Page 13 of Triumphant Kings

What does this mean for us? I know she said it changes nothing, but Sadie and I just went public with our own relationship. How will it look when we go back to school, and she’s now married to another man, when she’s supposed to be dating me?

And not just any man, one of our teachers. Our guidance counselor. What does this mean for them? Will Collin lose his job?

All of these questions have been flooding my mind, and I have no answers.

I don’t know where to go from here.

It’s only been a few days since New Year's, but I haven’t seen Sadie since that night. When I woke up in Grayson’s guest room, Sadie and Preston were both gone when I went searching for the others.

Grayson didn’t know where they were, so I texted Sadie. She said they were at Collin’s place and that she would text me later.

She did, it wasn’t more than a few words, but it had an I love you, like she’s trying to remind me that we’re okay.

I want to believe her, but I’m not sure I can until we sit down and talk.

So, until we’re able to do that, I’ve been trying to keep myself busy. I’ve gotten a head start on a few classes for next semester, but I gave up when my mind kept drifting.

Reading helped for a few hours, but when I got to a slow part in my book, I lost interest.

I tried gaming, but it was only getting me more worked up every time I died.

Now, I’m lying in my bed, back in my dorm room, staring up at the ceiling as a very depressing playlist blares in my ears.

Because it’s not just Sadie that I have no idea where I stand with, it’s Preston, too.

All I can think about is the day he broke down and poured his heart out. He wants me. He told me he loved me. He said he wasn’t running. Yet, that’s exactly what it feels like.

We haven’t talked about his big confession like he promised. He’s either been distant or acts like nothing’s happened.

I hate it. I want to know where we stand. I love him so much it hurts, and having him say the words I’ve been dying to hear back from him meant the world to me. It also terrified me, with good reason, because here I am, lost and confused again.

Groaning, I roll over and bury my face into the pillow. Why couldn’t life just be simple for once? I had everything I ever wanted in the palm of my hand for just the smallest of moments before it was snatched away, hovering just out of reach.

Letting out a heavy sigh, I turn my head and stare at the wall as I listen to the lyrics of a man screaming about his lover who ripped out his heart and crushed it in the palm of their hand.

A distant banging has my brow furrowing. For a moment, I think it’s a part of the song. But I’ve listened to this song many times before, and I don’t remember that.

Pulling an earbud free, I hear someone knocking at my door.

Sitting up, I grab my phone to pause the song and toss it back on the bed before climbing off and over to the door to answer it.

Whoever it is, they sound frantic.

Having no idea who it could be, I look out the peephole and find Preston standing on the other side.

My heart starts to race, a flush taking over my body.

Fuck. I feel like a nervous virgin right now. We haven’t been alone in a while. He hasn’t even texted me since everything went down on New Year's. I have no idea where his head is at with all of this.

The insecure part of me has me wondering if this is him coming to break things off. That he changed his mind, and it’s all too much.

With shaking hands, I open the door, heart thundering in my chest. His eyes flick up to lock with mine, and I swear all the air in my lungs whooshes out of me. Lips parting, I go to ask what’s wrong, but I don’t get a chance to speak.

Preston steps forward, slides his hand into the back of my hair, and presses his lips to mine.

The world around me goes still. His lips against mine feel soft and warm. Like home. Like it’s exactly where we belong.

A small whimper slips free as my mind catches up to the moment, my hands reaching out to grab a fistful of his shirt.

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