First to Fail (Unraveled #3) - Marie Johnston Page 0,18

go soft over athletes, but when they had a fanboy personality, it was a potent combination.

“Yes, which brings us back to your earlier question about what I’d been doing for a living. Before I got full custody of Jaycee, I was on the city council for Minneapolis. That wasn’t prestigious enough to impress Cierra’s parents, but I had just gotten elected to the state senate. I stepped down before I even started. I couldn’t be away from Jaycee for those long days.”

I blinked. He was a politician? An athlete and a politician? And a Preston grad? I apparently wasn’t straying from the type I’d sworn I wouldn’t date again.

His smile died. “That bad?”

I tugged one of the stools over even though I shouldn’t be settling in to stay. “It’s not that.” I owed him more of an explanation since I must’ve looked horrified. “I mean, yes, it is. I’ve dated guys just like you and it hasn’t turned out well. But I guess I’ve never met any of them at a comic con.”

“That’s the key.”

A smile tugged at my lips. “Is it. Does it go the other way? Have you dated other women like me?”

“That’s a resounding no. They’ve all been disturbingly similar to Cierra.” He went to the stool next to me and we faced each other like we were at a real bar and not in an old but well-cared-for house. “You’ve heard similar stories. Guy tries to marry girl. Girl’s family thinks he’s trash. Breakup and serial dating of the exact same type occurs.”

“You wanted to marry her?” How old had he been?

“The sun rose and set with her—at the time. But she made her opinions known.” His expression darkened like he was remembering the pain it had caused. “My dad worked for the bank president instead of being the president. And my mom sold insurance; she didn’t own the company. All those fouls against me and they thought it was better to have an unwed mother for a daughter.”

“Ouch.” In this day and age, that shouldn’t be a scandal, but it would be for the families who attended Preston.

He lifted a shoulder, only bringing attention to how close he was and how much I liked gripping his shoulders. “It worked out. We’re both grateful we didn’t marry, and now she’s happily dating and reclaiming those lost years when she was stuck with a child at home.”

“Role reversal?” This probably wasn’t the sexiest topic but learning about him had become my new favorite pastime.

“You could say that.” He lifted the hood on my sweater and dropped it. “Looks like I’m not the only Preston Academy grad in the room.”

“Ding, ding, ding.” The last thing I wanted to talk about was the school. Dresden still hadn’t served his detention and if he didn’t show after school on Monday, the battle went to round two. “I went to the one in Seattle.” And Hartford, Atlanta, and Chicago.

“Was it as stuffy and uptight as this one? No offense.” He winked.

“They try to be.” I gave my voice the same inflection as Alfred the butler. “We have standards to maintain, Master Wayne.” I sighed. “It’s exhausting.”

“Being the villain is never easy.”

“At least they seem to be having fun in the comics.” Or believed in what they did. “Every bad guy is the hero in their own story. I guess we’ll have to see whether I’ll prevail or not.”

Chapter 5

Chris

“You’re right,” Natalia announced. “It’s better the second time around.”

I had known she’d agree. I shut the TV off in the middle of the rolling credits and massaged her feet as she reclined against the armrest of the sofa. We’d had our pizza. I hadn’t asked her preference when I’d ordered, but I hadn’t wanted to interrupt our conversation. And the way her eyes lit up when I’d mentioned it, I’d pegged her for a cheese or Canadian bacon girl. Or pepperoni, but I couldn’t stand the stuff, not even for a hot fangirl who looked adorable in my living room.

That was a lie. I’d eat all the pepperoni if she demanded it. Especially if she was in that tight bun and skirt when she did it.

Digging into the ball of her right foot, I enjoyed the way her eyes glazed over. “I’m kind of disappointed you’ve only seen Suicide Squad once before tonight.”

She leaned her head on the armrest and closed her eyes. “Didn’t I mention that I prefer Marvel movies?”

I ran my finger up the bottom of her foot. She squealed