Page 43 of Twisted Needs

“Aviva wants me to fall in love with him. Lee is obsessed with him. Charlie likes everyone.”

“Interesting.” Parker says after a moment. Then takes a sip of his water.

“And what do your friends think of me?” he asks curiously.

“What?” I laugh. “I don’t really talk to my friends about you.”

He looks shocked to hear that. “Why not?”

“Does Luca know about our little friendship?” I ask him.

Deep down, though, he knows what I’m actually wondering. Does Luca know how often we’re hanging out in the privacy of his townhouse? Does he know that Parker calls me after his games to ask me about my day?

“Nope.” The corner of his mouth tugs into a small smile. “Does that upset you?”

“I think it’s probably a good idea he doesn’t know…”

“Yeah? Why’s that?”

I shrug. “Dunno. He would probably get the wrong idea, I guess. Don’t you think?”

“Right,” Parker nods, pursing his lips. “It’s probably smart we keep this thing we have between the two of us.”

My chest constricts a little. “Well don’t say it like that.”

He gives me a curious look wanting—not urging me to explain myself further. So, I do.

“Don’t say it like we’re doing something…bad,” I explain. “Cause that’s not what this is.”

“Of course not,” he shakes his head. “Anders, I…” he pauses for a moment like he’s reminding himself to be careful. “You know I care about you. You mean a lot to me.”

I don’t know exactly why, but his words don’t impact me the way they should. It just feels like he’s telling me this as a way to explain himself. To explain why he has no problem sitting down with me at his kitchen island in the middle of his rare day off to eat a sandwich with me.

“You don’t have to explain yourself like that,” I tell him. And maybe because I know it’s what he needs to hear, I tell him, “you’re just looking out for me like you always have.”

“Yeah,” he nods, taking another bite of his sandwich.

“I feel like talking to you is good for my brain,” I admit after a stretch of silence. “It wards away all the shit that always makes my head hurt.”

His mouth curls into a slight grin. “I guess I’m…a medical professional.”

“Right,” I exhale through my nose and laugh. “Unlicensed medical professional.”

“Historically, we’re the best at our jobs. Just doing it for the love of the game.”

“You’re okay, I guess,” I smirk. “I’d never complain about free healthcare.”

“Woah, woah, woah,” he mutters dramatically. “Who said anything about it being free?”

“I pay for it with the pleasure of my company.”

“Well now I feel like I should be compensated just for enduring that.”

“Rude,” I scoff playfully. “I’m a very pleasant person to be around.”

“Sometimes you are.”

“Pet’ka, you kidnapped me. Obviously, I’m good company.”