Chapter 38 Parker
PARKER
Six years ago…
“Are you sure you’re okay if we go?” Casey asks, her date behind her, holding her hand with a vice grip as if he’s worried she’s going to bail on him before the night is out.
“Of course. Seth’s probably just gone to the bathroom or something,” I say with butterflies fluttering wildly in my chest.
Tonight is the night.
I know it’s cliché to lose your virginity on prom night, but it seemed like a good idea when we started talking about it.
Both of us have been ready for a while but agreed that we wanted it to be special.
And what’s better than prom night?
The night we close one door on our lives and hopefully open a new one.
High school is done. Everyone we’ve grown up with is heading in all directions across the country, and who knows when we’re going to see each other again.
Well, Seth and I know exactly when we’ll see each other because we’re going to the same college.
Okay, so it’s not my dream college. But it’s a good one, and he’ll be there, so I figure the compromise will be worth it.
The last year together has been incredible. He’s everything I want in a boyfriend. Sweet, funny, thoughtful, patient.
I hear the stories the other girls have of what it can be like, and I’m so grateful to have a boy in my corner who cares enough. Of course, there’s always the threat of Rett and Linc ending him if he steps a foot out of line, but now that they’re both at college, the danger level is a little lower.
I miss them like hell, and I can’t wait to spend a little more time with them this summer—not that they’re going to be home for long. But I’ll take whatever I can get.
Seth is also going to be heading to training camp soon, and we have many plans before then.
Those excited butterflies flutter again, but right behind them is nerves.
We’re taking a big step tonight. I know it’s the right thing to do, but I’m still scared.
Will I do it right? Will he enjoy it? Will it hurt so much that I hate it?
Casey hugs me before making me promise to call her tomorrow for a debrief.
She’s heading to one of the after parties, but Seth and I decided that our night with our friends ends here.
We’ve got a hotel room booked upstairs so that we have some privacy to take the next step of our relationship together.
I watch her walk out and then scan the room.
Almost everyone has left, but I still can’t see Seth.
Pulling my cell from my clutch, I check it, but there’s nothing from him.
“Where are you?” I muse before taking off in search of him.
After a few minutes of searching, I still can’t find him.
The hotel key card in my purse taunts me, and I decide that he must have already gone up to set the mood. He told me earlier that he’d bought candles and my favorite bubble bath for after.
My heart tightens at his thoughtfulness, and I make my way to the elevators.
As the car climbs to our floor, my nerves begin to get the better of me. My hands are trembling and I’m fidgeting like an idiot.
I watch the numbers climb, and by the time I stop on our floor, I’m sure I’m only seconds from vomiting.
It’ll be fine when I see him. When he pulls me into his arms and reassures me that everything is going to be okay. Hell, if I said I’d changed my mind, he wouldn’t mind. Not that I’m going to. I’ve been preparing for this night for months.
I want to do this.
I need to do this.
Finding our room, I pull the keycard out and tap it to the panel beside the door before pushing it open.
I barely get it open an inch before I hear him.
My lips part to say something, but before I can, he grunts loudly. “Oh yeah, fuck. Right there.”
My eyes jump up and as I push the door wider, my entire world crashes around my feet.
My perfect boyfriend of over a year is standing with his back against that wall, his head tipped back, his eyes closed, and his cock is in some other girl’s mouth.
Tears burn my eyes as my hand lifts to catch the sob that wants to erupt.
Neither of them sees me standing there. They’re both too lost in the moment.
His moment with someone else.
I stand there for another two seconds in complete shock before I force myself to step back.
With my hand pressed against the door, I slowly let it close in an attempt to sneak away without being caught. The last thing I need is Seth realizing and coming after me.
I don’t want to see him right now.
Hell, I’m not sure I want to see him ever again.
He booked that hotel room for us.
For us to—
A sob erupts as I run toward the elevator and jab my finger against the button over and over in the hope it’ll make it here faster.
Please be empty.
Please be empty.
I breathe a huge sigh of relief when the doors part and there isn’t anyone inside.
My hands tremble even harder as I descend back through the building, and I’m even closer to being sick now.
The image of him with his fingers twisted in her hair, the expression on his face, her on her knees with her lips wrapped around his dick, all play on repeat in my head like a nightmare that never ends.
I thought he was the one.
I thought that despite all the odds, we were going to make it.
I accepted my place at his college, for fuck’s sake. And what has he done for me?
He couldn’t even wait for me.
My vision is blurry as I race through the hotel foyer. I don’t know if I pass anyone from school; the only thing I can focus on is getting away.
With my floor-length dress tugged up so I don’t trip over it and break my neck, I run around the side of the hotel in search of somewhere to hide.
