“It’s not fair that you’re not drunk with me,” I said, almost falling into my bedroom.
He shrugged. “Life’s not fair, Supernova.”
“Truth.” I blew out hard and fell back on the mattress.
I managed to get my shoes off and shimmy out of my jeans, not really caring that Parker still stood there, a bottle of pills in one hand and a bottle of water in the other.
“Uhhh …Nova.”
“Relax, I’m just too tired to care. Toss me my shorts.”
He did and finally relaxed once I had them over my hips. I climbed under the covers and gladly took the water and meds. When he tried to walk away, I snatched his hand.
“You need something else?” he asked, looking at my hand clutching his.
“I just don’t want to be alone. I’m not ready for you to leave.”
When he didn’t move, I tugged him softly, nodding toward the empty spot in my bed. After a moment, he finally caved, kicking off his shoes and climbing in, turning off the lights before lying next to me. We both laid on our backs and stared up at the ductwork decorating the ceiling.
“What’s not fair to you?” I asked softly, not wanting to disturb the moment.
He blew out a breath, and I wondered if he’d answer. Parker was light and smiley, but I knew things plagued him. I heard it in his music, in the moments he thought no one was listening.
“My mom left us.” He stated the fact so easily I could have believed it meant nothing to him, except for the shuddering breath afterward. “Just started a new family like ours wasn’t enough. Like I wasn’t enough.”
I reached over and snagged his hand, linking our fingers.
“And when I wanted to rant and rage over it, I was told to just smile—to push it aside, and it would fade with time.”
“Did it?”
“Maybe a little. What didn’t help was her constantly pushing me to be someone else. She thinks my music is a waste and that I don’t have what it takes to get there. So, the only time she tells her new circle of friends about her son is when it involves school.”
“I’m sorry, Parker. She has no idea what you’re capable of. She must have never seen you play because otherwise, she’d never doubt your talent.”
“Even if my talent isn’t perfect. I’m going to make it, Nova. Come hell-or-high water, I’ll make it. If only to make her see me.”
“I see you, Parker. I want you—the real you.”
His hand squeezed mine, and I held on tight.
“I forgive you,” I said after a stretch of silence.
“For what?” he asked incredulously.
“For abandoning me to get your dick sucked.”
“Uhhh…”
“Especially since you didn’t come.”
“What?” he asked, laughing.
“I mean, you still looked hard when I walked in, and unless you came in point-two seconds—which would be sad if we’re being honest—you didn’t finish before you followed me.”
“I assure you, I’m not a minute-man.”
“Okay,” I said, full of sarcasm.
“I’m fucking not.”
“Okay, okay. I believe you. No need to get your panties in a twist.” I barely held in my peals of laughter at his indignation. “Minute-man,” I added, unable to help myself.
“Fucking Christ, Nova,” he groaned but also laughed. “Please don’t call me that in front of the guys.”
I laughed harder, and he joined me.
“You’d never live it down.”
“I sure wouldn’t.”
When we both settled, my eyes weighed heavy, and I was finally ready to succumb to sleep.
My fingers still linked with his, and I stroked my thumb along the soft skin between his thumb and forefinger.
“Thanks for following me, Parker.” I didn’t want to think how this night would have ended if he hadn’t.
“Always,” he promised.
Seven
Nova
“Who’s Rock Star?” Rae asked just before sipping from her champagne glass.
I almost missed my chair from the jolt of shock as I sat back down. Readjusting myself, I struggled to school my features into something other than the wide-eyed panic I could feel it stretched into.
She waited patiently, a docile smile on her pouty lips, looking exactly like the polite, politician’s daughter I knew her to one-hundred-percent not be. Meanwhile, Vera’s eyes flicked between the menu, to me, to Rae, and then back to the menu, trying to appear like an innocent bystander.
“What?” I choked out on what little air still lingered in my lungs. I come back from the restroom, and all of a sudden, the easy conversation about how Rae’s trying out a boyfriend for the first time ever vanished, and all lights were now shining on me.
Raelynn’s eyes narrowed the slightest bit, the only hint to the devious lioness lingering underneath her perfectly made-up face. I needed to get myself under control, or she would eat me for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
“Your phone kept going off while you were in the restroom,” she answered easily.
“I tried to stop her,” Vera finally joined in.