Found in Us (Lost 2)

She nods, smiling. “Okay. I’ll leave you now. I have to make a phone call for work. It might take a while. You’ll be okay on your own?”

“Are you kidding? I want to explore every inch of this castle. Ah...any parts where I’m not supposed to poke my nose?”

“No secrets. Go wild.”

After she leaves, I finish my breakfast at top speed, then go exploring.

This place is the bomb, I swear. Why are they not turning it into a museum? Half of it at least. But even though everything around me is fascinating, Parker is on my mind constantly.

Chapter Eleven

Parker

"I suck at golf," Tara says, glancing after her ball, which lands about fifty yards short. "Royally."

"You just need more practice."

"Yeah . . . more practice at convincing you to drop this sport, Parker. It bores the hell out of me. I can't believe you're doing it every Saturday."

"It's a good way to clear my head, and also a very good excuse to conduct business talks under the disguise of a friendly game."

She waves her hand dismissively. "There's no one here to have business talks with, so let's call it a day. I want to grab a lemonade before we go, though."

We head to the bar area inside the club building and I order a coffee and a lemonade.

After a few sips, she asks, "What's the deal with Jessica?"

I spit coffee. "What about her?"

"Oh, come on, Parker. You were looking at her last night like you wanted to mount her right there in the living room."

"Right."

"Helen thinks so, too."

"Then it must be true, no doubt."

I've known both Tara and Helen since we were kids. Somehow that gives them the impression they can offer their opinion freely about every aspect of my life. I respect both of them. They’ve both decided to make it on their own, even though they come from money. But my private life is... private.

Tara's eyes widen. "Oh my God, you slept with her."

"So what if I did?" I challenge.

She beams. "That's fantastic. Jessica is exactly the type of woman you need."

I briefly consider cutting this conversation short. But if I'm honest, I'm curious as to what she has to say. "Please explain."

"She is fun, you know. Loose. You need a little shaking up, Parker."

"What makes you think that?"

"I did study psychology, you know. You can't keep doing things the way you do them now. You compartmentalize everything, Parker."

"What's wrong with compartmentalizing? It's simple. You know me, I don't like complicated."

"It's not healthy. You need someone to share every part of your life with. You have to let someone in."

"You already know my view on that," I reply. Letting people near you gives them a chance to stab you in the back when you least expect it.