I nod. “Yeah. No problem.” It’s better than going back inside to ask my mom if I can borrow her car.
Before I reach the passenger side door, Preston jogs forward and places himself in front of me. He opens the door. “After you, Veronica.”
I smile shyly. “Thanks.” Using the handle inside the cabin, I pull myself up and into the passenger seat. Preston waits until I am situated before closing the door. Then, he walks to the driver’s side and hops in.
As he drives out of my neighborhood, Preston says, “I thought we could go for a boat ride before we eat lunch. What do you think?” His eyes shift over to me before he returns them to the road.
“That sounds great,” I answer. I don’t think I can eat at the moment anyway. My nerves are wreaking havoc on my stomach. “You have your boating license, right?” I ask the question for my dad’s sake. When he and my mom conduct their inevitable interrogation about the date, I know he will ask if Preston is qualified to drive a boat.
“Yep. Got it when I turned eighteen. My dad lets me drive the boat all the time now.” He thrums his fingers against the steering wheel, matching the beat of the song softly playing on the speakers.
I reach for the volume knob, but pause and ask, “Mind if I turn it up?”
“Not at all.”
I raise the volume and the lyrics of the popular country song play in the truck’s cabin. Preston begins to hum to the music as he continues tapping the wheel. I sit back and enjoy the song, grateful the truck isn’t silent. I know I should try to make conversation with Preston, but there is plenty of time for that when we get on the boat. For now, I use the time to convince myself not to be nervous. I’ve been through situations which are much more daunting than a first date. If I can survive multiple attacks by demons, I can manage lunch with my childhood crush.
By the time we reach the boat dock, my anxiety is almost gone. Several songs had played during our drive, and Preston decided to belt out the lyrics to all of them. His voice isn’t horrible, but he definitely isn’t going to win the next American Idol. I tried to hold in my amusement, but I lose it when Preston tried to hit a high note and his voice cracked. We’d both devolved into a fit of laughter, and Preston’s singing effectively ended the nervous tension between us. Which, now that I think about it, may have been Preston’s plan all along.
After we park, Preston hops out of the truck and jogs over to my side to open my door. I am about to thank him, but the words catch in my throat when Preston grabs my hand. His fingers lace through mine.
“Is this okay?”
I stare at our connected hands, noting the contrast between my light skin tone and his tan. I look up and see his uncertain expression. It dawns on me that Preston is as affected by our date as I am. I’d always thought of Preston as confident and self-assured, but our conversations have shown he is just an ordinary guy who’s nervous around the girl he likes. I squeeze his hand lightly and nod, letting that be my answer.
The two of us walk, hand-in-hand, toward the boat dock. His family’s speedboat is already bobbing in the water. Preston helps me onto the rocking boat then makes quick work of the knots tying the boat to the dock.
When he’s finished, Preston pushes the boat away from the dock and hops in before it floats too far away. He sits behind the wheel and starts the motor, gently gliding us away from the dock. I settle into the seat next to him, watching the lake’s waves as we move.
Preston steers the boat toward the center of the lake. We pass several boats and kayaks, and about half of the people we pass call out a greeting to my date. Preston smiles at each of them, waving enthusiastically.
“You come on the lake often, don’t you?” I raise my voice to be heard over the motor.
Preston bobs his head. “I practically live out here during the summer.”
“That sounds nice.” I tilt my head back and enjoy the feel of the sun’s warmth on my face. I’m glad I decided to wear shorts, otherwise I don’t doubt I would be sweating. But with the breeze from the lake and the natural cloud cover in the sky, I am perfectly comfortable. I realize I haven’t spent any time doing fun things outdoors. I decide to convince Annie to go to the city pool with me sometime this week. My skin could use some more Vitamin D.
“The lake suits you.”
I lower my face. Preston is staring at me with open admiration. And, for once, I’m proud to say I don’t blush. “Thank you. I think I can get use to the lake life.” I gesture to the bright blue water and the boats zipping across the lake.
“Good. I was hoping you’d want to come out here with me often.”
My heart gives a little thump. “Really?” I’m proud that I don’t sound breathless.
“Yeah. I mean…” He pushes the hair out of his face. “That is… only if you want to.”
