Grinning, I nodded like a small child in a candy store. “This day has been amazing. But you did all of this just to make me smile? Is that the only reason?” I hoped like hell Preston was doing this because he enjoyed my company, because I sure as hell enjoyed his.
Preston swallowed hard and looked down and inhaled a deep breath. “I like being with you, Harmony. I can’t explain it, but I feel a connection with you. I’m not doing this because I feel guilty, Harmony. I need you to know that.”
I slowly let out the breath I was holding. Thank God, Preston wasn’t spending time with me because he felt guilty about TJ.
“I feel a connection with you, too, Preston.”
We stood there and stared at each other. I was positive Preston felt the electricity between us. Taking a step back, I looked down at the blanket and noticed a small cooler. “Is that dessert?”
Laughing, Preston motioned for me to sit down as he sat down next to me. Opening the cooler, he pulled out two ice cream sandwiches. Falling back onto the blanket, I giggled. “You’re killing me!” Lying down next to me, he unwrapped the ice cream sandwich and handed it to me.
“Your brother threatened my life if I asked him one more thing about the things you like.”
Taking a bite of the ice cream sandwich, I looked over at Preston and asked, “You never thought to ask him who my favorite baseball team was?”
His head snapped over and he looked at me as he shouted, “No! You live in Boston, for Christ’s sake. Being a Sox fan should be bred into your blood, woman!”
Laughing, I rolled over onto my side and looked at him. “I think I’m going to like this friendship. A Red Sox die-hard fan, who happens to be Irish and is going to have to be a Yankees fan all of next season.”
Preston closed his eyes and shook his head. “Harmony, you’re on the infield of Fenway Park, how can you still be a Yankees fan?”
Leaning over, I brushed my lips against his neck and smiled when I saw the goosebumps appear on his skin. “You’ll have to do more than swoon me on the infield of Fenway Park to get me to become a Sox fan.”
Preston leaned up on his elbows and smiled. “I swooned you?”
Pushing him over, I jumped up and finished off my ice cream sandwich. I needed to get this back on track and quickly. I could feel the way Preston was looking at me and I knew I was most likely looking at him the same way. “I better get back home, Preston. I have an early class tomorrow.”
The disappointment spread across his face and I wanted to kick myself. “I had a wonderful day today, Preston, but—”
“But?”
Placing my hands on his chest, I felt his body tremble under my touch. “But I’m just tired. I haven’t had this much fun in a long time and I’m emotionally spent.”
Nodding, Preston took my hand and led me out of Fenway Park.
As we rode in silence in a cab to my condo, I stared out the window and second-guessed my decision to end the night. Turning, I peeked over at Preston. He was texting someone and my heart dropped.
What if he was texting another girl? Sherry maybe? Or maybe someone else he had made plans with tonight. Looking back out the window, I fought to hold my tears back. This was why I couldn’t open my heart to anyone…especially Preston Ward. The way my heart was feeling for him, I couldn’t risk being hurt again.
Preston walked me up to my door and stopped. “Thank you for spending the day with me, Harmony. I had a wonderful day.”
My eyes landed on Preston’s lips. “I did, too,” I whispered.
Preston took a few steps back. “Okay, well, I guess I’ll be heading back home.”
“O-okay.”
“Sleep good, Harmony.”
Trying to smile, I knew that was impossible. I’d hardly been sleeping at all since the accident. The feeling of being alone swept over my body. The warm, fuzzy happy feeling I’d been experiencing all day was slowly slipping away the farther Preston walked away.
“Preston! Wait.”
Stopping, he turned and looked back at me. “Yeah?”
“Will you stay and…um…stay and—” Oh shit. What do I want him to stay and do? Think, Harmony. Think!
“Watch a movie with me?” I groaned internally. Really, Harmony?