Chapter Twenty-Six
Brittany
“It’s good to see you, sis.” Parker clears his throat as I slide into the booth across from him. “Thanks for meeting me for lunch.”
I eye him, unsure of this whole random weekday lunchcapade. He never asks me to hang out, and definitely not during the work day. And he definitely doesn’t come all the way to my side of the city. “So…”
“You ever eaten here?” Parker clears his throat again and tugs at his collar, shifting in the booth like he’s at a job interview, not out for lunch with his little sister.
“Harlee and I eat here all the time,” I tell him plainly, shrugging my shoulders. “It’s pretty good.”
“Yeah, for sure.” Parker folds his arms across his chest for a few seconds, then shifts again, reaching for the menu. He plucks it up off the table, and starts reading through it. “Wow, this is crazy. There’s so many different options.”
“Yeah. Harlee likes the Mediterranean lunch special.”
He looks up at me, his brows knitting together in the center of his forehead. “Wait, who’s Harlee again?”
“She’s a friend from work. We went on that girls’ trip together. To Florida.”
“Oh, right.” Parker nods, and I don’t miss the redness creeping across his cheeks. He’s got the memory of a cat with dementia … if that even exists. “Did you have fun in Florida?”
“Yeah,” I say, realizing that trip was over a month ago. “I think I’m going to go back with her every year. Make a thing out of it.”
He nods, his eyes staying on the menu now. “That’s cool.”
“Uh-huh,” I answer, shaking my head at him. “Why are you being so weird?” If there’s anything I know about my brother, it’s that if he has a lot to say, he usually acts like he doesn’t.
He lets out a sigh, sets the menu down, then looks up at me.
“I don’t know. I guess I’m just trying to find a way for us to connect more often.
” His facial expression softens. “I want to know what’s going on in your world, Brit.
I always have. Amy’s just kind of been the reminder that I don’t have to be so distant. ”
“She’s good for you,” I affirm, smiling. “I’m proud of the effort you’re making. You’re still a little grumpy, but it’s way better than what it was.”
“Yeah, thanks.” He chuckles, just as the waitress appears. She takes our drink orders, along with food as well. As she collects the menus, Parker meets my gaze. “So, what have you been up to? Just work? Hanging out with your new friend?”
“Yeah,” I say with a nod. “Pretty much. I don’t really have a lot of time to do much else.
” There’s a part of me that wants so desperately to ask him what Weston’s doing.
I haven’t gotten a return letter from him yet, and while I know I shouldn’t be expecting one, I can’t help but find myself longing for it.
“So…” Parker drums his fingers on the table. “That’s great…” The awkwardness he brings to the conversation gives me this need to giggle, but I swallow it. “Wanna talk to me about work or something? Any new cases that are noteworthy?”
I purse my lips together, mulling over the most recent custody battle over a cat.
“Um … Well…” I start the story of how this lady from the upper west side of the city is suing her ex over the cat, and Parker listens intently, chuckling his way through as I tell the story.
It’s nice to have my brother’s attention, but even as I laugh along with him, I can’t help it.
The question burns in my brain. “How’s Weston?
” I ask at the end of my story, like I’m casually trying to change the subject.
Parker smiles, not suspicious in the slightest by what I’m questioning. “He’s doing really well. I’m pretty proud of him, actually.”
“Why’s that?” I swallow my selfish disappointment.
“He’s stopped all that speed dating—trying to find love and stuff. It’s really refreshing to see him focusing on other things. He’s been volunteering at some animal shelter and whatever else. He works with some lady named Maria. He really likes her.”
He really likes her…
“Oh…” My voice trails off, and I hope Parker doesn’t notice the change in my tone. It’s embarrassing, especially because I’m the one who made things weird after our kiss. It was my choice not to take things further with Weston.
But a big reason for that is sitting across the table from me.
“Yeah, I think he’s happy,” Parker continues, oblivious to my hidden feelings. “I think he deserves that. I’m convinced that as soon as he takes his focus off finding ‘the one,’ he’ll find her. I think that’s how it works. They always show up when you’re not looking.”
“Yeah, I agree,” I say, though I feel like I’m choking on my words. I don’t know why I feel so strangled over the subject. It’s not like I think Wes is the one or something like that, I’m just upset over some measly letters and his lack of response. I miss his friendship.
Just friendship.
Right?
“I was talking to Amy about it.” Parker hums, just as the drinks are set down in front of us. He pauses then, picking up his water and taking a sip. He’s settled into the conversation now, and doesn’t remotely appear uncomfortable anymore. If anything, he looks like we’ve done this a million times.
“So, you were talking to Amy about it…” I put a little pressure on him to continue his thought process when he sets his drink back down. “What about it?”
