Defending Donovan (Face-Off Legacy/Campus Kings 6)

“What do you think happened?”

My eyes widen in shock. Instinctively, I reach up to cover my mouth with my hand to keep the surprised squeal from escaping. Staring at Bex like she’s an alien who’s replaced my friend, I slowly lower my hand, speaking between my fingers. “You guys hooked up. Wow! How was he? Does he live up to his reputation?”

Drake more than lived up to his… just not in the way I would have thought.

Bex nods. “Oh, yeah. In every way.”

I’m glowing with excitement, unable to contain how happy I am for Bex. She’s waited four years to trust another guy. The last one was a hockey player and the world’s biggest piece of shit. After talking to Drake, I have a feeling Preston is a good guy and perfect for Bex. I hope everything works out with them.

“Lucky girl.” I slap her on the arm in a joking manner and lean into her. “When are you seeing him again?”

“It was a one-time thing.” Her eyes are on the court, her expression unreadable. “He knows the deal.”

Hello, what is wrong with my best friend?

I cock an eyebrow at her, confused as fuck. “Are you insane? You need to make it a permanent thing.”

“Things got weird this morning in front of his team.” She lowers her voice, so the other girls on the bench with us can’t overhear. “He asked me about Kellan.”

I gasp at her confession. “You told him?”

“Well, no, but Shannon was there. She made us all breakfast. My dad’s rules came up, and when Shannon asked about them, she guessed the reason behind them. He looked like he was going to jump out of his skin when I told him he knows the guy.”

“What did you tell him?”

She shrugs, unaffected. I wish sometimes she would act like she gives a single fuck, instead of sweeping everything under the rug like it doesn’t matter. “It was awkward. I kinda yelled at him in front of his friends and then brushed it off like I would tell him later.”

“Are you going to tell him?”

“No need to. We’re not together. I don’t owe him an explanation about my past. It’s none of his business.”

“If he knew the truth, he would probably beat the shit out of Kellan. Wouldn’t that make you feel better?”

“Maybe,” she whispers. “I don’t know. It was so long ago. I’m over it now. There’s no reason to dig up the past. I want to move on with my life.”

“Yeah, I get that.” I lift a towel from the bench and wipe the sweat dripping from my face. “If you never get close to anyone, you never have to tell them anything. Isn’t that the Bex Bryant way?”

“It’s for the best. Don’t you think?”

I frown. “If you say so.”

I hate it when she acts like this. It’s so hard to get through to her sometimes.

“Preston is having a party this weekend at his house,” she says to change the subject. “He invited me when he walked me home. Which means you’re invited, too. So, you’re coming.”

I laugh at her rudeness and then raise my hand to give her a mock salute. “Aye aye, ma’am.”

My dad was in an engineer in the Marine Corps. We moved every few years for most of my childhood until he finally took a job with Lockheed Martin in California, where our family settled down when I was in high school. That’s another reason I never had a boyfriend long enough to fall in love and break my virginity rule. Drake seems to like the challenge, but he has his own problems.

Bex chuckles. “Don’t give me that drill sergeant crap. You’re coming to the party with me. There’s no way I’m going alone. Would you believe one of his teammates slow clapped me when I came downstairs this morning? A fucking slow clap. It was awful.”

“I hope he defended you.”

“He did,” she counters. “Still, it was awkward, and then we got into that fight in the kitchen in front of everyone. What am I supposed to tell him?”

“Try to avoid having the conversation if you don’t want to talk about it. You could also give him the brief version of what happened with Kellan and make him promise not to cause a scene.”

“The next time he plays Boston College, he will kill Kellan.”

“Wouldn’t that be nice,” I deadpan. “His ghost of the past already haunts you.”

She punches me hard in the arm, her teeth gritted in anger. “Don’t be a jerk, Tay. This situation is hard enough.”

“Your dad might have rules about players, but I bet if you told him about Preston, he’d warm up to the idea. If he treats you right, that’s all your dad will care about.”

She shrugs. “Yeah, I guess. I just feel so guilty. It’s like I broke that unspoken bond between us by going behind his back.”