Just for Now (Sea Breeze #4)(54)

“Oh, Preston. I’m so glad you’re here. The uh, toilet that is broken is upstairs to the left. It just keeps running over.” Janice’s forced smile and high-pitched voice weren’t very convincing. “Run along now and get it fixed.” She waved her hand and smiled back at Amanda’s mom.

Mrs. Hardy’s eyes were still locked on mine. She was connecting the dots, dammit.

“Yes, ma’am. I thought you mentioned that your washing machine was broken too.” I was a hell of a lot more convincing.

She nodded nervously. “Yes, yes it is. But go on and get that toilet fixed.”

I nodded and headed up the stairs, praying Mrs. Hardy believed this bullshit.

“Sweet kid. He can fix anything,” Janice said in the same nervous, high-pitched tone.

“Is that so?” Mrs. Hardy asked. The tone of her voice made my stomach knot up. She knew.

Fuck it all to hell. She knew.

Amanda



Preston had gone to work out again today. He got a call from his coach and had to leave unexpectedly. I’d been on my way over here. We were going to go down to the beach. We only had a few weeks of heat left before the fall air started making it impossible to enjoy the beach.

I scrolled through my text messages to kill time, and I saw Jason’s unanswered one. It had been two weeks since he’d sent it. He hadn’t sent another one. I’d been so wrapped up in Preston I’d forgotten about it.

Me: I am so sorry I haven’t responded. With school starting back up and everything, I’ve been busy.



I might need to call him. Two weeks was beyond rude. Jason’s response popped up on the screen.

Jason: That’s okay. I’ve talked to Sadie. I know you are seeing someone. Lucky guy.



Sadie hadn’t mentioned Jason when we’d talked the other day. She was happy for me, but she’d sounded worried too.

Me: Yeah. That too. I should have responded, though. I’m really sorry.



Jason: Don’t worry about it. Just promise me if things don’t work out that you will give me a call. Keep this number.



He was really sweet. If things didn’t work out, I’d be crushed. There would be no calling someone else.

Me: I’ll remember that. Thank you again for the offer. Flying to NYC for dinner would be amazing.



Jason: Offer stands. Just say the word.



The door to the apartment opened, and Preston walked in with a scowl on his face. He’d only been gone an hour and a half. He wasn’t very sweaty, either.

“Hey,” I said, laying my phone down to get up and go to him.

He held up his hands to hold me off. “I’m nasty. Let me get a shower first.” He didn’t say anything else. He just stalked to the bathroom and closed the door. Loudly.

Was he mad that I was still here?

My phone played the text song, and I reached down to get it.

Jason: I got an invitation to your brother’s wedding.



Willow must have sent it when she’d thought there was something going on between us.

Me: Are you going to come?



Please, God, no. Preston wouldn’t be nice to him. I wouldn’t be able to talk to him if I wanted to keep Preston calm.

Jason: I want to.



What did I say to that? I couldn’t be rude. Sadie and Jax were coming.

The bathroom door swung open.

“I’m sorry I was in such a bad mood when I got back,” Preston said, walking out of the bathroom.

I looked up from my phone. “It’s okay. I was worried you wanted me to leave. I can if you have things to do.”

Preston frowned and closed the distance between us. “God, no. I want you with me. I just had a bad afternoon. I hated having to leave you.”

“You weren’t gone that long. We have plenty of time to spend on the beach before the sun goes down.”

Preston bent down and kissed me.

My text alert went off.

Oh, crap.

Preston pulled back and looked down at my phone.

Jason: You didn’t tell me no. I’m taking that as your approval.



I didn’t move. Preston had read it. Trashing it now wouldn’t change that. I wasn’t even sure if this was going to be a big deal. So I waited for a reaction.

“Jason? Jason Stone?”

I nodded. The angry snarl in his voice told me this would be a very big deal.

He took the phone out of my hands, and I let him. I hadn’t said anything wrong.

He scrolled up and read through our texts. When he got back to the last one, he lifted his eyes to meet mine.

“That’s what you want, Manda? Private jet rides to NYC?” He threw my phone onto the table and stormed into his room. I jumped when his door slammed behind him.

My eyes filled with tears. He hadn’t even let me explain. He’d just stormed off. I hadn’t said that was what I wanted. I was being polite.

The door opened, and I backed up, not sure if I should leave or if I should plead my case. I wasn’t used to having a man mad at me. It was scary. My dad had never yelled at me, and until the night Marcus found out about Preston and me, neither had Marcus. My heart was racing in my chest, and I felt like I was going to throw up.

Preston pointed at my phone. “You talk to him often? Hmm?”