Page 182 of Twisted Needs

But silence can only last so long in this family.

“You never looked at me like that when we were married,” Jen sighs dramatically. “What’s up with that?”

Emelie snorts. Luca and Vince both throw each other a look, rolling their eyes. Parker just keeps looking at me, his mouth tugging into a grin that’s wider than necessary. “He’s cuter than you,” he says to Jen. “I got a fresh new model.”

“Sounds like you’re asking for a fresh new black eye,” Luca retorts. “I would call that a strike three, but I don’t want to give you the satisfaction.”

“No,” Parker shakes his head. “That’s okay…” He breathes softly, pulling me in closer to him. “I think I wanna live in this moment a little longer.”

I can’t fight the quiver of my lip when he says it. Or the tears. Or the way my throat swells. And then my brother hammers the final nail into the coffin…“Yeah,” he breathes. “Me too.”

Parker’s fingers tighten slightly against my leg, and when I look over at him, he’s already looking at me…just because he can. For the first time since we arrived in Tahoe, nobody is angry or afraid. Nobody is leaving. And sitting beside the fire with the people I love most in the world, I finally understand why Parker wanted to stay in this moment a little longer.

Because I do, too.

CHAPTER 53

I JUST WANNA HOLD IT

ANDERS

Parker carries me in his arms, only complaining once when I make him stop in the kitchen for a bowl of ice cream. Every summer, I swear they keep enough to feed a small army.

“You are too much,” he murmurs into my ear. He sets me on the ground and disappears into the massive pantry, returning with a bottle of Magic Shell. I immediately wrinkle my nose at the sight of it.

“Get your own bowl,” I mutter.

He comes up from behind, planting a kiss on the top of my head. “I’ll just pour it on one side.”

“Nope.”

His arm curls around my chest. Parker leans down to whisper a slow “yes,” against my temple. “It’s time to get over your fear⁠—”

“I don’t like that it just…hardens.” Seriously. “Love you, though.”

He exhales softly. “Fine, I’ll put it back—because I love you more.”

“That’s okay.” I turn my head to smirk at him. “People say you should always be with someone who loves you more than you love them.”

“Not even gonna argue?” He laughs to himself.

“Nope.” I turn my entire body, wrapping my arms around his waist and squeezing him in a tight hug. “Guess what.”

"Jesus." Parker laughs, threading his fingers through my hair. "What?"

“Ya tebya lyublyu.”

Parker squeezes me back now. “Where’d you learn that one?”

I nuzzle my forehead against his chest and laugh before the words even slip out. He makes it too easy sometimes. I tilt my head up and raise my brows. “It’s a new hockey documentary about two rivaling captains. One of them is Russian and said it.”

“Who? Reznikov? Abashkin?” He’s seriously falling for it. Just another reminder he’s a fossil. “No one asked me to be in it. I have rivals, too.”

“Yeah. Your biological clock.”

I immediately jump when his hand lands flat on my ass. “Hey, now.”

“Don’t call me old.”