Chapter 27 Evelyn
Evelyn
Although I cancelled the meeting, there was still a lot that I had to do at the club. No matter how many times I told Parker that I was fine and that he could go back to Gentry, he refused. That was how we ended up working on opposite ends of my office.
Parker was on his laptop taking a video call while I finished generating the latest membership reports.
My focus was split. I found myself looking in his direction frequently as if I didn’t have thirty unread emails in my inbox.
His shirt was rolled up to his elbows, and the first three buttons of his shirt were unbuttoned, partially revealing his tattooed chest and the gold chain he wore.
My heart rate quickened anytime his tongue swiped across his lower lip.
I watched him while thoughtlessly tugging at a curl.
This desire for him felt foreign; thoughts of him consumed me.
“You’re staring.”
The sound of his voice brought me out of my fantasy—realizing what he said, I picked up a pen and tossed it at him. “I was not. I was concentrating,” And also failing miserably at being convincing.
“I have no problem with you looking. You could do more than look, if you like.” He said, swaggering over to my desk.
My face flushed at his inviting tone, even though I burned with desire. He stopped in front of my desk, leaning down to peck my lips.
The sound of my phone going off causes me to jump. Looking down at my phone, I see the twins trying to plan our night.
“Who is it?”
“It’s just your sisters.” I huff out in relief. “They want to do something tonight.”
In a short period of time, the twins and I grew close.
Aja and Janae didn’t have a clue what had happened to me, but I'm sure they would've treated me the same even if they did.
They brought back a side of me that I thought I lost. Aja was always quick with a joke or witty comment.
She kept me on my toes. The casual teasing between us reminded me of simpler times.
Janae was my reading partner. We basically had an unofficial book club.
She was a lover of Omegaverse and Romantasy like me; a match made in heaven, truly.
“Well, what if you just spent the night with me instead?”
“Are you jealous, Parker Woods?” I smirked. Parker was trying to give me his best puppy dog look, and while it was very tempting, I had something else in mind for tonight.
I wanted to redeem the day and show my gratitude to the Woods’. If I’m going to survive this, I needed to let people in so they could help me. The three of them have shown me more kindness than I’ve ever known, especially in the last couple of years.
An idea came to me, unlocking my phone, I started a new message.
Aja has been added
Janae has been added
Parker has been added
I have an idea.
[Parker]: NOOOOO
[Aja]: Did you really think you could keep Willow all to yourself?
[Janae]: I’m all ears!
[Parker]: She was mine first!
[Aja]: Debatable
Okay, children, settle down.
How about dinner and a game night? I’ll cook.
[Janae]: I can’t say no to that. I love me some Jamaican food.
[Aja]: Are you sure you can make enough for the 3 of us plus one big back?
[Parker]: Big back?
Parker sent a photo flexing his muscles in the gym mirror. I have to stop myself from drooling. He looked good, and he knew it too, judging by the smirk he was giving me from across the room.
A conversation with Dr. Beck came to mind.
“I don’t know how to do this again,” I muttered at the screen.
“Remember your list of boundaries? They apply here too. Do you want to take this next step with him?” Dr. Beck’s voice was calm and soothing, as if he were afraid I might try to end the conversation before it got started.
It’s been a while since we discussed intimacy. I never really entertained the conversation because I didn’t have a reason to. Now, I was having these thoughts of being with Parker in a way that I haven’t been with anyone in years. I was terrified.
“Yes, very much so. I jus—” I swallowed before continuing. “What if I have a panic attack?”
“What if you do? If Parker is someone that makes you feel safe, then talk to him the way you’re speaking to me. Discuss your limits and work through them together. Set your own pace, give yourself grace.”
Over the past few weeks, Dr. Beck held up a mirror to my face, and I had to be honest with myself.
I was looking for someone to give me permission to let my heart feel these things.
My heart was already so far gone; every moment we spent together felt like more.
More than just situational convenience. It felt like something that could grow and blossom if I nurtured it like one of Mrs. Woods’ rose bushes in the garden.
In the deepest corners of my mind, a voice screamed that this was wrong and I was undeserving.
The constant pinging of my phone brought my attention back to the group chat message that was spiraling out of control already.
[Janae]: Um. Ew. Can you not?
[Aja]: I just threw up my coffee. You owe me a new one!
