“Yeah, it is.”
Tina leans in and gives Preston a kiss on the cheek. “I’m so proud of him.”
“Are we eating or what?” Preston asks.
He doesn’t try to find out anything about Dylan or me. Instead, he turns the conversation back to himself. I don’t like this.
“Sure.” I hand out the plates and cutlery, and take out the various foods I’ve prepared.
“I’ve made some fried chicken, coleslaw, beef and cheese wraps, a pasta salad, and a potato salad.” I bring everything out and take the lids off.
“Wow, you did all this?” Dylan asks.
“I did.”
“Hmm, it appears I might have competition in the cooking department.” He picks up a piece of chicken, and bites into it. “You made this?” I nod. “This is very good. Wow.”
“Molly, this chicken is really good,” Tina says as she finishes the first piece, and reaches for a second.
I can’t help but notice the look on Preston’s face. He catches me staring at him, and softens his hard features.
“Come here, Sven,” he calls Zhen over.
“It’s Zhen,” Tina corrects.
“Oh yeah. And Zorro, right?” He points to Zorro. “Come here, boys.”
Zorro stands, and wanders over to Preston, Zhen refuses to leave my side. He pets Zorro, but it’s more for my benefit rather than from wanting to touch Zorro. Preston’s lips are downturned, and he looks like he’s repulsed and holding in vomit.
“Zorro,” I call.
Zorro obediently returns to me.
“Can I have some of that hand sanitizer? You never know where dogs have been.”
“The boys are super clean,” Tina replies. “Come here, Zhen.” Zhen goes to Tina, and I notice Preston roll his eyes.
Zhen doesn’t like Preston. And that in itself speaks volumes to me.
When lunch is finished, Preston and Tina go for a walk leaving Dylan, the dogs and me.
“I have to say it,” Dylan says.
“Say what?”
“I don’t like him. I’m sorry, Molly, I know it’s not my place. But he’s arrogant, and self-centered.” He holds his hand up as he speaks. “If Gemma brought him home to meet me, I’d be telling her exactly what I thought of him. But like I said, it’s not my business. But he’s…” He shakes his head, tightening his jaw.
“What is it?”
“I saw the way he looked at Tina when she reached for more food. I struggled not saying anything.”
“Funny, because that’s exactly what I saw, and what I think. And Zhen doesn’t like him. He gives me the creeps.”
“You have to talk to Tina.” I look at him, raising my brows. “I don’t mean you have to, ugh, that’s not what I meant. I mean I think you should. I don’t want to tell you what to do. I just get a bad feeling about him, Molly. He doesn’t treat her right.”
“I’ll talk to her on the way home. I’m not thinking highly of him at all. Anyway, enough about him. I don’t want to let him spoil our time together.”
“I’ve got to go interstate for work next week. Why don’t you come with me?”
“Ah, what?”
“Yep, I did just say that out loud. I was thinking how nice it would be if you came with me, but it seems my filter is broken around you.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Thank you for the invitation, but no. How long are you going for?”
“Only two nights. I’m going on Tuesday, and I’m flying back Thursday.”
“Wait? This coming Tuesday?”
“Yeah.” He packs the last of the plates into the picnic basket. “What do you think of my limeade?”
“Damn delicious. Now I’m looking forward to you cooking for me.”
“Name the night.”
“Did I tell you the owners of the studio I work for offered me extra classes? I’m teaching Monday, Wednesday and Friday now.”
“Are you trying to avoid answering my dinner invitation? Sneaky.”
I was. I don’t really know what to say. “I’d.” I look down, avoiding his beautiful face. “Really like that.” My stomach flips with happiness when I look up to see him smiling.
“Good. How about when I return on Thursday night? I’d like to see you then, if that works for you.” His confidence is suddenly wavering.
“That’s perfect for me.” I want to lean in and give him a kiss. But I stop myself when I see Tina and Preston heading back.
“Hey, Preston and I are going to go to a movie. He’ll bring me home. Can you let Mom and Dad know?” Tina asks. Preston snakes his arm around her waist, and draws her close to him.
“Why don’t you come home, and meet Preston at the theater?” Even to my ears, it sounds ridiculous.
“Movie starts in half an hour,” Tina says.
I wish I could talk to her about him before she does something stupid, like sleeps with him, or gets in too deep. “What time do you think you’ll be home?” I ask, trying to gauge a timeline so I know she’s home safe.
“I don’t know, maybe about ten.”
“Twelve,” Preston corrects her.
I have to think quick on my feet and get her home at a more reasonable hour, so I know she’s safe, and so I can talk to her. “Crap. I forgot. I need help tomorrow morning with the boys. Do you mind helping me?”
She huffs, annoyed. “What time?”
“Eight-thirty.”
She rolls her eyes, but turns to Preston. “I’ll have to be home early tonight. Can you get me home by ten?”
“Sure thing, babe.” He gives her a kiss on the cheek.
Babe.
Ugh. I despise the way that word rolls off his tongue. It’s gross. Just like him.
“Bye.” Tina blows me a kiss. “Bye, Dylan. Be good to my sister.”
“Bye, Tina.” Dylan says as they start to walk away.
“See ya,” Preston says over his shoulder. The fact he doesn’t even turn around to acknowledge us separately, or even try to pet my dogs really grates on my nerves.
I lay on the picnic blanket and look up to the sky, watching as the fluffy, white clouds move rapidly through the vivid blue sky.
“You okay?” Dylan asks.
Zhen lays down and puts his head on my stomach. “I don’t like him, Dylan.”
“I know.”
“I’ll talk to her tonight.”
“I think that’s the best thing.”
“But I’m worried. And a part of me wants to follow them to the movie to make sure she’s safe. I’ve got a bad feeling. A real bad feeling.”
“This is difficult, because you don’t want to alienate her so she won’t tell you anything. I think you need to give her space, and talk to her when she gets home tonight.”
Dylan’s right, I can’t bombard her when Preston is near. I need to approach this cautiously. “I know. Maybe I should talk to Mom and Dad too.”
“You don’t want to betray her trust. You two are really tight, right?”
“Aha,” I mutter.
“Unless you have something really concrete, I wouldn’t spill anything to your parents yet. You don’t want them worrying if there’s nothing to worry about. Just talk to her. I’m sure you’ll both sort through this.”