Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
MOLLY
Parker
I'm sorry I texted you so early this morning. I hope you had a great day at work.
I stumbled to a stop on my way out of the school.
"What the hell?" Elle fumbled next to me when she realized I was no longer walking next to her. "Did you forget something in your classroom?"
I shook my head. "Parker texted me again apologizing for waking me up so early."
"Aww, that's sweet." A goofy smile spread across my friend’s face before it dropped into a frown. "Wait, does that mean you never texted him back after we spoke at lunch?"
I winced at her accusation. "Ummm . . . no."
"What the fuck, Molly? Why the hell not?"
"I don't know." I threw my hands in the air and almost dropped my purse off my shoulder. "I didn't know what to say, and then before I knew it, the rest of the day flew by, and it slipped my mind."
Liar!
I hadn't stopped thinking about that text all day. It wasn't anything special, but it meant he was thinking about me when he woke up, and I wasn't sure what to do with that.
"Bullshit. I know when you're lying, and right now, you look guilty as hell."
I scowled at her before continuing with my trek to my car. "It's not nice to call someone out like that."
"It's not nice to lie to your best friend," Elle argued back.
We were parked next to each other in the lot, so it wasn't like I could escape her. We legit had to walk in the same direction. What I wouldn't give to be on the other side of the parking lot for once.
"Okay, fine, so I lied." I stopped next to my vehicle and waited for Elle to join me. "Sue me."
"I would prefer if you told me what was wrong. At lunch you seemed good with things. What happened between then and now?"
I let out a loud exhale. "Nothing happened per se. I did plan on texting him back, but when I pulled out my phone, I froze. Palms sweating. Heart racing. I couldn't get my fingers to do what my brain was telling them to. I just froze, and I have no clue why."
I could tell Elle was just as confused as I was. "Could it be that you were nervous?"
Again I threw my hands up, but this time, I was forced to grab my bag before the contents toppled to the asphalt. "Probably. But I can't be sure since I've never been nervous about anything a day in my life. This feeling is completely new to me, and I'm not sure I like it."
Elle chuckled. "It sucks to join us mere mortals, doesn't it?"
I pushed her shoulder and rolled my eyes. "Shut up. I never claimed to be anything but a mortal."
"Maybe not but I've always wondered. You don't let things affect you like the rest of us. I've always envied that about you."
Damn, my friend knew how to build me up when I needed it the most. I pulled her into a hug and whispered, "What do I do? Tell me what to do because I'm out of my element, and it's freaking me out."
"Text him back. Tell him you're not mad about him waking you up and see how it goes from there. He's probably just as flustered as you are. This is new territory for both of you."
Stepping back, I stared into Elle's sincere eyes. "We're both a piece of work, huh? Two people incapable of relationships, and we end up married."
My friend snickered. "I mean it is a bit ironic. Never in a million years would I have guessed that's what you were going to tell me when I picked you up from the airport."
I laughed with her. "Trust me, no one was more surprised than me."
"I can imagine. What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall when you woke up in bed with him."
A sneaky snort slipped out before I could stop it. "I'm sure you would've laughed your ass off."
"Absolutely. Now are you going to text him back or what?"
I slowly let out a breath. "Yes."
"Now?" Elle chuckled, and I rolled my eyes.
"Yes, now. Geesh." I unlocked my phone and stared at the short text thread. And by short I meant just the two texts from Parker.
Molly
No need to apologize. My phone is on silent anyway, so it didn't wake me up. My day was good. How about yours?
"There, are you happy?"
Elle beamed. "Immensely. Now I need to go pick up Savannah from the sitter’s. I'm still not used to leaving her for the day."
“Give her kisses for me and tell her Aunty Molly misses her.”
I watched Elle walk to her own vehicle, and with a wave, she answered, “I will. Love you, bitch.”
I didn’t bother to hide the snicker. “Love you too.”
I waited to check my phone for a response from Parker until after I had my seat belt buckled but before I turned the car on.
Sure enough there was a message waiting for me.
Parker
Slow. We are between assignments at the moment, so there isn’t much for me to do.
