Just for Now (Sea Breeze #4)(33)

That made more sense.

“Amanda is dating Jax Stone’s brother,” Willow chimed in, smiling brightly.

“You are?” the girl asked in a disbelieving voice.

“No, not really,” I replied, shaking my head and wishing to God that Willow would shut up.

“He is trying real hard. He was texting her today and making her smile awfully big.”

This was my cue to leave. I reached for my purse and didn’t make eye contact with anyone.

“Jason Stone is still contacting you? Didn’t he leave with Sadie and Jax?” Marcus asked curiously.

Crud. I wasn’t going to get away from this.

“You’re still talking to Jason?” Preston asked, surprising me. I hadn’t expected him to pipe up in this conversation. Not with Marcus sitting here. I looked at Marcus to answer. I would not look at Preston. This was not his business.

“Yeah, he’s in LA. He just wants to see if we might could see each other again sometime.”

Willow covered up a laugh with a cough. I shot her a pleading look to please not say anything more. She understood and nodded.

“He wants to date you?” that girl, Jill, said. “His picture is plastered all over the place with models and actresses.” The disbelieving tone of her voice was grating on my nerves. I was well aware that I couldn’t exactly compete with his normal choice in females, but surprisingly, Jason Stone liked something about me. Even if Preston Drake didn’t want me.

“I need to go. I’ve got a paper to write, and I need to check in on Mom,” I said, standing up.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up. Don’t leave because of my big mouth.” Willow sounded concerned.

I smiled at her reassuringly. “Really, I didn’t mean to come in and stay. I just wanted to say hello to everyone. Now Preston can have my seat.”

I didn’t glance over at him.

“Thank you so much for today. You were so much help, and I had so much fun with you,” Willow said, standing up to hug me.

“I loved it,” I replied, and hugged her, then stepped back and made one big sweep of the table, including Preston, who was still standing on the other side of Jill, watching me.

“Bye, y’all.” I waved, then turned and headed for the door. I could not get out of here fast enough. This was a bad idea. I wouldn’t be back here. Not for a while. Pretending like Preston wasn’t a man whore was easier when I didn’t have to witness it. Tonight was a reminder I needed but really wanted to forget.

“Manda,” Preston’s voice called out from behind me the moment I touched the handle on my car.

What was he doing?

I could act like I didn’t hear him and open the door and get inside and drive away. Or I could see what had him running out here to talk to me. My decision making only gave him time to reach me. My escape plan was no longer possible.

“What do you want?” I asked, lifting my gaze to meet his.

He shook his head, and the sad, confused look was there in his eyes again. Dang it. I hated that look.

“Are you going to see him again?”

This was about Jason. Really?

“Probably,” I replied, and jerked my door open.

“No, wait.” Preston walked closer to me and blocked my entrance into the car.

“What are you doing?” I was growing impatient with him. He was back to his hot-and-cold thing again. I couldn’t keep up.

“Do you want to see him?”

What was this? Did he want me to just want him? No one else? He liked having little innocent, stupid Amanda panting after him. Well, he could kiss my ass. I was over that. And I wasn’t so innocent anymore, thanks to him.

“Yeah, Preston. I do. He likes me. He wants to be near me. He doesn’t push me away.”

Preston stepped closer to me, and his worried expression became a scowl. “How close has he got to you, Manda? Has he touched you?”

This was not happening. I was dreaming this insanity. Preston was not getting possessive of me when he didn’t even want me.

“Move, Preston. I’m done with this. I can’t do it anymore.”

Preston grabbed my waist and pulled me up against him. “I’m sorry I can’t be who you need me to be.”

A few weeks ago I’d have wanted to prove to him he could change. I’d have believed I was the girl to change him. But I knew better now. He couldn’t even enjoy touching me sober. I was not the one to change him.

“That’s fine. I get it. Now move. I want to go home.” I pushed at his chest, but he didn’t budge.

“I want to change. You make me want to change everything. I just can’t.”

I let out a weary sigh before looking back up at him. “I know. One day someone will come along and you’ll change for her. She’ll be the one you can’t live without, and she’ll be more important than anyone or anything else. When that happens, you’ll change. I’m just not her. Now please, just let me go home. We’re done here.”

Preston gritted his teeth and shook his head as if to keep from saying something, then let out one long breath before stepping away from my car door and letting me get inside. He stood there watching me as I closed the door. I backed out of my parking spot, and he was still standing there watching me. Once I pulled out onto the road, I glanced into my rearview mirror and he was still there. A week ago I’d have turned around and gone back to him. But I knew better now. He’d only send me packing after he tried to make it work with me and couldn’t bring himself to do it.