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“Nope.”
“Parker,” Paige said, exasperated. “What the fuck is wrong with you!? Is that what all these phone calls are about? The ones that leave you pissed off for hours? Your sister begging you to come home?”
“Paige.” He said her name with his voice full of warning. She took a deep breath.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I just, I can’t believe it. How could you not have told me all this? I never, ever,everwould have guessed any of it in a million years. How are you so happy all the time? When we first met, I thought you were the happiest guy I’d ever met,” she asked. Parker shrugged.
“Iama happy guy. I hadn’t been in a fight since I was seventeen, I've learned to control my temper pretty well – except whencertain peoplestart bar fights. I can’t do anything about my dad now, and my mom is in Seattle for the funeral. I just ... I can’t ... I don’t want to be there when she's there, I can’t ...” his voice failed him and he took a shaky breath.
There was a choking sound deep in his throat. He really wanted to hit something. Like a wall. He wanted to yell and scream and lash out. It wasn't fair. He hadn't gotten to see his dad before he died. He hadn't gotten to say goodbye, and now all that was waiting for him in Seattle was a sister who was angry at him and a mother who was a psychotic bitch.
And a grave I don't deserve to visit.
He started slowly counting to ten, his usual trick to calm down, when Paige suddenly leaned over him and gently kissed him on the chest. He was shocked at her uncharacteristic display of affection. Its affect was instantaneous; he calmed down immediately. He wanted to be present, there with her. Not stuck in his past. He took a deep breath.
“I’m sorry, Parker,” was all she said.
They were silent for a couple minutes. Parker stared up at the ceiling. Page stayed propped up next to him, picking at a loose string on the pillow case. A strong breeze blew through the room from the open glass door. Parker cleared his throat.
“You know, Paige,” he started, and she looked over him. “If you were ever planning on telling me about your fucked up family, now wouldreallybe the time.”
She laughed and scooted up against him, bumping him with her shoulder.
“Not now, Parker. No offense, but I think we’ve had enough fucked-up-family stories for one evening,” she said. He frowned and didn’t look at her, so she bumped him again. “But I promise I will tell you all about my crazy ass family. Soon.”
“Verysoon.”
“Yes, yes, very very ridiculously soon. In fourteen hours, seventeen minutes, and thirty-eight seconds, I will present you with a power point presentation on the Davis family,” she joked. He held his wrist up to his eyes.
“I'm setting my watch.”
“Shut up.”
She grabbed a pillow and whacked him in the face with it. Good. They'd needed some lightening up. His story had been heavy and he'd really worried it would upset her, or at the very least she would’ve been upset he was sharing so much with her. Parker laughed and finally rolled onto his side, looking at her. His eyes wandered all over her face and then slid down her neck, over her shoulder. He reached out and traced a finger down her arm.
“So, my story didn’t scare you? You don’t think I’m gonna get mad and murder somebody with my bare hands?” he jokingly asked, but he was kind of nervous. She snorted.
“Too funny. I’d be more worried I’d kill someone before you ever did,” she replied. He nodded his head.
“Very true. Frankly, I’m surprised you’ve only gotten arrested once on this road trip,” he said. She hit him with the pillow again.
“Hey, technically I didn’t get arrested. I was let off with a warning,” she pointed out. He shrugged his shoulders.
“It’s only a matter of time, Slugger, before I’m getting a call from a jail cell,” he teased. She hit him again.
“Just shut up, or I’ll kick your ass.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
“Just you wait.”
“I’m right here.”
“You know, just because we had sex doesn’t mean I’m gonna start being nice to you.”
“Don’t worry, wouldn’t have expected you to.”
“You’re such a dick.”
