Page 74 of The Heart Breaker

“Why is that so shocking?”

I shrug and fold my arms. “I just… didn’t really picture you as a subtitles guy.”

His mouth twitches. “Icanread, Prescott.” I roll my eyes, which makes him chuckle as he shifts on the bed and runs a hand through his hair. “My sister got me into it, actually. She was obsessed with “Attack on Titan”. Had it on every day after school.” His mouth pulls into a smile. “Eventually I gave in, and then I was just as hooked as she was.”

I blink. “I didn’t know you had a sister.”

Something shifts in his face. “Yeah,” he says, and his voice comes out rougher than it did a second ago. “She’s younger.”

I’m not sure what just happened, but it’s obvious it’s a sore topic for him. He looks at me for a second too long, and the urge to ask what that look means rises straight up my throat, but before I can, he clears his throat.

“Do you have any siblings?” Cole asks.

I think so.

I force the thought back down and shake my head. “No. Just me.”

“Only child,” he says with a scoff. “Your parents must’ve spoiled you.”

A laugh slips out of me, and I sit down beside him on the bed, folding my legs under myself. “My relationship with my mom is… rocky,” I admit. “She doesn’t know I’m at Colton.”

He studies me, his brows drawing together. “Why?”

My throat goes tight.

I’ve never told anyone this. Not Isabella. Not Chase. Notanybody. No one knows why I came to Colton when I got into a better art program at a school everyone said I’d be stupid to turn down.

But I needed to be here.

I needed answers.

“Are you nervous about the game tonight?” I ask him instead, hoping he just drops it.

His eyes narrow a little, but he thankfully lets it go and scoffs, shaking his head. “Because of golden boy? Nah. I’m looking forward to putting his ass on the ice.”

I roll my eyes and nudge his thigh with my knee. “Don’t fight him,” I warn, giving him a look.

He turns his head and arches a brow. “Have you met me, Prescott?”

“I’m serious,” I say, turning toward him. “I don’t want him to know that we’re…” I pause because none of the words feel right for… whatever the hell this is. I swallow and gesture between us instead. “You know.”

His gaze drops to my mouth for a brief second before lifting again. “Yeah,” he says. “I know.”

“If you start throwing punches at him for no reason, it’s going to look suspicious,” I say. “He’s not an idiot. He’ll know something’s up, and I really don’t want to deal with that tonight.”

He watches me for a second, jaw tightening just a little, then lets out a breath. “Fine,” he mutters. “I’ll behave.” But then one corner of his mouth lifts. “I’ll shake his hand with the same one I had you shaking with.”

His words make my core throb, and judging by the look in his eyes, I can tell he notices.

“Stop looking at me like that,” he warns me. “I don’t have time to fuck you. If I do, I’ll be late to the game and have to explain to the guys that I showed up late after spending hours making you come.”

My face goes hot, so I clear my throat and act as if my pulse isn’t all over the place. “You’re staying here until then?”

He shrugs. “I’ve gotta leave in, like, an hour,” he says. “Could use the company.”

I blink at him. “You want my company?”

For a second, he just looks at me, and there’s something in his face I can’t quite place before his mouth lifts into a teasing smirk. “Wanted to fuck,” he says. “But that’s apparently off the table, so…”