“Earth to Clara.” I flinch away from the cold hands on my cheeks. “Where’d you go pretty girl?” Preston’s eyes search my face, a look of concern etched between his eyebrows. He really is a sight to look at.
“Sorry, this place just brings back memories.” His thumb brushes against my cheek, bringing attention to the wetness coating my skin. I didn’t even realize I was crying.
I smile up at his kindness and my eyes catch on his full lips. I wonder what it’d be like to kiss him again. He must see the questioning in my eyes because his lips descend toward mine and the soft brush of them settles my wounded heart. It’s sweet and light and before I can fully grasp what’s happening between us a hard body hits mine from behind, shoving me into Preston’s chest.
Thank god he’s huge and more than steady—even distracted—on his skates because we manage to stay upright. He catches me around the waist and holds me harder against him. The guy that ran into me, however, is splayed on the ice at our feet, cursing and scrambling to get back up.
“I’m so sorry. This is my first time and I tried to swerve around you guys but as you can see that didn’t work so well.” Poor guy. He’s obviously embarrassed and desperate to put space between us but can’t find his footing. Preston turns and reaches out to give him a hand up.
“No worries. I think we made it out unscathed,” he jokes, helping the guy to his feet and sending him on his shaky way.
“You, okay?” Preston takes me in. My mind’s still reeling from our interrupted kiss. Unable to find my words, I nod instead. I’m grateful it’s freezing in this place and my cheeks are already rosy from the cold because I’m sure I’m blushing.
“You ready to get out of here?” he asks.
“Yeah, I could use some warming up.” He takes my hand, steering us off the ice. I can’t miss the full white smile on his dashing face.
* * *
“Hey, we’re back,” I call through the foyer. We brush off the snow from our coats and hang them to dry.
“In the kitchen,” Natalie calls. The kids are watching a Christmas movie in the living room. TheGrinchfrom the sounds of it. Preston peers in and wanders in to join them as I head for Nat, who’s in the middle of making dinner, pots out on every burner; vegetables sit waiting to be chopped on the island. I walk over and start the job.
“So where have you two been?”
“We were at the diner studying, then I took him over to the ice rink.” She stops stirring whatever smells delicious in the biggest pot and looks up at me with tender concern. She knows what the ice rink means to me and that I haven’t been there in years.
“Stop it. I’m fine,” I assure her and add the lettuce to the bowl. “It was fun and he’s, like, really good on skates.”
“So, you really like this guy, huh?”
Oh boy, what do I say to that? I hardly know him, but it’s not like I haven’t enjoyed the time we’ve been spending together. He’s so different from the guys I’d normally hang out with, and he’s nothing like the guys… well guy, I dated. He makes it so easy to just be around him. But do I like him? I think we’re just becoming friends instead of acquaintances.
‘Yeah, because friends go around kissing their friends,’ the little devil on my shoulder reminds me.
“By that smile on your face, I’ll take that as a yes.” I hide my uncertainty in a laugh, and we go back to making dinner. “I’m just surprised, is all.” She’s not going to let this go.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s just so different from you, Clara. I mean, he’s a jock for starters. And nothing like Robert.” I give her a pointed look at that comment.
“Yeah, thank god for that,” I mumble.
“Clara, you guys were great together. You should have known they wouldn’t last. If it wasn’t for Preston, I’d tell you to give him another chance.” I think on that. If Preston wasn’t here, would I have given Robert more time to explain? Would we have already slipped back into our old ways like last year never happened and he didn’t completely and utterly rip out my heart? It doesn’t really matter because I’ll never know.
Warm arms encircle my waist, hands clasping against my stomach, and a sharp chin rests against the top of my head. I freeze against the casual way he holds me, as if it’s nothing new to his body being this close to mine. “Anything I can help with?” Preston offers. Natalie looks over at my chopping board now empty and around the rest of the kitchen.
“No, we just finished up. I just need to wrangle everyone in a few, once the bread is finished baking.”
“Can we talk?” The whispered words caress my ear and I squeeze my eyes shut tight. No girl wants to hear those three words. It’s never good.
“We’ll be right back.” Taking Preston’s hand in mine, I pull him out of the kitchen and through the garage where Damion’s bent under an open hood tinkering with the engine of his newest project. “Dinner’s almost ready,” I inform him without stopping to chat and walk right into his office, shutting the door behind us.
Preston sits on the futon, but I stay standing at the door, bracing myself for the news to drop. “Okay, talk,” I urge.
“Maybe this was a mistake.” The softness in his voice surprises me. His bicep bulges against the thin cotton of his flannel when he runs his fingers through his soft blond locks. Why does he have to be so damn hot? I should have known better that even faking being my boyfriend would be too much of an ask for someone like him. He probably wants to call this off because there’s someone better back at school. Shit, I didn’t even ask if he was seeing anyone. But he didn’t mention it. So, if there is, that just makes him the typical douchey jock that I expected.
My silence must make him antsy because he cuts back in, “It’s just, I overheard what Natalie said to you. I don’t want to get in the way of things between you and Robert. If that’s what you want?” His lips move but I don’t catch what he’s saying under his breath.