The Personal Shopper

Parker: I don’t know why I expected anything different from you. Show me more.

Me: How about I show you more once you tell me what you are up to with Doug?

Parker: Oh you know. This and that. There are definitely a ton of hot girls here though. I want to tell them I have a girlfriend, but you know.

Me: Asshole.

Me: So what did you tell them then?

Parker doesn’t answer for a few minutes, so I go back to drinking my wine and scrolling through my phone. A notification pops up that I have a new text, so I open it right away.

Parker: I told them to back off. I have the most beautiful girl in the world waiting for me at home even if she won’t admit to being my girlfriend yet. One day she will. Even if she is the most stubborn little spoiled brat I’ve ever met.

My cheeks hurt from how big my smile is. I re-read the message over and over again. I don’t know what to say back. I have been trying to play it cool with Parker, but I know I want to be with him. I just don’t want to rush into anything. What if he changes his mind? He obviously had his reasons for leaving the first time. What if those reasons come back again? I don’t think I could handle him rejecting me again. I decide to just keep it simple.

Me: Good.

Parker doesn’t respond to that message. Maybe because I didn’t actually say much or maybe he fell asleep. Either way I won’t be able to stop thinking about what Parker said tonight. How am I supposed to behave around him tomorrow at dinner?

Chapter 10

Ava

I heard Parker get home around 3 p.m. today. We haven’t talked since the texting last night. I am anxious to see him, but I don’t want to come off as too eager. I mean I’ll see him tonight at dinner. I wonder if he wants to ride together? I mean even if we didn't have anything going on between us, I’d probably still ride with him. It’s the responsible thing to do.

I spend the next hour getting ready for dinner. Usually on Sundays, I just throw on some sweats and a hoodie. It’s just my family after all, but today I spent a while picking out my outfit. I want to look sexy for Parker, but I don’t want it to be obvious to my family. I have a feeling Becca will be able to tell no matter what I choose, but oh well, as long as my dad and Doug don’t notice. I decide on my skinny jeans with an off the shoulder sweater. It isn’t too dressy, so it shouldn’t be suspicious to anyone. The amount of time I spent perfecting my makeup may be another story.

I am reapplying my lipgloss when I hear a knock at the door. That’s weird. Who could that be?

I open the door and Parker is standing there looking as handsome as ever. “Since when do you knock?”

He just shrugs. “Since we’re not doing it until Friday, I didn’t want to tempt myself by walking in on you in a towel again.”

I laugh and roll my eyes. “Oh my god.”

Parker smiles too. He looks so handsome when he smiles. His perfectly straight teeth and the way his eyes crinkle a little. Wait. What is that?

“What happened to your face?” I reach up to touch the bruise that formed along his left eye.

“Ouch! Don’t touch it!” He pulls away.

I just laugh. “Don’t be such a baby. What happened for real?”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “No. I’m not telling.”

I just stare back at him. “Are you serious right now?”

He just smiles. “Yeah. Then I’d have to tell you what our secret trip was, and I’ve already taken it too far. I can’t turn back now.”

I just roll my eyes again. “You are ridiculous.”

He bites his bottom lip to stop the ridiculously huge smile on his face. Then he pulls me toward him and kisses my lips. I kiss him back and what should have been just a hello kiss turns heated very quickly.

I pull him inside and shut the door behind him. I push him back against the door, so I can press against him easier. His hands start roaming my body, but then he pushes me back. “What are you trying to do to me?”

He smirks. “You think you can make me go back on my word? I said no sex until after our date.”

I give him my best pouty face.