Page 5 of Accidentally Falling For My Best Friend (Chicago Awakenings #2)
PARKER
EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD
“ H urry up, we’re going to be late for work,” I warn.
I’m standing at my front door waiting for Oakley to put on his uniform. “Not everyone’s parents own the hotel, ya know,” I remind him.
“Yeah, your mom is just the General Manager, totally doesn’t matter,” he teases, finally passing me as he heads out the door.
My mom’s been working at Caldwell House since I was fourteen. She became super involved in every part of my life after Dad died, like she was afraid for me to leave our house without her.
I think it helped that Oakley was always with me, though. We’d always spent a lot of time together, and we had sleepovers most weekends before my dad passed. But after he died, it was like we couldn’t spend a full night away from each other if I wanted any sleep.
In the very beginning, on the few nights that Oakley’s parents had him stay at home, I couldn’t sleep without having horrible nightmares, and I would wake up screaming.
My mom couldn’t sleep either, so I think she was relieved when Oakley would stay over and she wasn’t stuck lying awake in a bed next to me, or hearing my screams every night.
Luckily, Oakley has never been uncomfortable sharing a bed and was always willing to spend the night or invite me to his house. Something about knowing he’s next to me calms me enough, even when I’m sleeping, that I don’t have any nightmares if he’s there.
After a few months of encouragement, Mom decided to start working for the Caldwells, and she slowly seemed to return to the mom I’d always known.
In the months after my dad died, it was like she was a shell of her former self, going through the day to day but without any real emotions that weren’t grief or fear.
She seemed completely lost without him. But after settling into a new routine, she started smiling again, wearing makeup and doing her hair like she used to.
Caldwell House is a great fit for her. She’d worked in and managed hotels after college.
She actually met my dad when his restaurant opened a location connected to the hotel she was managing at the time.
She started at Caldwell House as a part-time front desk manager.
The woman who’d previously held the position was expecting, and they spent her pregnancy training my mom to cover her maternity leave.
When she returned to work, they split the hours, helping each other out when needed.
Mom loved it, and the flexible hours meant that she still had plenty of time to go to my hockey games and school stuff.
If she did have to work, I would just go to Oakley’s house.
At first, I was worried I’d feel like a burden or like they were babysitting me, but I quickly realized that nothing had changed.
His family has always welcomed me like one of their own, the only difference now was that if it was a school night, I was allowed to sleep over.
The first time we visited my mom at work, Oakley and I were both fascinated by how much goes into the behind-the-scenes of running the hotel.
We’d both stayed in hotels plenty with hockey tournaments and on vacations our families had taken, but when my mom took us on a tour and showed us all of the different jobs that were required to keep it all functioning, we were hooked.
That day, Oakley went home and told his dad that he planned to take over the Caldwell Hotel brand when he grew up.
His dad took him seriously, and when we were both sixteen and were old enough to work, we started as bellboys, competing to see who could carry more or racing each other to see who could complete our tasks first. By then, we both knew hockey wasn’t our future, so we decided to quit the team and focus on working.
We still love working out though, and have always made fitness a priority to make time for around work and school.
Being best friends with the owner’s kid had its perks, like being able to work the same schedule, which made it way more enjoyable.
Mom had worked her way up to GM, and after a few months, we transferred into the housekeeping staff.
After a few months of that, we spent some time working various positions in the food and beverage department.
About a year ago, our parents decided that we were ready to work the front desk.
All of the different jobs have been interesting for different reasons, but I think we both appreciate everything that goes into running a hotel a lot more now.
A few weeks ago, I got to spend time shadowing different people in the finance department and confirmed that that’s where I see my future.
I’ve always loved math, and it’s cool to see how it’s applied practically to the business I’ve spent years learning about.
We’re both going to college soon, obviously the same one.
Ivy League because of the Caldwell name, but only one actually has a hospitality management program, so we’re going there.
Oakley’s older brother, Beck, goes there now though, and he said it’s a lot of fun and is always going on about how great the parties are.
“Drew was telling me all about how he hooked up with Angela again at some party last weekend,” Oakley tells me as we walk the few blocks from my house to the hotel.
“And?” I ask. Why does he think I’d care?
“Well, it reminded me that we’re eighteen-year-old virgins and that we’re going to go to college as virgins if we don’t do something about it soon,” he says in a tone like his concern should be obvious. “I’m rich and popular, how am I still a virgin?” he jokingly adds.
“When would we have time to hook up with anyone?” I ask with a laugh. “We’re always working or hanging out with each other,” I point out.
“That’s true,” he agrees.
Honestly, I haven’t given much thought to the whole virginity thing.
My hand works just fine if I really feel the need to get off.
Not that I even jerk off much, to be honest. Oakley and I are usually in the same bed, so I have to wait until I’m in the shower and he does the same.
We’ve joked about it before because sleeping in the same bed means waking up in the same bed, morning wood and all.
But Oakley and I talk about everything, so even that isn’t awkward.
“Hey, what about next Friday, when our parents are all at that new hotel opening in California, we could invite Mia and Chloe over to your place, so my brothers don’t bother us,” he suggests.
Mia and Chloe are in some of our classes, and Mia and Oakley are constantly flirting, laughing, and casually touching each other.
I’m surprised that he hasn’t tried to date her.
Chloe is Mia’s best friend; they’re both cheerleaders, and they definitely fit the stereotype of peppy popular girls, but they’re nice enough.
Oakley’s been on a few dates over the past few years, we both have, but neither of us has had a serious girlfriend. I’ve really only gone out with girls who’ve made the first move, and I’ve never cared to give much effort .
“Why would Chloe want to hook up with me?” I wonder aloud.
“Um, because you’re already over six feet tall and are made of like solid muscle?” he answers. “Parker, you have to know you’re hot,” he adds, like it’s an obvious fact. “Plus, you’re like the coolest guy I know, I’m sure a bunch of girls want to sleep with you,” he says matter-of-factly.
I can feel my cheeks heat a little at the compliment. People always tell me how much I look like my dad, which is great. That’s really the only thing I’ve ever given much thought to as far as my appearance goes.
I’m also not as socially awkward as I used to be.
After years of being friends with the most popular kid in our year, I've become more comfortable in social situations.
Most of the time, at least. I would even consider some of the people we go to school with to be my friends, which is a big step up from where I was before moving here.
“We can have them over if you want,” I concede, not wanting to hold Oak back if he wants to hook up. “Am I supposed to ask Chloe over, or can you handle it?”
“I’ll text Mia and see if they’re both free,” he answers, already pulling out his phone.
I’m kind of hoping they aren’t, but I guess Oakley has a point. We probably don’t want to go to college with no sexual experience.
So when the girls are available, we all hang out at my house that Friday night. Oakley ends up in the guest room with Mia, and I ask Chloe if she wants to go to my room. When she eagerly agrees, practically dragging me there, I let her take control.
And once again, Oakley and I check off another first on the same night.