“Yeah, well it’s not just you, is it? You have your little guard dog with you.”
Parker chuckles darkly. “Guard dog? I’ll show you a fucking guard dog.” He starts to step toward Aaron, but I get in front of him to prevent him from getting too close.
“You should probably keep him on a leash, Lily, he’s clearly got some issues.”
“You mother fuc?—”
I cut Parker off before he can escalate things. “Just leave. I was going to leave my key on the counter, and you never have to see us again.”
“I figured I wouldn’t have to see you again after I left that shit hole town of yours,” he scoffs. “I was looking forward to it, along with never having to hear the stupid random shit you spew all the goddamn time.”
Parker is at my back, pressed against me completely. I sigh because I know I’ll actually be useless to stop him if he wants to kick Aaron’s ass. He’s a full foot taller than me. But this doesn’t feel threatening, this feels protective. Of me.
“That’s the last time you say something negative aboutmygirl andmytown.”
I roll my lips together, and start to turn back toward Parker. He stops me with a possessive hand on my hip, holding me in place with both of us facing my ex.
“Your girl.” Aaron laughs. “Yeah, I saw that coming. Good job even pretending like you cared about me, Lily. Just used me to help your aunt and then got back with some small-town trash.”
Now it’s my turn to defend. “Oh, fuck off. I don’t even know what I saw in you, but trust me it was not touseyou. And if anyone here is trash it’syoufor how you’ve treated me.”
“Yeah, your life here was so horrible, right?”
“Face it,” Parker starts. “You were just a replacement. You were never going to be the one for her.”
Aaron fixes me with a glare. “And you were just a bullet dodged for me.”
I can feel the anger radiating off Parker. I should probably turn around and comfort him. But I don’t think I want to. I kind of want to see how this is going to play out. Parker’s grip tightens on me, and I think it’s the only thing holding him back.
“Good thing you never have to see me again. Let me finish up here, then we’re gone.” I place my hand over Parker’s, intertwining our fingers together.
Aaron’s jaw tightens, and I see that he’s not done with thisconfrontation. I also know if he doesn’t end it peacefully Parker is going to end this one way or another.
“I’ll stay right here as you finish.”
I scoff, “What? You don’t trust me?”
“No, I don’t.” He looks up at Parker. “And I especially don’t trusthim.”
“Lil.” Parker’s voice is gravely it has a shiver running down my spine. “If you don’t want me to fuck this guy up you need to say something in the next five seconds.”
Aaron throws his hands up. “I’m calling the cops.”
“No!” I exclaim. “No one wants us to leave more than me.”
There are a few tense seconds where I’m not sure who’s going to move first; if Aaron is going to pull his phone out and call the cops, or if Parker is going to throw a punch.
“You have five minutes,” Aaron grits. “Then I call the cops.” He walks into the kitchen, facing away from us.
“Five minutes isn’t enough time you fucki?—”
“Okay.” I turn around, and communicate to Parker with just my eyes to let it go.
I work quickly to put my books and pictures in the tote, making sure to step on whatever I dumped out of it that’s lying on the floor. Satisfaction runs through me at the crunch of somethingunder my shoe.
Parker manages to get my clothes, and if I’m leaving anything behind I don’t even care. It was a dumb idea to come here as it is. I should’ve just let it all go and bought new stuff. But this was also about making a point.
I don’t know if I made it, but I made something.