Page 14 of Players Love Hard
“You’re such a nerd.”
I shrug, unaffected by his words. Everyone calls me a nerd, but I’m the one they turn to when they need their computer fixed, can’t get their phone to work, or need cheat codes for video games.
I shove my hands into my shorts pockets and shrug. “I can take one for the team. I’m sure Tuck, Trent, and Drake will, too. What do you want to know about her?”
He scratches his jaw, thinking over my question. “Find out if she has a boyfriend. Where she hangs out. Who she’s friends with, other than her roommate. Whatever you can get out of her teammates.”
“I don’t think she has a boyfriend. I’ve seen her on campus before, but never with any guys. She always hangs out with the same girl.”
“Coach probably doesn’t let her date.”
Bex literally ran face first into Preston’s wet chest in the locker room after practice. She was on her way to her dad’s office at the back of the room. Apparently, she didn’t realize the players would be in there. That must have been a rude and awkward awakening for her.
“But she’s meeting your mom. She loosened up a lot after you offered to take her with you on Saturday. You forgot to mention the games last all day.” I snicker. “Wait until she finds out she’s spending the entire day with your mom… and my dad.”
Our parents still coach a youth basketball team together. Aunt Charlotte is the head coach, and my dad is the assistant. She’s the most dominant woman I have ever met.
Preston grabs a paper cup from the holder on the wall next to the water cooler. “You should come, too. It will be a long day. Bex will need someone to talk to when I’m busy helping with the kids.”
He drinks the contents of the cup and fills it again before I pour one for myself.
“Depends on how drunk I get on Friday night after the game,” I say to annoy him.
Too eager to pass judgment, he frowns at my stupid remark. “Dude, we just talked about this. For a smart guy, sometimes you’re so dense. Stay in and play video games with me instead. Your dad’s new game is sick.”
“Oh, I know. Right? I was playing Mage Wars last night drunk off my ass. The graphics were insane and even better with a good buzz going.”
I sit down at a leg machine and remove the towel hanging from my pocket to wipe down the equipment.
“We should play later,” Preston says.
I flash a joker-like grin. “Think you can keep up with me?”
He throws his hand out at me and laughs. “Please. More like… can you keep up with me? Seriously, though, stay in with me after the game, kill off a few levels, and come to the games on Saturday. If you’re there, Bex might lower her guard more. She probably thinks it’s a date or some shit.”
“I guess.” I pause for a second and then add, “But I’m not leaving the house at the ass crack of dawn with you. I’ll meet you and Bex for the second half of the games.”
Somehow, he always manages talking me into doing shit I don’t want to do. Like getting up early on one of my few days off from school and hockey.
He slaps me on the back. “I knew I could count on my wingman.”
“You know, you could just ask Bex whatever you want to know. Stop acting like such a pussy.”
Preston groans. “Whatever. I’m hitting the showers. I’ll catch you later.”
“I’m making dinner later.” I lift the bar, somewhat out of breath. Damn, this is sad. “Make sure you’re home.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “You’re making dinner? What in the microwave? You don’t know how to cook.”
“Shannon’s making dinner for me, by extension, she’s now cooking for the entire house.”
“Sounds good. But I don’t want my food poisoned.”
I laugh. “Nah, Shannon’s cool.”
I tell him about Shannon and her sisters dancing in a contest this weekend at The Sixth Floor. He agrees to come with our friends and me. Not like he’d miss an opportunity to watch half-naked girls shake their asses on a bar.
About to leave, Preston glances over his shoulder at me. “Did you get any new leads on The Queen?”
