Chapter 8
“Hey, man, you having a good time with Heath?”
Parker looked at Sky and shrugged. “Yeah, I mean, I don’t think he likes me very much, but he’s been very sweet.
He’s been very polite and hasn’t fussed at me or anything, but you can tell.
He’s not even into me. He don’t care for me even in a friendly way.
” He raised his hands up and let them drop.
“It sucks because I think he’s cute, but he’s been very nice letting me stay, and it’s a great little room.
Now that I have my truck, I can stay there one more night and then try to find another place, or I can always crash in the recliner if I have to.
He’s got plans for Christmas and everything. ”
And he was babbling—partially because he was cold, and partially because he had horned in on his best friend’s Christmas. And really, he thought he was just gonna get in his truck and go.
There had to be somewhere, somewhere isolated that he wouldn’t be messing with someone else’s holiday.
Or maybe he’d go to a big city and then there’d be tons of people whose holiday was alone, and he could just be another person in a sea of people. Maybe that was what he should do.
Boston maybe?
Hell, if he left pretty soon, he could be in L.A. Wouldn’t take but a couple days. He could see stuff and just go to L.A. and pretend like he was a movie star.
“Parker. Heath likes everybody. We sprung this on him is all, and he’s kind of a loner. He’s probably just not used to house guests.” Sky put a mug of coffee in front of him. “You think he’s cute, huh? Yeah, I caught that.”
“You don’t think he’s cute? He’s neat and good-sized, and his beard is hot, but man, you should have seen it.
He’d hurt his shoulder, and I rubbed it, and he freaked out on me.
I don’t even know if he’s gay…” Not that just because somebody was gay, they had to think he was hot, because that was creepy, but he would like for the guy he thought was cute to think he was hot, because who wouldn’t?
“He’s very gay.” Sky leaned on the counter. “Does he know you’re into him?”
“Well, I told him I thought his beard was hot. He told me that there are lots of men here with beards, and I should look for them.” So he was going to go with yeah, Heath knew.
Sky rolled his eyes. “So, let me just… I want to recap something for you, Park.” Sky held up fingers as he talked.
“So you gave him a back rub that made him uncomfortable. You told him his beard was hot, and he deflected like anyone in Vermont could have a hot beard. And he hasn’t said or done anything that would make you think he was interested? Nothing at all?”
Parker was pretty sure he was really confused. “I don’t think so. I don’t know, Sky. I think maybe I shouldn’t have come…”
“Don’t say that.” Sky moved around to his side of the kitchen counter. “We’re glad you’re here. You came to the right place. You’re family.”
“I want to be.” He looked at Sky. “It hurt me. She threw me out like I didn’t mean nothing. Like I haven’t paid the bills on that place for the last fifteen plus years. She just tossed me out on my ass. Kept my trailer. Hell, she kept my dog.”
Sky sighed and shook his head. “Parker, I—”
“Wait. Who kept your dog? Your mom?” Heath came in, deep voice making him jump. “I mean, I don’t know why she gets to keep your trailer, but your dog? She doesn’t—that’s—no.”
He looked up into those pretty dark eyes. “Right? I mean, she’s a good dog, and Momma won’t hurt her, but I’ve had her for a long time.”
Heath frowned. “Well.” Heath shrugged. “We have to go get her.”
“What?” He nodded, though, because it wasn’t right, was it? Stealing a man’s dog. It was worse than wrong, it was mean.
“Yeah. After Christmas. We close the firm between Christmas and New Year’s, so…let’s go get your dog. And maybe even your trailer too. You’re going to need it, right?”
“It’ll be something to live in while I’m figuring myself out, for sure.”
Sky gave him a sympathetic smile. “You finally retiring, man?”
“I’m never going to win anything, and I got me two sponsors, bud.” So yeah.
“Hey. God knows I could use someone who knows the business to help with my event, so don’t sweat the spring. Coffee, Heath?”
“Sure. Thank you. Retiring, huh? Sounds tough.”
“We can call it quitting, but that sounds less classy.”
“Less classy maybe but way more empowering. Retiring is saying I can’t do this anymore. Quitting is more like, I don’t want to do this anymore. Take this job and shove it, man. I’m done.” Heath winked at him, then picked up his coffee and sipped it.
Parker took a deep breath and blew it out. “You know what, you’re right. I think… I think I’m done.”
There. He’d said it out loud.
He was going to puke.
Sky put a hand on his shoulder. “That’s a big decision, Park. But I like the idea that you get to quit on your terms. I might even be a little jealous.”
“Yeah. You did it the absolutely wrong way, man.” He smiled at Sky, because he’d been scared as fuck for his best friend.
“The worst. I am such an idiot.” Sky laughed and put an arm around his shoulders. “Okay. Nothing but fun until Christmas.”
“And then a road trip.” Heath glanced at him. “Hey, what’s your dog’s name?”
“Sheila. She’s a Teacup Yorkie.” And the best travel dog on earth.
Heath shook his head, clearly suppressing a laugh. “Not…at all what I imagined.”
“I know. She’s…she’s fierce. She isn’t scared of anything.” Not even bulls.
“Huh. Does she get along with your mom?”
He shrugged and sighed but told the truth. “She does. She’s a good, loving dog.”
Even evil mothers could be good to dogs.
“She’s still yours.”
“Kids are out.” Beck appeared from upstairs. “Except Charlie, she’s got her headphones on.”
“Your girl is growing up, Sky,” he teased. “Pretty soon the boys—”
“Nope. Don’t. I will beat your ass, man.”
Heath laughed so hard he snorted.
Beck pulled a beer out of the fridge. “Seriously. Don’t. We’re terrified.”
“Of the boys or Charlie?”
At his words, Heath lost it, just howling.
Beck shot Parker the bird. “I will let Walter out of the basement. And you.” Beck mock-glared at Heath.
“Yes?” Heath was still laughing, his voice high-pitched.
“If you wake Sierra up, you’re going to go sing to her until she falls asleep again.”
“Well, shit.” Heath’s laughter turned to quieter giggles.
“Lord have mercy.” He laughed harder than he had since he didn’t know when, and it felt good to share it with these three guys. It felt damn good.
Sky went to the fridge and traded everyone’s coffee for beers. “I’d say we’ve reached beer o’clock.”
They each took their beers, and the day had gone fast with playing and running around. Now the sun was down. Damn.
He’d always heard things moved faster as a guy got older; was this what they meant?
“How are those fingers, Parker? Thawed out?” Beck looked him over. “I hope you bought some things for yourself while you were shopping with Charlie—gloves, boots.”
“Yes, Dad. I even let Charlie pick them out.” The entire getup was bright blue because she said it made him stand out in the snow, so she could find him when she needed him.
“Charlie said he was going to be an easy target in a snowball fight.” Heath punched him in the shoulder. “Sucker.”
“Absolutely.” For these kids, he’d be a total fool.
“A sucker with dry feet anyway. You’re the best uncle ever, Parker.” Sky held up his beer. “To Uncle Parker.”
“Hey! To Uncle Parker!” Beck held his up as well.
“To Uncle Parker.” Heath smiled at him, dark eyes twinkling happily.
“To the babies who make me Uncle Parker.” He nodded and drank deep.