24. Parker
Parker
Two months. Three more competitions have come and passed, and Bridget is no closer to qualifying.
Sure, she’s objectively better than her first mess of a show, but that doesn’t mean anything.
She can’t remember her choreography, and hardly gives a shit when she fails.
It’s like her mother’s words mean nothing to her.
But the looming threat of being fired every time she fails is getting to me.
Leah, in stark contrast to Bridget, is a shoo-in for qualifying. She’s just got to keep killing the way she has been, then show up and show out at the World Cup, and she’s golden.
Even after a few months of witnessing it, I can’t breathe when I watch her and Tally command the arena. She’s taken it upon herself to practice the harder maneuvers in her downtime, which is often. So her performances are always a welcome surprise.
Henrietta has the cousins watching my every move.
They haven’t explicitly said so, but I’m no idiot.
I can’t entirely blame them. They’ve gotten some harsh warnings, too.
I can only imagine what the hell “time out” means.
But Henrietta only had to seethe the words in their direction once for those poor bastards to fall in line.
Maybe they aren’t to blame as I thought. Either way, after Bridget embarrassed herself a second time, they started lingering more, conveniently “hanging out” during every training session, day or night.
And yes, some of them go into the night.
I’m so sick of dodging Bridget’s advances. They’re only worse after a late training session.
It’s eight pm, and I’m exhausted. Surely, she can see it on my face.
Her attempt at seduction is always awkward, like you would expect from a woman who is used to having men fall in her lap.
Tonight, Leah and Grady are here to bear witness, standing next to the cousins…
which is extremely confusing. But that’s not a problem for now.
Both of their faces redden as she practically gropes me through my pants. If my dick gets any softer, it’ll melt off my body. I slip out of her grasp and walk away, catching a couple of shit-eating grins from the cousins as I step into the stables.
“Fuck both of you, rats,” I spit, far too exhausted for their bullshit on top of all this.
They follow me inside, leaving Leah and Grady at the door.
“Hey, man, we’re laughing at her expense, not yours,” Quincy explains in a pathetic effort to pity me.
“Yeah, sure.” I force out a heavy breath, spine stiffening as Bridget approaches Grady. Her insults haven’t stopped, nor has Leah’s hatred for them. It’s an explosion waiting to happen. One I secretly hope I get to witness.
“You got it bad for her, huh?” Warren asks behind me.
I try to hide my jolt, but their softening expressions tell me it doesn’t work. “No, I just admire her morals and work ethic.”
“And her ass.” Quincy waggles his brows, leaning casually against the wall.
Don’t react, that’s what they want.
If only my mouth would obey. “You don’t get to talk about her like that,” I hiss.
“Listen, man, we don’t blame you. But it seems our cousin has his eyes set on her, too. You may want to act fast. Sadly, our ship has sailed. And believe me, we tried.” Warren sighs—a defeated, love-struck sound that I can relate to.
I hate him for it.
“You’re out of your minds.”
“No, we just know a good woman when we see her.” Quincy pulls his mouth to one side, appearing more genuine than I’ve ever seen. “We approached her all wrong. But it started as an order from ‘dear old Auntie’.” He rolls his eyes, making finger quotes.
It’s almost… human.
I furrow my brows. “Are you… mocking Henrietta?”
“Come on, it’s not like you don’t hate her, too.
You think we want this shit? We’re trained dogs, fully at her beck and call.
You think Grady wants to live the way he does?
It’s diabolical the way she treats everyone except Bitchy Pants over there.
” Warren tips his head in Bridget’s direction.
“Getting to know Leah has been the brightest part of our bleak lives.”
My world spins, speculation turning into concrete proof.
They’re one hundred percent victims of Henrietta and I’m a jealous asshole for not seeing it sooner.
They’ve never done anything explicitly horrible to me, or Grady, for that matter.
In fact, most of the time they’re just sort of…
there. Always in the background, doing the bare minimum required to stay out of her warpath.
And then I remember her warning.
“She said you failed, and if you do it again, you’re gone. What the fuck does that mean?” I ask in a hushed yell, looking over my shoulder.
