27. Parker
Parker
For the past week, Warren and Quincy have come over every morning for breakfast. That is, if they didn’t spend the night. Leah is glowing, bouncing around in her underwear while she cooks her famous biscuit sandwiches. She’s genuinely happy, and that warms my insides in ways I can’t explain.
Singing off-key to an old Shania Twain song, she’s oblivious to our matching smitten smiles. We’re all fucking goners for the infectious pink-haired bad ass woman we’re fortunate enough to call ours.
Quincy’s phone chimes, demanding all of our attention. While he reads, his ears redden, jaw ticking. Leah pauses the music, eyes glued to him.
“Shit,” he grits out. “The old bag wants to see us later, War.”
Warren swallows hard in the chair next to him.
“She’ll want her weekly update, asking for any intel we can give her.
What do we say?” Nostrils flaring, he looks at me, then Leah, and finally Grady before continuing, “We aren’t going to betray you, if that’s what you think.
Even before all this, we never gave her any incriminating information. ”
“Nobody thinks you did.” Leah moves to his side.
“If you had, she would know about Parker giving me lessons outside of regular hours, you two watched every one. But she has no clue because you aren’t as conniving as she likes to think.
You’re good men at heart, which is why you’re here, and you’ll be coming with us. ” Her lips press against his temple.
He wraps his arms around her waist, face burrowing into her hair. “Thank you for that. I still worry you think we’re lying.” His muffled words come out strained.
“Same here, to be fair. But I care way too much about all of you, and I’m honestly ecstatic to have a friendship with Grady again,” Quincy adds, voice light, but there’s a meaningful tone buried in it.
Grady nods in agreement, grinning vibrantly at his cousins.
He’s been talking more around them, but still shies away, which will probably always be the case.
What matters is that they let him be comfortable.
That was my biggest concern going into this.
I don’t want him to backtrack and shut down again.
Leah loves this happier, more outgoing version that has bloomed over the past few months. I do, too.
It’s obvious that she worries about me, as well. And she’s justified in that. I’m running on empty, and we still have months to go before the World Cup. Once that comes to pass, we can relax and prepare for the Olympics, because she will make it, even if it kills me.
Bridget is clearly not going to qualify.
She hasn’t come close in a single show. Her progress is nonexistent.
The unfortunate truth is that my time here will be cut short because of it.
I’m supposed to be her golden ticket, the surefire way to skyrocket her to fame and help her live up to the expectations that come with the Hart name.
Truthfully, no amount of dedication or revolutionary new techniques will help. I’d have better luck training a fish to walk.
“Hey,” Leah’s soft voice wraps around me like a warm hug.
She sits in my lap, eyes melting into mine.
“Your face will get stuck like this if you keep scowling so hard.” She smooths the line between my brows and lays her palm against my cheek.
“I love you, and whatever thoughts you’ve got zipping through that beautiful mind of yours, they’re wrong. ”
“You’re wrong,” I whisper, crumbling under the pressure of everything.
“Well, tell me about it, tell us about it.” Sullen expressions on all three of the other guys’ faces give me pause. I know Grady loves me, Quincy likes the way I make him feel, and Warren… has moments when I think he finds me funny. Maybe.
I’m an asshole. A monumental, blind, asshole.
Quincy clearly wants to hold me, desperate to be a source of comfort in the same way Leah is.
And Warren, while he’s not going to kiss me or anything of the sort, there is genuine concern in his eyes.
Still, I don’t know if they feel for me, or if they want me happy for Leah’s sake.
Talk to them, you stubborn ass.
I sigh, resting my forehead against Leah’s shoulder. “I’m just afraid of failing and losing all of this.”
“You’re not going to,” Quincy speaks up. “Look how amazing Leah has done. Fuck Bridget and this place.” He sneers, gritting his teeth as his deep-seated loathing threatens to grow beyond his control.
“He’s right, she’s a mockery of our name.
Hell, Q and I ride better than her, so Henrietta has never let us anywhere near a lesson, for fear of us showing her up.
” Warren addresses Grady, “You ride a hell of a lot better, always have. Shame she demoted you to stable boy when she couldn’t ‘fix’ you. ” His face tightens.
