Chapter 21 Parker #2
When we met at first, I went out of my way to assuage some of my guilt.
The sound of her screams sent me back to the day we lost Ezra, and I couldn’t let another person slip right through my fingers.
Now, being here with her, starting to feel the way that I do, could jeopardize the reputation I worked hard for in New York.
The pull I felt towards her was strong; I wanted to get to know her.
“You look absolutely gorgeous, Ev. Thank you for coming with me to this thing.”
Evelyn dipped her head shyly. I reached for her chin and tilted her face back up to meet my gaze.
“I mean it, you’ll be the most stunning woman there tonight. I’m honored to have you on my arm.”
I was blessed with another smile, this time bigger, and my heart nearly soared out of my chest. To have her light directed at me made me feel like I could get through this night unscathed and devoid of the pressure my father was eager to put on me.
“You don’t look too bad yourself, Parker,” she said, this time giving me a smirk of her own as she turned and walked towards the door.
As we crossed over the threshold, I took her arm in mine, deciding that I would make tonight special for her.
A limousine met us at the front and carried us out of the estate.
Evelyn’s eyes went wide at the sight of it.
I was used to this kind of lavishness, having grown up surrounded by it.
Although if I had it my way, I would’ve driven us myself in one of the Lamborghinis taking up space in the garage.
Getting settled in the limo, I made quick work of making us a few drinks from the bar.
Taking the drink from my hand, Evelyn shifts nervously. “I finished my list, by the way. I felt so silly making it, but it caused me to think about some things I really needed to do for myself.”
“Let’s hear it. What’s on your list?”
She pulled out her phone and began to read it.
“I know a lot of this probably sounds silly or basic.” Her voice trailed off.
When she sets her phone and drink down to the side, I take her hands in mine, rubbing my thumb over her wrist, feeling her racing pulse. Her eyes connect with mine for a minute before she squeezes my hand in return.
“It’s not silly at all. If this is what you need to feel whole, then we’ll do it.”
“Making this list forced me to think about what I want to do with my life. So much of the last year and a half has just been surviving. Before I had goals…I had plans for myself that I just gave up on. If I make it out of this, I want to honor my sister—share some of her light with the world.” She sighs as if saying those words took everything out of her.
“I’m happy that you want to get back to therapy. A little extra help couldn’t hurt. You don’t have to do this on your own. We’re all here for you.”
“Yeah, I’m sure Dr. Beck will be happy to hear from me. I ghosted him. I ghosted pretty much everyone.”
The sad look on her face was breaking my heart. I knew better than anyone that therapy wasn’t a magic cure, but it helped. I was in therapy myself. After losing Ezra, a friend on the squad suggested I go talk to someone.
My therapist helped me cope with the losses and reminded me of the lives that I saved. There were children who would go on to live long, full lives, and adults who would get to hug their loved ones for another day because of the work we did. It was easy to forget that after a tough call.
“Ev, everyone deals with grief differently. Don’t be so hard on yourself. I’m sure the people you care for will understand.”
She silently nodded her agreement, seemingly becoming lost in her thoughts.
I didn’t fill the silence, leaving her with her thoughts as I shifted my mind to the event we were walking into.
There wasn’t much that I could do but mentally prepare myself for the circus.
Hopefully, my presence would satisfy him, and we could have a peaceful night.
I would at least try on my end to make it so.
The limousine pulled up to the back of the Tremaine Huxley Theater, where the event was being held. Our small town was bustling with photographers and journalists crowding the red carpet leading up to the entrance as they waited for the guests to arrive.
Before leaving for the event, I had asked my father to make sure no photos were taken of the two of us.
He agreed all too quickly to that request. He didn’t like Evelyn—nor did he trust her—but he would do what I asked because it meant he could have me under his thumb while I was here.
He had the reach and influence, so I would use whatever tools in my arsenal to keep her safe from Charles.
Even with that knowledge, I still asked our driver to take us around the back entrance just to be safe.
I glanced at Evelyn at the same time the driver opened the door. She let out a breath and steeled herself before taking my outstretched hand and leaving the car.
Her hand gripped mine fiercely as we weaved our way through the sea of people and landed at the bar.
When we reached the bar, Evelyn released her grip on my hand and smoothed her dress down nervously.
The loss of her warmth had me considering reaching for her again for comfort. Tonight required a drink or two.
I asked the bartender for a glass of Macallan 18, and Evelyn asked for a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
Accepting our drinks, I tipped my head in the direction of an older white couple taking their seats.
“That is Renee and Archibald Danforth. Archibald Danforth is the current mayor. I went to high school with his sons, Bash, Marcus, and Jason.”