[Aja]: **Apple Pay request for $10**
[Parker]: Where tf do you buy coffee for $10, Aj?
[Aja]: Big Back and broke? Lo, are you sure you like him?
[Janae]: AJA GRACELAND WOODS
I felt heat creep into my cheeks. I hadn’t said anything to the twins about the new development in mine and Parker’s relationship, and I doubt he had made a formal announcement either. I guess we weren't as subtle as we thought.
So everyone meets at the pool house by 8. Sounds good?
[Aja]: See you there.
[Janae]: Can’t wait!
Laughing to myself, I locked my phone and began gathering my things.
“Let’s head out. We’ll stop at the grocery before we go back to the house to get things for dinner.”
With a nod, Parker closes his laptop and follows me out the door. William was standing outside the door with Nate.
“We’ll take my car, you’ll follow.”
Nate and William nodded and followed closely behind us as we waited for the valet to bring Parker’s car around.
The closer we got to the grocery store, the more excited I became. I can’t remember the last time I made something in the kitchen that didn’t require being heated for three minutes on high in the microwave.
The Woods hosted weekly Sunday dinners when they didn’t have any social engagements. The twins had informed me how seriously they took these dinners. It was a time for them to reconnect with each other.
I completely understood that because that was the way I had grown up, too. Every Sunday without fail, we would congregate at my mother’s home or Celeste’s. Whether the table was filled with family or friends, it was tradition to break bread and share laughs each Sunday.
There was pot roast and collard greens instead of Bistec Encebollado and Curry Goat, but it was basically the same. Although the twins, Parker and Mrs. Woods, had welcomed me with open arms, the tension and obvious dislike for me always seemed to be present with Mr. Woods.
The grocery store we pulled into was actually a Trader Joe's on steroids. The produce was so vibrant and fresh. Tonight I’d be making Escovitch fish and curry shrimp with white rice and steamed vegetables.
Aja was apparently trying her luck at being a vegetarian for the sixth time, Parker had mentioned.
I had a feeling they would enjoy all the flavors of this meal.
I grabbed all the things we needed as Parker drove the cart down the aisles in record time. Although I was excited, I was nervous about how the food would come out. The pool house was equipped with high-end appliances that had settings I’d never heard of.
When we returned, I rushed to my room to change, hiking the black shift dress I was wearing over my head. I was stepping into a pair of biker shorts when I heard a knock on the door.
“Come in,” I called out as I looked in the drawer for a tank top.
A shirtless Parker walked into the room with his dimples on full display. He was still in his dress pants with the belt hanging loosely from his waist.
He paused briefly, just looking me over.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world, I walked into his arms. Parker smelled like cedarwood and vanilla.
The feeling of his warm skin against mine brought me comfort.
I didn’t feel any shame as I pressed my face into his firm chest, breathing in his delicious scent.
He just chuckled and tightened his arms around my waist, doing the same to my hair.
“Am I terrible for wanting to keep you to myself?” He questioned as he bit his lip, looking down at the black sheer balconette bra that covered my chest.
“Not at all,” I said, trailing a finger over his tattooed chest. “I’m not too keen on sharing you either.”
His hands trailed down my waist as he pulled our bodies closer together, his hands resting on my ass.
“I’m yours, you don’t have to worry about that.”
Mine.
I like the sound of that.
Rising on my toes, I planted my lips on his.
Parker deepened the kiss, thrusting his tongue into my mouth with a moan.
I could feel his hard length pressing against the apex of my thigh, and need pooled between my legs.
Parker walked me backwards until the back of my knees hit the bed, and we fell, tumbling onto it. For a short period, I wasn’t here. The one face that I never wanted to see flickered into view.
“It didn’t have to be this way, Ev. We could’ve been a real family.” He choked out as he stood unbuckling his pants.
All I had were silent pleas. I knew what he was going to do next, and I knew that I had no power to stop it.
“Evelyn. Come back to me.”
I breathed in sharply as Parker’s concerned face replaced his again.
“Fuck.” I covered my face, mortified. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
This was what I was afraid of—maybe I wasn’t ready for this after all. I tried to roll away from beneath him, exhaling out a frustrated breath, but he stopped me with a hand on my hip.
“Don’t run from me, Ev. Talk to me. Please.”