Page 18

Marcus

3 Months Later

The past few months with Parker have been better than I could have dreamed. We’ve taken things slow, well as slow as we could. It’s hard when I always want to have my hands on him, but we’ve gone on multiple dates and spent time at home, just hanging out with one another.

I’ve also been sneaking away for a few hours a week, working on a surprise for Parker. I’m planning to show it to him tonight after our date and even though I’m nervous, I hope he loves it. He has no idea I’ve been working on it, and I can’t wait to see his face.

My phone rings, and I look at the screen, smiling when I see Alexander’s name.

“Hey man,” I say, as I answer the phone.

“Hey, wanted to see if you and Parker can come over a bit earlier today. Elias wants to play some board games.”

“Yeah, we can do that. I’m about to head over right now to pick him up.”

“And how have things been going with you two?” Alexander has been there for everything, but he’s been cautious not to ask too many questions since I told him Parker and I are trying to work things out.

“We’re really good. He still brings up taking things slow, but things aren’t really slow between us. But I’ll tell him whatever he needs to hear to help his anxiety.”

“Fuck, how is his anxiety? Has he had any other anxiety attacks?”

“He told me he had another one, but I wasn’t there with him. He called me as soon as it stopped. It’s so damn hard to hear him talk about it, but from what he said, it didn’t last long, and he was able to stop it pretty quickly.”

“Fucking hell, Marcus,” he whispers. Parker has been in his life almost as long as he’s been in mine, and his heart is huge, so I know it’s hard for him to hear what Parker has to deal with.

“He’s living with it and he’s dealing with it. He deserves to have a fun night tonight.”

“Oh, Elias is already making sure of that. He’s going to make homemade margaritas, and he’s currently in the kitchen whipping up three different queso. Three, Marcus. Why the hell do we need three fucking quesos?” he asks incredulously.

I toss my head back, laughing loudly. “Who the hell knows? But I can guarantee they’ll eat it all.”

“I’ll see you later, man. Elias is yelling for help.”

“See you soon.”

I hang up the phone, stepping out of my car. Parker meets me outside his building, walking straight into my chest, holding me tightly. “I missed you.”

“I saw you last night,” I tell him, kissing the top of his head.

“One day, we’ll be living together, and we won’t have to miss each other this way.” He leans up on his tiptoes, kissing me softly. “But until then, we’ll just have to keep playing this ‘missing you’ game.”

He bounces past me, making his way into my car. If only he knew where my head was at and the fact I’m already planning to get him to move in with me. I drive us to Alexander’s place, Parker taking off ahead of me as soon as I park.

“Where’s the fire?” I ask, rushing up behind him.

“No fire. I’m just excited to play some games and hang out with friends.”

Elias is standing at the door with a smile on his face as we walk up. “I’ve been waiting so long for this.” He pulls Parker into a hug, and with their tight embrace, one would think they were best friends and not that they’ve only met a handful of times. “The margaritas are already in the machine, and the queso is made and ready to eat. That’s all I could make, though. Alexander ended up ordering the rest of the food.”

“Damn, and here I thought Elias could do everything,” I joke, coughing loudly when Elias smacks my stomach. “What the hell?”

“I could definitely do everything, but other things popped up that were more important.”

Alexander walks up behind him, kissing his neck. Elias melts into a puddle of goo, and I can only imagine what the other things that popped up were.

“Come on in.” Alexander guides us into his apartment. “Eat first or games first?”

Parker and Elias glance at one another before saying, “Eat first.”

We spend the next few hours playing games and eating Mexican food. Parker and Elias are having the time of their lives, drinking margaritas and dancing around the apartment. Parker is light and carefree, and I can’t help but stare as they bounce around the apartment.

“He seems to be doing great,” Alexander says, sitting down in the seat next to me.

“Yeah, man. We’re both doing really well.”

“I’m happy for you,” he tells me, bumping his glass of whiskey into mine.

“Fuck, we’ve got amazing lives. Those two over there make every day spectacular.”

We watch Parker and Elias twerk to some upbeat song playing on the radio and Alexander laughs loudly. “Yeah, we’re doing pretty fucking good. Even if they do constantly keep us on our toes.”

I convinced Parker to take a shower by himself, which was so damn hard when he kept trying to get me to join him. But I want him to see my surprise and I needed him preoccupied with something while I got it all set up. I place the case on the bed, flipping open the lock and opening the top. With careful hands, I grab the guitar and hold it as I find a comfortable spot in the chair. I’m nervous, but I’m excited to show Parker what I’ve been working on.

