Broken & Torn (Emerald Falls #1)

12. 12

12

LYLA

T he store has been extremely busy this week and I’ve spent most of my nights lying on the couch, watching movies or reading after work. It’s finally the weekend, and Cassie and I have spent our entire Saturday cleaning the apartment. Now, we’re enjoying a night in. We’re drinking blackberry ciders from a local brewery and watching episodes of Friends while we chat. I’d barely seen her all week and it’s been nice to catch up with her. I realize how comfortable I’m getting with Cassie, but it doesn’t even begin to compare to my friendship with Parker.

What he and I have is deeper than I have ever experienced. My friends back home aren’t the most understanding of people, so I often hide big pieces of myself in the hopes of appearing ‘normal’ to them—not that it works. They still treat me like an outsider in their little group and I was honestly relieved to leave Edmonton. Forming these new bonds and friendships is proving good for me and I’ve never felt more at ease with the people around me. Even the locals are becoming familiar and comfortable.

“Man, Ross and Rachel are just a walking miscommunication trope. I mean, they didn’t even discuss what being on a break entailed. He just walked out and made an assumption without communicating with her. Men are unbelievable.”

I laugh, “Yeah, he definitely should have asked more questions instead of assuming that meant a break up. Even if it was a break up, you’re really just going to walk out without fighting for it? I want a man that fights for me every day.” I take a sip of my cider, the sweetness coating my tongue. “I don’t know if I’ll ever find it though.”

Cassie sets her drink down and abruptly turns to face me head-on.

“What about Parker?”

My hand freezes mid-air, leaving the drink halfway to my lips. I slowly lower it and place it on the coffee table. My lungs suddenly won’t fill with enough air and my chest is tight. I don’t know how to respond.

So I say, “We’re just friends.”

She just stares at me. Waiting.

“Okay, he’s hot as hell and honestly one of the best people I know. But I wouldn’t want to risk our friendship. He’s too important to me.” I look down at my hands in my lap and begin to fiddle with the sleeves of my sweatshirt.

She assesses me for a moment before saying, “I think you guys would be great together. The way you interact… it’s inevitable. When I come into the store at the end of your shifts, I feel it. I see the looks you exchange and you’re so in sync with each other. And Lyla, it feels like you lit a spark in him. In all the time I’ve known Parker, I’ve never seen him seem so himself. I’m wondering if I ever even saw the real him before now.”

I immediately understand her sentiment because honestly, I feel it too. I can read him as easily as he reads me. I’ve mastered deciphering his moods and can sense when his anxiety is getting high. We talked about his struggles after he apologized to me the morning I fled from him and I had learned that when he was irritable, it was anxiety rearing its ugly head. Just as he knew that I bit the inside of my cheeks when I was nervous or deep in thought. We know every quirk and every tell about the other, and it has only been a few weeks .

So, I lie. “I swear there’s nothing going on between us. We’re friends.”

Cassie lets out a sigh and grabs my hands to stop my fidgeting. I look up and meet her gaze, which is filled with empathy. In the time I’ve known her, I figured out that Cassie has her struggles too. We haven’t gotten that deep into it, but she doesn’t trust men. I’m not sure if something happened in her past and I try not to pry. Call it intuition or a broken soul recognizing another, but she’s hiding something past that perky and pint-sized exterior.

“Look, I get it. I know we haven’t talked about your past in depth, but I get the sense that you’re hesitant to let people in. Sometimes I wonder if anyone knows the whole truth other than you.” She bites her lip before continuing. “I just want you to know that you can trust me with anything. I would never judge you or make you feel like shit. Cross my heart.”

I look into the eyes of my friend and I know she’s telling the truth. I just have to do this in my own time. It’s still so new for me to open up and I had to ease into it.

“I know, Cass. I don’t doubt you. I doubt myself, and that has nothing to do with you. I’ll get there, just like I know you will too.” I look at her suggestively and her eyes narrow. “I know you have your own shit, everyone does. One day, we’ll share our stories. I’m patient and I hope you are, too.”

Her eyes well with emotion and she simply nods and pulls me in for a hug.

Damn, I could get used to all these hugs.

