Page 85 of Six Month Wife

“I get that. But it's best this way, Parker.”

He presses his lips together. “Will you let me explain some things?”

The waves crash behind us. Somewhere in the distance, a gull calls. It’s too peaceful for this kind of conversation.

He looks tired. His hands are stuffed in his shorts pockets while his eyes search mine for something I’m not offering.

"Parker, you don't have to explain anything. We're good. We need to shift--"

"Stop. I want to explain. Please, I'll try to be quick."

"Okay."

“I’ve been trying to figure out the right thing to say,” he starts, breaking the silence. “But the easiest path is the most straightforward, right? So I’m going to dive in. I owe you an explanation.”

I don’t respond right away. I’m not sure where this is going.

He takes a step closer, his voice dropping. “First, you should know my dad flew back to DC yesterday. He mademe sit down with him after the meeting with Paul. He talked to Paul on his own afterward, too. I’ve never been so happy to drop someone off at the airport.”

That’s what he’s leading with?

I nod politely. “That’s probably for the best. Your father has a... strong presence. I’m sure that relieves some stress.”

Parker huffs a quiet laugh, the corner of his mouth tugging into a half-smile. “You could say that.”

His expression softens, and his gaze finds mine again.

“But about the phone call?—”

There it is.

“I should’ve told you about her sooner. I think you probably figured it out, but she’s my ex.”

Hearing him say it out loud feels—somehow—both better and worse. My gut was right. That voice, that smile, the nickname. I knew it.

Nobody talks like that to “a friend.”

“But that was years ago,” he adds quickly, probably catching my expression. “We ended on good terms. She’s in another relationship now—happily, as far as I know. She’s a big-time influencer. Huge audience, major brand deals, all of it. That’s why I reached out.”

I blink. “Why would you reach out to your ex?”

“I told her about Citrine. About what you’re building and how much it means to you.” He pauses. “She offered to promote the products. To her millions of followers.”

I stare at him. “Wait—you were doing this... for me?”

He nods. “I wasn’t trying to keep you in the dark or make you feel any type of way. I didn’t want to say anything until I knew she’d do it.”

Emotion rises in my chest, tightening my throat. I glance down, trying to hold myself steady. “You did all that for me?”

“Of course I did,” he says, like it’s obvious.

I look up, studying him. I wait, watching him carefully, to catch a flinch, a smirk—something that’ll tell me this is a setup.

But there’s none of that. It's Parker. Steady, warm, and real Parker.

“If this is bullshit,” I say, my voice low, “I’m going to kick your ass.”

He lifts a brow. “That’s why I didn’t tell you sooner. Itdoessound like bullshit. But it’s not. And for the record, if you want to kick my ass, I can take it.”