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“Great. Thanks!” Parrish put his shoes on, and then, as I watched him and my grandma walk toward the house, chatting, I knew I was screwed.
With a sigh, I put on a pair of shoes and followed them.
Grandma had gone all out, making pancakes, eggs, and bacon. It was all laid out on the old, yellow countertops that had seen better days.
I wished I had the money to fix things up for her. If I could get her out of Clayton, I’d make sure I got her the best of things.
“It’s nice that the two of you are becoming friends.” Grandma sent a big smile my direction, like something so simple made her proud. “Is your brother staying out of trouble?”
My throat nearly closed up hearing her ask about Rex, knowing that while she thought he was a bad influence on me, and didn’t want me around him, she had no idea how bad it really was. And if it came down to it and Rex needed her help, she would offer it because that’s the kind of person she was.
“No. I wish I could say he was.” Parrish threw me a glance, one that almost looked like he was trying to make sure I was okay. It made my skin feel too tight, like he was closer than he was, so I looked away and he continued. “I hate to say it, but I don’t think there’s any hope for him. I used to want to believe there was, but that’s changed recently.”
Because of me. Parrish didn’t say that, but I knew that’s what he meant.
“You should make your plate, Grandma.” I hoped the change of subject worked.
“Yeah,” Parrish said, “let me do that for you. What do you want?” Parrish plucked a plate from the stack on the counter that Grandma had set out.
I watched as she told him she wanted one pancake and directed him on how much eggs and bacon. My pulse sped up in a way I couldn’t explain, my stomach feeling twisty while they laughed at something Parrish had said before he handed my grandma her food. It made my chest feel funny to watch him take care of her, to see how naturally and compassionately he did it. He wasn’t trying to score points or make himself look better. This was just who Parrish was.
“What do you want, Riv?” He had a large spoon for the eggs in one hand and got a plate with the other.
“I can get my own food.” What was he doing? People didn’t do shit like this for me. Well, not anyone who wasn’t my grandma.
“A little bit of everything. Gotcha.”
Grandma laughed and patted his shoulder, while I rolled my eyes, but I didn’t argue with him. It wouldn’t get me anywhere, and the faster we got this breakfast over with the better.
The three of us sat down at the table. “Do you have a boyfriend, Parrish?” Grandma asked.
Oh Jesus. I wasn’t an idiot. I knew where this was going. “For all you know, I’m not attracted to men,” I told her.
“Who was talking about you?” Grandma asked.
“Sounds like someone is hoping I’ll ask him out,” Parrish added, the two of them laughing, thick as thieves.
I shoved a chunk of pancakes in my mouth, then licked away the syrup on my lip. “No.”
“I didn’t ask you anything.”
“No, I don’t want that.”
They laughed again.
I sighed. The faster I could get out of this town the better.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Parrish
“They probably have what we’re looking for at the hardware store in Clayton, if you don’t want to drive into Bedford,” I told Riven while sitting in the passenger seat of his truck. After breakfast, I’d thought for sure the grumpy motherfucker would tell me I couldn’t go with him to get the cameras, but for whatever reason, he hadn’t. He’d just grumbled a yes when I asked if I could use his shower, since I’d only freshened up earlier. After a grumbled yes, he’d stomped outside to pretend he enjoyed smoking cigarettes.
I wasn’t stupid enough to risk telling him I needed to go home for a change of clothes or to ask him to borrow something, so I’d just put on my clothes from the day before and dealt with it.
“I don’t like to go places in Clayton.”
“Do people give you shit?” They could be brutal. If he ran into Rex, Dad, or my uncle, yeah, they’d be dicks, but also, as far as everyone in town was concerned, Riven had killed someone. “Who said something to you?”
One second ticked by, then two, three, before a boisterous laugh jumped out of Riven’s mouth. It was so unexpected, I flinched. He didn’t laugh anymore. Did he use to? Yeah, he did, but now I wondered how real it had been because it wasn’t anything close to the joyous sound I’d just heard. “Do you think I need you to protect me? Fight my battles for me? I can take care of myself. It’s cute that you want to try, though.”
