Chapter 22
“I’d flee my feelings faster if the damn door locked.” ~ Parker
Parker
As soon as Jeremy steps away to answer his phone, I feel cold and alone. What did I do? Why did I confess my past to him? He’s a billionaire who doesn’t care about me. He’s no one to me.
Except you’re falling for him.
It doesn’t matter what I feel. He isn’t here to stay. And since he knows my pathetic story, he’ll probably want to end our arrangement anyway. No one wants to be in a relationship with a loser. And I’ve got a bit fat L tattooed on my forehead.
I wring my hands as I try to figure out a way to erase my confession from Jeremy’s brain. Or maybe rewind time. Why isn’t there a sea creature who can bend time?
Oh, who am I kidding? There’s no graceful way to exit this scenario. Fleeing it is.
I tiptoe out of the kitchen and close the door behind me as quietly as possible. I wait a moment for Jeremy’s reaction but he’s still talking on the phone. Time to get out of here.
I hurry down the street toward my apartment. I hope Annie’s not home. I have no desire to argue with my roommate about her stealing my food today. I’m all argued out.
I barge into the apartment and blow out a breath in relief when Annie isn’t lounging on the couch. I collapse on it and bury my face in my hands.
Why did I confess all my secrets to Jeremy? I’ve kept what happened at culinary school a secret for years. Why now? Why him?
Will he tell Eli what happened? Eli will tell Paisley and then the whole island will know what happened. Including my parents, who will not be amused.
If I ever have kids, I will never judge them. They can decide they want to dress up as sirens every day and sing on the street corner for their money and I won’t judge them. I will love them. I’ll also bring them food to eat and invite them over on holidays.
Because children deserve to be loved unconditionally. No matter what they do.
“Parker!” Jeremy shouts before he bangs on the door. “I know you’re in there.”
Screaming sirens in the sea. How does Jeremy know where I live?
I lower my voice and shout, “There ain’t no Parker here.”
“Parker,” Jeremy growls. “I know this is your apartment.”
I stomp to the door and fling it open. “How did you find my place? Did you use your ‘connections’?”
He runs a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I never should have mentioned I have connections and will get revenge on Halston for you.”
“You’re forgiven.” I try to shut the door but he pushes past me.
“Hey, I didn’t invite you inside, Scrooge.”
He studies the area and my cheeks heat in response. There’s a reason no one’s ever invited here. And it’s not because Annie steals all my food.
“Why aren’t there any decorations on your Christmas tree?”
“Annie ate them.”
“Who’s Annie? What…” He shakes his head. “Never mind. I’ve seen enough.”
I motion to the door. “You can see yourself out.”
“I’m not going anywhere without you.”
Guess I’m not argued out after all. I plant my fists on my hips. “You are not ordering me around.”
“You enjoy it when I order you around.”
I hate how he’s right. But he’s not completely right. “Only when we’re naked.”
“I can make that happen but not here.”
“You know where the door is.”
He sighs. “Princess, this isn’t scraping by. This is drowning.” He reaches for me. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
“We aren’t going anywhere. I’m staying here. I’m home.”
“This isn’t a home, Princess.”
I growl. “Don’t you dare call me princess.”
“Why are you living here anyway?”
“I can live wherever the hell I want.”
“If you can live wherever you want, why are you living in squalor?”
“In squalor?” I stab his chest with my finger. “You don’t get to judge me. No one gets to judge me. This is my life and I’m doing the best I can.”
“Bullshit.”
“Bullshit? What do you mean bullshit?”
“I’m not an idiot.”
“I never said you were.”
“And I’m not blind.”
“Maybe not, but I’m confused. Where are you going with this conversation?”
He squeezes my shoulder. “I saw how many Thanksgiving pies you baked. And I know how much you charged. The bakery is busy every day.”
I shake my head. “Not as busy as it was before the chain coffee place opened on the promenade.”
He dips his chin to concede my point. “Maybe not as busy, but it’s still busy every day. And you sell out of your baked goods every single day.”
“Maybe because I know what the demand is and don’t want to waste food.”
