I shove his shoulder with mine, earning me a pointed look that has only ever scared me when I first met him during our freshman year.
Now I simply feel accomplished when I’ve earned that look.
“You didn’t lend me ten bucks for lunch, Nole. You saved my parents from having to take out another loan. I’m paying you back.”
He shrugs his shoulders in that infamous Nole way. Like he knows damn well he did me a solid but isn’t going to dare brag about it.
“Tell you what.” Preston comes to a stop right before we turn the corner. “You tell Mel to give me back literally every watch she’s stolen from me and we’ll call it even.”
I laugh. “Yeah, that’s not gonna happen. Melody has claimed those as hers now.” I pat his shoulder to soften the blow. “My mom told me she carries that black one with the red clock handles around religiously.”
Preston’s eyes widen before he sighs and shakes his head, turning away from me to start walking again but I catch the slight upturn of the corner of his mouth.
I know more than anyone that Preston has a soft spot for the youngest of the Callahan bunch. When he flew out to San Diego with me for summer after our freshman year, it was clear that my family was now his.
And to think that back then I was nervous as shit for him to meet my family. Melody, specifically.
I mean, it’s not like Nole and I were having a secret love affair. I just wanted him to like my family.
Melody was eleven at the time and due to her autism, she has always had a hard time getting along with people.
Scratch that.
Most people don’t get along with her.
But Preston didn’t treat her differently. In fact, when the two of them are together, they’re fucking terrors. Preston isn’t the best influence and Melody happily eggs him on.
The only reason I even braved up enough to ask him for a loan was because they get along so well.
Melody just entered high school this past summer and because kids are cruel, she started to struggle socially and academically. Her school counselor suggested a school designed specifically for special needs. It sounded just like what Melody needed. Having people around that were similar to her. Not having to worry about being teased or shoved.
Only problem was the tuition was almost more than what my parents made in a year.
Enter Saint Preston.
He seems to not think dropping that amount of money is a big deal, but I do. Especially since the calls from his mom started shortly after.
I need Preston to know he’s not a wallet I want to feed off. Sometimes I think he’s aware of that, otherwise I don’t think he would’ve agreed to help at all. He doesn’t really do anything unless he wants to.
But my guilt for not being able to take care of my own sister eats away at me. I’m the only brother out of five kids. I’ve always looked out for my sisters. And Preston already pays the rent. What more can I take from the guy without giving anything in return?
Preston is now the one to shove my shoulder, pulling me out of my thoughts like he knows I need it.
“You know your little sister is walking around with a Ferragamo, right?”
“I don’t speak rich, Nole.”
“I forget.” He rolls his eyes. “You’re only fluent in being a pain in my ass.”
We stand just outside the door of the locker room, neither of us attempting to go in. I can hear whatever teammates are left talking amongst themselves, the building starting to feel quiet and empty.
I try to ignore the antsy feeling pulsing through my fingers when I remember I’ll have to find something else to fill my time with for the next few months. No amount of pre-season training seems to scratch the itch of being out there on the ice.
Boxed in by the crowd.
Teammates by my side.
The blades of the skates allowing me to glide across the ice.