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“Sample piece?” Parker asked with interest.
When I explained Oaklynn’s major and how Alec had helped her videotape a mock news report, Parker turned toward her curiously. “A broadcasting major, huh? That’s funny; I was just debating on whether or not to get involved in the procurement of this minor network that was going up for sale.” Resting his chin on his hand thoughtfully, he watched her for a response.
When she sent him a perplexed glance, I explained, “Parker’s a sales and acquisitions guy. He buys and sells companies for profit.”
“Ah…” She tore her gaze away from me, only to wince at my friend. “Well, then… I don’t know. We were just learning in class the other day that the FCC was changing some federal policies, and with so many costs rising fromthat, all the smaller TV broadcasters were really scrambling to stay afloat. If you’re not some major magnate in a big media company, I don’t know how beneficial a small network would be right now.”
“Hmm…interesting,” Parker murmured. Lifting a finger in her direction, he turned back to the screen of his laptop and started typing madly. “In that case, I think I’lladd to cartand…buy.”
“Wait…what?” Spinning to gape at me, she pointed to Parker. “Is he serious? He didn’t just buy a broadcasting company, did he?”
I shrugged. “Probably, yeah.”
“But…” She was still gaping at me, trying to wrap her mind around the concept, when Parker spoke up again.
“And…sold again,” he announced. “To the handsome big media company in the corner.” Slipping the laptop shut, he turned to send her an appreciative glance. “Dimples.” Leaning toward her, he slapped a quick kiss on her cheek. “You just scored me twelve grand right there. Thank you.”
“Uh…”
She blinked at him once, completely speechless before he added, “Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go celebrate by taking off the rest of the day.”
“Er…okay.” Oaklynn reluctantly stood to get out of his way so he could slide from the booth.
“Thanks again,” he told her, nudging her arm before glancing down at me. “And Archer.” He pointed at me sternly. “You do right by this lady, you hear?”
I swallowed thickly, knowing what he meant, even as I nodded. “Later, man.”
He tipped his chin at her one last time before strolling off.
I was still staring after him when Oaklynn spun to me. “Is he for real right now? He honestly just bought and sold…?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said. “He’s some kind of financial wizard. The guy sneezes and makes fifty grand. It’s crazy.”
“I’ll say. Wow. And he’s a student here? Takingclasses?”
I shrugged. “I kind of doubt he’ll make it to graduation. He’s incredibly bored with college. But he’s a senior, so… Who knows? He might stick it out.”
“Good gravy,” she murmured, shaking her head in awe. “And how long have y’all been friends? Has he always been this…?”
I shook my head. “No. He started just like the rest of us. But then he took the payout from his parents’ deaths and invested…very wisely.”
“Wow,” she murmured thoughtfully before lifting a finger. “And didn’t your friend… Thane…?”
“Yeah?” I asked, my stomach tightening at the mention of him because it aggravated my guilty conscience.
“He said something about all of you being in a…griefgroup together?”
“That’s right,” I rasped, my stomach knotting with guilty twinges. “That’s where the seven of us met.”
“Oh.” I could see her brain whirl, trying to connect the dots and make sense of things.
“What?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“Nothing. I just… I forgot all about Thane saying that until just now. None of you ever strike me as…grieving. But Parker does. He…” Squinting, she tipped her head and studied me. “He has a certainheavinessaround him.”
I blew out a breath and nodded. “Yeah,” I admitted. “He’s always struggled with it more than the rest of us. But he lost more too. I mean, his parents were the only family he had, and when they died…”
“Damn,” Oaklynn said, pressing a hand to her heart. “The poor guy.”
