13. Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
Amy
“I honestly just want a first kiss, and I don’t even care who it’s from at this point,” I find myself admitting—and hating that I’m doing it. Parker seriously just ruined my night. Even though I’m realizing Josh had a lot of red flags that I missed.
Parker and I stand in silence, looking out over the city, and I try not to feel sad.
My chances of getting my first kiss are over for the night now.
Parker was right—dating in the real world is nothing like romance novels and chick flicks would lead you to believe. A lump forms in my throat, and I stare down at my manicured nails.
Ugh. A good manicure has gone to waste .
“My dad is mad at me,” Parker says, his eyes still focused on the skyline. “He’s upset that I came to this party instead of seeing him and my sister tonight.”
I nod, not sure why he’s telling me this. It’s not exactly relevant to my whole not having been kissed thing ... but okay. “I’m sorry.”
“No need to be sorry. I just figured it might make you feel better to know we both aren’t having the night we wanted. But maybe next year will be better.”
“I don’t know...” My voice trails off. “I’m starting to think that I’m really terrible at dating.”
“Well, guess you better consider going ahead and buying those jazz tickets.”
“Ha ha,” I say, catching his eye. “So, you grew up in the Bronx?”
“Yeah ... you gonna judge me for it, too?” He eyes me just as a waitress comes by. He grabs a champagne glass from the tray and hands it to me before grabbing one for himself.
“I don’t judge anyone for how they were raised. Neither of my parents got a college degree. They both had to work all the time just to afford the cost of living in the suburbs of Chicago. So, I really don’t think it’s fair to say anything about someone’s education, or lack thereof. It’s not like a degree defines who a person is. Their character is what really matters.”
Parker holds my gaze for a moment. “Okay ... so if that’s how you feel, why did you even give that Josh guy the time of day?”
I shrug, running my finger along the rim of the glass. “I don’t know. Sometimes I guess I give people the benefit of the doubt to a fault.”
“Well, at least you’re aware of it.” He chuckles. “It’s pretty painful to watch.”
“You watch me?” I raise a brow at him, giving him a teasing smirk.
“That sounds creepy.” He laughs, taking a sip of his drink. “But seriously, you can do so much better than these guys you’ve been entertaining—and I don’t think you realize that.”
“I don’t think you realize that you’re not all that bad when you’re not harping on how terrible dating is.”
“Wow, thanks for that compliment.” He smiles, then shakes his head. “I don’t know about you, but I’m kinda over this New Year’s Eve party. I’m thinking about going home.”
My shoulders slump. “Me, too. I got dressed up for no reason.”
“That you did.” He eyes me, briefly shifting his gaze over my figure. I shiver, but I’m pretty sure it’s just from the cold. “It looks really nice, though.”
“Thanks. But surely you’re just being nice to me to make up for ruining my date.” I poke him in the shoulder, still feeling defeated. “I don’t know how I’m going to tell my best friend that it didn’t work out for me. She’s always rooting for me. She’s like my biggest fan.”
Parker laughs. “Is she chasing love as hard as you are?”
“Oh goodness, no,” I say quickly. “She’s got a husband, but before that, she swore off men. She was with this jerk for, like, ever. He didn’t want to marry her, but strung her along for eight years. She was ready to give up on love completely, and then she met Nick.” I smile. “In the craziest way, too. She literally fell through a wooden access ramp. And he was the firefighter who responded and pulled her out of the hole.”
“ Wow. ” Parker bursts into laughter. “How freaking cliché is that? No wonder you’re such a romantic.”
“Oh stop.” I swat his arm. “It’s such a cute story. I want something like that.”
“So go set your apartment on fire, then,” Parker suggests with a shrug. “Maybe one of the firemen who responds will save you and fall in love with you at first sight.”
“That’s just ridiculous.”
“Almost as ridiculous as falling through an access ramp.” His expression shifts, and for the first time since meeting Parker, I actually get the feeling that he’s ... sad.
“Did you ever get your heart broken?” I blurt out, unable to stop myself.
He looks at me, pursing his lips. “Uh ... kind of, I guess. I dated a girl in college who broke up with me—and that stung a little bit.”
“Oh.”
“Most of my heartbreak happened watching other people I loved get their hearts broken. I was the product of a broken home...” His eyes fall to his drink. “And I wouldn’t wish what I went through on anyone. My parents together were toxic, and when they finally separated, they both started dating—and the more they dated, the more bitter they became. ”
My heart squeezes with a sympathy I never knew I had. “That must’ve been tough to deal with. I’m really sorry.”
“It’s okay.” He shrugs, looking up from his drink. “A lot of lessons were learned, and I’ve made peace with it. However, the dysfunction still exists in my family.”
I nod, wishing I could hug him or something. “You’ve really done well for yourself.”
“Yeah, you have, too, you know.” He smiles at me. “Don’t ever let some guy make you think you’re not educated enough. That’s insane. Also, if a guy doesn’t spend the entire date paying attention to you , kick him to the curb.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because you deserve undivided attention.”
