“You’re a good guy,” I said. “But…”
“Right.”
I shrugged. “I think this was a nice rebound date for both of us. I’m feeling the friend spark and not so much the romance spark.”
“I guess I can’t compete with one of those batshit-crazy Svensson brothers.”
“They are unique.”
“And obnoxious.”
“The kids are cute.”
Mark laughed. “I have random family members come out of the woodwork every once in a while, but they really take the cake.”
The waitress brought out a platter of the smallest piece of fried chicken I have ever seen and another little plate of about three bites of mac ’n cheese. Mark and I both looked at it.
“I think I’m going to have to go to McDonalds after this,” he said.
I took a bite of the chicken. “It’s fine…”
“That’s very diplomatic.”
I gestured wildly. “Southern food is about excess. Fried chicken should be a platter. Mac ’n cheese should be bubbling out of a huge casserole dish.”
“I would say you’re being snobby,” Mark said, “except that it was literally two bites of chicken. And it was what, twenty dollars?”
“You should come to Harrogate. Drinks are cheap, and the restaurants give you lots of food.”
“Yeah, I could,” he said, eyes narrowing as he looked past me in the direction of the entrance. “Except I think Harrogate has come to us.”
I turned to see a familiar tall, blond man pushing his way through the crowd.
65
Parker
“You’re moping,” Garrett said.
I was in my bed, staring at the ceiling. Davy was on the floor playing games on my phone. He wasn’t yet old enough to go to school, and usually one of us dropped him off at the day care at PharmaTech. Had no one gone to work that day? Why did I even care?
“Maybe I’ll quit my job,” I announced. If Sadie wasn’t there, what was the point? I had tried texting her and calling, but her voice mailbox was full, and she didn’t respond to my texts.
“Greg is really going to like to hear that,” Hunter said sarcastically from the doorway, Garrett beside him.
“Go away,” I told them and turned to face the wall. “You already told me what a screw-up I am.”
My older brother came in and sat down gingerly on the edge of the bed. Garrett scooted Davy away then hovered over me.
“Parker,” Hunter said, jabbing me until I turned to face him. “I’m sorry we didn’t take you out of the compound when Dad kicked us out. We should have made it work.”
“It’s fine,” I said. “I know you were under a lot of stress; you guys were just kids. You were the same age as Isaac is now, and he’s barely functional.”
Garrett smirked.
“It’s obviously not fine,” Hunter insisted, “if you thought it was a good idea to talk to Dad.”
“I have been cured of any lingering childhood issues,” I said, sitting up. “I’m on team Put That Bastard in Jail.”
