Chapter 7
1 Month After the Choosing
Parker
Imani has been so upset the last few weeks, and I want to throw Reid through a window. She apparently got pretty flirty with him, tried to get out of her comfort zone and got completely stonewalled. It’s made the house atmosphere pretty chilly, to say the least.
Dominique and I, of course, are in protective mode, trying to insulate Imani from Reid. But when you live in one big house, sleep in the same room and can never truly leave each other’s presence, it just doesn’t work very well.
The big upside? I get Imani pretty much all to myself without having to really angle for it. She mainly wants to hang out in our room—avoiding Reid—and I’m all too happy to oblige.
The twins and I head to the kitchen to grab some food, careful to avoid the usual mealtimes to decrease the chance of a run-in. And low and behold, what do we find?
Sean has got Ana pressed up against a counter and looking pretty cozy.
Atta boy!
As they scramble to separate, I shoot him a wink and try to communicate to him with my eyes that we will be debriefing later. My awkward little dude is making moves!
As we retreat and leave them to their business, I realize we are getting left behind in the love department, all holed up together, not socializing much. It gnaws on me, and I hate that I even have to think about trying to get to know people and leaving Imani to fend for herself at some point. She’s so tenderhearted. This whole thing with Reid was over a weeklong crush! What happens if she really commits to someone and they change their mind or are playing the field? She would feel devastated. And I’d have to play it cool like my heart wasn’t breaking for her, with her, about her.
Ugh.
Later on, I approach Dominique while Imani is taking a shower.
“Look, we can’t keep doing this, or we are going to end up being assigned to someone at the end of the year. I mean, do you have any prospects you’re working on? Does she? I sure as hell don’t.”
“I know, I know. As much as I tried to talk her down when this whole infatuation with Reid thing kicked off, I didn’t see it turning out this bad. She’s hurt. She’s lonely, seeing people pair off and knowing she tried to shoot her shot for the first time and missed. You know, this is like the first guy she’s ever really liked, besides you, Parks.”
“She’s never liked me like that. It’s not the same,” I say, pulling a hand down over my face in frustration.
Dominique catches my arm and looks me straight in the eyes. “Maybe, but you’re the only proper relationship she’s had other than family. She bases all her expectations of men’s behavior on you.”
“Gods. No pressure or anything…”
“I mean, it’s truly lovely, the friendship you have, but she just doesn’t understand that not all men are going to be as gentle with her feelings as you are.”
“Well, maybe they should be.”