His shyness makes me brave. Suddenly, I’m not afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing. “I think I’ll want to.” That is probably the boldest thing I’ve ever said. And it is exactly what Preston wants to hear. His smile broadens, and I swear he is looking at me like I am the most cherished thing in the world.
I don’t dare breathe as I wait for his response, and I’m surprised by what he eventually says.
“Want to do some laps around the lake before lunch?”
That’s it? I’d been sure Preston and I were on the edge of finally talking about our feelings. I mean, I know he’s interested in me. He wouldn’t have asked me out if he didn’t like me… Right?
Doing my best to hide my disappointment, I agree. “Let’s do it.”
Without hesitating, Preston moves the throttle, and we take off across the lake. The waves are choppy and rough. I have to hold onto my seat or risk being thrown out of the boat.
I’m a little scared. I can swim, but that doesn’t mean I want to at the moment. But after the first lap, my body adjusts to the bumps and bounces. The wind whips through my hair, and I’m exhilarated. My lips stretch into a wide grin. I tilt my face back and close my eyes, continuing to revel in the warmth of the sun.
The boat hits a wave, and the bounce forces my eyes open. I look at Preston to make sure everything is alright. His attention is on me, not the lake. It takes me a second to realize I am what has inspired the awe in his gaze. I blush and look back at the water in front of us. We’ve slowed down and are gently cruising towards The Pier’s boat dock.
I hear Preston clear his throat. “Ready for lunch?”
Is it just me, or does he sound as affected as I feel?
The thought lends me an extra dose of confidence. “Sure.”
Preston lines the starboard side against the wood dock. He hops out and ties up the vessel. Then, he holds out a hand and helps me out of the rocking boat.
“Thanks.” I move to drop his hand, but Preston has other ideas. With a smile, he holds onto my hand like he had earlier. The gesture sends a flurry of butterflies into my stomach, but I manage to hide the nervous excitement from my face.
We enter The Pier, and the hostess escorts us to a table on the lakeside patio. Preston holds out my chair, once again demonstrating the southern manners his parents instilled in him. Once he’s settled, our waitress appears. We place our order for a soda and iced tea. I unfold the menu in front of me, relieved to focus on something other than Preston for a moment. It’s really hard being around him and hiding the extent of my nerves. I still can’t believe I’m even on a date with him in the first place.
“What are you thinking about ordering?”
I look up. Preston’s head is tilted to the side as he continues to search the menu.
“I’m leaning towards a burger.”
He meets my eyes with another dimpled smile. “Me too.”
I return the smile, then look back at the menu. When I am convinced of my choice, I fold the menu and lift my chin to meet his gaze.
Preston notices. “What is it?”
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 first place.”
“Is that why you took so long to text me?” Preston deflates a little. “You thought I wasn’t interested?”
“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 in me.
Preston shakes his head. A brown curl covers his forehead. “I’ve had a crush on you for a long time.”
I momentarily speechless. I definitely hadn’t expected him to say that.
“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 someone else?
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 be with.”
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 with Tina.
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 the event.
Preston is watching me, and I can see the uncertainty in his expression.
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 back up.
“You think I’m scum, don’t you?”
“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 dated Tina.”
Preston leans back, observing me. “Why do you say that?”
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 pining material.
To my surprise, Preston balks at that. “What are you talking about?”
His reaction makes me avert my gaze, my bout of bravery slowly fizzling out of existence. “Nothing. Never mind.”
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. And smart.”
My head tilts.
Preston continues before I can say anything, “There are a lot of guys at our school who would want to date you.”
I can’t help it: I scoff.
“You don’t believe me?”
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 our date.
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 while now.”
I give him a small smile. “I believe you.”
He squeezes my hand and releases it when the waitress returns with our drinks.
“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 go anywhere.”
I nod, my smile widening. “I promise I won’t go anywhere.”
Preston backs away, keeping his eyes on me until he is forced to turn around or risk running into a table. I chuckle and wave before he disappears into the restaurant.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and see several messages from Annie. I’m in the middle of applauding my decision to silence the device prior to the date when a shadow is cast over me.
I look up, expecting the waitress, and my heart stops. I blink, unsure if I am imagining the sight in front of me.
I’m not.
Lukas, the angel responsible for abducting my parents and endangering their lives, is gazing down at me with a polite smile. “We meet again, Veronica.”
