I’m not so sure that’s true. I think I’d very much like to know who they really are, but I won’t push, and I won’t make them tell me anything they’re uncomfortable with.
“Wait,” I say, staring at them. “What happened to your glasses?”
Their nose scrunches. “My glasses?”
“Yeah. You had glasses.”
Recognition lights up their face. “Oh.” They giggle. “That’s just for aesthetics. I don’t actually need glasses.”
“Adorable.” I can’t help but grin.
Parker scoffs.
“What do you want to do tonight?” I ask, changing the subject.
They let out a sigh of relief, then slump on the couch. “I don’t know. I was supposed to be painting, but I can’t get in the right headspace. It’s a real pain in the ass.”
“Oh? At the risk of sounding too forward, what’s the headspace you’re supposed to be in?”
Parker leans forward on the couch, bracing their elbows on their knees. “Okay, so I’m doing this series on emotions.” Something in their face shifts, and I find myself leaning closer, captivated as they talk. “And love was easy. Well, easier. It was difficult to find the right headspace, but I managed. And then I did fear right after. Same type of emotion, right?”
I’m not sure I’m following. How are fear and love the same type of emotion? But I nod anyway, thankful they’re sharing any sort of information with me at all.
“Sothen,” they continue, waving a hand through the air. “I think I want to do anger, but I’m not very good at being angry. It’s like I can’t figure out the right color.”
“The right color?” I echo.
They sit up straighter, turning to face me, then pull their legs up on the couch and cross them.
The t-shirt is riding dangerously high, and my throat goes dry as I drop my eyes.
Parker goes on like nothing’s different, and I’m trying my level best to keep my eyes at a respectable place. God, they’re such a beautiful human, though.
“Yeah, the right color. Like…” They trail off, then roll their eyes with a huff. “God, I can’t believe I’m gonna tell you this,” Parker mumbles under their breath. “I see things in colors. Or feel them in colors, rather.”
That’s fascinating. “So, synesthesia,” I say.
Parker’s blue eyes light up. “You’ve heard of it?”
“Yeah.” I offer them a smile. “I’m hoping to be a neuroscientist.”
Their eyes nearly bug out of their head. “Holy fuck. Lofty ambitions.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Yeah, maybe so, but hey, three years down. Like twenty-five to go.”
Parker stares at me in awe for a few seconds. “I didn’t expect that from you, honestly.” Holding a hand over my heart, I feign offense, and their eyes blow wide. “Not in a bad way. Not at all.”
Chuckling, I shake my head. “Hey, no offense taken. What about you?”
“I’m an art major. So basically, the dream is to one day sell my paintings and make a living.” They shrug. “But I know that may not be realistic. So, starving artist it is.”
I like that; that they’re so unashamedly pursuing their dreams. “I think that’s really awesome.” Parker’s answering smile is its own form of art. “Candy and true crime?”
They laugh, sitting back and handing me the remote. “Sounds good to me.”
Chapter 6
Landon
