“Wow. Gee, thanks for the advance notice dad.”
He just laughs again. “It’s not like you have to prepare anything for him sweetie. I am giving him full control over all the spending accounts and credit cards starting immediately tomorrow though, so any purchases you need to make will need to go through him.”
I start to yell, “Wait, what?” but my dad cuts me off. “Gotta go sweetie. Talk to you tomorrow!”
Then he hangs up without waiting for my response. He knew that last part wouldn’t be okay with me. Not that I have a choice. He is my boss after all, but, still, he knew I wouldn’t let that slide without a fight.
I drop the phone back into my pocket and walk back into my aunt’s living room. Me and Becca were just having an early girls night since tomorrow is Monday. We do this often when the family can’t get together on Sundays. We just have a couple glasses of wine and paint each other’s nails or watch cheesy movies that the guys don’t like.
I glare at her when I enter the room, and she just puts her hands up in defence. “What did I do?”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Did you know about Parker?”
Becca’s smile grows, and I know she knew before I did.
“Becca! Why didn't you tell me?”
“Hey! In my defence, I just found out about it on Friday. He just decided to come.”
Decided? That makes me think of a question. “Why is he coming back anyway? I thought he was like doing really well at his company.” I pause. “I mean that’s what you told me. I don’t go checking up on him or anything.”
I only follow him on all the social media accounts, but I follow people I went to highschool with too. It doesn’t mean anything.
Becca raises her eyebrows at me. “You mean you didn’t hear?”
“Hear what?”
She laughs. “I thought for sure great aunt Ella would have told you by now.”
I grin because usually I am number one on aunt Ella’s call list. “I missed our last few calls. What’s going on?”
Becca gets comfortable on the couch and starts sipping her wine. “So basically, you know that girl Ellie that he’s been dating?”
I nod my head. Unfortunately, I’ve definitely seen her in all his pictures. She’s pretty hard to miss. She has bright red hair that is obviously dyed but still makes her look stunning because it contrasts with her bright green eyes. She is super thin like a supermodel but somehow she still miraculously always has hefty cleavage. I don’t even understand how someone that thin could hold up
those boobs.
“Well, the story goes...or this is how Doug tells the story. Parker came home one day and found Ellie in bed with their boss. Of course, he dumped her sorry ass, but the damage was already done and the firm fired Parker on a technicality.” I open my mouth and stare at her shocked. Well, I wasn’t expecting that. “Seriously?”
Becca nods her head enthusiastically. “Yes, and Parker was worried about finding another job with having to put down he was fired from his last job, so your dad offered him a six month contract so he can have something else on his resume as his previous job. Although, I know your dad and Doug both want him to stay long term. Maybe you could help convince him to stay since you’ll be working so closely together. He always had a soft spot for you.”
I just stare back at her. “I don’t know Becca. We’ll see.”
???
Parker
I pull into the parking garage of the office building downtown and give the parking attendant my name, so I don't have to pay to park. I’ve only been back in town since Friday, and it feels strange being in the city again. Like somehow I never left. Everything is all so familiar.
I walk into the office building, and I check in with reception. I tell her I am here to see Ava. We are meeting with her dad Peter, but I want to see her first without him. I haven’t seen her since that night in her kitchen when she kissed me.
I still think about that kiss sometimes. I wanted so badly to kiss her back, but I couldn’t do that. She was way too young for me and not to mention my best friend’s niece. I didn’t want to take advantage of her. Plus, I could taste the champagne on her lips. She wasn’t herself. I definitely would’ve felt like a dick if I kissed a drunk nineteen year old, but speaking of dicks, mine definitely wanted her back. I mean what guy wouldn’t?
Sure, she’s a typical spoiled rich girl, but the way her soft, blonde hair was dangling over her exposed shoulders in that white cocktail dress she was wearing that showed off way too much of her long, toned legs, and when she pressed her chest against me....God.
Even though she was at least nineteen, I still felt like a creeper for wanting her, so I let her go and I’ve been avoiding her ever since. I know that was a dick move. I could tell she relied on me to be there for her. She always did. Ever since her mom’s funeral, she’d always come to me with her problems and would leave with a smile on her face.
That was the problem though. I couldn't have her coming to me anymore. Not now that I know the way her lips taste. I wouldn’t have been able to control myself, so I took the easy way out and left without saying goodbye.