Chapter 13
Parker
I wanted to punch someone or break something.
All through lunch all I could think about was Lara going on her date with Luke.
What sort of name was Luke? I could already tell by his name that he was a loser.
Lara could do way better than him. And dinner and a movie?
And discussing the movie at a coffee shop afterwards?
What was that, some sort of new code for getting her to his place so he could try and sleep with her?
I hoped Lara was smarter than that. This guy was trying to Netflix and chill her by using some sort of high class tactic.
At least girls I slept with knew the deal.
I wasn’t trying to pretend I was going to make them my wife.
They knew that a hookup was a hookup. And nine out of ten times it was at their place, so I didn’t have to worry about them becoming a stage-five clinger and hanging out at my place the next day.
There was nothing worse than a hookup trying to stay the night and then waking up to them cooking me breakfast the next day.
That was always awkward for me. Sometimes I couldn’t even remember their names.
I knew it was bad, but it wasn’t like I lied to them.
They knew the deal. Sex was sex. What guy turned down sex?
Well, me—once. But that had been different.
That had been with Lara. And, well, I couldn’t just do casual sex with her.
“Lunch was delicious. Thank you, Mila.” Lara beamed at my sister after finishing her cheesecake and I watched as she folded her napkin and placed it next to her plate on the table.
She gazed at me for a second, gave me a quick smile, and then looked away.
“I think I should get going soon. I’ve a lot to do today. ”
“Oh?” I said, feeling annoyed for some reason. “Need to get ready for your date?”
“Yeah, kinda.” She nodded, looking slightly embarrassed.
“Let me give you some advice. Guys prefer a more natural look, so maybe stay away from too much makeup, and no slutty clothes.”
“Parker.” Mila’s voice was sharp. “What the hell?”
“I’m just giving Lara some pointers.”
“Are you saying I normally wear too much makeup and slutty clothes?” Lara’s voice was unsure.
“No, I mean, I’m sure every woman has at some point. I’m just saying don’t wear them tonight. And don’t be a fool and go back to his place to listen to music or whatever. Because he doesn’t want you to listen to music, he wants to get you in bed. And that means one thing.”
“Okay,” Lara said simply. I could feel Ryker and Mila staring at me, but I couldn’t stop talking.
“And I know you want a relationship, so honestly, having sex on the first through fifth dates is not a good idea. The guy just won’t look at you the same way.”
“So that’s something you live by, then, Parker?” Mila asked me sarcastically. “That’s your dating philosophy as well?”
“I’m not looking to get married or have kids.” I shrugged. “At least not anytime soon. So if I’m hooking up, that’s all I care about.”
“Good to know,” Mila said and stood up abruptly. “Anyone want any cheese and crackers?” she said as she glared at me.
“Sure,” Ryker said with a nod.
“I’ll help you,” Lara said and stood up quickly as well, and they both left the room hastily. I looked over at Ryker, who was grinning widely at me, and I frowned.
“What?” I asked him, wondering what he found so amusing.
“Dude, what are you doing?” He leaned forward and spoke softly.
“What do you mean what am I doing?”
“What’s with the rude advice to Lara?” He shook his head. “‘Don’t wear too much makeup’?”
“I was just telling her how it is from our side. You know, I’m looking out for her.”
“Are you falling for her?” His eyes narrowed as he gazed at me.
“What?” I looked at him like he was crazy. “Of course not.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Dude, we almost had sex last week and I stopped it, okay?” I lowered my voice as I spoke. “If I wanted her, I could have hit it and quit it and moved on already.”
“No, you couldn’t have, and maybe the reason you didn’t is because you like her.” Ryker’s blue eyes looked into mine intensely.
“I’m telling you that I like her as a friend. She’s Mila’s best friend and, well, we’ve become a lot closer recently as well. I consider her a good friend.”
“Really, dude?”
“Really.” I nodded. “That’s it. I mean, yeah, she’s pretty and she’s pretty awesome, but you know me, I don’t do relationships.”
“I know you don’t.” He shook his head. “But I’m telling you this as a friend—if you have feelings for Lara, you’d better act on them soon. And if you don’t, don’t play around with her anymore.”
“I’m not playing around with her.” I glared at him. “What sort of man do you think I am?”
“I know how it can be, Parker.” Ryker made a face at me. “When I started falling for Mila, it was really hard for me to accept. I never saw myself as this guy who could fall in love and want to be with one woman forever, but I learned to accept that I was.”
