Chapter 24
CHAPTER 24
PARKER
Parker
Anybody up for an impromptu get together at the pub after work?
Skye
Always.
Pippa
I could go for a pint.
Ciara
I’m in.
Saoirse
Second the call for a pint. It’s been A Day.
Parker
Great. Make sure you grab a table with an extra seat. There’s someone I want y’all to meet.
Skye
Ooooo. :GIF of Chris Pratt from Parks and Rec with wow face:
Saoirse
:GIF of Flynn Ryder from Tangled raising an eyebrow:
Pippa
They all obviously thought something else was happening. But I’d sort that out when we got there.
Ciara
Falkor coming?
Parker
Yep. 5:30?
Ciara
Patio it is.
Parker
See y’all there.
“We’re going where?” Jade asked.
I shut down my work computer. “Out to the pub. I want you to meet my friends.”
That wasn’t precisely what I wanted. I wanted a chance to talk to Callum alone to get a clearer handle on where we stood. I’d slept in his bed. Nothing had happened beyond my using him as my own personal teddy bear, but it had been intimate, nonetheless. Then he’d been treated to me in the middle of a flare, which we also hadn’t gotten a chance to talk about because Jade had shown up. He’d effectively declared himself my boyfriend, which I wasn’t opposed to, but I really wished I had unequivocal confirmation of that fact.
Now my parents had been notified of my whereabouts and that I’d started a new life here, which I expected to go over like a lead balloon. I was anxiously waiting for the other shoe to drop and for my carefully crafted world to fall apart, because I didn’t see how my two disparate lives could possibly mesh. I was still avoiding my email and the phone calls that had started coming in. Honestly, the fact that I’d managed to avoid talking to my parents for an entire month was a minor miracle, and I knew I had the woman next to me to thank for it.
Jade had helped out around the office for the past two days. Alex and Finn had accepted my explanation that she was a friend in town without comment, but I knew they had questions. I owed them all kinds of explanations for what was coming. But those, too, would have to wait, because now that Jade was here, I couldn’t just bail on her again. So I’d take her to the pub and introduce her to the girls.
Finley emerged from the back. “Need a lift?”
Callum and Alex were out on client excursions that had been booked well before Jade had arrived in town. Finn was barely back from his own assignment for the day.
“No. The weather’s good. We’ll walk.”
Jade went brows up. “We will?”
Those brows said, But you were flaring just yesterday. What the actual hell?
“We will,” I confirmed. “Are you ready for that rock climbing trip tomorrow morning?”
“Still checking ropes, but I’ll finish up before I leave tonight. And I’ll update the trip notes in the system.”
“Good. I’ll get those follow-up surveys sent out in the morning. Tomorrow’s clients are supposed to be here by nine.”
He nodded. “I’ll be ready. You’re sure you don’t want a lift back to the pub?”
I hauled my purse out of the drawer. “Positive. See you tomorrow.”
Falkor rose from his spot beside my desk, bending low in a good stretch before padding over to give Finn’s hand a lick. Finn obligingly scratched behind his ears. “Good lad.”
Satisfied with his goodbye, Falkor swished his tail and assumed his position by my side. I snapped on his lead. “C’mon, pal. We’re headed to the pub.”
Jade said nothing as I locked up the front of the office. She simply fell into step beside me as I headed back toward the high street. The silence wasn’t as comfortable as usual, full of all the questions neither of us had asked. After all these years together, it felt weird to have her on the outside. I wasn’t deliberately trying to keep her there, but I’d been building this life on my own, and I didn’t know how to incorporate her easily.
She waited until we’d hit the corner to break the silence. “You’re actually over your flare.”
“More or less. I’m hanging out around a 3 today.” Uncomfortable but functional without the haze of fibro fog that had dogged me yesterday.
“That’s a quicker recovery than usual for you.”
I shrugged. “I walk everywhere here, so my body is used to moving more than I did at home. The five-mile hike Callum and I took the other day was overdoing it a bit, but in general, all the extra movement has been good for me.”
“I’d say that’s not the only thing good for you here.”
Catching motion out of the corner of my eye, I smiled and waved at Mr. Patel, who ran the newsagent on the corner. “Is that a remark on the job, the village, or Callum?”
“To be determined. I’m just saying it seems like this new life agrees with you.”
