Page 12 of Hunted by the Fallen
Preston notices. “What isit?”
I shake my head, but say, “Sorry if I seem a little off. To be honest, I’m surprised you wanted to go on a date with me in the firstplace.”
“Is that why you took so long to text me?” Preston deflates a little. “You thought I wasn’tinterested?”
“No,” I quickly say. Then, I realize that isn’t entirely true. “I mean…maybe.”
Sure, dealing with the aftermath of my parents’ abduction didn’t make things easier, but I meant what I said to Annie. A part of me hadn’t really believed Preston could be interested inme.
Preston shakes his head. A brown curl covers his forehead. “I’ve had a crush on you for a longtime.”
I momentarily speechless. I definitely hadn’t expected him to saythat.
“What about Tina?” He and his ex-girlfriend, also known as the pinnacle mean girl at Valley Lake High School, dated for over two years. They broke up less than two weeks ago. How can Preston claim to have a crush on me when he’d been dating someoneelse?
To his credit, a mix of shame and remorse fills Preston’s expression. “I know that seems bad. My only defense is that I’d been with Tina for so long and so many people expected us to stay together. This town isn’t shy about sharing their opinion about your life, and I didn’t know how to break up with Tina even when we grew so far apart. It wasn’t until we graduated that I realized I didn’t want to start college dating a girl I knew I didn’t want to bewith.”
Preston’s words elicit conflicting emotions. I feel bad for Preston. I can’t imagine how it felt to believe he had to keep dating a girl he was no longer interested in. I know how invasive our small community can be, especially for the star quarterback. No doubt there have been repercussions for breaking up withTina.
But that doesn’t prevent me from feeling bad for Tina. I can’t say for sure, but I’m pretty confident Tina would have not wanted someone to keep dating her out of some sense of obligation. It makes me wonder if Tina had any idea a breakup was coming, or if she was completely blindsided and heartbroken by theevent.
Preston is watching me, and I can see the uncertainty in hisexpression.
Our waitress arrives. I look down at my menu and rattle off my order, both relieved and frustrated by her interruption. The last thing I want is to prolong the awkwardness, but we can’t exactly continue the conversation with listening ears. Then, Preston orders the same burger I did. The waitress takes our menus and goes to place our orders. Only then do I look backup.
“You think I’m scum, don’tyou?”
“No,” I say. Then, in the spirit of honesty, I confess, “but I do find it hard to believe that you had a crush on me while you datedTina.”
Preston leans back, observing me. “Why do you saythat?”
I shrug. “I didn’t think I was your type.” Tina is gorgeous and popular. I am neither. Even if Preston wanted to end their relationship, I am not the sort of girl a guy would pine over. I’m quiet and shy, definitely not piningmaterial.
To my surprise, Preston balks at that. “What are you talkingabout?”
His reaction makes me avert my gaze, my bout of bravery slowly fizzling out of existence. “Nothing. Nevermind.”
Preston doesn’t let the subject drop. He leans forward. “Veronica,” he licks his lips, looking like he’s both nervous and determined to say what he’s going to say. “Not only are you really pretty, but you’re nice. Andsmart.”
My headtilts.
Preston continues before I can say anything, “There are a lot of guys at our school who would want to dateyou.”
I can’t help it: Iscoff.
“You don’t believeme?”
I shake my head. “Let’s not talk about this anymore.” I don’t want to reveal the depths of my insecurity, but I’m not going to believe, for even a second, that I’m secretly a girl guys have a crush on. For some reason, Preston likes me, and I decide I just want to enjoy ourdate.
For a moment, Preston looks like he wants to object. Then, he thinks better of it. He reaches out and grabs my hand lying on the table. “Fine. But only if you say you believe me when I say I’ve been looking forward to this date for a whilenow.”
I give him a small smile. “I believeyou.”
He squeezes my hand and releases it when the waitress returns with ourdrinks.
“I’m going to go wash my hands before we eat,” Preston tells me. He stands from the table and smiles down at me. “Be right back. Don’t goanywhere.”
I nod, my smile widening. “I promise I won’t goanywhere.”