“Oh.” He chuckles. “Just that we’re happy he’s finally focusing on himself. He’s a good guy, his dates have just never panned out. I think that’s because he hasn’t found someone to connect with organically. The kind of person he needs isn’t the kind that’s at the singles events around the city.”
“For sure,” I say. “I hate those things.”
Parker gives me a funny look. “That’s because all you have to do is step outside to attract a whole flock of men.”
“Ha ha.” I roll my eyes. “Not true at all. I haven’t been on a single date since Cal broke it off with me, and I’m doing just fine.”
“Good. I think you should take a year off.”
“What?” I feel confusion bubble up in my chest. “What do you mean?”
“From dating,” Parker says, shrugging his shoulders. “I think you need to know what it’s like to truly be on your own.”
“Okay, Dad.” I feel the irritation building in my tone, even if I don’t necessarily disagree. I just don’t like the time frame that he’s slapped on there. “Is that what you told Weston, too?” I can’t stop the comment from coming out in time.
Parker bursts into laughter. “No way. He’s been single the majority of his life. I want him to find someone, I just didn’t enjoy the fact that I had to be his wingman at so many speed-dating events.”
“You should be so grateful.” I smirk. “Because if it weren’t for him dragging you to those events, you’d have never met Amy.”
“Touché.” He chuckles. “Speaking of … Amy’s actually been trying to convince Wes to go out on a date with us and one of her friends next week.”
“Oh…” My voice trails off.
“Yeah. I think he might finally be ready to approach a relationship in a healthier way.”
“What about Maria?” I ask, swallowing the knot in my throat. “You said he likes hanging out with her.” Something about the name Maria reminds me of a beautiful, dark-haired woman with daring, seductive eyes.
“She’s like sixty years old,” Parker says flatly.
Never mind. The image is all wrong.
“So, who’s the girl he’s gonna go out with?” I try to carefully steer the conversation away from my moment of jealousy … just into another trigger for it.
“Um, I’m actually not sure—some friend of Amy’s. We’ll have to see how it goes. I think Weston is difficult to nail down when it comes to a type.”
I nod, keeping a fake smile on my face. “Well, I hope he has fun. He’s the kind of guy I’d totally go for.” I realize my mistake quickly and then backtrack. “In a different situation.”
Parker goes silent for a few beats, causing my heart to palpitate with worry. “Um, yeah. He’s a good guy. I hope the date goes well for him.”
Okay, cool. He’s bypassing the subject of what I just said entirely.
I don’t know how to feel about it, and thankfully, I don’t have to go deeper into it, because the waitress arrives with our food. She sets the identical chicken club sandwiches down in front of us, and it becomes apparent that while we might be different, some things are the same.
“This looks good,” Parker comments, grabbing a fry and popping it into his mouth. “And it is good,” he adds through a mouthful.
I give him an approving look, then focus on my own food.
As much as I want to dig back into the whole Weston topic, I know it’s better to let it go.
I already kind of outed myself to him with the comment about Weston being my type—though Parker didn’t seem to really process it.
Or if he did, he’s choosing to ignore it.
I know how he feels about his friends dating me. He’s always said it complicates things too much, and given our upbringing, he’s always been extra protective. However, that didn’t save me from the heartbreak I’ve experienced regardless.
It’s just part of life.
I know it’s best to let it go, so as Parker takes a bite of his sandwich, chews, and swallows, I ask, “What do you think of this restaurant, now that you’ve tried the food?”
“I think I could probably eat here every day and get fat.” Parker chuckles, shaking his head. “But the walk to get here would work it all off.”
“So maybe you should meet me for lunch once a week?” I offer it with sincerity, missing my brother more and more with every step we take toward closing the gap that’s grown between us over the years.
“Yeah…” He smiles. “Yeah, maybe we should. I could even bring Amy sometimes, if she can take off for an extra-long lunch. I think she’d enjoy spending time with you, too.”
“For sure.” I pick up a fry and pop it into my mouth. I focus on chewing it, while Parker devours his entire basket of food in the time it takes me to swallow. A man’s ability to inhale whatever they’re eating and still taste it, is beyond me.
“I’m really happy we met up,” Parker says, leaning back in the booth and wiping the mayo from the corner of his mouth. “I miss having you around. Like back in the old days.”
I nod, thinking back to those days. My mind brings back the old image of Weston unwillingly, despite me trying to brush him away from my brain.
I can’t help but wonder if he noticed me back then …
like he did at the birthday party. Is there a chance the moment I had with him could’ve come from a deeper place?
I purse my lips as I stare down at my food, my appetite waning slightly as I think about my embarrassing truce letter.
Ugh, I hope he likes sonnets.