Page 112 of Running from Drac

“Amber is my best friend,” Pippa informed him as she grabbed his arm and pulled him towards her, redirecting his attention. “Do you think you can work on the Stang for me today? I’d really appreciate it.”

“I’ll have to go get some oil and a filter, but sure.” I followed him with my eyes, tracking every movement he made towards the door.

His butt was perfection, and I couldn’t look away, not until he slowly turned his head and caught me checking him out.

“It was nice to meet you, Amber.” Then he winked, and God did it dismantle me.

Embarrassed, I just smiled, unable to find my voice as he walked out the door. Pippa grinned and threw herself on the bed next to me. “I told you he is amazing.”

“He seems really nice,” I managed to say, though I really wanted to say more. Eddie was attractive—too attractive, and it was hard to suppress the raging chemistry I felt when he touched my hand. The more I thought about him, the more I smiled. And the more I smiled, the more my heart raced. Eddie was special, I could feel it the minute he walked in the room, but I didn’t know how special he was until our first date…

A cold shiver swept over me as a breeze wafted through my dress. The way people stared at me was unnerving, but I couldn’t help it. I literally just left the chapel, my heart shattered and broken. Two people that I trusted with my life, betrayed me, and no sorry can make up for that. The trust is broken, and there isn’t a single thing either one of them could say to make me ever forgive them.

The girl on the bench laughs, catching my attention. I laughed like that once. Eddie has always had this uncanny way of making me feel safe and silly. In his arms, I feel protected and loved.

Was it all a façade?

Did he ever really love me?

No, he had to.

I saw it in his eyes when he looked at me, like I became his entire reason for existing the moment we met.

Even on our first date he looked at me that way.

A tear slides down my cheek, dropping haphazardly into the river below. I wipe its remnants away, just as more memories start to filter in.

~~~

3 weeks after meeting him…

“Hey.”

He said it like it was normal, like we’d known each other our whole lives.

“It’s Amber, right? You’re Pippa’s friend?” I recognized his voice even before he took a seat next to me on the grass.

Usually, after class, I always headed to the library to sit underneath my favorite reading tree. It was the best spot to people watch while reading my favorite magazine.

That afternoon wasn’t any different, except my usual comfort levels were gone, and my heart was beating so fast it felt like it was going to burst out of my chest like a foreign alien.

He shifted slightly so he could face me. That beautiful smile I hadn’t stopped thinking about since the day we met.

Say something, you idiot!

“Hey, it’s Eddie, right? You’re Pippa’s friend?” It wasn’t my best attempt at conversing with a cute boy, but somehow, he found my awkwardness charming and chuckled. That sexy smile of his had me by the tits and wasn’t letting go. Nervous bubbles built in my belly. I wanted to look away, but his eyes had me mesmerized.

“Well, isn’t that funny? We already have something in common!” I noticed his eyes lit up when he smiled. His hairwas longer than I thought too. I guess I didn’t see it curling around his ears under his cap.

“Are you counting?”

“One, we have one thing in common. AH. AH. AH.” His impression of the Count from Sesame Street was flawless, and I giggled so hard my sides hurt.

“God, you’re so beautiful when you laugh.” His comment caught me off guard, and the giggling stopped immediately, replaced quickly with my tomato-colored cheeks and awkward silence.

“Um… thanks.” It came out kind of squeaky and he probably thought I was a total dweeb, but Eddie just smiled, his chocolate-colored eyes fixated on me.

“Hold still.” He brushed his fingers against my cheek, and I swear it was like the Fourth of July, because fireworks were bursting in my brain. His hand weaved into my hair, briefly tangling his fingers around one of my massive blonde curls. I felt him tug, and he pulled something out. When his hand retreated, he was holding a golden leaf, and I swear his eyes started to twinkle. “You know what the problem with fall is?” he asked.