Outmatched

She stood unmovable, but her lower lip trembled once before she bit it hard. “You’re right. You could get sex anywhere. A relationship has to be about more than sex, doesn’t it?”

I stepped forward, balling my hands to keep from reaching for her. “What the hell is going on, Tink? You’re obviously pissed but I’m stumped as to why.”

Her expression suddenly turned cold and remote again. I fought off a shiver. “Our time together was … enjoyable. But I think we want different things.”

Shock prickled my skin as I gaped at her. I’d been sucker punched in the ring and it hurt less. Was she breaking up with me? “Enjoyable? Different things?”

“Would you please stop repeating everything I say.”

“I have to.” I bit back a shout. “Because everything you’re saying makes no fucking sense.”

When her eyes narrowed in warning, I took a deep breath. “You want to explain why yesterday we were good and now you’re looking at me like I’m a stranger? Because I don’t get it.” I stretched my arms wide, imploring. “Talk to me, honey. I’m right here.”

Parker exhaled, squaring her shoulders, but a shimmer of tears in her eyes betrayed her. “I want something more, okay?”

Flinching, I stepped back, rubbed my face with a shaking hand. It suddenly hit me what this was about. While I’d been sorting my head out, Parker had been spending too much time in hers. I felt dizzy, the floor beneath me tilting. “Yeah, I fucking get it. I’m not him. Never will be.”

“You think this is about Theo?”

I didn’t want to hate the sound of his name on her lips. But I did. God help me, I did. “You’re in love with a ghost. I can’t compete with that.”

Her laugh was thin, and she closed her eyes as if reaching for patience. Well, join the fucking club, honey.

When she opened her eyes, they were shining with irritation. “This isn’t about Theo. Yes, I loved him. But he’s gone. I’m not pining for him.”

I wanted to feel relief. But I didn’t. Something was standing between us, but I was damned if I knew what. “Then what the hell? You give me this bullshit line about us wanting different things, that it’s over, then you should have the guts to tell me why.”

“Are you calling me a coward?”

“If the shoe fits, sweetheart.”

Her teeth met with an audible snap. “Don’t you dare play that card. Not when you duck your head any time things get too emotional.”

The force of her words punched past my defenses, and I blinked, my stance sagging. “You’re right. That was a low blow. I’m sorry, all right. But, shit, Parker, I’m lost here.”

“I saw you with that blond today,” she said abruptly, her eyes big and round with hurt. “At lunch. You were hugging her.”

Realization hit. Fuck. She had the wrong idea. “You think I’m cheating?”

“No.” She laughed hollowly. “Not when I took a minute to think about it. That’s not your style. I know it here.” She tapped her temple. “You wouldn’t cheat. You’re too honorable. But when I saw you hug another woman, it wasn’t my head that was leading me. It was my heart. It was my heart that broke.”

Her pain hit me like a lash, and I reached for her. But she held up a hand, forestalling me. “No. Don’t… let me say this.”

“All right,” I rasped, my throat closing up on me.

“I’ve only had one other relationship before you—”

“That makes one more than I’ve had,” I cut in, unable to help myself.

Parker nodded. “I get that. But even you must know that a relationship can’t thrive solely on sex.”

I felt pinned, unable to breathe. I’d been doing her wrong and hadn’t noticed. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. Maybe she was right. Maybe I wasn’t for her. But even as I thought it, my mind—my fucking heart—rebelled.

“It isn’t just sex,” I repeated through my clenched teeth.

Parker stared at me with those eyes that cut to the bone. “That’s the point, Rhys. How am I supposed to know when every time I’ve attempted to talk to you about how you’re feeling these past few weeks you’ve distracted me and opted for sex instead? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about the sex—I can barely keep my hands off you either.” A soft, lopsided smile pulled at her lips but didn’t reach her eyes. “But we haven’t had a real conversation since we left Fairchild’s lodge. We were closer then but now… you have a tendency to withdraw and keep everything to yourself when it comes to emotional support. And it … hurts.”

Fuck. “Parker—”

“Today, I saw you with another woman … and it hurt so much. It reminded me how painful it is when you lose someone you care about.” She nodded, tears spilling down her pretty cheeks. “You… you have power over me, and I don’t think,” she swallowed hard, “I don’t think this is going to work if one of us feels more than the other.”