“Dude, we’re not the same. Also, you were sleeping with my sister.” I glared at him. “You were already taking advantage of her, so I’m glad you manned up, because you know I would have had to kill you if you hadn’t.”
“Look, I’m just saying that I think we’ve all noticed your hostility when it comes to Lara and other guys and, well, personally, I think there’s only one reason for that.”
“I’m not in love with Lara.” I shook my head vehemently.
“I’m trying to be a good friend to her. I want her to meet a good guy,” I said, though inside I wasn’t sure I was ready for her to actually start dating someone seriously.
I didn’t know what that said about me and how I felt, though I knew I didn’t love her or anything.
“You can tell yourself what you want, Parker, but I’m just letting you know what it looks like from this side. Just don’t ignore your feelings until it’s too late.” Ryker shrugged. “I know you see yourself as the ultimate playboy, but sometimes you need to dig a little deeper.”
“Dig a little deeper?” I laughed. “What is this, a sermon from The Oprah Winfrey Show?”
“You’re an idiot.” Ryker shook his head at me and laughed. “I’m just telling you man-to-man, I don’t know that Lara’s going to be single forever and I don’t want you to wake up one day and think to yourself that she’s the one who got away.”
“Trust me, bro, it’s not like that,” I said, starting to feel annoyed.
It was at that moment that Mila and Lara walked back in the room with the cheese and crackers.
I looked up into Lara’s laughing face and studied her long black hair and big brown eyes, her lips wide as she laughed, and for a few seconds her smile was turned toward me, her eyes gazing deeply into mine with a happy expression, and I felt my mood lifting.
She was so beautiful. It was a pity we wanted different things.
I knew in that instant I didn’t want her going on a first date with Luke.
I didn’t want her sleeping with him, but I knew that was selfish of me.
I wasn’t looking for anything more than casual.
Lara and Mila sat down then, and I found myself leaning forward and resting my hand on Lara’s leg under the table. I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to touch her, but I did.
“Parker?” she said and looked at me with a hesitant smile as my hand moved up her leg slowly.
“Yes?” I said with a smile, teasing her.
“Cheese?” she said, her eyes asking me a question she didn’t dare ask out loud as my hand slid up under her skirt.
“Sure.” I nodded, my fingers finding their way to her panties.
I felt her shifting in her chair and I tried not to laugh.
I rubbed gently against her bud and I could feel her panties growing wet.
I felt a surge of power running through my body as my fingers increased their pace.
I felt powerful and happy. Let her remember this moment when she’s on her date with Luke.
“So, do you know what movie Luke will be taking you to tonight?” Mila asked Lara, and I could feel myself growing pissed again at the fact he was being brought up.
“No, not sure,” Lara said softly. “Something he really likes, though. He said he knew one of the cinematographers or something.”
“Impressive,” Mila said, and Lara nodded.
“Yeah, I’m really excited.” She smiled. “I think it will be fun.”
“Sounds like a lot of fun,” I said simply and then slipped my fingers inside the side of her panties so that I was touching her, skin to skin.
She gasped and her legs tightened as I rubbed her even more intimately now, her panties pushing my fingers close against her as I continued to play with her.
“I’m sure you and Luke will really hit it off,” I continued as I tried to slip a finger inside of her.
Unfortunately, given our position, I couldn’t, but that didn’t stop me from trying.
“Yeah, thanks.” Lara glanced at me, a bedazzled look on her face, and I felt her hand coming down on mine and tugging gently to remove it from her panties.
I rubbed her for a few seconds more until she was even wetter and then I withdrew my fingers and sat back.
I stared at her face for a few seconds and smiled.
She was flushed and her lower lip was quivering.
I knew she must be horny as hell right now.
Shit, I was horny as hell. I wanted to make sure that tonight, while she was on her date, she was thinking of me.
“Actually, come with me real quick.” I jumped up, not even thinking about what I was doing.
“Huh?” she asked me with a confused expression.
“I owe you an apology for the way I was talking to you earlier.” I looked at her and then at Mila and Ryker. “I’d like to apologize in private, if you don’t mind.”
“Oh, that’s okay,” she said and smiled weakly. “I know you were just trying to help.”
“I was, but I’d love to just say some things in private, if you don’t mind. Get some stuff off of my chest.”
“Oh, sure?” she said and stood up.
“Excuse us?” I looked at Mila and Ryker and I could see Mila’s eyes were narrowed.