“Why do you have my bird? Is everything okay?” I hear rustling on the other end of the phone.
“Not exactly. There’s been a fire at your salon.”
“On my way.”
We hang up, and I stare at my phone screen, scrolling up to a contact I have thought about reaching out to so many times, but haven’t done so in years. Her name continues to invoke both nostalgia and pain. The girl that got away.Mygirl that got away.
“Bitch! Hot guy Jameson!”
“Thanks for that, Jerry Lee.” I chuckle, the bird pulling me from the thoughts of a certain little firecracker of a woman.
Amity is a small town, and I know Trish lives near her sister not far away. Her sister that happens to be my girl’s mom.My ex-girl.
Trish races into the small parking lot, and I meet her there with her still screaming bird under my jacket. The fire that was engulfing half the building is slowly dying from the efforts of my team.
“Parker, oh my God, what happened?” Trish is shaking her head as I hand her the bird.
“I’m not sure, I woke up and saw the flames.”
“I need to tell Sutton,” she finally says softly, referring to the other woman who works at the grooming salon with her. Who also happens to be Jameson’s wife. “And Lily.”
Hearing her name has me freezing, but I do everything I can to hide my reaction. I shake my head, unable to get my voice to work for the moment. I think about a time when I could’ve called her, and been the one to comfort her. But there’s no reason for me to call her for this. There’s no reason for me to call her anymore at all.
Trish sighs, and Jerry Lee seems to have calmed down for the moment. She looks at the building, and I see her shoulders deflate. I don’t know her extremely well, but she’s always reminded me a bit of her niece in the regard to being a bit of a free spirit with minimal filter. Right now, she doesn’t seem like that. Right now, she just seems sad.
“Do you need anything?” I ask, unsure how exactly I can help especially now that the flames have died down almost completely. The night seeming darker without the light from them.
“No, I’m going to have to figure something out here. Thank you for saving Jerry Lee.”
“Of course.” I nod, starting to walk back toward my team.
After we clear the scene, confirming the fire is completely out and there isn’t a risk of another one starting back up again, we start to clear out. I notice Trish is on the phone, Jerry Lee soundsmuch more content tucked under her jacket than he was under mine because I haven’t heard a rogue “jizz” in a few minutes.
What I do hear has me pausing.
“No, no, Lily, don’t worry about it.” She listens, and I try to pull my attention away. But I’m really unable to when I hear what she says next. “He is? I mean, if he’d be willing to help that would be fantastic, but I don’t want to put you both out.”
He.
Her boyfriend.
The guy that will never be me.
I need to walk away and get back to work. I need to not worry about her. She chose to push me away and I need to keep my distance. But I never could.
“If you’re sure, then you know your parents and me would be glad to have you back,” Trish says into the phone.
“Parker,” Jameson slaps a hand on my shoulder, “You good?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
It’s not a lie, but I know if Lily is about to come back into town, knowing she’s going to bring some guy, that will end up changing.
Or it’ll finally be my time to try and get her back.
CHAPTER 2
Lily