Chapter 53
ROLLING LIKE A STONE
WILL
The last week of school felt heavier than I’d expected. After a few more sightings of Natalie, I couldn’t ignore how much I was going to miss her. Every accidental glance, every half-smile exchanged in passing lingered longer than it should have.
At the end-of-year mass, I caught sight of her sitting with Jason.
They looked…fine. Together. Like they’d decided to weather the storm.
Jason’s hand rested on her shoulder, a casual touch that somehow felt deliberate, and when his eyes found me across the room, they didn’t just look—they burned.
It was a look of death, and I deserved it.
I couldn’t imagine someone doing to me what I’d done to him.
If Natalie had been mine, if someone had come into my world and disrupted everything, I would’ve felt the same rage.
It was a low blow, and no amount of justification made it right.
It wasn’t who I was, or at least, it wasn’t who I thought I was.
I had to refocus. There was too much on my plate to get lost in the what-ifs.
When my client, Lori, arrived for our meeting about the new center, she stepped into my home and froze, her mouth curving into an impressed smile.
“This place is exquisite,” she said, turning in a slow circle. “You’d never know a bachelor lived here. It’s so…polished. Masculine, but inviting.”
“Thanks,” I said.
“Who designed it?” Lori asked. “I have to know.”
“Natalie Bradford,” I said.
Lori tilted her head. “Doesn’t ring a bell.”
“She hasn’t done much professionally in a while,” I explained. “Took a break to focus on her kids. But her own home is incredible, and when I saw it, I knew I had to ask her for help. She brought this place to life.”
“Well, she did more than help,” Lori said, brushing her hand over the edge of the dining table. “She brought this home real joy. I’m going to need her info. I want her for the new city center project, and maybe my second home in Coronado while we’re at it.”
“I’m not sure if she’s taking on any projects,” I said carefully, “but I can pass along her info.”
Lori gave me a sharp smile. “Okay. Now you. Are you ready to sell the hell out of the commercial spaces here? This is your baby, Parker.”
“I’ll do my best,” I said, grinning.
“Good,” she said. “Let’s grab a cocktail at the Bourbon House. I’m starving.”
I laughed. “Drinking usually curbs my hunger.”
She shot me a look. “I can’t eat. I need to fit into a double zero for a gala next week.”
“Right,” I said, still grinning. “You look great, Lori.”
She waved me off. “Don’t flatter me with those blue eyes, Parker, or I’ll end up ordering the duck fries.”
It was at the restaurant that Lori asked the tough questions. “This designer, Natalie, was she someone you were sleeping with?”
I almost choked on my drink. “What?”
Lori raised an eyebrow. “Relax. No judgment. I just want to make sure this isn’t going to get messy if you’re working together.”
“How much would I actually be working with her?” I asked, deflecting.
“A bit,” Lori said. “This is a huge project. It’s going to take at least a year, maybe more. You’ll cross paths plenty. So…can you keep your dick in your pants, or was it already out?”
“It’s complicated,” I admitted.
Lori groaned. “Ugh, don’t tell me that.”
“You can trust me,” I said firmly. “I’ll be professional. If she’s up for the opportunity, I’m confident you’ll be more than satisfied.”
She studied me for a moment, then nodded. “She must be good if you’re still this insistent. I’ll reach out.” She leaned in. “But seriously, don’t fuck this up.”
I didn’t know if I was fooling myself by giving Natalie’s name to Lori. Maybe I was hoping it would bring her back into my world, even in a small way. I wasn’t na?ve enough to think it would fix anything.
If Natalie said no, I’d understand. If she said yes… Well, I knew how she lit up when she was working in her design world. It was the one place where she seemed truly free. Watching her work was like seeing someone rediscover a part of themselves they thought was lost.
Selfishly, I wanted to see her in that light again.
I wanted to see her happy, but it wasn’t up to me anymore.
Lori had her information. Natalie would make the decision.
Whatever happens, happens. I rolled down the windows, letting The Stones roll over my speakers as I drove home again, absorbing the sea breeze whipping through the car.
And for the first time in quite a while, I felt like I might believe whatever happened would be okay.