Chapter 26
BECKHAM
Fresh snow clung to the soles of our boots, making our step into the boutique store a slippery one. My hand latched onto Parker’s arm to steady her while the two of us stomped the packed snow off onto the rug.
Christmas was a few weeks away, and both of us had neglected to do any shopping.
I wished I could say it was due to Parker’s pregnancy, but really, the negligence was all on us.
Partly because we couldn’t stop teasing each other until we had no choice but to bring the other to the brink of orgasm.
And partly because of Parker’s worrying about, well, everything.
I got the feeling that Parker thought spending money on furniture for the baby meant she was permanently in my house, and while we hadn’t discussed that in depth yet, things between us definitely seemed to be heading that direction.
I couldn’t complain, though. Having Parker in my house, making my space her own, was a desire I didn’t know I had until I saw it with my own two eyes.
We’d driven over an hour away to a town with more choices for shopping. It was decided that we’d shop for the baby first, then get gifts for everyone else after.
“Alright, first order of business,” I started, scanning the store. “Furniture.”
“Shouldn’t we go to a thrift store?” Parker asked for the third time today, likely seeing the immaculate displays and assuming the prices would be too high.
I set a hand on her lower back, steering her in the direction of the bassinets. “C’mon. Let’s take a look, and if you don’t like anything, we can go somewhere else. Okay?”
She nodded hesitantly, her throat bobbing. “Okay.”
While Parker looked at each bassinet and their individual perks, I meandered over to the few dressers they had on display.
“What are you doing?” Parker questioned from her spot.
“Browsing,” I said simply.
“We’re supposed to be looking at bassinets. Nothing else.”
I held up a finger. “Actually, the agreement was bassinets and newborn clothes. And where are you going to put his clothes if you don’t have a dresser?”
She frowned before moving her attention back to the bassinet in front of her. The look that took over her had me crossing back to her. Her finger trailed along the edge of the bassinet, and I wrapped my arms around her torso, resting my hands on her belly.
“You like this one?”
A breath left her lips, one that had her shoulders loosening and her back pressing against my chest. “I do. It’s just so pricey for a bed he’ll only sleep in for a few months.”
I rested my chin on her shoulder. “But it’s the one you want?”
Her hand rested over mine. “It is.”
“Then we’ll get it.”
She eyed me, our faces so close. “I have to penny pinch, Beckham. I can’t be making impulsive decisions.”
I spread my fingers so hers could fall in between them. “I have some savings.”
Her body stiffened before she turned in my arms. Her growing stomach pressed into mine as she looked up at me. “Beck.”
The corner of my mouth tilted upward. “Park.”
She narrowed her eyes on me. “You’re not paying for my baby’s stuff.”
I arched a brow at the phrasing, only because part of me wanted this baby to be mine. And maybe he wasn’t in blood, but—
She crossed her arms, and my brow rose farther. Neither of us would back down from whatever riff was happening between us.
After what felt like minutes, she heaved a sigh, giving in to my stubborn charm.
Her finger jabbing into my chest had my eyes widening. “But I’m helping.”
I wrapped a hand around her wrist, pulling her in farther. “Whatever you wish.”
The urge to kiss her was almost too strong to resist, and it seemed it was for her, too, as her eyes darted to my lips.
I leaned closer, lips near her ear now. “You’re staring.”
“You’re insufferable.”
“Lies,” I whispered, pressing a barely-there kiss to the shell of her ear. “You want to kiss me.”
“You want to kiss me,” she corrected with a hiss, but it was all false bravado. I could see it in the way her cheeks were the exact shade of a strawberry, and how her lashes fluttered, eyelids heavy, and how her body gravitated toward mine like it knew it couldn’t stay away.
I moved until our noses were brushing. “Are you hungry? You’re kind of grumpy.”
Her mouth fell open, disbelief coating her features.
“I can feed you if you’d like,” I went on.
Her lips smacked shut, entire face red now. “We’re in a baby store, Beckham.”
I groaned, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear as an excuse to touch her more. “If only we could make another one here, too.”
She choked on a gasp, coughing.
I smiled and glanced across the shop to the brunette woman at the register, who now had her attention on us as Parker attempted to compose herself.
“We’ll take it,” I announced.
We were in and out in less than an hour, taking with us a full room’s worth of furniture.
Deciding to take advantage of the different food choices in this town, we found a little diner that made milkshakes with all kinds of crazy things on top, from cotton candy to ice cream sandwiches to lollipops.
Parker saw the photos online and demanded we get them immediately, blaming the need on her pregnancy cravings.
“You decide yet?” I teased as Parker scanned the menu across from me. We were in a hot pink booth surrounded by hanging lights shaped like hearts. Each booth had its own theme, and ours just so happened to be love.
“I don’t know if I want the Banana Mudslide or the Strawberry Catastrophe,” she mumbled into the laminated menu.
I eyed the photo for each one she named. “Why not both?”
She pinned wide eyes on me. “Calories, Beckham.”
I cocked a brow. “Is that really something we cared about when we chose this place?”
She glared at me, knowing damn well I was right.
“You two decide?” Danielle, our waitress, asked as she sidled up to our table.
“I’m in between—” Parker started, but I interrupted with, “We’ll have the Banana Mudslide and the Strawberry Catastrophe. And a side of fries.”
“And two waters. And an iced Dr. Pepper,” Parker tacked on.
Danielle’s smile couldn’t have been brighter if she tried. “Coming right up.”
I could barely stifle my grin. “An iced Dr. Pepper, huh? As opposed to what?”
