles and shit.”
I laugh. “Way to sell it, Parker.”
He shrugs. “What do you want from me? I’ve never had a girlfriend before. Just girls I fucked.”
“Real classy,” Jamie says. He looks at me, amused. “Bex, I wouldn’t blame you if you ran the other way right now. This one is a piece of work.”
I steal a glance at Preston, smiling. “I’m not going anywhere… as long as my dad doesn’t find out.”
Preston’s smile turns into a frown. “Let me take care of your dad.” He focuses his gaze on Jamie. “Bex is coming to Thanksgiving with Coach Bryant.”
“Sweet. I’ll be there,” Drake says. “Bring Taylor with you.”
“I don’t know for sure,” I interject. “I still have to ask my dad if he wants to change our usual plans. You guys know better than anyone how much he hates change.”
They grunt in answer.
“What about Taylor?” Drake asks.
“Taylor is a definite no. She flies home to California every year for Thanksgiving. Why? You like her?”
Drake shrugs. “She’s okay.”
Jamie throws a pillow at his head. “Don’t lie, bro. I’m getting sick of hearing about Taylor.”
A hint of red touches Drake’s cheeks. “Whatever.”
Preston threads his fingers between mine and leads me into the kitchen. It’s vacant, much like the first night we were together, until Jamie and Drake come barreling in behind us.
“Do you know how to cook?” Jamie asks me.
“Not unless you want mac and cheese from a box,” I deadpan.
Jamie looks at Drake.
They both shrug.
“That works.”
“No,” Preston says. “Make your own damn food. Or get Shannon back so she can cook for the house again.”
I look at Jamie. “You’re not talking to Shannon anymore?”
“I don’t know,” he mutters. “She’s kinda crazy.”
“But he misses her,” Drake says. “Hell, even I miss her. She makes the best pancakes. Now that Shan’s gone, we have to eat at the cafeteria.”
I hold my hands up. “Well, don’t look at me. I’m not going to be your mom replacement.”
Jamie gives me a disgusted look.
“Shan is wifey material,” Drake says. “This idiot is too stupid to realize.”
“Enough about Shan,” Jamie growls.
Preston opens the refrigerator, scanning the shelves. “Ignore them, babe. I do.” He removes what looks like leftover chicken enchiladas from the fridge. “Stop asking my girl to make shit for you,” he tells Jamie. “If you want someone to baby you, then go beg Shannon to come back.”
I take a seat at the kitchen island, leaving the end stool for Preston, and glance at Jamie. “What did you do?”
“It’s complicated.” Jamie sighs. “You know how women are. Pain in my ass.”
“Hey, I’m right here,” I remind him.
Preston preheats the oven and sets the container of Mexican food on the counter.
“You okay with enchiladas?”
“Yeah,” I say. “I’ll eat whatever.”
His eyes illuminate, and a sick thought crosses his face. I know him well enough to read his dirty thoughts. I smile in response to our silent exchange.
I stare at him wondering how we got to this point. Now, I have to work up the courage to tell my dad the truth. That I’m madly, head over heels in love with the star of his team. He will be crushed.
Chapter Nineteen
PRESTON
After the hostess shows us to the private room I booked at Luciano’s, Bex slides into the massive booth next to me. Her bare leg brush against mine, and I can’t help but touch her. Tiny bumps dot her legs, so responsive, as always. I slide my other arm across her shoulders, and she rests her head on my chest for a second.
She scans the large room. There’s a long oak bar on one wall, more tables and booths on the other side. Our table is lit by candlelight and the dim chandelier hanging above us. My parents love this restaurant. It’s their spot. And I thought, with Bex, that maybe it could be ours too. I find myself wanting to have things with her, things we share together. She makes it so easy to be with her yet still so difficult with her dad not knowing about us.
“I can’t believe you did all this for our first date,” she beams.
“It’s a special occasion.” I press my lips to hers, leaving her with a soft kiss that causes her to moan when our lips separate. “Plus, I wanted some privacy.”
“We definitely have that.”
I squeeze her knee, my fingers traveling up her inner thigh. “We could have sex in this room, and no one would even know. No one would care even if they caught us.”