“I’m going out with Parker.”
“Again?” he said, annoyed.
“Again,” I said in a singsong voice.
The doorbell rang, and I hurried past Travis to open the door. Parker stood in front of me, his naturally wavy blond hair sitting atop his clean-shaven face.
“Do you ever look less than gorgeous?” Parker asked.
“Based on the first time she came over here, I’m going to say yes,” Travis said from behind me.
I rolled my eyes and smiled, holding up a finger to Parker to signal him to wait. I turned and threw my arms around Travis. He stiffened with surprise and then relaxed, pulling me tight against him.
I looked into his eyes and smiled. “Thanks for organizing my birthday party. Can I take a rain check on dinner?”
A dozen emotions scrolled across Travis’s face, and then the corners of his mouth turned up. “Tomorrow?”
I squeezed him and grinned. “Absolutely.” I waved to him as Parker grabbed my hand.
“What was that about?” Parker asked.
“We haven’t been getting along lately. That was my version of an olive branch.”
“Should I be worried?” he asked, opening my door.
“No.” I kissed his cheek.
At dinner, Parker talked about Harvard, and the House, and his plans to search for an apartment. His eyebrows pulled in. “Will Travis be escorting you to your birthday party?”
“I’m not really sure. He hasn’t said anything about it.”
“If he doesn’t mind, I’d like to take you.” He took my hand in his and kissed my fingers.
“I’ll ask him. The party was his idea, so …”
“I understand. If not, I’ll just see you there,” he smiled.
Parker took me to the apartment, slowing to a stop in the parking lot. When he kissed me goodbye, his lips lingered on mine. He yanked up the parking brake as his lips traveled along the ridge of my jaw to my ear and then halfway down my neck. It took me off-guard, and I let out a quiet sigh in response.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered. “I’ve been distracted all night, with your hair pulled away from your neck.” He peppered my neck with kisses and I exhaled, a hum escaping with my breath.
“What took you so long?” I smiled, lifting my chin to give him better access.
Parker focused on my lips. He grabbed each side of my face, kissing me a bit firmer than usual. We didn’t have much room in the car, but we made the space available work to our advantage. He leaned against me, and I bent my knee as I fell against the window. His tongue slipped inside my mouth, and his hand grabbed my ankle and then slid up my leg to my thigh. The windows fogged within minutes with our labored breaths sticking to the cool windows. His lips grazed my collarbone, and then his head jerked up when the glass vibrated with several loud thumps.
Parker sat up, and I righted myself, adjusting my dress. I jumped when the door flew open. Travis and America stood beside the car. America wore a sympathetic frown, and Travis seemed just short of flying into a blind rage.
“What the hell, Travis?” Parker yelled.
The situation suddenly felt dangerous. I’d never heard Parker raise his voice, Travis’s knuckles were white as he balled them into fists at his sides—and I was in the way. America’s hand seemed tiny when she placed it on Travis’s bulky arm, shaking her head at Parker in silent warning.
“C’mon, Abby. I need to talk to you,” she said.
“About what?”
“Just come on!” she snapped.
I looked to Parker, seeing the irritation in his eyes. “I’m sorry, I have to go.”