Taking another look at the room, I spotted Angela Barry and Whelan Huxley whispering near the stage.
“That is Angela Barry in the emerald sequined gown. She owns a popular chain of artisan coffee shops. Whelan is the Artistic Director for the Tremaine Huxley Theater. Aja thinks they’re having an affair.”
Evelyn gasped, her hands shooting up to cover her mouth that still hung open in shock.
“Parker, I would have never guessed you were interested in small-town gossip.”
I bumped my shoulder with hers playfully. “The twins feel the need to catch me up on what everyone is doing, regardless of whether I want to know it or not.”
She giggled and took another sip of her wine.
“I have to admit, for me, it's pretty entertaining—even though I have no idea who they’re talking about.”
“How about a little game then?” I said, wiggling my eyebrows at her.
“You love your games,” she said, scrunching up her face.
“Ah, don’t give me that face. I’d like to think we’ve been having fun so far. Am I such a terrible date?” I said, covering my heart like I’d been wounded.
The sight of her blushing was becoming one of my favorite things. Just the slightest reaction made me feel like a boy with a high school crush.
She rolled her eyes, but a laugh slipped through her annoyance. I knew she was just as intrigued as I was excited. “What is this game you want to play?”
“It’s simple, we each take a turn picking a person, and we reimagine their lives. Let’s see who can come up with the best story.”
She rolls her eyes again but nods to a grey-haired Black man in a tuxedo and a younger dark-haired Latina woman swaying on the dance floor.
“These two met at the gym. He’s a champion bodybuilder, and she’s an heiress to an off brand laxative fortune, who cannot resist a salt-and-pepper beard.”
The man had a cane in one hand and the other on the woman’s hip. I was pretty sure the woman was the principal of the high school of the new high school.
I almost spit out my drink. “Willow, are you always this funny?”
She looked at me strangely.
“When it’s just you and me, I’d like it if you just call me Evelyn.”
My heart did backflips in my chest. I didn’t want to read into things. Evelyn was closed off for the most part, and every now and then, I would get a little glimpse behind the walls that she kept up, seeing who she truly is.
For some reason, this felt like more, like she wanted something just for us.
We played our game of people watching, and I pointed out all the people I could recognize and what they did in Oakland Ridge.
I was about to make a joke about Ashley Farnsby's pursuit of the stuffed mushrooms being passed around by the waiters when I noticed Evelyn’s body language had changed.
The wine glass she’s holding trembled in her hand as she looked with laser focus out into the crowd.
“Evelyn,” I said to her softly as I tried to figure out what caught her attention, my body already on high alert.
Her body turned toward mine as if she were preparing to flee, her eyes set on a tall blond man with his back turned to us. When he turned around, Evelyn moved on autopilot, stepping back in the opposite direction. She stumbled, bumping into a cocktail table.
I reached out to steady her, my hands landing on her waist, and firmly pulling her toward me before she could fall. Her eyes finally flit from the man to mine, wide with terror. She took one last glance at the man before shaking her head and stepping out of my arms.
What was that?
Searching around the ballroom, I checked for William, Nate, and Gerard, our guards for the evening.
If there was a threat to be neutralized, they would be the first to act.
But everything seemed fine. I was about to question Evelyn when my father stepped into my line of vision, walking towards me with my mother in tow.
“You look very handsome, my son,” my mother said as she cupped my cheeks in her hands. Turning to Evelyn, she went in for a hug. “Oh, my dear, this gown looks absolutely gorgeous on you, doesn’t it, Jonathan?”
My father barely gave Evelyn a full glance before he gritted out, “Yes, very nice,” and quickly directed the conversation to me. “Parker, I’d like to introduce you and your mother to Jerome Finley and Desmond Reese,” he said before ushering my mother off in their direction.
He doesn’t look back to see if I'm following.
“I’m fine, Parker. Don’t worry about me. Come find me when you’re done,” Evelyn said, busying herself with the fabric of her dress.
“Are you sure?” I said, lifting a brow at her. Moments ago, she looked like she had seen a ghost. “We can go home right now, if you don’t feel safe.”
“I promise, I’m alright,” she said firmly, pasting a smile on her face, the type that didn’t reach her eyes.
We stared at each other for another moment before Evelyn gave me a light push in my father’s direction.
She was lying and by the look of her, she didn’t want to be called out on it.
“I won’t be too long. You owe me a dance.” I rushed out instead of questioning her again, the quicker I got through shaking hands, the sooner I could be by her side. Closing the distance between myself and my father, I turned on my smile, ready to join the show.