“It doesn’t matter. I’m sure Aaron doesn’t want to hear about that.” I try to use him as an excuse, but he’s just standing there quietly with his arm around my shoulder. I dare a look up to him, and he seems like he’s sizing up Parker.
Parker doesn’t seem to care about whatever energy is being emitted in his direction by either myself or Aaron and starts talking anyway.
“Our moms have been best friends forever, so we’ve known each other our whole lives. That’s not the interesting story. How Lily finally admitted she was in love with me, now that’s the story.”
“I did not,” I screech.
“Pretty sure you did.”
“Pretty sure you have brain damage from smoke inhalation.”
“Let’s get other opinions then, shall we?” He smirks. I shake my head, but he doesn’t stop. “It was a normal day in high school. I was with a couple of my friends at the end of the day. When all of a sudden, I’m being trampled by this little blonde right here, and she?—”
“That’s not what happened, oh my God,” I huff.
“How do you rememberit then?” he goads.
I speak faster than necessary just so I can get this story over with. “After school one day we were each with our respective friends. Mine were playing a dumb game that had to do with smash or pass or something. I yelled my answer loudly. Parker’s nosy, that’s it.”
Sutton is trying to bite back her laughter as she nods, and Parker looks way too smug for his own good.
“Maybe we should get going,” Aaron suggests, and I can feel how uncomfortable he is with the way this conversation has shifted.
“You sure? We were just getting to the good part of Lil’s history. Make sure she tells you about how I found her piglet Miss Waddles in her bed one night,” Parker shares.
I pull Aaron away. “Goodbye Sutton, we’ll hang out another time when there isn’t my weird stalker hovering.”
I turn away but can hear Parker’s laughter booming from behind me as we leave. Once we get back to Aaron’s car I slump in the passenger seat.
Aaron sits and won’t look at me when he asks, “What’s that guy’s deal with you?”
“Parker? He’s obsessed with me, obviously,” I try to joke, but he looks over at me like he doesn’t find it very funny and my smile drops.
“What about you?”
“Whatabout me?”
“You seem to entertain him in this supposed one-sided obsession.”
“I don’t entertain him. I can start keeping track of how many times I tell him to go away, if you’d like,” I suggest sarcastically. I also can’t help but think about the way he cornered me in the kitchen the other day, and how I didn’t immediately push him away.
I did tell him to go away…eventually.
“You know, Lily, not everything is a joke all the fucking time,” he snaps.
I rear back, shocked at his outburst. It’s not the first time it’s happened, but something about this time feels different.
I swallow roughly. “Sorry.”
“If you want to go back to your old life here, get back with your high school boyfriend, and be stuck back in this shitty little town, then be my guest.”
I flinch like he hit me because his words may have at this point. “I never said I wanted any of that.”
“Well it’s sure how you’re acting.”
He starts the car, and I keep my eyes locked out the window because I can’t look at him right now. I don’t even know what I would say. One of the rare times in my life I’m genuinely speechless.
Except one thing.