“Hmm.” I purse my lips. “I guess I overlook things sometimes.”
“Yeah... Sometimes.”
“Do you think you could walk me home?” I ask, no longer feeling this party. There’s only thirty minutes left until midnight, but I’m just fine with letting the new year begin on my own.
He studies my face for a moment. “Yeah. You don’t want to try to make it to midnight?”
I shake my head. “Nah.”
“Very well, then. Guess we’ll leave now. The crowds can get pretty dodgy after midnight, anyway.” He downs the rest of his champagne. I do the same and follow him to the exit.
A mixture of relief and disappointment thrums through me. Part of me is so ready to go home and collapse in bed—and the other part can’t shake the disappointment I feel over missing out on my New Year’s Eve kiss.
“You know, it’s not so bad to lose a bet,” Parker says as we step onto the elevator. “The jazz band I want to see is really good.”
I laugh. “Yeah, well, I still have almost two months to find a boyfriend. I’m not giving up just yet.”
“Not even after Josh ?” Parker looks over at me, a dark brow raised.
“No way,” I say. “I might be a little bummed right now about not getting my first kiss, but it’ll happen eventually. I’d be letting myself down if I didn’t keep trying.”
“You’re relentless.” He chuckles as we reach the ground floor.
We walk side by side as we exit the lobby, heading out into the cold night air. The streets are pretty crowded and everyone buzzes with excitement, prepping for the big countdown.
“I was so excited for tonight,” I admit as we start heading back to my apartment. “Like really excited.”
He nods, eyeing me as we walk. “Yeah...”
I can’t deny that his rugged, yet boyish expression is charming in a way that I didn’t notice before—and maybe it’s just the champagne, but his smile doesn’t seem so empty tonight. “It’s fine, though. I like sleeping, too.”
“You’re something else, Amy,” he remarks. “I’m convinced there’s nothing you don’t like.”
“I don’t like pickles.”
He makes a face, nearly laughing. “I guess that makes two of us. ”
“Good,” I quip, finding myself giggling. “You know what else I don’t like?”
“What’s that?”
“Going to the doctor.”
We both burst into laughter, and the sound of it lifts my spirits. The streetlights are glowing in the night, illuminating the sidewalk, and I must admit the more I walk, the more I start to appreciate the moment. Maybe I’m not getting my first kiss...
But tonight is still a good night.
Not all hope is lost.
“I’ll walk you up,” Parker says as we reach the doors out front of my apartment building. However, as he reaches for the handle, we hear a crowd chanting in the distance...
And they’re counting down to midnight.
We stop, and I watch the seconds tick down on my watch. I join in with the rest of New York City. “Five, four, three, two, one—”
I look up. Parker’s right in front of me.
And then he threads his fingers through my hair. Brushes his nose against mine.
I catch my breath...
And then his lips capture mine.
They’re hesitant— I’m hesitant—as he lingers there. But as if it’s an instinct, I part my lips ever so slightly, my hands landing on his chest. His tongue runs along my bottom lip, and I feel so many things exploding in my chest, warming up my entire body.
I find myself lost in the taste of champagne on his lips and the scent of his cologne. I cling to his jacket as he threads an arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. Our kiss deepens, and while I don’t know what I’m doing, it feels good . Parker’s thumb brushes my cheek, his touch burning against my skin as his tongue intertwines with mine. It’s intimate, it’s passionate, and...
Then he pulls away.
“Happy New Year, Amy.” He clears his throat and steps back.
I can still feel him on my lips, and I bite down on my lower one, trying to catch my breath. “Yeah... Yeah. You, too.”
“Now you can slow down on your chase,” he says, pulling the front door open for me. “You’ve been kissed once, so the second won’t be as big of a big deal.”
If it’s anything like that, it will be.
“Okay...” My voice comes out awkwardly as I step through the doorway, feeling lightheaded as my heart pounds in my chest. I can still feel his hands on my body—and for some reason, I want them there again.
Is this what always happens when you kiss someone?
I steal a glance over at Parker, who’s quiet as we step onto the elevator. He taps the button for my floor, and I want to say something, but I can’t find the words. My mind’s too full of images of him touching me like that again...
“Please don’t let that kiss make things weird between us,” Parker says as the doors slide open. He gestures for me to step out in front of him. “It’s just that ... you were really disappointed earlier about missing out on your first kiss, so I was just trying to be a good friend and make it up to you.”
“Right,” I say, clearing my throat. But do good friends kiss you like that ? “A kiss on New Year’s Eve means good luck, too. So, there’s that.”
He chuckles, stopping just outside of my apartment door. “Well, I can’t say that my kisses are good luck, but hopefully it checked the box on your list.”
I laugh and push my hair behind my ear. “I don’t have a list.”
“Ah, right. Well, that’s a little surprising...” he says as I punch in the code and open the door. “Have a good night, Amy.”
I turn, meeting his gaze—and still trying to catch my breath. “You, too.”