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“Oh yeah, super nice, especially considering that he invited you, not me,” he corrected her. She scowled.
“Oh stop it. It was an all inclusive invite. He’s not a bad guy, Parker, I promise. He just likes to have a good time,” Paige said.
“Well, what if I don’t feel like spending a couple days in San Diego with Trent? Paige, I wasn’t kidding, I am going back home,” he warned. Her scowl deepened.
“You’re starting to say it like it’s a threat, and it’s annoying,” she snapped.
“Me wanting to spend time with you before I go home is annoying?”
“Well, Jesus, Parker, it’s not like we can’t ever see each other again. I can come through Seattle sometimes,” she pointed out. He dropped her hand.
“Are you fucking kidding me? So that’s what you’ve been thinking, I’ll just sit around in Seattle waiting for Paige Davis to grace my doorstep?” he exclaimed, his voice getting loud. She stepped back from him.
“God, when you say it like that! No, I don’t expect you to just wait around for me,” she replied.
“Good, because I might not be there, did you ever think of that, Paige? Or what if I am there, but with someone else?” he went further. Her eyes got wide.
“See, seems an awful lot like you’re threatening me.”
“No, I’m speaking truth. You just don’t like to hear it.”
“Fuck you.”
“Fine. Fine. I’ll drive us to San Diego. I’ll drive us there, and we’ll end this fucking trip at your goddamn friend’s house, but tell me one thing,” he snapped.
“What!?” she snapped back.
“Have you ever slept with him?” he asked, and she gasped.
“That’s none of your goddamn business!” she replied.
“Uh, if I’m gonna drive your ass to a different state and you're gonna stay in some dude’s house for a couple nights, I think it is my goddamn business,” he replied. She crossed her arms.
“We were having a great time! Why are you being like this?” she demanded. He shoved his hands into his hair.
“Because I fucking hate the fact that this time next week, you won’t be sitting next to me when I drive off, and I hate that you don’t seem to give a fuck!” he yelled. She shrank back.
“Jesus, Parker, I -”
But he didn’t give her a chance to finish, he turned around and strode to a bank of stairs. He didn’t say anything, just waited at the top. She slowly walked over to him, but when she opened her mouth to speak, he hurried down. He watched as she slowly made her way down after him, only a little wobbly. When he went to walk away again, she grabbed his arm.
“Don’t, Paige. I don’t wanna say something I’ll regret and I really wanna say some stuff right now,” he said through clenched teeth before pulling free.
They climbed into a cab together. Parker looked out the window the whole ride, and Paige looked at him, frowning. When they got to their hotel, Parker sprang from the taxi and paid the man through the window. He didn’t help her out of the car, but he did wait for her and walked through the hotel with her. It was a long, silent, elevator ride up to their room and an even heavier silence followed them down the hall.
Parker went right into the room, but Paige lingered in the hallway. Joey was crashed out on his bed, half his face obscured by a black satin eye mask. Parker took his wallet and other things out of his pockets, dropping them on the dresser. He unclipped his watch and dropped it as well before turning back towards the door.
Paige was still lingering in the doorway, peering into the dark room. She watched as he paused for a moment, seeming to stare back at her. Even in the dark, she could tell he was clenching his jaw. She kind of wanted him to say those words he was afraid to speak. Maybe he could break this bond between them, and then she wouldn't hate herself too much when he left her.
Except, really, you're the one leaving him, and you're going to hate yourself even more after you do it, and you're going to deserve it.
