I opened it and sucked in a breath when I saw Parker standing in my doorway.
“Hi,” I said, frozen to my spot.
“Hi,” he said and scratched his chin. “I went to the diner, but you weren’t there.”
“I’m here,” I said.
He chuckled. “Obviously. Can I come in?”
I muttered something and moved out of the way. He walked in and my palms started to sweat. Since when had I ever been nervous around Parker? I guessed admitting how I felt about him on paper had opened up something inside of me that I had buried for years.
“I want to talk to you about what you said,” he said.
I held up a hand. It was now or never. I didn’t want Parker to leave me angry again. I had to lay it all on the table and let him make the choice.
“Can I talk first?” I asked.
He nodded. “Sure.”
I took a steadying breath and glanced at the pieces of paper scattered across the counter.
“I don’t understand why you won’t believe me about Rachel—”
“Sienna—”
“Wait,” I said, “please let me get this out.”
He opened his hand to indicate me to continue. “Rachel aside. I think you deserve more. You deserve someone that appreciates you for who you are, and not how much money is in your bank account. You love to smile, laugh and joke around, and you should be with someone who loves that side of you. Someone who won’t put you down, but build you up. Someone you can come to in any situation and not worry about being judged.” I poured my heart out to Parker, and as much as I’d been nervous about it, the more I said, the better I felt. I was finally free.
“Where are you going with this?” he asked.
I took a steadying breath, willing the heat behind my eyes to subside. “That someone is me, Parker.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. The steady rise and fall of his chest slowed. He blinked a few times.
I let out a laugh and took my own slow breath. “It’s news to me, too. But after a lot of thought, I want you to consider me. Instead of Rachel. I can—”
“Stop,” he said.
My lips pressed together. I was unable to read him.
“It’s too late, Sienna.”
“No, it’s not.”
He laughed sardonically. “Yes, it is. I’m getting married tomorrow.”
“To someone who doesn’t love you.”
“Rachel loves me. Everyone expresses it differently. Even you. You bottled up these emotions for who knows how long.”
He had me there. “Even if you don’t want me, you can’t marry her. She’s a liar and a cheater.”
“Yes, I can. And I’m going to.” He wiped a hand over his face. “Jesus,
Sienna. I came over here to fix things with you. And you’ve made everything worse.”
“By telling you how I feel?”