“You’re wrong about Preston.”

Preston’s father looks like he wants to argue, but as Preston stalks off, I shake my head. No time to waste arguing right now.

I force myself to say goodbye to Preston’s parents. “Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Evans.” Before they can respond, I dash out of the building and race after Preston.

Wow. For years, I fantasized about what it would be like to have parents who actually took the time to raise me. I pitied myself for growing up in a foster home, for aging out at eighteen and having no family to call my own. 

But seeing the way Preston’s father just spoke to him makes me wonder if I’m better off. I knew my family didn’t care about me, so I never felt the need to earn their approval. I live my life just for myself.

Preston is at the corner of the road, smoking a cigarette with some guy. Damn, I didn’t know Preston smoked.

He glances up at me as the other guy walks away. “Sorry. I’m not really feeling the expo at the moment. I’ll give you some cash for a cab for when you’re ready to head back to the hotel.”

“No, it’s fine. I want to be with you.”

He laughs bitterly before taking a deep drag of his cigarette, slowly exhaling and blowing out a thin stream of smoke. With the breeze and my proximity, it blows into my face, and I grimace. Preston catches sight of my face and says, “Yeah, what? I smoke. You were right about me. I’m an asshole. Clearly, my dad thinks so, too. I’m never going to be good enough for him, or for you, so let’s just forget this ever happened.”

I reach out and take his hand. “Obviously there’s more going on between you and your dad than just his issues with the sex tape, and I’m happy to listen to you. I’m not going anywhere. Especially since we came here together. I like you, Preston. You aren’t perfect, but neither am I.”

“You’re beautiful and spend your entire life saving homeless pets. You’re practically Mother Theresa.”

I laugh. “No, I’m a mess. I’m way too judgmental and closed off. We’ve all got our demons, Preston.”

He flicks the cigarette on the ground and stomps on it. 

I don’t want to sound like a nag, but I’m curious because I haven’t seen him smoke around me or smelled cigarettes on his breath or clothes. “I haven’t seen you smoke before. Is it just a casual thing or are you a pack-a-day kind of guy?”

“I don’t really smoke anymore. I just bummed a cigarette off that guy. It’s a nasty habit I picked up in Iraq.”

I nod my head. “I get it. War seems like a good excuse to smoke. I used to smoke, too.” That gets his attention, and he looks at me with renewed interest.

“Really? When?”

“When I was in a group home. I grew up in foster care. It was my I-hate-everyone stage.” I’m actually still in that stage, but he doesn’t need the details.

His angry scowl drops off his face, replaced by a look of compassion. “Sorry, I didn’t know you grew up in foster care.”

“Yeah, I don’t tell people that. Like, ever. I don’t like to talk about it.”

He bites his lip, and then digs into his pocket and stuffs a stick of gum in his mouth. “I don’t blame you. I don’t like to talk much about my family, either.”

“Then let’s not talk much together. Let’s leave. We can go anywhere you want. Back to the hotel, or maybe get something to eat? I don’t need to go back to the expo today. It’s taking place all week, and we already went to the keynote earlier. We can come back tomorrow. I’m just grateful to be here.” What I don’t say aloud is that I’d do anything to make him feel better right now. He’s acting like he isn’t bothered by what happened with his dad, but I can tell he’s not okay.

“Can we go to the beach?”

“I’d like that.”

It’s only a short walk to the beach since you can see the ocean from the convention center. When we reach the sand, I pause to slip off my flip-flops, holding on to Preston for balance. The hot sand envelops my feet, and the fragrant ocean breeze relaxes me immediately.

Preston takes my hand. It’s a beautiful moment, one that strikes me as sweet and intimate. “How did you quit? Smoking, I mean?”

“Oh, I had to stop when I became vegan. The tobacco companies test on animals, so I gave it up.”

He shakes his head. “It was just that easy for you? You didn’t go through withdrawal? Even now, every time I get stressed out, I crave a cigarette.”

“I never said it was easy. Being vegan isn’t easy, either. But nothing worth doing in life is.”

He pulls me in to kiss me. Butterflies flutter in my stomach as his tongue explores my mouth. When he pulls back from our kiss, he cups my head in his hands and just looks at me. “Why are you so driven, so selfless?”

“I wouldn’t say I’m selfless, but I just believe saving animals is my purpose in life. My cause. Animals were the only ones who cared for me when I was in foster care. So I devoted my life to helping them. It’s simple, really. I have no one else. Well, Eden and Avril, but that’s about it.” The second those words leave my mouth I realize how pathetic they sound, but I trust Preston won’t judge me for them.

“You have me.” His dark gaze holds me captive and sends a surge of need to my core.

Swoon.

We kiss in the sand, and the world melts away between us. I have no idea why Preston moves me so much, not just physically, but emotionally. All I know is, kissing him on the beach in Hawai’i is the happiest moment of my life.

Preston whispers, his hot breath tickling the shell of my ear, “Let’s go back to the room.”