“We don’t want to interrupt you on your big night, Parker,” Lara spoke up and looked at me coldly. “Louisa doesn’t want her first date with you to also include her sister and her friend.”
“You’re my friend as well,” I said softly, gazing into her eyes, wanting to pull her into me and kiss her.
“Yeah, yeah,” she said and pursed her lips.
“What does that mean?” My voice grew louder and I stepped toward her. “We’re friends, right?”
“Yeah, of course.” She gave me a big smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “We’re great friends.”
“Why does that sound insincere?”
“Parker, let her be.” Mila sounded annoyed. “We’re here to have fun. Lara needs to get laid.”
“WHAT?” I practically shouted and I felt like fire was shooting from my eyes.
“I’m joking.” Mila gave me a weird look. “Calm down.”
“I’m calm,” I said and then looked at Lara. “So maybe we can go to lunch tomorrow?”
“I’m busy.” She shook her head. “Sorry.”
“I see.” I frowned.Busy doingwhat?I wanted to ask her, but I didn’t.
“Parker, are you nearly done?” Louisa tapped me on the shoulder impatiently. “I want to get out of here.”
“Yeah, just a second.” I sighed and tried not to roll my eyes. “What about this weekend?”
“Lara’s coming over for lunch,” Mila said. “You should come too. We’ll make it a nice family affair.”
“Fine,” I said with a small frown. I didn’t want to do lunch with Ryker and Mila. I wanted to talk to Lara alone. I wanted to make sure everything between us was okay, and I wanted to findout what the hell she was doing going to bars looking for other guys. “I’ll be there.”
“Whoop-de-do.” Mila grabbed Lara’s arm and then looked at me. “Have a good night, Parker. We’ll see you later.”
“Night,” I said reluctantly and watched as she dragged Lara across the bar and stood next to two athletic-looking guys who immediately started looking at them. I could feel my body growing hot as I watched them standing there studying Lara. I wondered if she was into them. I wondered if she would be dumb enough to fall for their lines. I wondered if she would go home with one of them. My heart stopped at the thought and I looked away quickly.
“I’m ready to leave now,” Louisa said, staring at me, and I looked down at her in surprise, already having forgotten she was there.
“I’ll give you money for a cab,” I said quickly as I pulled out my wallet. “I forgot that I have things to do tonight.”
“Oh?” She looked put out and pissed off, but I didn’t care.
“This should cover it.” I handed her a couple of twenties. “I’ll walk with you to get a cab if you want.”
“Don’t put yourself out,” she said, but I was barely listening to her. My eyes were on Lara and the jock who had just started talking to her. I felt my skin growing cold as she threw her head back and laughed at something he’d said. What the hell was so funny?
“What is your problem, dude?” Louisa pushed past me and I realized she was leaving. I stared over at Lara flirting with the random guy and then at Louisa as she walked away. I didn’t want to leave the bar, but I knew I wouldn’t be a gentleman if I let Louisa leave without making sure she’d gotten into a taxi safely, so I quickly followed behind her. I’d have to be quick, though, because I was definitely going to come back to the bar, just to make sure Mila and Lara were safe and not taken advantage ofby the two guys they were talking to, who were looking shadier and shadier by the minute.
Chapter 12
Lara
“So what you up to tonight?”Parker asked me nonchalantly as we waited on Mila and Ryker to bring out the lunch. His eyes bore into mine with an intense expression and I wondered what he was thinking. Everything was even more awkward between us since that night we’d nearly made love and the night we’d met up when he’d been on his date. We hadn’t spoken since that night, and I wasn’t really sure exactly what he was thinking. All I knew was I had to move on. Seeing him on that date with Louisa had been the nail in the coffin for me. It was then that I’d realized I had to move on. Like, really move on. Parker felt nothing for me, and if he did, he was just playing games. It didn’t—I didn’t—mean anything to him. Not like he meant to me. I needed to just forget about all of my daydreams and hopes. I couldn’t afford to live the rest of my life pining away for him.
“Not really sure,” I lied, not wanting to tell Parker I had a date. I was already a nervous wreck and part of me felt like telling Parker about the date would be like slamming the dooron our nonexistent relationship. And that would mean I would be giving up all hope. And while I knew I was a fool for having hope in the first place, it was a hard thing to give up. I just really wanted to believe that maybe someday it could happen. Even though I knew I was moving on from him, it was still hard to shut the door completely. I wanted to cry as I sat there, hating myself for being so flimsy and weak. I’d just told myself I was going to move on from him, yet I still wasn’t able to completely make the change.
“I’m going to go check out a band in the fashion district if you want to come,” he said casually as he sipped some water.
“Oh? Who?” My heart thudded excitedly. Was he asking me out? I felt myself about to say yes when I realized that in order to accept his very casual invitation, I’d have to ditch my date with Luke. And while I didn’t have the same feeling for Luke, he seemed like a really genuine guy who could really like and be into me. And, well, that meant a whole lot more than what Parker was offering. He barely knew what I did for a living. And he never really showed any huge interest in me aside from casual hanging out.
