CHAPTER 13
Parker
Sawyer is gone. The empty gaming room and the neatly folded blanket on the couch are proof enough.
She didn’t even say goodbye. I almost roll my eyes at that. Even in my head, I sound like a whiny teenage girl whose crush disappointed her.
But damn if I don’t feel that way.
Last night, she fell asleep on our third movie, looking so peaceful. It didn’t feel right to wake her so I grabbed a blanket and draped it over her before going up to my room. I would have slept on the floor, but I didn’t think she’d feel comfortable to see me sleeping in the same room with her.
I wanted to have breakfast with her today, so I woke up earlier than I’m used to. After taking a quick shower, I headed downstairs to check on her, only to find her already gone.
She said I didn’t bore her with my problems, but maybe she was just being polite. Then again, she'd stayed afterwards and hung around.
Because you asked her to, dumbass.
Fuck. What the hell was I thinking unloading my problems on her?
With Peyton, it was just easy to keep them to myself. I tried opening up to her once, but she’d been completely uninterested and said my problems were too depressing for her to listen to.
But that's not the case with Sawyer. She's different. She listened intently as I droned on about my problems, hanging onto every word I said. Talking to her felt easy. It felt right.
Now, I’m concerned that I read her wrong.
This is exactly why I can’t entertain the idea of us together. I have big responsibilities on my shoulders, all thanks to my no-good father. My family—what’s left of it—needs me. I can’t afford to prioritize anything else. Because if I ever get together with Sawyer, there's no doubt she’d be a priority.
I already have a plan in mind. After I graduate high school, I’m going to settle for a university just an hour away from Holy Oaks, so I can go home every weekend and keep close tabs on Mom and my siblings.
I intend to hire Janna full-time so she can watch Mom the whole day. And maybe full-time housekeepers as well—we only have a team of cleaners who comes a couple times a week to tidy up the house and get us everything we need—to look after Aria and Ethan.
It’s not going to be an ideal arrangement. But unless I forego college and decide to stay at home—something I’m tempted to consider—I'm left with no other choice.
I don't really have other relatives to count on. Not a single one of them gives a fuck about us, having their own dysfunctional families to worry about. A year ago, I made the mistake of reaching out to my father’s brother to get help for Mom’s addiction. Dickhead just laughed and told me to call him again when she finally overdosed so he could attend the funeral.
What a fucking waste of sperm. And I share a DNA with that guy.
Pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind, I focus on preparing breakfast—pancakes and bacon today. I've just finished setting them on the table when voices drift from the hall.
Aria and Ethan are awake.
Ethan looks sleepy, yawning with his eyes closed. But one glance at the table has him perking up. "Pancakes, nice!"
"Easy there, bud," I chuckle when he grabs one and shoves half of it into his mouth.
But I'm not bothered by it. This kid can shove a whole pancake into his mouth without any danger of choking.
"Sawyer spent the night, huh?" Aria says casually—too casually—as she sits next to Ethan. "I saw her car still in the driveway an hour ago."
Chewing on a strip of bacon, I keep my mouth shut, schooling my features to remain even.
"You know your poker face doesn't work on me, right? What's the big deal, anyway? Your exes cheated on the two of you with each other. Which leaves the both of you single and available." She smirks. "It's genius, actually. Like a big 'fuck you' to Liam and Peyton."
Ethan bounces his eyes between us, suddenly interested in the conversation. "Is Sawyer the girl from yesterday? But I thought you were dating Peyton."
I glare at my sister.
She just smiles, completely unapologetic.
"Sawyer fell asleep in the gaming room last night. I just didn't wake her up. That's it. Get your mind out of the gutter."
"She's pretty, though," Ethan says.
Ignoring our brother, Aria narrows her eyes at me. "So you're telling me that you let the girl—the one you've always had a thing for—spend the night without making a move? Honestly, Parker, I never took you for a wuss."
"I don't know what you're talking about," I grind out, my jaw clenched tight.
How did Aria find out about that? And, hell, am I seriously fucking blushing right now?
Being the insensitive pain-in-the-ass sister that she is, Aria snickers. "The fact that your cheeks are red totally disproves that. And stop denying it—I've known about it for a long time." Her grin widens. "You think I wouldn't notice my brother making googly eyes at the same girl for years?"
"Googly eyes, huh?" Ethan repeats, his mouth filled with bacon. "Does Parker look like this when he does that?" He proceeds to smile demurely and bat his lashes. The little shit.
Aria chuckles. "Not quite, but close."
"Very funny." I scowl. "Finish your breakfast and get in the shower. You'll be late for school," I bark, which only makes them laugh.
In school, people know better than to make fun of me. They find me too intimidating to even laugh at my expense. But these two don't even think twice before doing it. They’re more likely to laugh in my face than cower in fear.
With a scowl, I get up from the table before the two of them decide to gang up on me further.
But the laughter and kissing noises behind me say it's a wasted effort.
Why do I even try?
CHAPTER 14
Sawyer