Parker’s face flamed, realization dawning on her. She covered her face with her hands. “Oh my God. It’s the pregnancy brain, I swear.”
I laughed, getting lost in this moment with her. “It’s alright. I’m sure she gets it all the time.”
She frowned at me, wearing a look that screamed, You really think that?
“Well, either way, I had to get a Dr. Pepper. It’s the appetizer of drinks, you know.”
I laughed, my tongue sliding over my teeth. “Is it now?”
She burst into a fit of laughter right along with me.
The pink from the booth reflected off the apples of her cheeks, her eyes bright and playful. She was beautiful like this—with that weight off her shoulders and that teasing look on her face. Right here, in this diner, it was only me and Parker. The rest of the world was quiet for once.
“You didn’t have to order both milkshakes, you know.”
I shrugged before leaning back in the booth and casually slinging my hands behind my head. “We needed them. It’s hard work being so good at reading what you want.”
She shook her head, smiling. “And what is it you think I want?”
“Well, five seconds ago, it was those milkshakes.” I tilted my head. “And a Dr. Pepper. Now I’m guessing it’s me.”
Her answering giggle had my pulse skyrocketing and my mind racing for what I could say next just to hear it again.
“You know, you can’t go around buying everything simply to make me happy,” she stated.
My hands dropped to the table, playing with the straw the waitress had laid out. “There’s nothing else I’d rather put my money toward.”
“What about retirement? Investing?”
I dipped my chin, letting out a huff of a laugh. “I’m smart with my money, Park, but don’t think I’m afraid to spend it. Hell, one time, I called up my dad to flag down Bailey and Lettie at a horse auction, all so they could bid on an old horse me and my friend learned to bronc ride on.”
Parker leaned forward in her seat, her interest piqued. “What friend?”
Realization at what I’d brought up hit me like a punch to the gut. Just like that, my appetite vanished and my mind shut down. I sat back in the booth, eyes on the table. “One you never got to meet.”
She went quiet, dropping the subject. I fucking hated how the thought of Garrett still did this to me. All I wanted to do was talk about him without it stabbing me in the damn chest.
Parker’s movement had me lifting my gaze to find her pulling her phone out of her purse. She didn’t seem to be doing it to be rude, but rather to give me a moment. She didn’t know the situation, but it was like she could sense it.
A crease marred her forehead as she looked at her phone, and the sight had foghorns blaring through the haze that had clouded my mind.
I sat straighter. “Everything okay?”
She took a deep breath, shaking her head and blinking like she was trying to make sense of what she was looking at. “There are some random accounts that keep going on my social media pages and leaving weird comments.”
Instantly, I stiffened. “What kind of comments?”
“Asking about my mental health, commenting on old photos of how I look on a horse. One tried to get my address—”
“Your address?” I repeated, a little too loud.
“I didn’t give it to him,” she clarified, eyes darting to the table nearest ours like she didn’t want anyone overhearing.
“It was a man?”
“I think so. It was a new account, but people use fake profile pictures all the time.”
“And you’re just now telling me about this?”
“I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
The fact that something had held her back from doing so was a hurt I hadn’t expected. “Did you block them?”
“Of course, I did. But there have been multiple accounts now. I don’t know if it’s the same person on all of them, but I block one and another pops up days later.”
“What’d they say today?”
She turned the phone so I could read the screen. A comment under an old photo of Parker smiling with a few girls I’d never seen before read: Looks like a far way to travel for some fun. Live close?
A glance at the caption showed she had mentioned a visit to North Dakota.
I grabbed the phone from her, clicking the stranger’s profile. No posts, no followers, and no profile photo.
Parker had a fucking stalker, and I had no idea until now.
“I didn’t think it would get this bad,” Parker admitted, her voice laced with shame.
I set the phone down, sliding it toward her. “Block that account, and make your profile private.”
She was an influencer, but with that no longer being her full-time job, making her profile private wouldn’t affect anything. If some brand had a problem with it, they could take it up with me. Parker’s safety would always come first.
She picked up the device right as our milkshakes, waters, and Dr. Pepper arrived. Two spoons stuck out the top of each monstrosity, but I didn’t spare the rest a glance as I thanked Danielle and kept my eyes on Parker, watching her thumb move over the screen.
“Done.” She dropped the phone in her purse, meeting my gaze.
I studied her, hating the fact that her life had been broadcasted online for years and creepy men like that probably viewed her content daily. It made my fists burn with the urge to beat each one to a bloody fucking pulp.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded, but that glint in her eye told me she wasn’t being completely honest. Whoever was doing this had unsettled her, and I hated that I hadn’t known sooner. I didn’t want her going through that alone.
“Why didn’t you tell me before?” I asked, forcing a calm I didn’t feel into my tone.
She swallowed, the sight of regret burning into me.
Then it hit me.
“Because of my drinking?”
She nodded, a barely-there movement.
I reached across the table, grabbing her hand and stroking my thumb over her skin. “Parker, it wasn’t as bad as you’re thinking.”
“I know that now,” she said. “I talked to Lettie.”
While I wished she’d talked to me about it, I was glad my sister was a person of comfort for her. Someone she could go to that wasn’t me. Parker needed that sense of family, people she could trust.
Guilt at the fact that I had yet to tell her about Garrett nudged its way into my mind. How was it fair to want her to be open about everything with me when I wasn’t doing the same?
Parker grabbed one of the milkshakes—the one with a spear of strawberries sticking out the top of a massive brownie that was laid atop the glass. Her lips wrapped around the pink and white straw, shoulders instantly sagging as she sipped.
Maybe our troubles wouldn’t be completely laid out between the two of us tonight, but at least we had this.