Page 12

CHAPTER 11

GHOST

I forgot how to trust fifteen years ago.

“Parker, what are you doing here?”

I smile at my mom, who seems to have her wits about her today. Of course, it’s still early, and mornings are always her best time.

“Thought I’d come for a visit,” I tell her, as I sit at the kitchen table. “Whatcha cookin’?”

“I was hungry for an omelet, so I’m making one. I can make a second one if you’re hungry.”

“Sounds good to me,” I say, a smile on my lips. It quickly fades when there’s a knock on the door, and I’m reminded of why I’m really here. “Be right back.”

I make my way through the living room, surprised Ember still showed up. After the other day, I would’ve understood if she chose not to come. Fuck, I sorta hoped she wouldn’t.

When I open the door, I swallow my tongue. Ember is wearing a pair of black scrubs with teal stethoscopes and heartbeats all over them. The outfit shouldn’t be sexy, but on her, I fear even a paper bag would send all my blood straight to my cock.

“Can I come in or are you going to stare at me all day?” she asks sweetly.

I step aside and gesture for her to enter. As soon as she crosses the threshold, I close the door and turn around. Immediately, I recognize my mistake because she’s taking in her surroundings, and all my eyes seem to see is her perfect ass.

Shaking my head, I clear my throat. “Where’s your stuff?”

Ember whips around at the sound of my voice, slightly lifting the bag slung over her shoulder. I’ve got what I need for the day in here,” she says. “The rest is in the car.”

“Parker, your omelet’s ready,” Mom yells from the kitchen, preventing me from replying to Ember, and unlike when I speak, Ember’s eyes light up, and a genuine smile graces her perfect lips.

Rolling my eyes, I ask, “Are you hungry?”

Ember shakes her head. “I grabbed a muffin on the way here. But I could go for some coffee.”

“C’mon, then.”

I move past her to head to the kitchen, and she follows. Mom is sitting at the table, already eating, and as soon as we enter the space, Mom’s eyes widen, and she freezes with her fork halfway to her mouth.

After a moment’s hesitation, she sets her fork down, and the light in her eyes dulls. “What’s this?”

Pushing down my disappointment that her good day might have ended, I reply, “Mom, you remember Ember, right?”

“Hi Mrs. West,” Ember greets. “It’s been a long time.”

Mom glares at her before shifting her attention to me. “What is she doing here?”

Shit. Her memory is still sharp as ever right now.

When I remain silent, Mom rises from her chair and stalks around the table to stand in front of Ember. “You break my son’s heart, and you have the nerve to show your face here?” While it’s a statement of fact—in her eyes at least—it comes out more like a question.

“Mom, ple?—”

“It’s okay,” Ember says, not looking at me, her tone cheerier than the situation calls for. “Mrs. West, you’re right. I hurt Parker, and for that, I’m so sorry.”

Wait… What?

Mom’s expression softens but barely. “Why are you here?”

“I’m here for you,” Ember explains. “Parker thought that I could help you.”

Mom’s gaze whips to me. “What makes you think I need help?”

“I, um…” My throat goes dry, and words fail me.

“Mrs. West, why don’t you finish your breakfast? I’m sure it’ll taste better hot.”

“Fine. But we’re going to discuss this later,” Mom huffs and returns to her food.

I practically drag Ember back into the living room while Mom is distracted.

“I’m so fucking sorry about that,” I say, finding that I mean it. I shouldn’t be because my mom was right about Ember breaking my heart, and she was only doing what mother’s do. But Ember wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me, and being attacked by the person she’s here to help isn’t what she signed on for.

“It’s okay,” she says. “I’m used to much worse, trust me.”

Worse?

The thought of anyone treating her poorly boils my blood, and I mentally remind myself that I have no right to think that way. Not anymore.

“I’ll talk to her, make her understand that you’re not the enemy.”

“No,” she snaps. “I can handle this. I don’t need you to fight my battles for me.”

