An intense feeling I’m not ready to name fills my chest, and a smile so big it hurts curves my lips.
“Hi,” I breathe out.
“Hey.” He runs his eyes over me, his gaze dark and intense. "You look beautiful."
"Thanks," I say shyly, my heart fluttering at his praise. "Um, come in."
He steps inside and brushes his lips over mine.
"I'm glad you came," I whisper.
"Me too," he murmurs, dipping his head to kiss me again.
Someone clears their throat, causing me to jerk away from Parker and whirl around.
It’s Dad. His arms are crossed and there's an impassive look on his face.
“Um, Dad, this is Parker Holloway. Parker, meet my Dad,” I say awkwardly.
“Nice to meet you, sir.” Parker steps forward and extends his hand.
Dad waits a beat before accepting his hand and shaking it, making me blow out a relieved breath.
When I told him yesterday that someone would be joining us for dinner tonight, he was surprised. I guess he didn’t expect me to date so soon after Liam. Thankfully though, he didn’t express any dismay. Not that I expected him to. He’s always been a cool dad.
“Holloway—are you Dianne Holloway’s son?”
“Yes, sir.”
“How is she?” Dad’s expression softens, telling me he’s aware of Dianne’s state these days.
I hope Parker knows that I haven’t told Dad anything. He probably learned about the truth from the town gossip. Everyone in Holy Oaks is practically talking about it.
“She’s doing fine,” Parker says simply.
"Well, send her my regards," Dad nods, catching up on the uneasiness in his tone.
“Dinner’s ready,” Avery calls out from the kitchen just in time.
Dad leads the way to the dining room and I move to follow. But Parker grabs my arm, stopping me.
“These are for you,” he says, handing over the flowers to me.
“Thanks.” I smile up at him, my stomach all fluttery, bringing the flowers to my nose. “Wait. Let me put them in the vase.”
I walk over to the side table, removing the old flowers from the vase and replacing them with the ones he brought. Then taking his hand, I usher him into the dining room where everyone is already waiting, making another round of introductions. Duke—who took a few months to warm up to Liam—wags his tail and licks Parker's hand in greeting, making everyone's eyebrows shoot up in surprise.
At first, I'm apprehensive that dinner is going to be awkward. But to my relief, conversation goes around smoothly.
Dad is mindful not to ask Parker about Dianne again, switching instead to neutral topics, which the latter effortlessly participates in. He can't even contain his glee when he learns that Parker watches Jeopardy! too, and I have a feeling he's tempted to invite him to watch the show together. In the midst of it, Avery gives me a nod of approval, as if to say that Parker has passed the test. Dad and Mildred give theirs, none too discreetly, when dinner ends.
And when I announce that Parker and I will be in my room, Dad is quick to call out that I keep my door wide open, making me blush and Parker chuckle in amusement.
"So, this is my room," I say, leading the way inside.
He glances around and I look at the room from his eyes. It's in shades of beige and teal, two of my favorite colors. I had it repainted back in eighth grade when I got over my obsession with baby pink, replacing my princess bed with a California queen bed at the same time. The bed faces the TV mounted on the wall across the room. Then there's the couch off to the side and a study table near the window, the rest of my stuff tucked inside my walk-in closet.
Parker walks over to my nightstand, picking up the picture sitting in front of the lampshade and next to the alarm clock.
"That was taken on my twelfth birthday," I tell him, a nostalgic smile forming on my lips. "Mom asked me if I wanted a party but I didn't feel like having one. So she and Dad took me and Avery to the beach instead. We spent the whole day there."
Despite the fact that I didn't get to hang out with my friends, it had been, hands down, one of my best birthdays ever. What I wouldn't give to revisit that day and be with my mom again.
Regret and longing grip my chest as I say, "We should have gone to the beach more."
That's the thing about death, I guess. You'll always long for more. More memories, more days, more time. Because what you already have will never be enough.
Parker pulls me down on his lap, pressing a gentle kiss on my lips. "I can take you to the beach. Tomorrow, if you want."
The small smile blossoms into a full-fledged grin. "You'll do that?"
"There's nothing else I'd rather do," he murmurs quietly.
It's in his eyes—the earnestness to please me, to make me happy, to make me smile. And I'm filled with that unnamed emotion once again.
Only I know exactly what it is. What I've been refusing to admit to myself until now.
I'm falling in love with Parker.
Maybe it's way too soon for this, but I can't help what I feel. And to be honest, I'm more than okay with it. There's a little apprehension inside me—a small voice telling me I'm diving too fast, too soon—but Parker isn't Liam. He'll never do what Liam did. He won't hurt me.
I'm sure of it, just as I'm sure that he feels the same. He doesn't have to say anything. It's there in his every look, every kiss, every touch. Some days, the intensity of it is so strong it steals the breath from my lungs and turns my knees weak.
It makes me want to demand the words from his lips.