Six
“What do you want?” Despite the fear I feel from seeing Lukas again, I use the anger churning in my chest to force the question past my gritted teeth.
Lukas sits in Preston’s chair, unbothered by my less-than-friendly tone. His suit is neatly pressed, and it looks out of place in the relaxed lakeside atmosphere. Not that he cares. “I would’ve thought you’d be dying to see me. Seeing as how our last conversation was interrupted so abruptly.”
“You thought wrong.” I look around the restaurant, waiting for one of the Fallen to notice the angel at my table. I’m startled when I notice the rest of the world seems to have stopped. Like… everything is frozen. I turn back to Lukas with renewed fear.
“What did you do?”
He waves a hand. “Nothing more than give us a moment of privacy.”
I grip the armrests, my nails digging into the wicker material. He can stop time? Is there anything Fallen Angels can’t do?
“What do you want?” I repeat.
Lukas gives no indication that my short replies anger him. In fact, he seems delighted. His eyes glimmer with amusement. “To talk.”
“About what?”
“Many things. But how about we begin with the fact you are not Nephilim?”
Alarms ring in my head. I attempt to keep my expression neutral, but I have no idea if I’ve succeeded. “What are you talking about?” My heart is banging against my sternum, and I can only hope Lukas is unable to hear.
His lips twitch. There is no denying it. He’s definitely amused. “My Dear, I’m talking about your unprecedented ability to bring your mother back from death.”
My blood runs cold, and I know the color drains from my face. My eyes dart to the patio’s exit, frantically trying to come up with a way to escape.
“No need to worry, Veronica.” Lukas sounds cool and collected—everything I am not. “Your secret is safe with me.”
I decide denial is the best tactic. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Lukas levels me with a look; his amusement flickers away. “Do me the honor of not treating me like an imbecile?” Anger and violence flash beneath his expression, and I get the first glimpse of the kind of angel Lukas is when he’s not preoccupied with playing games. The gentleman act is just that: an act. Mr. Cohen, Gabe, Zeke and Joseph had all treated Lukas like he was a threat. I’d been a fool to not believe them.
I swallow the knot in my throat. “What do you want from me?”
The fury beneath Lukas’ calm façade is concealed. He is back to acting like the serene and welcoming angel from our first meeting in the warehouse. “For us to be honest with one another.”
“About what?”
“Let’s start with how long you’ve known you are not, in fact, a Nephilim?”
I pinch my lips together, debating whether or not I should end my pretend ignorance. I�
��m trapped in Lukas’ magical time freeze. Pissing him off again might not be a good idea.
“A little over one week.”
“You knew the truth at the warehouse?” He stares at me intently, searching for any sign of deceit.
“What truth are you referring to?” I am not going to risk giving him more information that I have to.
“The truth regarding the fantastical conditions of your birth.” Lukas holds up a hand when I open my mouth. “And, before you ask, I am referring to the fact you are the offspring of not one, but two Fallen angels.”
My heart continues to pound. I lick my lips, but I will myself to not look away from the angel. I don’t want him to know how scared I am.
“How did you know?” The question is barely above a whisper.
Lukas leans back in his chair, adopting the casual demeanor he’d abandoned earlier. “Dear, Veronica. Haven’t your angelic shadows told you?”
He’s baiting me. I know it. But I can’t resist rising to it. The Fallen haven’t been lying to me, but I suspect them of keeping some information from me. I have no proof, but its hard to ignore how my protectors grow silent every time I walk into a room. I know they are talking about me, and my instinct says its important. But whenever I ask one of the Fallen about it, my question is expertly avoided.
I crave the knowledge Lukas is dangling in front of my face, and he knows it.
“They haven’t told me what?”
His lips pull into a triumphant grin. “That only a full-blooded angel could have performed the miracle you achieved. But, even then, the gift is a rare and coveted one.”
I remember the night at the warehouse. The only living creatures who’d seen me bring my mom back to life had been me, my four bodyguards, and the few remaining yancor demons. The latter of which who hadn’t lived to tell the tale. None of us had seen Lukas, or his assistant, Charles in the aftermath of the bloody battle. We weren’t aware anyone had seen my display of power. We thought the secret of my newfound ability was safe.
Hunted by the Fallen: A Fallen Angel Reverse Harem Novel (The Fallen Harem Book 2) Page 4