Chapter 2 #2
Parker rolled his tongue. “Yeah, man. I’m a tiger.
” This stuff was so ridiculous. “Okay, back to our story. ‘ “I almost did.” Her own voice came out breathless, and she caught her breath as his hand reached out and circled her waist.’ She was breathless but then she caught her breath. Guess the woman wasn’t as breathless as she thought she was.
” Parker lowered his voice dramatically for the last sentence.
“ ‘He bent to whisper, his breath hot against her hair. “I’ll make you glad you came.” ’ ”
Parker and Jay looked at each other from opposite sides of the glass partition, and both started laughing.
“There’s more, lots of You complete me type stuff, but we’re out of time,” Parker said. “Come on, women. How about going on a no romance novel diet and taking a
bite out of the real world. With real men. Who aren’t gonna let you cut off our . . . important parts,” he finished. Keeping
it clean for the FCC.
Anyway, his mom would expect him to watch his language. With his relationship fails dashing her hopes of wedding showers and
grandkids, the poor woman didn’t have many expectations left. He could at least meet that one.
“If any of you knows one good reason why anybody should waste time on these books, I’m all ears. Come on the show and enlighten
me. At least explain to me why you people who write these books can’t get your facts right when you toss sports in the mix.
Sheesh.
“Okay, that’s enough letting it out for today. It’s New Year’s Eve, and I’ll be watching Heart of Champions with my men. For those of you who happen to have a good woman, have fun. For the rest of you, stay strong. I’ll see you next
year. And don’t forget, there’s still time to sign up to join me for spring training with the Mariners. Don’t wait too long
though, because the tickets for our special kick-off party are going fast. You snooze, you lose,” he finished, then signed
off with his usual, “Keep your head in the game.”
“Good show,” said Jay as Parker vacated the booth for the next radio personality, a popular politico. “You were fire.”
Parker smiled. Yes, he was.
“Keep this up and we’re golden,” Jay continued.
He didn’t need to add that Parker had to be golden. Their show’s ratings the previous quarter had slipped some, and they needed to get them up if Parker and Jay wanted to keep their jobs at the station.
But Parker wasn’t worried. He had the podcast with supplementary content to help broaden their reach. More importantly, he
was carving a new niche for himself. Men needed someone on their team, someone to keep them in the game, and Parker was that
someone.
“You still hanging with me and Arne tonight?” he asked Jay.
“May as well. Got nothing else going,” he said and frowned.
“Hey, I’m sorry you guys split.”
“I can’t help what I do for a living,” said Jay.
Or who you work for, thought Parker. But if who her man worked for was a bigger deal than her man, Jay was well rid of the woman. Parker almost
said so. Almost. Why he didn’t, he wasn’t sure.
“Anyway, there are still some twelfth women out there who are into the Seahawks and don’t read romance novels,” Jay said.
“And who wouldn’t want this bod?” he joked.
At six-three, Jay, the former high school basketball star, was a giant stick of kindling. He wore a Mariners baseball cap
to hide the fact that his hair was sneaking off his head. But he was funny and, unlike Parker, didn’t have an ax to grind.
He’d have no trouble finding another woman to help him run up his credit card bills. He was a magnet for that type. Some men
never knew when to get out of the game.
Parker did. And he had. He tossed the book he’d been reading from in the garbage on his way out.
The station’s receptionist, Peggy, caught him before he left. “Parker, Girl Scout cookies will be going on sale soon. Daisy’s
hoping you’ll buy a box.” Last time Peggy’s granddaughter had won some kind of a patch.
“What’s she shooting for this year?” Parker asked.
“She wants to go to a Build-A-Bear Workshop.”
“Well, we better see about getting her there. Put me down for a couple of boxes of each kind,” he said.
He was a cookie snob—nothing compared to his mom’s home-baked chocolate chip cookies—but he was a sucker for a good cause.
And the cookies always came in handy when the guys came over to game or watch a movie.
“Thanks, Parker. You’re not only helping Daisy, but you’re also helping an organization that teaches girls to become self-reliant
enough to make their dreams come true.”
“I’m all for helping girls make their dreams come true,” he told her.
“Maybe some of them will even grow up to write romance novels,” she teased.
He laughed. “Maybe they’ll write some good ones.” But from what he’d seen he wasn’t holding his breath. Of course, he knew
what his mom would have to say about that attitude. Which was why they steered away from the topic of romance novels.
He texted her on the way to his car. Reservations at 11 for Tilikum tomorrow OK?
Of course, it would be. She loved the Tilikum Place Café as much as he did. They were both addicted to the restaurant’s Dutch
babies.
She texted back. Sure you’ll be recovered from your night of debauchery??
Yep ??
Any women coming to your place tonite?
Nope not into debauching women.
He could almost hear her frustrated mental response that he wasn’t into being with women at all anymore. He wouldn’t be able to find one even if he was looking. He’d turned into a love pariah.
Gonna b a good nite just the guys, he added.
He got the expected frowning emoji.
Pick U up 10:30, he texted and punctuated it with a heart.
He got three in return. They’d do their traditional New Year’s Day breakfast and talk about her New Year’s resolutions. He’d
keep his about growing the show and getting a book deal to himself. Those wouldn’t be resolutions she’d want to hear. Then
they’d share recommendations for upcoming movies and books, of course, but not mention the one he’d written. Some topics were
best avoided. They still wouldn’t lack for conversation when it came to books. Mom read more than just romance novels. That
was a given, considering who she was related to. All in all, it would be a good morning.
His mom was the best. Why weren’t there more women like her out there?