The Boyfriend Zone by Jillian Quinn
Throughout practice, I couldn’t get Bex out of my mind. Every time I moved, it was as if she was there watching me. Maybe I imagined her blue eyes following me. Or maybe I wasn’t crazy at all. Because when she spins around to face the ice, her eyes widen at the sight of me.
I smirk. “Funny meeting you here.”
Speechless, she opens her mouth, but nothing comes out. I overheard her conversation with her friend, catching her in the act. At least now I know she wants me. Maybe she won’t be as much of a challenge as I thought.
In a navy and white Strickland Senators’ basketball uniform and Chucks, Bex has never looked hotter.
“Did you watch me play?”
Bex nods. “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.” I wiggle my eyebrows. “Wait for me. Right here.”
“And why would I do that?”
Sassy as ever, she drives me crazy with her mouth. Fuck, I love it. Way too much.
“Do you know how to skate?”
She snorts. “My dad is a hockey coach. I grew up at a rink. Are you serious?”
I shrug, unaffected. “Hey, you never know. My older brother can’t skate to save his life, even with my dad teaching him.”
Her eyebrows rise. “Really?”
“It’s true. JP never took to hockey, and he hates the cold.”
She laughs. “I would have thought hockey was a family requirement.”
“He’s the brains—”
“And you’re the beauty,” she finishes for me, laughing.
“No, that wasn’t what I would say. But thanks, I guess.”
I want more of Bex. More time. More of her mouth. My brain and body are in complete agreement. I need to see her again, preferably off-campus and away from her father. Saturday cannot come fast enough.
She stares at me, biting her cut lip.
I strip the glove from my hand and touch her cheek, moving my thumb over her lip. “How did this happen?”
“I took one for the team,” she says with a straight face.
“Bex likes it rough,” her friend chimes.
I laugh, my mind now wandering to dirty places. Her friend’s comment makes me think of sex. Regardless of Bex’s cracked lip, I want to take it between my teeth so fucking bad. She taunts me without even realizing she’s doing it. Fucking tease.
A long pause ensues between us before Bex says, “You stink, Parker. Go take a shower.”
I laugh. “Is that a yes?”
“It’s not a no.”
My God, I love her mouth.
“What about your dad?” her friend asks.
“We’re supposed to have dinner with my dad. I can’t. But I’ll see you at the game.”
“Can I call you?”
She dismisses the idea with a quick shake of her head. “No, I don’t enjoy talking on the phone.”
“Texts, then?”
She shrugs. “Um…” Bex looks at her friend for confirmation that this is okay, which strikes me as odd.
Why does her friend give a shit if I text her?
“Yeah,” her friend says. “Text her later.”
I hold out my hand. “We haven’t met. I’m Preston Parker. And you are?”
“Taylor Bradshaw. Bex’s roommate.”
“You forgot teammate,” Bex says, now looking at me. “Taylor is also my best friend.”
“Nice to meet you, Taylor.” I shove the glove back on my hand. “Nice seeing you, Bex. I’ll text you later, okay?”
She nods.
I leave Bex and Taylor behind and head toward the locker room to catch up with the rest of my team.
“Parker.” Coach Bryant summons me with a stern look on his face. “Can I have a word?”
Shit.
“Yeah, Coach.”
“Stay away from Bex,” he growls. “She’s not like other girls.”
“That’s a good thing,” I admit.
It’s also the reason I have trouble staying away from her.
“I mean, she’s not like the girls you date… if you catch my drift.”
“I’m taking her to meet my mom on Saturday. Is that not okay?”
His expression softens, the corners of his mouth slowly turning up into a smile. “Yes, that’s fine and nice of you to arrange. Promise me you will keep it at that. Someday, you’ll be a star just like your dad. Bex won’t fit into that equation. She’s had enough disappointments in her life, she doesn’t need another one.” He pats me on the back. “You get what I’m saying, right?”
“Sure,” I mutter, somewhat annoyed. “I got it, Coach.”
* * *
Sitting on the edge of the mattress with my cell phone in hand, I call my mom.
On the first ring, her voice blares through the speaker. “You’ve got Coach.”
My mom is all business all the time.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Oh, hey sweetie. I didn’t realize it was you. I’m driving over the Brooklyn Bridge to see a client. I didn’t even look at the caller ID. Is everything okay?” She sounds worried. “How come you’re calling on my business line?”
“I didn’t even notice,” I confess. “I hit the first number on my speed dial.”
“So, what’s up? Everything okay at school?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine, Mom.” I lay back on my bed, holding the phone to my ear. “I’m bringing someone with me on Saturday.”
“Who is it? Do I know him?”
“No. It’s a girl.”
“Ooh, this is great.” She can’t contain her excitement, her voice rising to a higher octave. “You’re finally letting me meet a girl you’re dating. About time.”
I laugh. “No, Mom, it’s nothing like that. You know I don’t date.”
She chuckles. “Like father, like son. Maybe this girl will be the one to change your mind. I did that for your dad.”
I make a gagging sound, and she laughs.
My parents are so sappy, still so madly in love after twenty-five years together. They showed me a love like theirs is possible, but I’m not ready for all of that. I have my career to worry about.
“She’s not the one, Mom. Her dad is my coach. Coach Bryant already gave me the lecture about dating his daughter. She plays basketball for Strick U. She’s a big fan of yours.”
“Well, I would love to meet Coach Bryant’s daughter. He’s doing an incredible job with you and the team.” I can almost hear the smile crossing her lips. “What’s her name?”
“Bex.”
“Her name is Bex?”
I laugh. “It’s short for Bexley.”
“Ah, that’s cute. I lucked out and had all boys, so I didn’t have to think of crazy names for girls.”
“John and Peter,” I say. “How unoriginal could you get?”
“Your grandfather’s name was John. The name John Parker means something to hockey fans.”
“And yet you let Uncle Jameson name me after his favorite comic book character.”
“A bet is a bet, Peter Parker.” Even my mom mocks me. “Names build character.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, thanks for that.”
“Hey, sweetie, my other line is beeping. Can I call you back?”
“No, that’s okay. I have to get going, anyway. Jamie’s girl is making us dinner.”
“Jamie has a girlfriend?”
“No, she’s some random chick. I’ll see you on Saturday.”
“Okay, love you, baby.”
“Love you, too, Mom.”