Omar:YES. Exactly.
Parker:So, to restate…
Parker:You are a confusing mix of angry, triggered, charmed & horny
Parker:Attracted and annoyed in equal measure.
Omar:YES.
Omar:I don’t know what to do.
Parker:Well, the first thing you need to do is breathe.
Parker:Like, literally relax your jaw
Parker:Do it.
Fine. When I focus on my jaw, I’m surprised by exactly how bunched up it is. Just relaxing it releases about half of my tension.
Parker:Drop your shoulders.
Omar:Is there a camera in the car? How do you know that my jaw and shoulders are tense??
Parker:Because I’ve met you, lol.
Parker:Have you relaxed them?
Omar:Yes. That was helpful.
Parker:Now put your phone down and take two big breaths.
Parker:I’ll wait.
I feel silly, but I do it anyway. I check Anders, who is focusing on the road ahead. His brow is knitted in concentration, and he’s moving his jaw as though he’s maybe talking to himself.
I know he’s sincere in his promise to stop aggravating me on purpose, but it might just be unavoidable.
With that thought, I take two deep breaths. Anders’ gaze drifts over to me for a moment, but he goes right back to watching the road.
Parker:Better?
Omar:Yes, better.
Parker:Look, you don’t have to figure out everything tonight.
Parker:Or even on this trip.
Parker:There aren’t any bad moves here.
Parker:I mean, I know that I just yelled at him two hours ago, but he’s a genuinely good man, if you want to go down that path.
Parker:But you don’t owe that to anyone.
Omar:I’m just…ugh. Never mind. It sounds so pathetic to say.
Parker:Say it anyway.
Fine.
