Preston's Honor(19)

“I’d like to take you up on that dance if you’re still offering.”

“What?”

“The dance. This is my favorite song.”

I blinked, pulling myself back to reality, to the bright Laundromat with music piping softly through the speakers.

I paused and then looked down, biting my lip and laughing softly. “Your favorite song is ‘Stuck on You’ by Lionel Richie?”

He nodded. “I’m a big fan of the eighties.” His expression remained serious but his eyes crinkled slightly at the corners.

Something fluttery moved between my ribs and I couldn’t help smiling back, though he hadn’t exactly given me a smile. I took a deep breath, my shoulders relaxing as I gazed into his earnest eyes. “I’d love to.”

We both stepped toward each other at the same moment and laughed when we collided gently, and whatever tension had been there seemed to ease.

He wrapped his arms around me and we began to dance slowly under the bright lights. He tightened his grip around my waist and spun me when the chorus came on. Surprised, I laughed and gripped him tighter, joyful delight expanding my chest. He sung softly in my ear about a midnight train and a feeling down deep in his soul, and I could feel the smile on his lips against my cheek and it filled me with dreamy happiness.

We moved together again, and my heart was beating triple time at the closeness of our bodies, the awareness of every part of him pressed directly against me, and the giddiness of discovering this new playful side of Preston, one I’d only ever glimpsed.

We swayed and something about moving as one that way felt so incredibly intimate. I’d never danced before and now I understood why it might lead to . . . more.

The tension between us built again, only this time the undercurrent was different—warm and exciting. My body felt heated in a way I’d never experienced, my breasts heavier as they pressed against the solidness of Preston’s chest. My nipples hardened and I blushed at my own body’s reactions, wondering if he felt it, wondering if he knew. Would it make him uncomfortable if he did?

His hand gripped mine and his breathing seemed to increase. My brain clouded slightly and I felt off balance and again, had the sensation that the only reason I was standing was because Preston was holding me up.

I tilted my head back and gazed up at him to find him already staring down at me. His stare was intense, but then Preston’s stare was usually intense.

The moment of lighthearted singing had passed and moved to something else—something I wasn’t experienced enough to name. I wanted to know if he was feeling the same things I was, if maybe things were changing between us. But I was too shy and insecure. I didn’t know how to ask, couldn’t risk my far-too-tender heart to rejection.

He stepped back, letting go of me and jarring me out of my own foggy thoughts. I felt the loss of his body heat as harshly as I felt the loss of the connection I’d felt so strongly.

“I should go.”

“You . . . you don’t have to.” My smile was shaky. “The eighties never end here.”

He ran a hand through his hair, not reacting to my attempted joke. “Yeah. I do.”

Cold achiness settled in my bones, extinguishing the warmth I’d been feeling. Oh God, he hadn’t been feeling the same things I had. I had been wishing this moment could last forever, and he was ready to end it.

“And you should get home,” he said. “I’ll give you a ride.” He looked around, frowning slightly. “This doesn’t seem like the safest place for you to come by yourself.”

He spoke as if he were a father or an older brother, and I wrapped my arms around my waist, realizing that’s exactly how he saw me. A little sister. Someone to look out for. Someone to dance with for a few minutes and wipe away her tears. The kid who’d been following on his heels since she was barely out of training pants.

Cole kissed me, but all Preston ever wanted was to protect me.

I didn’t take his protective nature lightly. I’d always appreciated it so much, but suddenly I hated it with the burning heat of a thousand suns. It meant he didn’t want me. I brought my chin up and forced a smile. “Well, thank you for checking on me. Thank you for coming out here.”

He nodded once, rubbing his hands together. I reached down and gathered the pants I’d dropped and pushed them into the bag, along with the other things I’d folded, the few unfolded items, and my paperback. Preston picked up the heavy bag from the counter, and I followed him outside to his truck.

There was no point in asking him to drop me off somewhere other than my house. He’d already seen it. We rode in silence and though I tried to think of something to say, something that might bring back the easy rapport we’d had as we danced in the Laundromat, I couldn’t think of anything. All too soon, he was pulling to the side of the dirt road next to my house and I looked over at him.

I wasn’t sure why, but when I thought about our friendship, I realized he’d been pulling away for a while. The last time we’d sat and talked quietly together, had been the day I gave him the other half of my sea glass heart. “Someday I’m going to leave here, but a part of my heart is going to remain. With you.” Mine was wrapped in a small piece of cloth and kept under my mattress. He’d probably thrown his away, never to think of it again. Now he was going to leave here, and a part of my heart would go with him, even though he clearly didn’t want it. I missed my friend.