“You should thank me for telling your mom when you broke your arm.”
He huffs out a chuckle. “I should? That was like fifteen years ago.”
“Yes. You should,” I insist, folding my arms across my chest, then quickly realizing it was a mistake because my hands are really wet, and now my shirt is soaked.
“Thank you, I owe you for the use of my right arm.” The way he says it sounds more sensual than it should.
“You’re welcome,” I huff, and then feel the need to leave because being close to him is suffocating me. I want to scream at him but also want to fall into his arms. The longer we’re in close proximity, especially alone, the worse it seems to get.
“Lil,” he calls after me, and I freeze, but don’t turn around to face him. “Are you coming to the first responder’s night?”
“Why would I do that? I’m not a first responder.”
“To watch me of course.” I hear his teasing tone, and I shake my head. “Plus, you know Sutton will be there.”
I turn to glare at him. “Don’t use my friends against me.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “I’ve missed you, Lil.”
My stomach swoops, and I really have to get out of here. Without another word, I turn back around and rush down to my room. As soon as I’m safe inside with the door shut, I lean against the wood, dropping my head into my hands.
I need to get my shit together if I’m going to survive my time here. It’s not fair that he still has this much effect on me. I’ve moved on; I always look forward, not backwards. Then why is it that as soon as he’s around I’m transported right back to being a lovesick teenager.
But I’m not. I’m sure these feelings will fade. I’m sure one day I’ll be able to look at him and not feel like my heart is bottoming out. I just have to stay strong.
CHAPTER 13
Parker
I love flustering Lily.It’s always been one of my favorite pastimes. Especially now when one of my main goals is to get her back into my life. She can pretend she doesn’t like me, and doesn’t miss me, but I know she does. Her face shows it all even though she tries to hide it. The way she looks at me and acts like she’s not. I know she still thinks about me, and has the memories come back full force like they do for me.
Her comment about thanking her for telling my mom when I broke my arm only proved that even more than I already knew. I love how she says what she’s thinking, even when it may not make sense to everyone else.
Jerry Lee starts barking in his cage and I notice there’s a blanket over the top of it. He is clearly not happy about it. I pull the fabric off, and as soon as he’s free from the darkness he screams out, “Hi bitch! Hunky Parker!”
I bark out a laugh because that explains why he was left in the dark. “That’s right, buddy, remind Lily that I’m hunky Parker.”
“Hunky Parker! Asshole Aaron! Lily worm!”
I laugh even louder. There’s two more from him I haven’t heard yet.
“Asshole Aaron is a good one, keep that up,” I tell him.
Personally, I like Lily worm and may be using that myself now.
I make an excuse to leave not long after Ethan is done cleaning the mud off himself and changing. The poor kid slipped and fell face first right into the mud, luckily it wasjustmud. I knew his parents wouldn’t be too happy if he got it all over their house, and he didn’t put up much of a fight about cleaning up.
I don’t know when asshole Aaron will be coming back, but I don’t want to risk running into him right now. Especially not after riding the high of an interaction with Lily. Not to mention, how close I got to her and how perfect it felt. I shouldn’t have done that, but I couldn’t help it. The way her frame fits so perfectly with mine. It’s like we were made for each other. We’re magnets always drawn to one another. No one can deny that, not even her.
When I get home, I’m greeted by someone who should be my best friend but seems to be a bit more like my enemy. Though, it’s a one-sided feud because I just want Franki to be happy. She perks up from her spot at the top of her cat tree, sees it’s me, and then glares.
“I will win over both youandLily, I just want you to know that,” I tell her definitively.
That sparks an idea, and I’m curious whatFranki would think about Lily; I bet she would love her right away just like everyone does. Especially animals, even wild ones that shouldn’t be her friend. She’s like a real-life animal whispering princess or something. Minus the singing.
Now, I just have to get her to come over to my house. Somehow.
One step at a time, I guess.