The shower in the bathroom turns off and my nerves ramp up. Acoustic guitar music is something that helps Parker when he’s having an anxiety attack, so I thought learning to play could be something to help him when he’s having a rough time. But right now, I’m feeling like a fool. What if I suck? What if it doesn’t help him?

The door to the bathroom swings open, Parker striding out with a towel around his waist. “What’s this?” he whispers, his eyes darting to the guitar, then to the case lying on the bed.

“So, I, uh, might have done something silly.”

“Might have?” he asks, walking over to the bed and sitting down. “And what’s the silly thing you might have done?”

“I kind of learned to play the acoustic guitar. Now, I’m not saying I’m good at it, I’m actually probably terrible at it. But I wanted to do something for you.”

“You...” He pauses, his fingers dragging down the strings of the guitar. “You learned to play for me?” he asks with tears in his eyes.

“I did. I know you said it helps you when you’re having an attack, so I thought maybe this could help when you’re feeling overwhelmed.”

“What the hell, Marcus?”

“Did I do wrong?”

“No,” he whispers, a tear sliding down his cheek. “How do you always do the right thing?” He sniffles, wiping at his nose. “Can you play something for me?”

“Sure.”

Strumming the guitar, I make sure everything is in the correct key. I stare into Parker’s eyes as I play the song I learned. I hum along to the tune, my hands shaky with each pass I make. My eyes never leave his as I play the entire song I learned. Once I finish, Parker jumps off the bed, jumping into my lap.

“Why the hell are you so perfect?” he whispers, digging his face into the crook of my neck. “I can’t believe you learned to play this for me. Why?”

“Because I love you. I told you I’m in this for the long haul, and if this is something that’ll help you when you’re having a bad day, then I’m going to do whatever I can to help you.”

“Can you play it again?”

“Yeah, but you’ll have to move,” I snicker, tapping his thigh playfully.

“Oh, yeah. Oops.” He moves to the arm of the chair, his fingers rubbing the nape of my neck.

I get the guitar ready and start playing the song again. I plan to learn more than one song, but this will have to do for now. Parker keeps his hands on me the entire time. I mess up a couple times because of his touch, but I catch myself and keep playing.

I stop playing, setting the guitar into the case. I take my spot back on the chair, pulling Parker into my lap. “Did you like it?” I ask nervously.

“No, I loved it. The fact you would do that for me. Especially when you already have so many other things to deal with.”

“Nothing is as important as you,” I shrug, kissing him. “Plus, I might have another surprise up my sleeve.”

“Another one? What other surprise could you possibly have?”

“Go look in my sock drawer. Under the row of black socks, there’s something in there for you.”

Parker creeps off my lap, making his way to the dresser. His head keeps looking back as he walks. He reaches the dresser and I see him pause, his hand on the handle.

“It’s okay, nothing will jump out at you,” I joke, trying to ease the tension.

“Hardy har. You’re so funny,” he deadpans, opening the drawer. He pulls it open, moving my socks over the side. I can tell the moment he’s found the surprise because his hands stop moving and he whips his head in my direction. “What is this?”

“Bring it here and I’ll show you.”

He grabs the little black box from the drawer and strides over to me. He flips the box between his hands before looking up at me. “Is this what I think it is?” His voice is quiet and meek.

“Open it and see.”

His hands flip open the box, and he tilts his head, tipping the key out into his palm. “A key?” he asks, confusion lacing his tone. “A key to what?”

“To my place. I want you to move in with me.”

He sighs loudly, his chest deflating. “Thank god. I thought a ring would be in there and I was not ready for that.” He chuckles softly, placing his hand over his heart.

“Nah, baby. Not that. One day, but not right now. But you moving into my place or us getting a new place together is the right step for us.”

“I’d like that. I wouldn’t mind moving in here. Your place has always felt like a home.”

“Yeah?” I ask carefully. “Are you ready for that step? It’s a big one.”

“I’m so damn ready, Marcus. We would have already been living together if I hadn’t—”

I cut him off before he can finish his sentence. “Nope, we’re not going there.”

Parker has gotten really good at not bringing up what happened between us before. He still tries to sneak it in sometimes, but I’m always quick to shut it down. I hate when he tries to gang up on himself, and it won’t change anything, so there’s no point in bringing it up.

“You’re right.” Parker tosses the key from one palm to the other before turning and wrapping his arms around my neck. “This was the perfect night. Dinner and drinks with our friends, then the guitar, and now moving in together. I really love this life with you.”

“Our life is always going to be pretty damn great. This next step is just the start of it.”