15. Parker
15
PARKER
D ylan pushes herself off the wall, forgetting about Evelyn in the bathroom entirely. It wasn’t my intention to eavesdrop on their conversation. I figured the photoshoot would be fully underway when I got there, seeing as I was almost twenty minutes late. When I arrived, I noticed Evelyn and Dylan on the ground, and it didn’t feel right to interrupt.
When I was going through college, Dylan always went out of her way to make me feel better, even when she was going through some of the lowest moments of her life with her parents. I can still remember the feeling of laying in bed together, my head on her stomach, the light rise and fall of her chest, as she talked me off of a ledge.
Growing up, I never had anyone to turn to. My parents were constantly at each other’s throats, the sounds of yells filling our halls more often than laughter. Their arguments occupied most of their time, and it never felt like they had enough for me. By the time they got a divorce when I was fourteen, I had all but emotionally shut down. I rarely let anyone in, and I never wanted anyone in my life to see me struggling. It was easier to internalize all of my emotions than to let anyone see that I was anything but happy.
Dylan changed that, though. After months of patience, I finally felt safe enough to open up. In the blink of an eye, she was home personified. Even when the world felt like it was crumbling all around me, she stood there steadfast, the foundation stronger than the storm.
Whether I was overwhelmed, sad, or frustrated, she was my anchor when I felt myself drifting into the darkness. I know I never made it easy on her, but she never failed to make me feel invincible.
I never thought that I would experience that kind of love in my life. The kind that I had only seen in the movies my mom would force me to watch when I was a kid. Though it didn’t take much–I cherished any time I got with her when she was in the mood to be a parent.
With Dylan around, I felt like I could do anything. Five years later, she’s still making others feel the same way.
“What are you doing here? Stalking me now?” she asks, her eyes narrowed. I didn’t want to surprise her, but emailing her to let her know that Blake requested I be here didn’t feel like the smartest idea either. I know there’s no reason for me to oversee this shoot, but Blake is still technically my boss, and with his head still very much on the Operation Get-Dylan-Back mission, I don’t have much of a choice.
I fold my arms and ankles, leaning against the wall inches away from her, my lips twitching up at the corners. “If I were, you’d never know. I’m stealthier than that.” I pause for dramatic effect, and this gets a smile from her. “Blake suggested I come by to see how everything is going.” I glance around the room at the lack of work being done. “Seems like that was the right call, seeing as I’m running late, and the photoshoot hasn’t even begun.”
She casts an exasperated look up at the ceiling and grips my wrist, yanking me away from the bathroom door where Evelyn is still getting changed. “Don’t let her hear you. We got off to a rough start, but we’re making progress.”
“I know. I saw what you did out there. Thank god you were here. I’m not sure I would have made it through college if I didn’t have those motivational speeches of yours.” I lift my chin towards the direction they were sitting in.
I catch the small grin that she’s trying her hardest to hide from me. “Hard to believe coming from someone who graduated summa cum laude.” My eyes trace the outline of her plump lips as she says, “cum.” The meaning behind it is entirely innocent, but my mind and cock, which twitches beneath my zipper, betray me at the double entendre.
“Ah, yes, but if it weren’t for all of those all-nighters with you, who knows where I might’ve ended up.”
“Right. Now you’re just a hot shot with what I’m guessing is a strong caffeine addiction, the typical Manhattan bachelor pad that most people only dream of affording, and the inability to take a day off. I really should give myself a pat on the back,” she counters.
I try my hardest to keep my features neutral. I don’t need her to know that she has me read like a book–and that when she puts it that way, my life sounds, well, kind of miserable. “I think you’d be surprised by my so-called bachelor pad. I have a couple of plants, you know,” I say defensively.
“Fake, plastic ones don’t count.”
“If you don’t believe me, then why don’t you come over and see for yourself?” My voice is full of challenge, and the fire in her eyes tells me she’s not opposed to the idea.
Before she can respond, Evelyn comes barging out of the bathroom, dressed to the nines, beaming. If I hadn’t gotten here in the midst of her breakdown, I’d have no idea that it ever happened in the first place. I wasn’t lying when I said Dylan was a pro at soothing you when you need it most .
Dylan rushes over to her, clapping her hands together. “You look incredible! You ready?”
