“Did you decide on a name for your business?” Dr. Beck inquired.
“CeCe’s Corner,” I said proudly.
When Celeste and I were younger, we used to have a spot at the park, a crawl tunnel, it was a place where we told secrets. Whenever we were upset and needed to talk, we’d sit at the mouth of the tunnel and bare our souls. Even when we got older, that tunnel remained our spot. We’d hop in the car late at night and sit there, talking until we felt better. That almost bare corner of the park was our safe space. My dream of starting my own business was born there, alongside Celeste’s dream of opening her own salon. It only made sense that I honored that special place.
Dr. Beck knew the significance and smiled knowingly. Our time was coming to a close, so we said our goodbyes, and I closed my laptop.
Parker would be finishingup with therapy, and I wanted to check on him.
I noticed he was sitting by the pool in one of the lounge chairs as I made my way down the path from the garden.
His crutches leaned beside him, and his shades were covering his eyes. He sat there staring into the water. I knew that his mind was anywhere but here.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
He looked up, almost surprised to hear the sound of my voice.
“Will you come sit with me?” He said while patting the free space on the lounger where he sat.
Walking over to him and taking a seat, I grabbed his hand in mine.
“Want to talk about what's on your mind, or shall we just sit together?”
The side of his mouth almost curled up in a smile. He bowed his head, looking at our entwined fingers, and delivered a heavy sigh.
“Evelyn…if you wanted to go back to New York, I would understand. I just don’t think I can go back right now.” He pointed to his leg. “There’s a lot still unfinished here. I’m not in a good headspace. I don’t want to hold you back. I’m sorry.”
I was taken aback by his words and a little bit hurt. But I knew exactly what he was trying to do. I had gotten good at reading him.
Parker was a hero. He took care of people, and now he was the one being cared for. He felt useless. We had connected because I needed protection, and Parker promised to do just that. Now Charles was gone for good, and I was safe.
I could go back to New York and work at Mosaic if I wanted to, or stay on the path to start my business. Traveling was a new possibility for me. With Charles out of the way, I had access back to all my accounts, and I had the money I made from The Marquis. To him, nothing was tying me to Oakland Ridge anymore.
But he was so wrong. His mind had twisted the truth. On the days when his PT was rough, he tended to listen to that negative voice in his head, the voice that told him he'd never be a firefighter again, that he didn't have much to offer.
“Parker Woods, are you trying to get rid of me? I thought you knew the moment you opened your eyes in that hospital room that you were stuck with me.” I said with a lightness to my tone.
“You don’t have to pretend for me,” He said as he shrugged off my words, turning his face away from mine.
“My life is here in Oakland Ridge, along with my family and the love of my life. There is no place I’d rather be than right here with you.”
I grasped his chin, turning him towards me. My fingers outlined his face from his eyebrows to his perfectly kept beard. Releasing his hand, I cupped his face with both hands, forcing his eyes to meet mine so he’d understand just how much he meant to me.
“I want a life with you wherever we are. I wasn'tlivingin New York; I was masquerading as a ghost. My mom and Celeste may be gone, but I’m still here. I carry them with me now wherever I go. That fire felt like the end, but it was our beginning. I’m not looking to be that version of myself anymore. I’m happy to let it burn if it means a lifetime of new beginnings with you. I’m choosing you.”
Parker’s hand reached up and slid across my cheek. I hadn’t realized I was crying.
“I don’t want you to stay just for me. I want you to stay because you think you have a life here, a future here.” He paused, looking unsure. “A future with me.”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and release a watery chuckle. “Do I need to take you back to the hospital to get your hearing checked? I’m choosing you, our future, and Oakland Ridge. We’re in this together. I don’t love you because you’re a firefighter, I love you because you’re you. Whether we stay here or not means little to me. Wherever you are, that's where I want to be.”
I searched his eyes for any sign that he processed what I was saying.
I held my breath, waiting for his response as his eyes searched mine in return.
There was no response, only the feeling of his lips pressing urgently against mine. Parker’s hand grasps the back of my head, his fingers digging into my hair as he devours my lips. I moaned into his mouth, my tongue seeking his. Our lips and tongues wrestle in a fervent dance.
“I’m so lucky that you chose me,” he said breathlessly before attacking my mouth with his once again.
