“What else would you call it?”
“Hm, I would say more of a situationship, maybe a friend with benefits. I’m not totally sure I want to keep you around quite yet,” I tease.
“You’re lucky I’m driving right now because I’d make you eat those words if I could.”
“Make it up to me later,” I joke.
“I plan to.”
“Can’t wait.”
We getto my old apartment, and it feels like I’m looking at my old life. Which is wild considering it was supposed to be my future. Amity was going to be my past, and now it’s the opposite. Everything I thought I left behind for this place is what I’ll be running back to for my future.
“Are you sure about this?” Parker asks, looking over at me.
I meet his gaze, and the comfort he brings me so easily is amazing. “Yeah, let’s get it over with.”
Parker reaches over, hooking his hand between my thighs, andpulls me over to him. His other hand slides up the back of my neck, into my hair, tangling in the strands, pulling to angle my head how he wants before his lips are on mine.
I love when Parker kisses me, everything about it is perfect. From the way his lips fit against mine, the perfect pressure, how he always knows what to do with his tongue. It’s never sloppy, messy. Even when we’re out of control it’s in the best way.
We break apart, and I sigh, my eyes finding his. “Now I’m not because I’d rather do something else.”
He huffs a laugh, dropping another quick kiss onto my mouth. “After we’re done, we can do anything you want.”
“Damn right we will.”
We get out of the truck, and I pull out my keys, unlocking the front door. I do everything I can to hide the way my hands are shaking as I do. I don’t want Parker to see that I’m worried Aaron may be here. I don’t want to see him, and I really want to avoid a confrontation between him and Parker. Again.
I just want to get my things and get out.
“I mostly want my clothes. If you want to start grabbing those from the closet, I can grab the other smaller stuff I want to take.” I look around the familiar place that once was where I lived. Now, it feels like some foreign apartment. I don’t know how I ever lived here. It feels cold, empty, and sad.
Even though it looks the same as it did, the vibe isdifferent. Off.
“You’re going to trust me to just get your clothes and not throw his in the garbage?” Parker asks, amused.
“Oh, no, you can do whatever you want to his. As long as you grab mine.”
Parker wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me into him for a quick deep kiss. “Be quick.”
“With that motivation, I will be.”
We go our separate ways; I find a plastic tote, dumping out the useless shit Aaron had in there. I don’t care about any of it, I just want to use for myself. I’m mostly packing stuff that can’t be replaced. Luckily, I left all my important documents at my parents, so I don’t have to worry about tracking those down. Because who knows where I would’ve kept them.
I collect the few pictures I have in frames from college, and from Sutton’s wedding. When I pick one up, I notice something I never did before. It’s a candid shot of Sutton and I with our heads thrown back laughing. I like how genuine the picture is, how carefree we look. In the background I see Parker looking at us. He has an easy smile on his face, and the way he’s watching I know he’s looking at me.
It's how he always looked at me when he thought I didn’t notice. The look of so much admiration and dare I say love. I’m so focused on the picture I hardly hear the unexpected commotion of a door closing.
“What’s going on?” Aaron’s voice booms, and I freeze, dropping the picture into the tote and rushing out to prevent a possible murder.
Parker is already standing at the doorway of the master bedroom; arms folded across his chest.
“I’m just getting my stuff. I didn’t think you’d be here,” I say quickly.
“I could’ve shipped it to you.” His tone is curt.
“I wanted to do it myself.”