Chapter 6 Parker
PARKER
“Have you got a charger?” I ask, returning to the kitchen only minutes after leaving with my dead cell in my hand.
“Of course,” Linc says before stalking across the room.
His athletic shorts sit low on his hips, so low that I can’t help but wonder if he’s wearing anything beneath.
As he turns away from me, I find my eyes running down his back. His skin is tanned despite the fact that we’re in the middle of winter, and his muscles ripple and pull in the most delicious way.
Man, I’d love to dig my fingers into those and see how much he can take.
My fists curl as I think about how much pain I’d like to deliver to his well-worked muscles for all the torment I’ve suffered from him over the years.
He bends over, showing off that firm, round ass, and I almost swallow my tongue.
Being here is a bad idea.
I need to get my shit together and get the hell out as fast as I can.
The second he stands with the charger in his hand, I look away. The last thing his ego needs is to catch me checking him out.
“Here,” he says, handing it over.
“Thanks,” I mutter as his fingers brush mine.
“Plug it in there,” he says, pointing toward a socket in the kitchen. “Go and shower and freshen up. I’ll make more coffee. Then, we’ll tackle it.”
“Why are you being so helpful?” I accuse.
“Uh…because I’m not an asshole. Would you rather I kick you out like a hookup I don’t give a shit about?”
I know it sounds stupid, but if he did that, at least I’d know where I stood. This right now? It’s throwing me for a loop.
I think about it for a moment, knowing that he’s right but desperately wanting to fight it.
“I don’t have any clothes,” I mutter quietly. It’s bad enough that I’m standing here wearing a pair of his boxers with the waistband rolled over more times than I can count, and a T-shirt with his name and number on it.
“I’ll lay something out on your bed.”
“I need to go shopping. I need—”
“We’ll figure it all out,” he assures me before I descend into a full-blown panic attack.
My life has gone to hell in a handbasket, and I’m starting a new, demanding job in two days. How the hell am I supposed to focus on that when I’m homeless and don’t have so much as a pair of panties to my name?
Placing my cell on the charging pad, I immediately take a step back.
I have no idea what is going to be waiting for me on it, and I’m not sure I’m ready to find out.
When I booked my Uber last night, I had a million notifications, but I naively assumed they were all Happy New Year messages.
If I’d just looked, maybe I’d have discovered what was going on before we drove headfirst into it. Not that it would have made it any less devastating.
“Thank you,” I murmur before walking away and heading straight for the guest room.
Leaving the door ajar, I march straight into the bathroom and push that door to as well.
I hesitate. Linc is going to come in here with fresh clothes. I should shut and lock the door, but unease races down my spine at the thought.
Deciding it’s safer to leave it open slightly, I strip out of his clothes and turn the shower on.
I had one not so long ago, but I can’t help craving its solace.
Stepping under the powerful spray, I wince as the too-hot water burns my scalp and shoulders, but I don’t turn it down. Instead, I welcome the burn.
Making use of the products he has in here, I wash my hair, finger brushing while the conditioner is in, in the hope it leaves it somewhat smooth when it dries.
I don’t hear anything from the bedroom, but I can only assume Linc has done as he said and brought me some replacement clothes.
Once I’m done, I step out and wrap one towel around my body, tucking it under my arms, and another around my head.
Without any face care products, or even any deodorant, I slowly pull the bathroom door open and step out.
Part of me expects to find him waiting for me, so I’m surprised to find my bedroom empty, although that relief soon turns to confusion when my eyes land on the bags sitting on my bed.
“What the—”
Rushing over, I pull the first one open, peering inside.
Women’s clothes.
“What? How?” I breathe as I pull out three pairs of leggings and three matching sports bras, all in the right size.
The next bag has a brand-new pair of sneakers and sports socks inside, also the right size. The third bag has two hoodies in it, but it’s the final bag hiding at the back that really gives me pause.
La Perla.
I shake my head.
Lincoln Fucking Storm brought me lingerie. I don’t know whether I’m impressed or utterly creeped out.
Reaching into the bag, I pull out a tissue-wrapped parcel and lay it on the bed.
My hands tremble as I begin to open it, wondering what he’ll have chosen for me.
