“Do you have any popcorn?” he asked, standing to stretch.
“Top shelf of the cabinet on your left,” she called after him as he walked into the kitchen. She searched the movies until she found the next one. When she had it cued up, she followed him into the kitchen. She found him staring out the glass in the back door.
“This place is a death trap,” he announced when the microwave finished what sounded like a nuclear meltdown. Taking the popcorn out, he found a bowl and dumped it in. He walked back into the living area and took a moment to look around.
“I think my ass is numb,” he announced, dragging the only chair in the room near the couch. Sitting back down, he threw his feet up on it and lay back against the hard side of the couch. The only coffee table in the room was being used for a television stand.
Astrid watched him stand back up and walk into her bedroom. He returned with a blanket he shoved behind his back when he sat back down.
“Better?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Almost,” he said. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her down onto the couch. He positioned her under his arm so they could both recline while watching the next movie. This was so much better, she had to admit. Of course, it had nothing to do with the hard muscles she was snuggled up against. Definitely not.
He started the movie and sat the popcorn in his lap where they could both reach it. So still not a date, Mr. Donnelly? If this was just two friends hanging out, she was afraid to think what an actual date involved. She doubted she would come away with all of her clothes intact in the end.
On a different note, would he say anything if she missed the bowl and brushed something else near it on “accident?”
“I can feel your wheels spinning. Am I the only one invested in this fairy-tale wedding?” Parker asked, looking at her.
“Nope, I’m fully invested.” She felt her cheeks redden at being called out in the middle of one of her better daydreams.
“I mean there are so many questions left unanswered. Will they make it to the altar? Will she be able to ward off the advances of the best man? Who is also his secret brother, I might add. Will the bridesmaids wear pastel?” She felt his chest rumble as he laughed. This position was so much better.
“Well, I think the pastel is a given,” he said. “The only question is pink or green.”
“You don’t know, it could be yellow.”
“I hadn’t even thought of yellow. My mind is now blown.” When she had stopped laughing, she settled back against his chest.
“Parker?” she said.
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
“I’m glad we’re friends.” She felt him place a kiss on the top of her head.
“Me too, love, me too.”
ChapterSeven
“Being friends sucks!”Parker couldn’t disagree with that assessment, but he needed to find out why Liam was making this pronouncement.
Not that he could offer him any advice. He couldn’t seem to stop being around Astrid. It led him to say the stupidest things. Then to make up for whatever mess he had made, he had to touch her to try and fix it. That led to him crowding her so he could feel her body against his. With her against him, he had to fight the uncontrollable urge to pull all the clothes off that separated them.
“Seriously? Can you not focus on anything else for a minute?” Liam asked. His brother had plopped down on one of the barstools in front of him.
Since they still had an hour before he opened, he didn’t figure anyone would be checking for underage drinking. He let Liam stay this time. Pulling a glass out from under the counter, he added some ice and soda before setting it in front of his brother.
“I heard you,” he growled. “I agree with you one hundred percent. Tell me what’s got you all worked up?” He watched his brother work on the soda waiting for him to elaborate.
“He asked one of the cross-country girls out,” Ronan said from across the room where he was refilling condiments. “She gave him the ‘I like you as a friend’ brush-off.”
“Yeah, that one does suck,” Parker agreed. It was exactly what he was trying to do to Astrid. That made him a monumental asshole. Before he could say anything else, his phone buzzed. He took a quick look and pointed toward the back door.
“Ro, can you go let Astrid in?” He might have been so fixated on her that he had Beetlejuiced her. Turning back to Liam, he added, “Buddy, I don’t know what to tell you. It happens to the best of us at one point or the other.”
“Hey, everyone,” Astrid called from the door. “What did I miss?” Parker couldn’t control the smile that lit up his face at just seeing her. It had been a long week waiting for her to come back in to help with the weekend rush.
“Oh no, what’s wrong with Liam?” she asked, sliding onto the barstool next to him.