“Not here.” Warren purses his lips. “We can’t. We’ve already said too much.” His eyes dart to a spot in the ceiling, and my blood goes cold.
On a rafter, shrouded by the darkness, is the unmistakable glint of a camera lens. It has to be fairly new. I would have noticed it months ago had it been there before.
Swallowing, I offer a faint, stiff nod. “My cabin, tomorrow morning, seven am.” I keep my expression flat, voice low.
Why am I willing to hear them out? Stupid savior complex. That has to be it. It definitely has nothing to do with my tendency to gravitate toward broken men who probably don’t want me.
They shift, giving almost inconceivable nods, and leave.
Leah storms out the front door just as Bridget’s voice cuts through the room. Something vile directed at Grady, no doubt.
So much happened in the last few minutes, I’m reeling.
Grady can handle Bridget, as hard as it is to leave him. So I strategically wait before strolling out the front door, now that I know we’re being watched.
My first stop is Leah’s cabin. I knock and wait, no answer.
Okay, fine. Let her ignore me like she didn’t give me her door code.
I enter the digits and the lock chimes, unbolting to let me in.
It’s quiet, which is impossible for Leah.
Where the hell is she? Her bedroom is empty, along with the bathroom.
Okay. She’s not here, but her truck is. There’s nowhere else for her to go.
It finally clicks. How dumb am I?
I turn off the lights and leave her cabin, locking up behind me. When I get to my place, the door is already open.
Of course this is where she ran to.
A delicious scent hits my nose when I step inside. “It’s a bit late to cook,” I say as I circle the counter, wrapping my arms around her waist.
“It’s just leftover Alfredo. I’m also toasting some redneck garlic bread. You know, good old sandwich bread with butter and garlic powder. I put cheese on it too, real professional like,” she explains, voice tense despite the attempted playfulness of her words.
This is what she does. Every time she’s upset, she cooks. Even if it’s something as simple as reheating leftovers. Caring for people is her love language, and food is at the top of that list. Best believe neither of us complain.
I rest my chin on her shoulder and sigh, feeling her relax under the weight of my embrace. Sadly, it’s short-lived because an emotionally drained Grady trudges through the door moments later.
I’m so tired.
Fortunately, he perks up at the garlicky aroma floating on the air. Kissing each of our cheeks, he yawns and claims a seat at the table. Such a simple man, one who has completely taken over my life.
I press my lips to Leah’s neck, giving her a swift slap on the ass. Her squeak makes me chortle on my way to Grady. “Was she particularly vile today?” I circle to rub his shoulders.
Groaning under my touch, his head falls back. Exhaustion dulls his gorgeous eyes.
What a night. My next confession is only going to make it worse.
“I… don’t want to make you two even more upset after the shit day we had. But, I uh…” The looks they’re both giving me make my stomach churn. “I had a conversation with Warren and Quincy. Something about their dejection made me feel for them. I think I was wrong about them.”
“Go on…” Leah offers, voice flat, intentionally holding back.
I know she’s still been humoring them for the sake of our future. I’d be lying if I said I’m not irked by it. But it’s a necessary evil. Except tonight opened my eyes.
“I don’t know what it is, but the way Henrietta talks to them, how they react so viscerally…
I don’t think they want to be here any more than we do,” I explain as best as I can, but the feelings are jumbled.
“I know that I have been talking shit about them and complaining that they’re always watching.
But they showed me something today. There’s a camera in the stables now.
Telling me about it was a huge leap of faith.
I want to trust them. Are you open to it?
” I lock eyes with Grady, who is listening intently with a contemplative look on his face.
His jaw works, and he inhales. I can practically hear his mind whirring.
“You can text our group chat if it’s too much to say. You know that.” I hold my phone up, giving it a wiggle.
He takes his out and rapidly types.
Hulk:
We were raised together. When they were young, about 3 and 5, their parents died in an accident.
Mother and Father raised them from then on.
She treated them like unwanted children after Father died.
Once they got older, she saw them as more people to control.
I think they were in their teens when she sent them away the first time.
They were never the same after that. But I honestly believe they’re fed up with being her puppets.