I spot a bench surrounded by tall bushes on the other side of the parking lot, and I make a beeline for it.
The second my ass touches the seat, I shatter.
Loud, ugly sobs erupt. My shoulders shake, and I fight to drag in the air I need as devastation threatens to drag me under.
How could he?
On our fucking prom night.
It was meant to be our night—a celebration of the past and a step into the future.
I don’t know how much time passes. All I know is that my throat is raw and my eyes are swollen and sore.
I’m a mess, physically and emotionally, and I have no idea what to do.
Seth picked me up.
I don’t have my car. I don’t have anything other than my cell phone and that key card.
Pulling the offending item from my purse, I lob it as far away from me as possible.
A self-deprecating laugh erupts when it lands only a few feet away, taunting me.
I wake my cell up and stare down at the notifications.
Messages from friends sharing photos from tonight. One from Mom wishing me a good night. Another from Rett reminding me to be safe and to kick Seth if he deserves it. And there is one from Linc.
Linc: Enjoy prom, little P. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.
I pull up the Uber app to call a ride home. But before I can confirm the ride, I hesitate.
If I go home, Mom is going to ask questions.
She knows that I’m planning on staying out all night, although she doesn’t know the details. If I turn up, she’s going to know something is wrong.
I’m going to have to explain somehow, but not tonight.
I can’t relive that. Not yet.
“Shit,” I hiss, letting my head fall back as a fresh wave of tears hits me.
I could call Rett, but something tells me that he’ll take one look at me and demand to know where he is.
He won’t rest until he rips Seth limb from limb.
And while I might agree that he deserves it, Rett doesn’t need an assault charge hanging over his head.
He’s going to the NHL. I’d put my life on it, and the last thing he needs is a record.
His reputation for aggressive play is already making waves in the NCAA.
Closing Uber, I return to my messages. Or, one specific message.
Before I can overthink it, I’m typing.
Little P: Hey, I need a huge favor.
Thoughts of him being with Rett and letting him read that message has me typing a follow up.
Little P: One that needs to be a secret.
The messages show as read almost as soon as they’ve been delivered, and my heart jumps into my throat.
Please don’t say no.
Linc: Of course. Anything. What do you need?
Little P: Can you come and pick me up? Alone.
Linc: Where are you?
Little P: At the hotel.
Linc: On my way.
Little P: I can’t go home, though. I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m not going home.
Linc: Are you okay?
“Shit,” I hiss.
Little P: No. Please, can you be quick?
Linc: Getting in the car right now. I’ll be ten minutes, tops.
I have no idea where Linc is right now, but something tells me that it’s farther than ten minutes away, seeing as there isn’t much around here. But I’m not going to argue. I need him too much for that.
Time seems to slow to a stop the second his messages cease.
I want to reply, but I know he’s driving.
So instead, I rest my cell in my lap and will my heart to stop hurting.
Every time I blink, even for a second, the image of them returns.
Where are they now?
Are they still up there?
Has he wondered where I am?
Silent tears continue as reality hits me over and over.
He gave me a key to that room. Did he…did he want me to find them?
I startle when my cell rings in my hands.
My first instinct is to reject it, but then I see the name.
Storm.
“Hello?” I rasp the second I press it to my ear.
“I’m here. Where are you?”
I swallow thickly.
“Can you see a row of bushes at the end of the lot, to the left of the hotel?”
“Uhh…” I squeeze my eyes closed, picturing him looking around. “Yeah.”
“I’m behind them.”
“I’m coming.”
A beat before the line dies, I swear I hear him running to me.
I push from the bench, attempt to dry my cheeks, and wipe inevitable stray makeup from my eyes before taking a couple of steps forward.
Hearing movement, I look up.
And there he is, running toward me with his standard backward cap, a hoodie, sweats, and a look on his face I don’t think I’ve ever seen before.
“Parker?” he pants, not slowing his pace at all.
“Linc,” I sob, emotion slamming into me all over again, although not as hard as he does a second later when he gathers me in his arms and holds me tight.
“It’s okay, little P. I’ve got you. I’ve always got you.”
His words make me cry harder, louder.
He doesn’t release his hold on me. He doesn’t care that my tears are soaking his hoodie, or that my makeup is rubbing off on him.
He just holds me like I’m the most precious thing in the world, and the only place he wants to be right now is holding me together.
Pulling my face from his chest, I look up into his dark eyes. “Thank you for coming,” I whimper when my sobs have subsided.
His hands move to my cheeks, holding me so tenderly, my eyes burn all over again. “You’re my girl, Parker. I’ll always come when you need me. Always.”