“Very,” she replies.
Evelyn follows Dylan out onto set, where Dylan gives her hair one last fix before coming back to stand next to me. Despite not having a choice about working with Dylan on this project, there’s no one else I’d rather partner up with. I know that this will be successful because of her and her alone. Between Evelyn’s talent and Dylan’s hard work and dedication, the two don’t need me. I’m just here to get the book into the world’s hands.
I slide my hands into my pockets to prevent myself from getting closer to her. My skin itches with the innate desire to close the distance between us.
“I know I’ve said it before, but thank you for your help on this. Evelyn is lucky to have you. Thrive is, too. We all are.”
“You have to say that. Your team is the one that hired me,” she mumbles.
“I don’t. Technically, we hired Thrive. Before that first meeting, I had no idea that you would be a part of that decision. That just happened to be a very fortunate added bonus.” I shift to face her, blatantly ignoring the photos being taken in front of me. I twiddle the ring on my thumb that’s currently shoved deep into my pants to help subdue some of the nerves suddenly overtaking me.
“You have a way with people that I’m not sure you’ll ever understand unless you see it from my point of view. If it were anyone else, I’m not sure Evelyn would’ve ever come out of that bathroom. Just trust me on this for once, alright? I know that I hurt you, which is something that I will forever regret. But I would never lie to you. Especially about your talent.”
“Well, thank you. I really appreciate that.” Her voice trembles. Her cheeks are now flushed a deep shade of pink, yet when I try to look into her eyes to gauge how she’s feeling, I notice her eyes are misty with tears threatening to pour over.
“Dyl, I didn’t mean to upset you.” I reach out for her wrist, bracing for the moment she shakes me off. But it never comes. She lets me lightly hold onto her arm, and I take advantage of the moment, bringing her closer so we’re only inches away from one another.
My fingertips tingle as I envision holding her in my arms in a way that was once so familiar. I know that if I try, it will scare her off, and I’m trying to take things slow, no matter how hard I try. She still hasn’t even given me the opportunity to tell her about Olivia. I’d never want to make her uneasy because she thinks I’m crossing a line that only I know doesn’t exist.
She takes a deep inhale through her nose and lets it out through pursed lips. “I’m alright.”
“Are you sure?” I ask.
She nods, and I test the boundaries further by pulling her closer so our bodies are pressed against one another. Her hands loosely snake around my waist, and my breathing hitches. My heart is racing a mile a minute, and I know if she gets too close, she will hear it pounding. I never thought I’d be the kind of guy who gets worked up over a hug, yet now that I’m here, I never want to let go.
I run a hand down her hair, smoothing it down, and I feel her grip tighten around me. A feeling of déjà vu sweeps through me like a hurricane. The last time I held her like this was one of the worst moments of my life. She was gripping my shirt, knuckles white as she refused to let go, cheeks stained with a combination of mascara and tears. I’ve never felt pain like that before, and it’s a feeling I’ve relived many times on sleepless nights. You hear of people dying from broken hearts, but I always believed that to be a myth. It wasn’t until that day that I understood just how possible it is .
She lets out a low hum and pulls away from me, jerking me out of my melancholic stupor. My hands fall to my side, and I curl my fingers into a tight ball. I push down the urge to word vomit just how much I need her back in my life–how much I’ve fucked up.
I know deep down that it’s not the right time. I’ve seen enough rom-coms to know that the grand gesture has to be timed perfectly. Until she trusts me again, I need to pace myself. That doesn’t stop me from feeling a seed of gratitude for getting one step closer to that moment.
“I’m sorry. Got a little carried away there.” I chuckle softly, trying to make light of the situation.
She lets out a little sniffle and flashes a smile in my direction. It feels like a knife to the heart. The things I would do to see that smile every day for the rest of my life.
“It’s okay. I needed that. I feel like I’ve been running a mile a minute lately.”
She turns back to look at Evelyn, who’s now staring at us with a knowing smirk on her face. The photographer is snapping away, oblivious to the fact that Evelyn caught that entirely too personal interaction.
Dylan must also be unaware that we were caught because she strides over to the computer to look at the photos taken while we were in our bubble. I curse under my breath.
So much for keeping it professional.