It’s the night of the party Cassie invited me to and I’m standing in my bedroom, looking at myself in the full-length mirror. I don’t generally have a lot of confidence but even I have to admit, I look good tonight. I’m wearing my tightest jeans that show off the curve of my ass and an off the shoulder, over-sized black knit sweater. I have my honey blond hair styled in waves and am wearing silver hoop earrings, and finish the look with my brown knee-high boots. They’re distressed leather and cost me a fortune, but they’re my favorite shoes. My gaze travels up to my face and I meet my stare in the mirror. I’ve gone heavier on the makeup than usual, opting for a smoky eye look, and go with a pale pink lipstick.

With one last look, I head out into the living room to meet up with Cassie. I stop dead in my tracks as I take her in and let out a low whistle.

Cassie looks like a curvy goddess in her red jumpsuit. It’s crimson in color with a deep V in the front, flaunting her fantastic tits. It tapers in at the waist and flares at the hips, ending in a sort of bell bottom pant. It has long sleeves to accommodate the autumn weather and she’s wearing a chunky gold necklace, with gold rings decorating her hands. Strapped to her feet are a pair of black heels and it easily gives her four inches of height.

“You can wipe the drool off your chin, I know I look good.”

I let out a laugh as she gives me a spin, showing me all sides of her outfit. She motions for me to give a twirl, and I oblige.

“Okay, you gorgeous specimen.” I chuckle, “Let’s get going.”

The house we are going to is only four blocks away, so we decide to walk. It’s seven o’clock and the sun is beginning to set, casting a beautiful golden blanket over the town. As we make our way to the party, Cassie fills me in on the host. His name is Dean Weston, turning twenty-eight this evening and he used to date Cassie’s best friend, Cara. He’s a successful business owner, and one of the wealthiest men in Emerald Falls. When we get to his house, all I can do is gape. It’s easily the nicest house I’ve ever seen in real life, with a dark stone exterior and white shutters. The front door is also white, with a very ornate knocker. The lawn is manicured to perfection and has a gorgeous marble fountain in the middle of the circular driveway.

We make our way up to the front door and walk inside, where about fifty people are gathered in the open and spacious main floor. You can see all the way to the back of the house from the door, and I notice more people out in the backyard. There had to be over a hundred people in attendance and I’m instantly nervous. I can’t remember the last time I’d been invited to a party and the amount of folks walking around is enough to make my shoulders tense with discomfort.

Cassie grabs me by the hand and all but yanks me through the crowd, towards the kitchen. We find a huge array of beverage options in an ice bucket, as well as red wine and spirits on the counter top. I opt for a craft beer from a brewery that I recognize, while Cassie pours a glass of champagne. Seriously, this guy has dozens of bottles of champagne.

“How rich is this guy exactly?”

Cassie smirks, “He’s a billionaire. Between inheriting his family’s business when his dad passed away, and his own investments in some of the businesses around town, he does well. And here’s the birthday boy now. Dean!”

She squeals and launches herself into the arms of a tall and tan blond man. He’s easily six foot five and has shaggy, golden hair. It’s shorter in the back with a sweep of waves in the front. He’s wearing a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, showcasing his muscular forearms, and black dress pants with a pair of very expensive looking dress shoes. The whole look screams ‘I have money’.

He picks up Cassie and spins her around before gently placing her back on the floor.

“Hey, gorgeous. How have you been? And who’s your friend?” He turns to face me and flashes me a brilliant, white smile.

Cassie pulls away from him and pushes her hip into my side, while her arm comes up and wraps around my waist.

“This is Lyla. She’s new to town and works at the bookshop for the Hamilton’s. Lyla, this is Dean, man of the hour.”

I smile at the man before me and say, “It’s nice to meet you. Thanks for having me, and happy birthday!”

He pushes Cassie out of the way and wraps an arm around my shoulder. His thick body dwarfs my own as he makes his way to the backyard, with Cassie scrambling behind us .

“So, you work with Parker, huh? He’s best friends with my brother Theo, so he’s here tonight too.”

Parker had briefly mentioned going to the party as well, so this isn’t shocking news. What is shocking is seeing the brunette sitting on his lap, nibbling on his earlobe.

