The Personal Shopper

She just looks at me like I am dumb. “Oh please Parker. This girl has been hopefully in love with you since she was 13.”

Ava reaches over and pinches Becca’s arm. “Ow.” Ava continues to glare at her. “What was that for? Ohh....I see. You haven’t gotten to the ‘I love you’ stage yet.”

I am just staring between the two of them. Love? Has Ava talked about me to Becca before? Becca never mentioned anything to me.

Ava tries to shush Becca again. “Jeez Becca. We aren’t at any stage. Can’t you keep your mouth shut? We haven’t even fucked. You just assumed that.”

Since Ava doesn’t seem to really care that Becca knows, I decide to push her buttons a little.

“Oh really? What exactly would you call what you did with your mouth in the car before we got here?” I smirk at her.

Becca covers her ears. “God Parker. Too much information. She is still my niece you know?” Her tone is joking though, so I know she is getting just as much enjoyment out of this conversation as I am.

Ava stands up. “We are all going to pretend this conversation never happened. I am going to the bathroom. When I get back, can you two start acting normal again?” Then she turns and stomps away to the bathroom.

After I watch her walk away, I turn back to Becca. “So what’s this she’s been in love with me since 13 business?”

Becca laughs, but then she looks at me seriously. “For real though Parker, don’t go breaking her heart again.”

I open my eyes wide at her confused. “What do you mean again?”

She just looks back at me like really? Then I understand. “She told you about the kiss?”

Becca nods. “She tells me everything.” She pauses. “Well except about this apparently.” She motions her hand to me.

I let out a small laugh. “Don’t feel bad. It only just started tonight.”

Becca raises her eyebrows at me. “Started? That implies it will continue.”

I laugh again and then look at her. “Of course I want it to continue. It’s Ava. I just...I don’t know. Is this all too weird?”

She just looks at me confused. “What do you mean? Why would it be weird?”

“Uhm...because she’s your niece. Doug’s niece. She’s a lot younger than me. I’ve known her since she was a little girl.” I wave my hand as if to say the list goes on.

Becca just laughs. “Oh Parker, you really think Doug would care? You aren’t that much older than her. Maybe back then, but you are both adults now. If you like her, you should go for it.” She pauses. “Like I said, Ava really cared for you. A lot of time has passed, but I don’t think those feelings ever went away, so if you aren’t serious about her, don’t let it go any further.”

I think about what a future being with Ava would be like and I smile. Becca gives me a knowing look and says, “That’s what I thought. Seems your feelings haven’t changed much either. You’re just as in love with her now as you were before you left.”

I go to protest, but I stop myself because I can’t lie to Becca. “How did you know?”

She just laughs. “Oh Parker, everyone could tell. Your face would light up every time she came into the room. Whenever she was talking, you couldn’t pay attention to anything else”

I laugh. “Okay. Okay. I don’t think it was quite that obvious.”

“Why didn’t you tell her how you felt? Why did you leave?”

I blow out a breath and put my face in my hands. “I wanted to. But she was so young. She was just heading out to college. I couldn’t put that pressure on her. It’s not like I could just casually date her. She meant too much to me. Plus I didn’t know how Doug would feel about it. I had to leave. It was my only option.”

Becca just grabs my hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze. “Well, you’re here now. That’s what counts.” I smile back at her, and she adds, “So what’s with all the secrecy? Did you really think Doug was going to fight you or something?”

I laugh. “Well, I mean we’ve fought over less important things before, but no not exactly. It’s her dad?”

Becca laughs. “Her dad? You’re scared of Peter?”

I raise my brows at her. “Hey, he is a pretty scary guy, but no it has something to do with Ava thinking he’s going to fire me.”

Becca laughs. “Ahh yes Ava has lost a few good employees that way.”