It was a concession I hadn’t expected, even if I had been going out of my way to show her that this wasn’t just some whim. That I’d really done something here.
“Yeah, it does. Not having to worry about my parents constantly has been a bigger load off than I expected. I can just… be, without worrying that they’ll come barging in to intervene or overstep or smother me with their worries.”
Jade frowned. “I guess we both just got used to that. I didn’t realize it was as bad as it was. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you were drowning a bit.”
I laid a hand on her arm. “You kept it from being worse. I appreciate that. But I needed to do this. Whether it was here or somewhere else. I needed some space from them and the expectations that go along with the Lawrence name. I absolutely love being just Parker here.”
As we passed the bakery, Mrs. Byrne, the genius behind the pastries that I’d fallen in love with, was just locking up. “Oh, Parker, dear. I got in some gorgeous rhubarb today, so I’m making rhubarb and custard tarts tomorrow, in case you want to stop in.”
I beamed at her. “You are a delightfully evil woman, encouraging my sweet tooth. Of course, I’ll see you tomorrow, Mrs. B.”
She winked. “It might be as I’ll have some special treats for yon great beastie there, as well.”
Falkor’s tail picked up the pace as he trotted over to Mrs. Byrne for pets.
“Then we’ll definitely be in tomorrow.”
I was still smiling as I tugged my pup away from his love fest.
“Getting to know all the locals,” Jade observed.
“Being on good terms with the supplier of my favorite addiction is just smart. And anyway, I like how small Glenlaig is. I like knowing my neighbors.”
“Hell of a change from home.”
She didn’t say it, but I could sense the question she wasn’t asking. If I stayed here, committed to what I was building, what would her role be in this new life? I didn’t know the answer. She’d been tied to me for so long, I didn’t think she’d ever really thought about what she wanted to do herself. If she was no longer my bodyguard, would she have any desire at all to stay here? Would she want to pursue some other dream she’d never told me about?
I wasn’t ready for the answers to those questions either, so I didn’t ask.
We stepped through the door of The Stag’s Head, pausing in the front entryway while our eyes adjusted to the dimness inside. I spotted Skye’s boyfriend, Jason McKinnon, moving behind the bar. He seemed to be in deep conversation with Lochlan Reid, a local author who’d booked an overnight with us earlier in the month as research for his latest tartan noir thriller.
Zo Bassey hustled by, a tray of drinks on her shoulder. “Hey, Parker. The girls are already out on the patio, and an order for apps has been put in.”
“Thanks, Zo.”
I waved to a handful of other familiar faces as I wove through the tables, making my way out to the patio. Jade stuck close, scanning the pub in that way she had of assessing everyone and everything in it. She was more subtle than Callum. Then again, she’d been in civilian life a lot longer. I didn’t think he’d ever be able to walk into a room and not look like exactly what he was—a man who could absolutely handle himself and anyone else.
We stepped out onto the patio. My friends looked up, expectation morphing to surprise, then brief disappointment, then on to curiosity.
Skye pouted. “I totally thought you were bringing Callum to introduce as your official beau.”
I laughed. “If you think I’d be able to get Callum Quinn to show up as the only guy at girls’ night, you are sorely overestimating my influence.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Ciara drawled. “He looked like he’d be pretty content to do anything you asked at dinner the other night.”
“Finley hasn’t stopped freaking out that he’s actually smiling.” Which was amusing, but I also could tell that beneath the ball busting he was happy for Callum. “Anyway, no, I want to introduce y’all all to Jade Washington, my bestie from home, who’s here for a visit.”
Jade shot me a meaningful glance before turning back to the others and offering a warm smile and wave. I made introductions to everyone, and we took our seats.
Saoirse pointed to the pitchers at the center of the table. “Pint?”
“Yes, please.”
As she did the honors, Ciara leaned in, waggling her eyebrows. “Sooo, how was your hike? It was noted you didn’t come home that night.”
I knew what she was angling for and snorted a laugh. “Reality is a lot less salacious than you’re imagining. The hike was great, but muddy, so we stopped at his house to give Falkor a bath before he got bog stench all over my flat. Then Callum went to heat up something for dinner, and I passed out on the sofa. So I stayed.”
“Did he leave you on the sofa or move you to a bed?” Saoirse asked. “Inquiring minds want to know.”
My cheeks heated as I thought about how it had felt to have him scoop me up like I weighed nothing.