“Nope. There’s something else going on. Where is the money going?”
I swallow. “What money?”
“The money you’re earning from the bakery.”
I realize I’m scratching my palm and fist my hand. “Shouldn’t you know this? You own a business. I have operating costs – mortgage, utilities, personnel, supplies…”
He pinches my jaw. “You’re earning more than enough to pay for your operating costs and live in a better place. Where is your money going?”
“How do you know what my operating costs are? Real estate on Smuggler’s Hideaway is expensive. Especially on the main drag of Smuggler’s Cove, where all the restaurants and shops are.”
I stare into his eyes. Believe me. Drop this.
“Where is your money going?”
Damn it. Apparently, my ability to use mind control on others isn’t as good as a siren’s. I wonder if there are any sirens out there willing to give me lessons. Or is mind control a gift you can’t learn?
“Why are you insistent on learning all of my secrets?”
“Because your secrets are holding you back.”
Ugh. He couldn’t give a controlling asshole answer I could ignore? He has to have a good answer? And he’s not giving up.
I throw my arms in the air. “I’m saving money to pay my parents back for culinary school. There. Are you happy now?”
He growls. “No. I’m not fucking happy. Those people do not deserve your money.”
I don’t disagree. “Maybe if I pay them back, they’ll stop complaining about how I wasted their money.”
Maybe they’ll love me again. And invite me to holiday meals. I don’t say those things. It’s pathetic to still yearn for your parents’ love when they’ve made it perfectly clear how little regard they have for you. But here we are.
Jeremy wraps his arms around me and pulls me near. “Princess, your parents aren’t worth your sacrifice.”
“How do you know?”
“Because parents don’t allow their daughter to live this way if they can help it.”
“They don’t know where I live.”
He kisses my hair. “Yes, they do. Everyone in town knows you live here.”
Shame fills me. “They do?”
“How do you think I found you?”
“Duh. You asked Eli.”
“I didn’t ask Eli. I asked at Smuggler’s Cove and they couldn’t tell me fast enough. Also, they want you to know Viking is doing well.”
I latch onto the excuse to change the topic. “I miss my little Viking.”
“If you didn’t live here, you could have him with you all the time.”
So much for my grand idea to change the subject. I push away from Jeremy. He holds strong to me for a second before dropping his arms.
I feel cold and lonely without his arms around me, but I ignore the feeling. I’ll examine my emotions later. When I’m alone.
“Jeremy, I’m not moving. This is what I can afford.”
“Because you’re saving money to pay back your parents.
” I open my mouth to speak but he places a finger on my lips to stop me.
“Your parents didn’t loan you the money for your schooling, did they?
” I shake my head. “Did they ask for the money back?” I shake my head again.
“This is what parents do. They pay for their children’s education to help them get started in the world. ”
“But I want to pay them back.”
He blows out a breath. “I’m not going to change your mind on this, am I?”
“No, sorry.”
He glances around the room and frowns. “I don’t want to leave you here.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“I don’t like it.”
I snort. “Welcome to real life. Not everything that happens will be to your liking.”
“At least let me take you out to dinner.”
My stomach rumbles in response.
“Did you eat lunch?”
My nose wrinkles. “Does a cookie count?”
“No. A cookie doesn’t count.” He offers me his hand. “Come on. Let me feed you.”
I hesitate. Is he offering to feed me out of pity? I don’t need anyone to pity me. Especially not a billionaire who can buy and sell this entire apartment building a million times over.
My stomach rumbles to remind me I’m hungry and there’s no food in my apartment. If I want to eat, I’ll have to leave anyway.
“Fine. But I’m choosing where we eat.”
He grins. “I accept your conditions.”
He places his hand on my lower back and ushers me out of the apartment. He frowns when we pass the broken elevator and the unlocked front door but he doesn’t say anything.
I expected him to shove his wealth in my face. But he hasn’t.
Come on, Jeremy. Be a little bit of a jerk before I fall head over heels in love with you. And you break my heart when you leave Smuggler’s Hideaway for good.