I quickly typed out my reply.
Molly
If you’re between assignments, then why did you wake up so early?
Dropping the phone into the cup holder, I turned on the car and got ready to back out of my spot.
I barely switched the car into reverse when the shrill of my phone rang through the speakers loud enough that I jumped in my seat.
I debated hitting the decline button when I saw it was Parker calling.
Then I thought about what Elle said and decided against it.
“You know most people stick to texting these days. I don’t know anyone who actually calls to talk,” I said to him in lieu of a greeting.
“You’ll discover I’m not most people.”
I started to back out. “Does that mean you talk on the phone often?”
Parker laughed, and damn, I didn’t want to admit it, but the sound shot straight to my lady bits.
“Absolutely not. This would be a first for me. Unless you count talking to my team. I don’t have a choice but to talk to those fuckers on the phone.”
I thought about his statement as I put the car in drive and drove out of the parking lot. “So what makes me so special?”
“You’re my wife, of course.” Parker said it nonchalantly. “Besides, I wanted to hear your voice.”
Damn, that was actually kind of sweet. I didn’t exactly have a response for that, so I cleared my throat and changed the subject. “You never answered my question. Why were you up so early if you didn’t have to be?”
Parker laughed again. “I see what you’re doing, but I’ll let it go for now. I wake up early because I’m used to it, and I prefer to get my workout in before starting my day.”
I thought about the muscles that were so easily on display when we were in Vegas. Even at Savannah’s christening, Parker had filled out his shirt nicely. It made me wonder what the rest of him looked like when his clothes were off.
I would remember if I wasn’t such a drunk whore.
I mentally slapped myself upside the head for that one.
I had to clear my throat again. “I’m sure your job requires you to keep in shape.”
Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.
The last thing I needed was to have dirty thoughts about my husband while I was trying to drive through heavy Boston traffic.
“It certainly helps. My boss doesn’t demand it, but it’s one of those unwritten rules.”
I was never a fan of rules, but I was willing to make an exception just this one time.
“I didn’t catch you at a bad time, did I? I know you answered the phone quickly, but I meant to ask.”
Either this man knew how to lay it on thick, or he was genuinely considerate. Either way, it didn’t bode well for me.
“Nope. I was actually just getting into my car when you called. I’m on my way home.”
Parker cleared his throat and then went silent. It lasted long enough that I glanced down at the screen to see if the call had disconnected.
Nope, it was still active.
“I was wondering . . .” Parker paused, and it took me a moment to realize he was probably nervous about something. Why did that make me feel so much better?
Oh, that’s right, because then I’m not the only idiot in this relationship.
I didn’t bother to say anything. I gave him the time to figure out what he wanted to say without the added pressure of me hounding him. It wasn’t easy for me though. I was an instant-gratification kind of person. Patience wasn’t one of my strong suits.
“I was wondering if you wanted to come to my place tonight so I could make you dinner? That’s if you don’t have plans already.”
There was that racing heart again. Oh and those sweaty palms? Yup, they were back as well.
“Dinner?” I squeaked. Actually fucking squeaked like a dork.
“I mean if you don’t already have plans. I know it’s last minute, but I thought we could spend some time together and talk.”
There was no mistaking the hesitation in his voice, but it was laced with something else. Desperation maybe. Or it could be hopefulness.
“Uh yeah. Dinner would be nice. Send me your address and what time you want me there.”
“How does six sound?”
“Perfect. Do you need me to bring anything?” I mentally went over what was in my pantry. Not much. If he said yes, then I was going to need to swing by the grocery store.
“Nope, just you. Any allergies I need to worry about?”
Parker’s thoughtfulness knew no bounds. I smiled even though he couldn’t see me. “Nope, and I’m not picky.”
“Okay. Sounds good. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Yup. See you tonight.” I hung up the phone and took a deep breath. I would’ve dropped my head against the headrest and closed my eyes, but considering I was driving, I figured that was a good way to cause an accident.
Panic started to set in.
Holy shit! I was having dinner with Parker.
What the hell was I going to wear?