White hot rage lashes through me violently and I blink a few times to clear my vision.

Am I… jealous?

My heart thrashes in my chest as it beats unsteadily and my fists clench at my sides.

What the fuck, Lyla? He’s a grown man and he isn’t yours.

Composing myself, my mind begins to wander to another thought.

This can’t be right. In the weeks I’ve known Parker, he never once mentioned having a girlfriend. But then again, he doesn’t really talk about his current love life. Cassie had mentioned that he gets around town, but I hadn’t heard him mention any women. Uncertainty runs through me as I wonder if I’d misjudged how close we are.

As if he can feel my body language change beneath him, Dean chuckles.

“I wouldn’t worry about it,” he leans down to whisper in my ear. “Felicity has fucked most of the guys here, but Parker isn’t one of them.”

I turn away from the handsy brunette, Felicity , and into the striking green eyes of the Greek God currently attached to me.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I state simply.

“Sure, right. I gotcha.” He winks at me before removing his warmth and making his way through the crowded backyard, leaving Cassie and I alone. She breaks the silence first.

“Are you okay? You look like you’re going to hit someone. Just give me a warning if you are, so I can hold your earrings and purse while you go psycho on that bitch.”

I burst into a fit of giggles, imagining the scenario in my head. I’m not a violent person, but something about seeing him with another woman wrapped around him—well, it was making me angry.

“There will be no violence here tonight, but I may need something stronger to get through this.”

I chug my beer and make my way back into the kitchen and promptly take two shots of Patron. Just as I slam back my second shot, a petite woman walks up to Cassie, who is currently gaping at me.

“Hey, Cara.” Cassie breaks from her stupor and hugs her. “I want to say I’m surprised to see you here, but I know you’d never miss his birthday.”

Cara blushes and twirls her hair around her finger. “You know I can’t miss it. He always throws a big party to distract himself from what day tomorrow is.”

Cassie’s features soften and she simply nods. She quickly recovers and places a smile on her face as she turns Cara towards me and says, “Lyla, this is Cara. Car, this is my new roomie.”

Cara gives me a shy smile and an awkward wave. “It’s nice to finally meet you. Cassie won’t shut up about the three of us hanging out sometime.”

I return her smile. “It’s nice to meet you too. Cassie has told me so many wonderful things. You’re currently working as a lawyer with Chris, right?”

Her face drops slightly as she replies, “Yes, I do, but I’m thinking of making a change.”

“She’s one of the best writers out there!” Cassie beams at her friend. “She’s going to write romance novels.”

Cara gives her a smile and nudges her with her shoulder. Their comfortability is something that I envy and have craved my entire life. They’ve only known each other for three years, but you can tell that their friendship runs deep. I hope that I feel that someday.

My thoughts are interrupted as a hand places itself on my lower back. His presence makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on full alert and I let out a shaky sigh before turning around. Parker’s gaze fills me with ease and I momentarily forget about my jealous fit. He’s wearing a dark green Henley, with dark-wash blue jeans and cowboy boots. His hair is styled and his beard is freshly trimmed. He looks like something out of a wet dream with his muscles straining against the fabric of his shirt, and his manly scent surrounding me.

“Hi.” My voice comes out sounding breathless.

“Hey,” he replies.

“So, where’s Felicity? Hopefully she’s not warming another man’s lap in your absence.”

It comes out before I can stop it, and I’m instantly embarrassed at my behavior. Before I can apologize, Parker laughs. His deep, throaty chuckle startles me and I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face, worry fading instantly.

Parker runs a hand down his face and says, “I actually pawned her off on Theo. I couldn’t handle her anymore. She was sticking her tongue in my ear.” He shivers. “She’s always a total mess at these parties.”

“So she’s not—you’re not…?” I let the question hang in the air.

“No, Lyla. I’m not sleeping with her, nor have I ever slept with her. She’s not my type.”

I’m instantly filled with relief. I don’t think I’m justified in my jealousy, but it feels good to know that he isn’t interested in her.

“You look beautiful tonight, by the way.”

And there goes all of the air from my lungs.