Will it be something I’ll be able to wear, or some slutty little thing that his hookups usually turn up in, in the hope of being the one to tie him down?
My stomach knots at the thought. Needing to know, I continue ripping into the paper.
“Oh my god,” I gasp when I finally discover what’s hiding inside.
I lay each set out on the bed, both in love and in awe that he chose such beautiful and wearable items for me. And not only that…they’re the right size.
“How?” I ask again. How on earth does my brother’s best friend know my bra size?
A lot impressed and equally as curious, I drop my towel and pull on a soft pink lace thong before stepping into the navy leggings—my favorite brand—and then wrestling the sports bra over my head.
It’s warm enough in here to forgo the hoodies, and after finger-combing my hair again, I double-check my appearance in the mirror and head out feeling a little more prepared to deal with this shitshow head-on.
I’m hit with déjà vu when I step into the kitchen and find Linc sitting exactly where he was earlier, still only in his shorts, with a coffee beside him. Only now he’s dry and has his cell in his hand.
He lowers his hand as I approach and looks over. His eyes widen before running down the length of me as one side of his mouth curls up in a half-smirk.
“You look better,” he surmises.
“Wearing clothes that fit will do that for you,” I point out, making him roll his eyes. “I don’t know how you did it so fast, but thank you, Linc. I really appreciate it.”
His expression softens as he accepts my thanks, and when his lips part, I really think that something nice, thoughtful even, is going leave them.
Oh, how wrong I am.
“I’m Lincoln Storm, babe. I can make anything happen.”
“Of course. How could I forget,” I mutter. “I’m not even going to ask how you know my bra size.”
His smirk grows.
“And I don’t want to know about your vast experience with women’s bodies that means you can guess on sight alone.”
“Man, I wish. What a superpower that would be.”
“Life changing,” I deadpan as I take a sip of my fresh iced coffee before picking up my cell.
“It’s been lighting up like crazy,” Linc tells me, but it isn’t necessary; I can see all the notifications.
I don’t know where to start.
But then I see that I’ve had a missed call from Maddie, and I figure that’s as good a place as any.
“Hey, how are you all?” I ask the second the call connects.
She sighs. “We’re all okay. Kids have a cough, but the doctors assured us that it’ll pass in a few days. The only lasting effects will be the memories.”
“God, I can only imagine.”
Taking my coffee, I walk through to the living room and curl up on one of Linc’s huge couches.
He watches me go, but he doesn’t attempt to stop me.
With my legs curled under me, I listen to Maddie as she recalls their night before going on to explain what she knows.
The long and the short of it is that the building is fucked.
Thankfully, everyone who lives there has been contacted, and they either made it out or they weren’t at home.
I guess that’s one good thing about it being on a night when most of the city is out at parties.
Maddie tells me the building has been condemned and that no one is allowed in until they’ve secured it and deemed it safe, so we have to wait to discover the state of our homes and our possessions. She thinks it could be weeks.
As awful as this is for me, I think of all the families in our building. Those who’ve lived there all their lives. It must be beyond devastating.
Maddie checks in with me, making sure that I have somewhere to stay and support around me.
They’re at George’s parents’, which is close enough to both their work and the kids’ school so they can attempt to continue with some kind of normal life, but I can’t imagine everyone in our building is that lucky.
After promising to send me a number I can call for updates, she promises to stay in touch and offers to help me out with anything I need, which I appreciate but will never act on.
Her life has been turned upside down just like mine has.
She has to look after her own family before even considering anyone else.
“That didn’t sound overly promising,” Linc says after I’ve hung up and lowered my cell to my lap, clearly not giving a shit about eavesdropping on my half of the conversation.
“It wasn’t. She didn’t say it for a fact, but I’m pretty sure I’ve lost everything.” My voice is cold and hollow as I say the words.
I know things could be worse. No one has died. It’s just a building and a few possessions. But I’m pretty sure the tightness in my chest is grief.
“I’ve got something that might cheer you up,” Linc says.
“More than buying me lingerie?” I tease.
“Babe, trust me: that was all for me.”
“You say that as if you’ll ever get to see them.”
“I’m confident,” he says before footsteps race my way.
I look over just in time to see my best friend barrel around the corner.