“Popping bottles? Nah. But I can imagine he’s probably lighting up a cigar.” He paused. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep working at Gentry.”
His tone threw me for a loop. I stopped walking and turned him to face me.
“You can talk to me.”
I thought we left the heavy conversation back in the car, but Parker’s pinched brow told me otherwise.
“When we first arrived here, I thought, despite our differences, my dad was an upstanding man because he put our issues aside to make sure you were safe. But today I realized that I don’t know him anymore, I put my trust in him, and my gut is starting to say—maybe I was wrong to. I thought there was a chance that we might repair what was broken, but I don’t think we can. The more he reveals his true self, the more I want to get away from here.”
There was pain in his voice. Whatever happened today tipped him over the edge. It sounded like everything was coming to a head. A conversation with his father was long overdue; it would either settle the dust or fan the flames.
I brought his face down to mine and pressed my lips against his. The kiss was unhurried, his arms wrapped around my waist, grounding us where we stood. When we broke away, I could tell that some of the tension had left his body.
“If you want to leave here, I’m with you. Whatever you want to do, I trust you. I know being here has been hard on you. I don’t want to be the reason for your suffering here. He’s going to come no matter where we are.”
He didn’t speak. He just stared into my eyes. I could see the wheels turning in his mind, digesting my words, trying to find a way to challenge me. Parker probably wouldn’t admit it, but he was just as stubborn and hesitant to ask for help as I was. Neither of us was used to depending on another person for anything.
Parker leaned in and kissed my forehead, pushing an errant curl behind my ear.
“Thank you. But you don’t have to worry about that. I’m going to make sure we’re good.”
“You know you don’t have to thank me,” I dropped my voice low and did my best impression of him.
He threw his head back and laughed.
“What am I going to do with you?” he said, reaching for me again.
I dodged his hold and turned towards the beach.
“Catch me first, and then you can decide,” I shouted over my shoulder as I ran towards the ocean.
I was a foot away from the water when strong arms wrapped around my middle, lifting and spinning me as he carried me into the water.
The water was crisp, and a chill worked its way up my body as I hooked my legs around Parker’s waist.
“I caught you, and I think I’ll keep you.”
My heart swelled with emotion. “I’d like that.”
Parker leaned his forehead against mine, breathing me in. The water was almost calm, and small waves brushed up against our bodies.
“Want to play a game?” he whispered, his lips hovering over mine.
“Don’t even think about it,” I warned, knowing full well he was about to toss me in the water.
He nipped at my lip before throwing me in the ocean with a boisterous laugh.
We swam for a while before returning to our blanket on the sand. This felt like the perfect day, almost like we were a regular couple that planned a beach day just because. I couldn’t see Nate and William, but I knew they were close by. The sun was setting, and soon we’d return to the estate and our almost perfect day would be over. So I held on to Parker a little tighter, committing everything to memory, knowing the peace was only temporary.
Chapter 31
Charles
Sweat drips from my forehead onto the floor as I press up from it. The burn in my arms feels good. My body hums with excitement. I was getting closer and closer to having what I really wanted.
Her.
I finished another rep of push-ups before I sat down on the cold basement floor. Music pumped through the old stereo, the faint sound of shuffling feet above let me know I was no longer alone.
