“No, no,” he says quickly. “It was a one-off, I promise you. There’s no way we’ll invite Parker over again. I won’t invite anyone over again except for myself.”
“Who was the girl who answered your phone?”
“There were some teenagers on the beach. They saw me crying, and they just sat with me once I told them what happened.”
“She seemed to know you.”
“I know. I was so upset when she grabbed my phone. I don’t know her, or why she acted like she knew who I was. They were just all hanging out and were trying to help me to not be upset. They felt sorry for me.”
I sigh, feeling incredibly deflated. “Okay. I’m so embarrassed about all of this.”
“I know. I’m really, really sorry. Can we just go inside quickly and have a nice night? I don’t want to think about this anymore. I just want to get up to the room and cuddle with you and forget this all ever happened. I’m really sorry about Parker. I can’t believe he did that. I just want to not think about it anymore.”
“Okay. Yeah, let’s just go inside.”
We slink past the concierge, and they give us a look that says everything. The sort of judgment that makes me shrivel into a tiny ball—like I’ve brought chaos into a place that would otherwise have been calm.
“Ugh, did you see that look he just gave us?” I ask Timmy, as we ride up in the elevator, his hand clenched tight around mine.
He frowns. “Yeah, I did. What a dick. And I’m very sorry.” He pulls me to him and kisses me on the head. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
Later in the night, as I lay next to Timmy, trying to forget everything that happened earlier, my phone dings again. Parker has left a voicemail.
“Call me if you fucking need help,” he slurs. “I know you do.”
Another message comes through shortly after.
Parker:
I hope you’re alive. Still, I really hope you’re alive.
I don’t reply. He texts again, still nonsensical.
Parker:
Yeah, one moment. Well I’m still here. Should I make some noise?
Wanna fuck around? So where are my keys? Or should I just call the cops?
I sigh and text him back.
Me:
Parker. We were by your house and your keys are at your car now.
Not sure what you’d need to call them for.
You left your keys at my house and we brought them to you.
Parker:
I’ve got no fucking problem. Timmy’s the one who’s got a few cases.
There are government keys on that chain. This isn’t going to end well.
It’s funny, you were the only one with a problem.
A few more minutes go by.