“I never said you did,” I say, my teeth clenched. “Ya know what? Never mind. It doesn’t seem to matter what I fucking do or say, it’s the wrong thing with you.”

Ember’s stiff shoulders drop, the fight leaving her. “I’m here for your mom, not us. Can’t we just keep things professional?”

“Professional? How are we sup?—”

My phone rings, cutting me off, and I curse under my breath. I pull it out of my back pocket, and a quick glance at the screen tells me it’s not a call I can ignore.

“I gotta take this,” I tell her before answering. “Hey, Crow, what’s up?”

Moving to the hallway so I can have a little privacy, I have a half-hearted conversation with my president about how things are going here, all the while, Ember’s eyes are on me.

“Yeah, yeah, things are okay,” I tell him. “I’ll be there within the hour.”

“Are you sure?” he asks. “Poker can handle this alone.”

“I’m sure. Honestly, I could use some time in the Nightmare Room.”

He chuckles. “I’m sure you could. See ya when you get here.”

“Right. Later, brother.”

As I disconnect the call, my feet eat up the space between me and the woman from my past.

“Everything okay?” she asks, seemingly genuinely concerned.

“Yep.”

She eyes me warily. “Are yo?—”

“Parker, sweetheart, your breakfast is getting cold,” Mom says as she makes her way into the living room. Her face lights up when she sees Ember. “Oh, hi, honey,” she greets. “Parker didn’t tell me you were coming. But I’m so glad you did because we’ve got a lot of last-minute details to work out.”

Confusion wrinkles my brow, but Ember only smiles. “Hi, Mrs. West.”

Mom waves her hand dismissively. “Pft. How many times do I have to tell you to call me ‘Mom’?”

Well, fuck.

Ember glances at me, pity in her blue eyes. I hate that look. Anger, rage, even hatred I can deal with, but pity? Nope.

“Yes, ma’am. Why don’t you come sit down while I finish talking to Parker, and then we can work on those details later?”

“Sit down?” Mom shakes her head. “Oh, no. There’s no time to waste. The wedding is in…” She settles her hands on her hips. “Well, I don’t quite recall when it is, but it’s soon, right?”

“We’ve got time, Mrs. West.”

Mom glances at me, and I force myself to nod, to reassure her that there’s plenty of time.

“If you say so,” Mom mutters as she moves to the couch and sits.

Ember levels her gaze on mine and nods to the kitchen. I follow her there, my stomach churning at how quickly the morning shifted.

“It’s going to be okay,” she tells me.

“She’s in there convinced that we’re still together, on the verge of getting married, and you expect me to believe that shit is okay?”

“This is my job,” she insists. “If you want me to work here, I’m gonna need you to trust me.”

Trust? She talks of trust after all we’ve been through? I forgot how to trust fifteen years ago.

“Yeah, okay,” I acquiesce. “I’ve gotta go take care of some things. Will you be okay with her?”

Ember smirks. “I repeat, this is my job. We’ll be fine.”

“Right.”

“Look, Parker, I’ll call you if I need to, but otherwise, let me do my thing, okay?”

“Ghost,” I correct out of habit.

“Ghost,” she repeats.

“I’ll be back later to check in,” I tell her.

She shrugs. “Okay, if you think that’s necessary.”

I huff out a humorless laugh. “I have no intention of simply dumping her on you. I’m not sure what kind of families you’re used to dealing with, but I didn’t hire you because I don’t give two shits about her. I hired you because I love her, and I’m not stupid enough to think I can give her everything she needs.”

“Never thought otherwise.”

I stare at her as if I’ll find a lie in her expression, but all I see is sincerity. First pity, now this? I can’t fucking handle it.

“I gotta go,” I say, pushing past her. “Call me if you need anything.”

I kiss my mom on the top of her head as I walk past toward the door. Before I can close it behind me, I hear my mom ask Ember who the nice man who just left was.

Mom thinks Ember broke my heart, and she’s not wrong. But now she’s breaking it all over again.