Page 68 of Tormented Kings
“But first, we get our yearly souvenirs,” Emma says. “Now, let's go!”
For the first hour before the Horror Nights doors even open, we hit up the gift shop, everyone getting this year's themed shirts. There’s a few to pick from, but I pick the pumpkin design. Of course, I grab a refillable cup and a shoulder strap for it. Hands free is amazing.
“Shouldn’t we have grabbed this stuff on our way out?” Preston asks.
“Maybe.” I shrug. “But by the time we’re done, our feet are killing us, we’re half dead, and all we want to do is go home. Stopping to shop is the last thing on our minds.”
“Point taken.” He nods.
He’s wearing aGhostbustersshirt and hat. We all ended up buying something, but I’m honestly surprised he's participating as much as he is. It just doesn’t seem like something he would do. He hasn’t even been broody or complained once.
Not even when we had to spend fifteen minutes in line to get our cups filled.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asks, frowning as he catches me staring while waiting in line to get in.
My eyes flick away from him, cheeks heating. “I’m not looking at you like anything.”
I feel him behind me, keeping his body close as we move with the line. He leans in, mouth right next to my ear. “Really, Kitten? Because I could have sworn you were watching me with bedroom eyes.” His breath tickles my neck, and I shiver.
I scoff, “I certainly was not.”
“Mhhmm.” He chuckles low and deep.
“I was wondering when you got body snatched.” I look at him over my shoulder, and he gives me a puzzled look.
“What do you mean?”
“Really?” I laugh. “It’s been a while since you’ve been... well, since you’ve been a dick. You sure you're not sick?”
He sighs, looking a little guilty, and I know for sure this isn’t Host Club Preston. “I’ve been a dick to you.”
“You think?” I raise a brow questioningly.
“And I was wrong for it, okay? Look, I’m not going to make up things to excuse my behavior, I was wrong to be an asshole when you did nothing to deserve it, and I am sorry, Sadie.”
All the playful teasing leaves me at the sincerity of his words. “Why did you do it?” This is not the time nor the place to be having a conversation like this, but I don’t know when I’m going to get a chance to get it out of him again. And everyone else is distracted.
“You’ve seen my life,” he laughs, shaking his head. “I guess after a while, it all got to me and made me into a bitter person. I blamed everyone else when the only one to blame was me.”
“No.” I shake my head, turning to face him. “You're the victim in all this, Preston. You have nothing to accept blame for.”
“I’m not so innocent, Sadie. I’ve done shit I’m not proud of and used people. I was a jerk. An asshole. Hell, I probably always will be,” he laughs, but it’s not in a happy way. “Just... not to you. Not to Declan. Not anymore.”
“What about Collin and Grayson?” I ask, trying not to let his words melt my heart.
“Oh, they’re fair game,” he says, a slow, playful grin stretching over his face. I like this Preston. Maybe with time, I’ll see more of the man from the tower and less of the man from the Host Club.
“So, does that mean we can be friends now and put the past behind us?” I ask, holding my hand out for him to shake.
He blinks, eyes lowering to my hand. He slowly takes it. “Yeah. Friends?” His words are more of a question than astatement. His fingers wrap around mine as his eyes raise to look at me.
It’s like everything around us slows, the air crackling between us. His touch sets off fireworks inside me, and all I want him to do is pull me to him and kiss me.
“I’m sorry I left the other night,” I whisper, licking my lips. “I didn’t mean to just leave you alone like that.”
“It’s fine,” he says, still holding my hand but letting them fall between us. My heart races as his thumb makes lazy circles against my hand. “It shouldn’t have happened anyways.”
My stomach drops. “It shouldn’t have?” I whispered, trying not to feel destroyed by his words.