It’s strange to think about how bothered he is by everything. Just a week ago, I assumed these two were sleazy jerks, only trying to steal my girl. Even if she saw through their fa?ade, I was hard-headed and wouldn’t listen.
Now, I’m pretty sure I’m catching feelings for them, too. Which is terrible. Quincy is one thing, but Warren has made it abundantly clear that he’s not interested.
At my silence and conflicted expression, Grady stands with determination in his eyes, chest puffed out. “Couches,” he orders. When nobody moves, he grunts. “All of y-y-you.”
Fuck, shy Grady is lovable. But bossy Grady? My bones are jelly.
The others blink, processing his newfound assertiveness.
“Guess breakfast is going to wait,” Leah says, climbing off me, extending her hand.
I take it, and the four of us follow Grady to the living room.
He motions to the large couch, looking me in the eye with determination. “Sit.”
Why the hell is this so hot?
I hold my breath and obey, taking the middle spot. He pulls the cushions off the other sofa and places them on the floor at my feet.
“Sit.” He points to his cousins.
I nearly erupt as they listen without question.
Leah takes the seat at my left, Grady sits to my right.
I expect a moment of silence or… something.
Anything other than Grady grabbing my jaw and kissing me silly as everyone else watches.
There’s no restraint, no modesty in the way he consumes me.
His beard scratches against my chin, teeth pulling my lip.
Seconds, that’s all it lasts for, but I don’t need anything longer. I wouldn’t survive it.
When he pulls away, a needy whine leaves me, chasing more of his sudden dominance. He pins everyone with stern looks and inhales. “T-tell him.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “What is this a fucking truth circle? Who gets the talking stick first?”
The giant man next to me grumbles roughly, and my heart flutters. Whatever has come over him can stay, it’s delicious. Maybe I can get him to tie me up. I’m sure we have spare lead ropes somewhere.
“Q,” Grady grunts out.
Quincy blows out a harsh breath and runs his hand through his silky hair. “Okay, no pressure or anything.” He lets out a nervous chuckle.
Leah squeezes my knee and interrupts, “He already knows how we feel. But Grady and I can see how unsure he is about the two of you. This whole relationship we’ve barreled into is a lot to handle, more so for Parker than anyone.
Sure, I have a lot going on, but I’m not getting jerked around and berated every day by Bridget.
He’s stressed and naturally wants to find comfort in his people.
But, and correct me if I’m way off base—” She looks me in the eyes briefly.
“—he’s having conflicted feelings about whether you’re also his people or if you’re just here for me. ”
Warren scoffs, pulling all of our attention his way.
Grady tenses next to me. For a moment, I’m certain he’d willingly fight this man if it comes to that. “Q first,” he barks out instead.
“I… I’m not just here for Leah. What the fuck?
” Quincy’s voice is elevated, but not with anger.
A slight frown, pinched brows; he’s hurt.
“How can I show you that, while I do enjoy my time with Leah, I also want you with the same intensity? Tell me how to build that trust, because honestly, you’re my first…
Boyfriend? The first guy I’ve done anything with, actually.
I’ve never acted on it before. Being queer in this family isn’t allowed, so I ignored the lingering attraction, forced myself to feel self-hatred for being yet another imperfect Hart instead.
You’re worth breaking through all of the barriers I built.
I’m sorry if I’ve been giving you mixed signals all week.
I’m just figuring this out as I go, and didn’t know if this was just sex for you.
Part of me thought I was just kind of here, so you fucked me too. ” He chews his lip, chin shaking.
The pain in his voice stings in ways I can’t describe. I want to kick my own ass for being selfish. “I thought the same about you,” I admit, throat closing.
“I don’t want to just sleep with you, Parker.
” My name comes out of his lips with a strangled sound.
“I-I want you. All of you. Every time they touch you lovingly in passing, every playful kiss while you’re tucked away out of surveillance, the nauseatingly cute smiles and glances.
I want to curl up with you while we talk about the day, lay your head in my lap while you fall asleep on the couch because you’re out there killing yourself to stay useful to Henrietta.
” Tears stream down his cheeks, increasing with each barbed word, hands shaking under the weight of his confession.
“Come here,” I choke out, opening my arms.
He moves lightning-fast, to straddle me, slotting his lips over mine. As I taste him—hunger, salty tears, desperation to fit into this relationship—my heart twists.