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Chapter 24
MIA
As promised, we decided to have our picnic with Amoeba. I was shocked that Parker took more time away from work, but I wasn’t complaining.
I sat cross-legged on the blanket and reached for an orange. A shiver hurried through every inch of me, but then I remembered my coffee. I was learning to drink coffee instead of tea. Trying to be more American. Sunlight filtered through the nearby branches but not enough to warm me. The rock formations nearby reflected warmth of the sunlight, raising the temperature several degrees, yet with every gust of wind, I shivered more.
Parker laid the extra blanket Hank had insisted on him bringing across my shoulders. “You seem to have a big appetite today.”
“Always.” I opened a bag of salt-and-vinegar chips and crunched absentmindedly on one, then another and another.
I looked past the rocks, watching a group of kids playing kickball. I couldn’t help but laugh at Amoeba wagging her tail so fast it looked like she was trying to fly. She badly wanted to join the kids, despite the cold weather.
My eyes caught Parker’s and I quickly looked away. Being this close and alone with Parker, even in the middle of Central Park, felt intimate after last night.
He probably doesn’t even remember kissing me. He had a bit too much to drink at the dance. I certainly remember his lips on mine.
Mia’s mouth curved slightly as she continued eating. “I’m glad you decided to come here today. Amoeba wanted you to see her favorite place.”
“I wouldn’t have missed this picnic with you and Amoeba,” Parker said. “It’s pretty here.”
The phone in his jacket pocket rang. He stood to answer it and began pacing.
Damn that phone.
Then Mia reminded herself it could be worse. He could have not come.
I hadn’t heard Parker return to the blanket as I was lost in a fog of confusion, thinking about last night’s dance.
Trey was clearly interested and I could be happy with him, but Parker, on the other hand, had crept into my heart.
“Your face is going to stick like that,” Parker whispered inches away from my ear.
I jumped and spun around. “Excuse me?”
“That frown on your face. I find it adorable, but you shouldn’t need to ever frown like that.” Parker reached to brush a strand of hair from my eyes.
“You’re right,” I mumbled after swallowing the cookie I’d been eating.
I can’t take this much longer.
I took a deep, shaky breath. My nerves were on edge from his closeness and his fingers holding my hair.
“Did you have fun at the party?” I asked.
“I enjoyed dancing with you,” he said, not backing away. “My only regret was not doing this.”
Cupping her face, he leaned in and kissed her.
I accepted the kiss tentatively at first, but when Parker moaned into my mouth, I felt empowered enough to grab him by the shirt and lean into the kiss more.
Parker let go of Mia,, both of them breathing hard. He was still holding her face in one hand as he ran his thumb across her lower lip.
“That was …” He couldn’t find the words to describe what it was.
“Yeah, I agree.” I looked at him, dazed, as I gripped my hand tighter in his shirt and pulled him back to me.
Parker reluctantly pulled back and walked over to the wine bottle. He grabbed two glasses and walked back to Mia. Mia received a text and was laughing at something on her cell from Chloe, her head tilted back and her smile wide. He handed her a glass and poured.
