The Personal Shopper

“Ava…” I can’t help the grin that forms on my face. Parker just shakes his head. “I can’t believe you. You little brat. You’re going to try to tempt me all week aren’t you?”

I just playfully shrug and turn to grab my purse. “You ready to go?”

When I turn back around, Parker pulls me in for one more kiss, and then we head out.

???

We walk up to the front door of my dad’s house. Parker is about to knock, and I just laugh at him. He looks at me. “What?”

“You don’t have to knock. It’s just my dad’s.” I twist the door handle open and walk in. “Hey Dad, we’re here!”

My dad peeks his head around the corner. “Hey sweetie. Oh Parker! I’m so glad you decided to come. Wasn’t sure you’d show up after having to deal with my Ava here so much already.”

I just roll my eyes. “Oh please. You know you both can’t get enough of me. That’s why you get mad everytime I make plans on Sunday.”

My dad just gives me a big hug. “I have to keep up your mom’s tradition. Otherwise, I’d send you away.” My mouth drops open. “Dad!” He just laughs and shakes Parker’s hand. “Welcome. Not much has changed since you’ve last been here. We still have wine and order in so we don’t have to cook.”

Parker smiles back at him. “Sounds perfect. I try to sneak over to Ava’s for a home cooked meal, but you know I don’t think she actually has ever cooked anything in her life.”

I glare back at him. “Wow. I see it’s pick on Ava day.” I shake my head at both of them. “Where’s Becca? I need someone on my side.”

They both just laugh again. My dad points toward the kitchen. “They just got here. I couldn’t stop Becca from breaking into the appetizers. Pregnancy and all.”

I walk into the kitchen to find Becca. “Hey sweetie.” She comes and gives me a hug. Parker follows in behind me. “Oh Doug. Parker’s face is not that bad.”

Parker raises his eyebrows at her. “Uhm...thanks?”

She laughs and pats his arm. “Of course it’s a very handsome face. Don’t get your panties in a wad. I meant the bruise. Doug over here was freaking out that you wouldn’t go snowboarding with him again because you were sooooo badly injured.” She laughs.

I look over to Parker and raise my eyebrow. “Snowboarding?”

He leans down and whispers in my ear. “There still could have been hot chicks trying to come onto me you know. I happen to look super sexy in snowboarding gear.”

I just laugh. “Oh yeah super sexy when you obviously crashed right onto your face.”

He just shrugs. “I can be super sexy while I have you nurse me back to health too.” He winks at me.

Becca chimes in. “Hurry up guys. Let’s

eat. I’m starving.”

Doug walks in the kitchen from the dining room. “Oh thank goodness you guys weren’t late. Becca was about to start eating without you.”

We all laugh and then dish up our plates and head to the dining room table. I sit in my usual seat and Parker sits next to me. Becca and Doug sit across from us, and my dad sits at the head of the table. He looks over at Parker sitting next to me. “Well look at this. Sitting next to each other and everything. After that first day, I thought Ava here would have killed you by now Parker.”

Parker just laughs. “Not yet, but it’s still early. Remind me to update my will.”

Parker reaches under the table and squeezes my hand. I glare over at him, but then he starts rubbing his thumb up and down over my hand soothingly, and I can’t seem to remember why I am supposed to be mad at him.

The rest of dinner goes well. It feels right having Parker here again like he never left. Except this time is different because before I would just stare at him longingly from across the table, and now I can feel him catching glances over at me.

After dinner Becca pulls out some new board game that she found that is similar to Pictionary. Let’s just say Parker’s drawing skills are on the same level as most 1st graders. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard in my life. Not that mine are much better.

“That was supposed to be a bunny? Why does it have pointy ears?” I point to Parker’s drawing. He just pulls it away from me. “It’s a special kind of bunny okay?”

Becca laughs. “Yeah Ava, didn’t you see the little carrot he was holding?” She has tears in her eyes from laughing so hard.

Parker stands up. “Hey now. Now you guys are just ganging up on me. I’m going to get more wine. Anyone want anything?”