“Oooo,” Pippa crooned. “Did he tuck you in?”
“I mean… kinda yeah. He has a big bed.”
“Wait, wait. Did he cuddle? ” Skye demanded.
“Yeah.”
Saoirse’s gaze sharpened with interest. “Wanting to shag you is one thing. Cuddling is something else entirely. I think our Mr. Tall, Dark, and Broody is smitten.”
I couldn’t stop the grin that stretched my lips. “Well, I guess I’m smitten right back.”
Skye clutched her hand over her heart. “Awwwww.”
“I love this for both of you,” Ciara declared. “He’s super protective of you, but in a totally good way.”
Jade lifted her beer for a sip. “Seems like he’s bucking to compete with some of Paisley’s heroes.”
“He’s doing a damned good job,” I admitted. Not that I’d come here looking for a hero, but I couldn’t deny that I’d found one. I hadn’t updated Paisley on the kiss or anything that had happened after. I knew that would lead to the Squee Heard Round The World, and she’d triumphantly declare she’d told me so. There were worse reactions, but I wanted to have some kind of confirmation before I let her in on things.
“We are all thrilled for Parker, but let’s shift the topic away from men,” Saoirse interjected. “Jade, tell us about you. How did you and Parker meet?”
“I hear definite southern in that accent,” Skye declared. “Are you from Tennessee, too?”
“Georgia. Marietta. I did two stints in the Marines before I went to college on the GI Bill. That was where I met Parker.”
“We were both in the same art history seminar,” I explained.
“Yeah, except you actually liked that stuff. I was just clearing my humanities credit. You were the only reason I passed that class.”
I sent her an affectionate smile. “And we’ve been besties ever since.”
Jade tapped her glass to mine. “Damned straight.”
Zo arrived then, with a tray full of appetizers for the table.
“Oh, these look amazing. Jade, you have to try the haggis balls.”
“Do I?” She eyed the plate with suspicion.
“No lie. They’re amazing,” Skye added.
“I’ll circle back in a bit to take your dinner orders.”
“Thanks, Zo! Tell your dad I’ll be back to give him hugs before I leave.” As she headed back inside, Ciara explained, “Zo’s dad, Dom, is the master of the kitchen here. He’s basically the village dad who tries to feed everyone, and since it’s my brother’s pub and I worked here for a while, he’s totally family.”
“I love that about this place.” With a happy sigh, I dipped a haggis ball into the whisky gravy.
“So, Jade, what sort of work do you do?” Saoirse asked.
“I’m in security.”
Ciara nodded. “That seems so common post military. My brother also served with Callum, Finn, and Alex. All of them considered doing that after they got out. Ewan, Finn, and Alex all worked private security for my future sister-in-law on her last tour.”
Jade speared one of the haggis balls with a fork and eyed it with suspicion. “Tour?”
“Her future sister-in-law is Elizabeth Duncan,” I explained.
Her perfectly shaped brows winged up. “No shit? I love her music.”
“She’s absolutely lovely. I met her at the dinner party the other night. You’d like her. If you’re here long enough, I’m sure you’ll meet her.” It was a roundabout way of asking how long she intended to stay. Chickenshit on my part? Absolutely. But I’d take the protection of the group to save myself from some tough conversations a little longer.
“Oh, please stick around so I’m not the last single person standing again,” Saoirse begged. “I thought Parker was going to have my back there, but she’s gone and gotten cozy with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Broody, and I’m on my own again. It’s getting old.” She paused. “Unless you’re not single, and I just stuck my foot in it.”
Jade huffed a laugh. “I am also single. My plans are up in the air at the moment, but I’ll be sticking around for the foreseeable future.”
Translation: You gave me the slip once, but I’m not shirking my duty anymore.
Understood . I’d find a way to work with that.
“If you’re going to be here for a while, you definitely need somewhere better to sleep than on my sofa. My flat isn’t exactly set up for long-term guests.”
“Oh, my cousins own a bunch of rental cottages,” Ciara said. “We can certainly check with them to see if they’ve got one available.”
“I’ll definitely have to look into that.” It wasn’t a yes. Of course, it wasn’t. She was my bodyguard. From her perspective, she couldn’t do her job if she wasn’t with me. If I’d brought her in from the beginning, we’d have found a place that would fit both of us. But that wasn’t the choice I’d made, and we were both going to have to find a way to live with it.