They’re not happy. It hurts to see them stuck here, too.
But I’m just as powerless as they are to do anything about it.
Leah swallows hard, passing a sorrowful look between us.
The soft spot she has for them is apparent. She has that glint in her eye, the determination to help. She won’t say it, I know she won’t, so I decide to do it for her. “You’re conflicted because you want to give them a chance, but you’re hurt by the way they tried to play you.”
“It sucks. I feel betrayed and bitter toward them, but I’m also just… confused. I’ve stayed civil with them, and it’s made things complicated.”
Something else simmers under the surface, a hint of her desire. There’s no room for secrets here, not between us. “Because you’re still attracted to them,” I state, matter-of-factly.
Grady’s attention shifts to the pained expression on her face and tension in her shoulders—the shame she’s trying to conceal.
Time ticks by while we give her the chance to chew over her response.
“Yes,” she admits, hardly above a whisper.
“I—it’s not just attraction, okay? We just…
We had chemistry before I knew they were your cousins.
Before I knew they were using me, or being forced to.
The anger I hold for them has made it easy to write them off.
But if we forgive them, I-I don’t know if I can keep telling myself I don’t want them.
” She fidgets with a loose thread on her shirt, rambling on, “It’s so strange to me.
I’ve never been one for relationships or being ‘clingy’ but you two, and for some reason, Warren and Quincy, have all changed that.
” Her words come out frantic, uncertain.
But Grady and I don’t press. She deserves the opportunity to talk it out, to be heard.
Directing my attention to Grady, I ask, “Would you trust them with her if that’s what happens? I’m not one to control what anybody does. As long as I’m still included, I don’t give a shit. But all of this is brand-new to you. Your feelings matter.”
He shrugs. “Th-they’re not b-b-bad.”
Leah’s face twists, as if she were expecting a fallout instead of understanding. She blinks, opening her mouth, only to clamp it shut again.
I raise my brows. “Say what you need to. This isn’t a trial. You’re allowed feelings and input.”
“Di-did you two actually say that I can also date Warren and Quincy if they’re on board?” Disbelief thickly coats every word that leaves her mouth.
I chuckle. “Oh, they’ll be on board.”
She gasps, scandalized, and turns to Grady. “You swear you’re okay with it? It won’t be weird for you?”
Chewing his lip, his throat bobs, cheeks flushing. He’s actively working up the courage to speak, and I know exactly what’s coming. With white knuckles, I grip the edge of the table, waiting anxiously to see how this goes. Her reaction to these words will define our future.
“L-Leah.” He clears his throat, shaking off his nerves. “I l-l-l-love you.”
Her hand flies to her mouth, tears welling in her eyes. Beautiful. We’re going to be okay. Those words would have scared her off months ago.
My stomach hits the floor when he turns to me, face warm. “A-and I l-love you.”
Fuck.
Leah flies across the room, into his arms to kiss him with such ferocity I can feel it. Numb and shaken to my core, I sit frozen in place. He’s never made me feel lesser, always gives me the same energy he gives to her, but I never dreamed he’d say those words to me.
“You swear?” My voice wavers, like a fucking teenager, desperate for validation.
He pulls his lips away from hers. “Y-yes. If they m-make her h-h-happy, g-g-g-good.”
I’m squatting next to them in an instant, taking in her still-worried expression.
I’m the wild card here, and don’t want to be.
I run my thumb down her cheek, pressing a soft kiss to her lips, before doing the same to Grady.
“I love both of you so fucking much. I mean it when I say that you can date whoever you want, as long as you leave room for me.”
A sob breaks free from her. Wiping her nose, she grumbles, “I do not cry this much, damn it! But I love the hell out of both of you, too. I swear I won’t make a habit of finding new men, I just... something about them speaks to part of me, the same way the two of you do.”
“Well then, let’s go to bed so we can wake up and either fuck up our plans or have some crazy fivesomes in our future.” I snort at my own ridiculousness, but they chuckle anyway.
Through the humor, we all know this is going one of two ways, and no matter which one wins, our lives will be forever changed.