Page 6 of Hunted by the Fallen
“Annie!” That wasn’t even close to what Imeant.
“Well, what else could you be so scared of? You talk to Preston all the time. You’re decently social. What about a date makes you sonervous?”
I shake my head and choose to focus on the computer screens behind Mr. Lee’s desk. I straighten when I see the security footage of the area outside of the office door. Wordlessly, I point to the screen. With a huff, Annie follows my gesture. Then, she curses under herbreath.
Annie reaches the door knob and flings open the office door. Standing on the other side, eavesdropping, is Laura. She stumbles slightly, surprised to becaught.
“Can we help you, Laura?” Annie asks, not at all deterred by the fact that the waitress is more than five years older than us. My best friend has always been the braver of the two ofus.
Laura straightens her blouse. “Your father is looking for you. I told him I’d findyou.”
“And then you decided tosnoop?”
To her credit, Laura doesn’t so much as blink. “You wereloud.”
I see Annie’s face darken. Before she can say anything, Laura turns to me and says, “My money is on the fact you are already seeingsomeone.”
I blink. “Sorry?”
“What did you say?” Annieasks.
“I think Veronica already has a boyfriend. That’s why she’s standing up thejock.”
I barely have time to wonder how Laura knows who Preston is when Annie jumps in, “What makes you thinkthat?”
My eyes snap up to my best friend. Why is she asking Laura and not me? Annie avoids meeting myeye.
Laura shrugs. “I’m sure she’s dating one of those guys who came in lastweek.”
“The blond guy?” Annie is thinking ofGabe.
“No, they had black hair,” Laura correctsher.
“Oh, yeah. Those guys.” Annie looks to be mulling the thought over. I’mmortified.
“Excuse me?” I stand from the chair. Annie shifts back a step. The office is really small. “Do you seriously think I’m dating someone? I would tellyou.”
“Would you?” Annie’s tone isflat.
I cringe. “Yes. I would tell you if I was datingsomeone.”
Annie watches me, and I know the moment she believes me. She nods and looks back at Laura. “Tell my dad we will be out in aminute.”
Laura looks between us, and it is obvious she wants to linger and hear what we will say next. But knowing we won’t talk until she leaves, Laura spins around and heads back to the restaurant’s dining area. I count my blessings that Annie’s parents own the restaurant. Otherwise, I doubt Laura would have been so easily dealtwith.
Annie waits to speak until the kitchen door swings closed behind Laura. “I know you’ve been attracting a lot of attention from guys lately,” she references the night of my birthday, as well as instances where Zeke, Adrian and Gabe popped up in my day to day life, “is there a chance you are remotely interested in any of them? Is that why you’re avoidingPreston?”
I refuse to even consider the possibility of being interested in any of the Fallen Angels. My life is screwed up enough as it is. I definitely don’t need to entertain the thought of potentially choosing one of the angels to pursue romantically. I imagine the tension between the four of them as it is. With their insane ideas about who is or isn’t my soulmate, know I need to keep my feelings far away from the entiresituation.
I focus on Annie’s last question and disagree with her, “I’m not avoidingPreston.”
“Sorry to break it to you, girl, but you definitelyare.”
I open my mouth to argue, but I bite my tongue when Annie holds up a hand and says, “Answer this question, Ronnie… Do you want to go on a date withPreston?”
“Yes.” I question the truth of my answer the moment it passes my lips. I may have feelings for Preston, but do I really want to navigate the volatile waters of dating a guy while I have four angels claiming to be my soulmate, breathing down my neck? I’m not so sure a date with my crush is worth the inevitable turmoil. But it is too late to take the wordback.
Unaware of my inner thoughts, Annie nods her head. “Well that settles it. Text Preston, right now, and propose a time to have yourdate.”
