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He shifted to watch me instead of the trees, so I met his gaze and swallowed deep.
Water. He was drinking water.
I took another deep swallow, suddenly thirsty. “Your turn. Why aren’t you drinking? Not that I think you should be, but…” I waved in the general direction of the house.
He blew out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. “Babysitting duty. I take my role as the captain seriously. My guys are here, so I’m here. I don’t drink during the season, and I want them to know they can always count on me for a ride.”
My eyebrows crept up my forehead. “You can’t possibly come toeveryparty someone on the team might show up to. Even you must have to sleep sometime.”
Parker scrubbed his face with his hands. “Tell that to them.”
I tilted my head. “Why don’tyoutell them? Those guys practically worship you. I’m sure they know you’ll have their backs when they do stupid shit. Trust works best if it goes both ways. You’re not solely responsible for the team.”
A considering look crossed his handsome face, and a warm flush had me staring down at his drink. He glanced over his shoulder at the two big guys still clearly visible playing beer pong in the kitchen. “Mac.”
The goofball held up one finger and finished his throw, sinking the ping pong ball into the last cup. Chaos erupted as Duke lifted Mac off the ground and spun him around.
Once on his feet again, Mac sauntered out to us. “What’s up, Shaw?”
Parker nodded his chin at Duke, still celebrating with anyone unlucky enough to be in arm’s reach. “Can you make sure Duke doesn’t end up passed out in the yard?”
Mack’s eyes danced back and forth between us before he saluted. “On it, Cap’n.”
Parker plucked the cup out of my hand and set it on the other side of him. “Let’s go somewhere.”
My pulse picked up, and I surprisingly wasn’t tired anymore. Anticipation lit my blood. A stupid response considering he hadn’t given one indication that he’d act on the heat between us.
I met his eyes, and the intensity there made me question my assumption. Parker hopped up and extended his hand. “Come on, I want to show you something. I promise to have you home at a decent hour.”
Curiosity won the battle for him. “Okay, but I’m going to haunt your ass forever if you murder me.”
He snorted out a laugh as he pulled me to my feet. “And miss you being flattened in practice? Never.”
9
Parker didn’t let go of my hand. He linked our fingers together and led me around the side of the house, through a gate I hadn’t noticed on the way in, and down the street to his car. I felt like I’d swallowed a balloon. I couldn’t catch my breath.
He opened the door for me, and I stared into the dark interior as he circled to the driver’s side. Parker kept his car clean. It was the only thing I’d let myself think. No fast food trash or empty sports drink bottles, just us together—alone—in air that smelled faintly of leather and grass.
I could change my mind. Go back into the party. Call myself a ride. I had any number of other options, but this hesitation felt like fear. The wind blew my loose hair into my face, and when I brushed it away, Parker rested his arm on the roof, watching me. Sharp blue eyes waiting to see if I’d take a chance with him.
He didn’t scare me. My reaction to his gaze scared me. I liked the way he looked at me with all of his focus. I wanted to believe he had just as much to lose as I did, but reality didn’t work that way. Nothing could happen between us. Maybe if I repeated that mantra enough times, I’d stop thinking about it.
Parker arched a brow. “I can take you home instead.”
The challenge burned me. I didn’t need an out—I needed to get a grip on my thoughts. And maybe I needed to get laid. It’d been a while, since before the summer at least. Parker was temptation incarnate, but nothing stopped me from finding another outlet for my needs.
If I’d let fear rule me, I wouldn’t be here at TU. This wasn’t any different.
“You can take me home later.” I slid into the car, and the words echoed in my head.Take me home later.When he dropped me off, I wouldnotinvite him inside.
A satisfied smile curved his lips as he took his seat and drove us away from the party.
I remembered at the last second to text Eva that I was leaving. We’d taken an Uber to the party at Eva’s insistence, so I wasn’t worried about leaving her stranded. Mac would make sure she didn’t make any bad choices.
Parker plugged his phone into the aux cable, then turned the music down to a low murmur as we hit the highway. Over the sounds of the road, I recognized Brandon Urie’s distinctive voice, though I didn’t know the song.
“Is this another one of your playlists?”
