Page 99 of The Fire

Ev let his head fall back and spread his arms wide. “Ah, finally. Official authorization to do what I’ve already been doing for months.” He laughed. “So now that we’ve established that I’m right and you’re wrong, pretty much always…”

“Yeah.”

“What are you gonna do?”

“I’m gonna talk to Parker,” I repeated obediently.

“Excellent! Call him. Do itnow. Before I leave and you decide to destroy your bathroom instead.”

“I’m gonna do better,” I said, pushing to my feet. “I’m gonna go to Cal’s in person, and I’m gonna tell Parker that he’s staying here with me. I’ll pitch a tent in the alley behindFanailleuntil he comes home.”

“Oh, praise Jesus,” Ev said in a rush.

I laughed once. “You having a religious moment over there, Everett? I didn’t think you were the type.”

“Witnessing a miracle changes a man,” Everett said dryly. He stood also. “And… just to be sure… what happens when you hit a wall? What happens when you assume Parker feels a certain way and he assumes you feel something else?”

“I will talk to him. I promise. Every single time. And I won’t let him leave again, unless I’m leaving with him.”

“Excellent.” Everett clapped his hands. “Now, take a damn shower, before you scare the man, and I’ll drive you to Cal’s.” He winked. “That way you can at least make sure Parker drives you home.”

* * *

* * *

I jammed myself into Everett’s tiny car maybe seven minutes later, and I nearly exploded onto the pavement when he finally pulled up toFanaille. Parker’s car was parked at the curb, and I was suddenly dying to see him, to touch him, to reassure him, and to reassuremyselfthat I hadn’t broken everything because of my stupid fear. I couldn’t believe I’d nearly let Parker slip away from meagain.

I threw open the door to the bakery, without even waiting to see if Everett was behind me, and strode in only to pull up short. The place was packed with customers. Mitch and Marci were sitting at one table, Henry and Diane at another. Theo Ross and a pack of his friends were taking up two entire tables by the window. Lisa Dorian and Quinn Tierney were standing and chatting by the door. At least six people were standing in line, and I didn’t even recognize two of them.

Cal and Ash were both behind the counter, but there was no Parker in sight. And I tried to be patient, I did, and to wait my turn, but Jesus Christ, did Suzanne O’Deigh really need to have a fucking discussion about the ingredients of the muffins when I had revelations to share and a real live, actualrelationshipto start?

I started tapping my foot when the line shuffled forward and finally lost my patience entirely when Cal started having a protracted conversation with his soon-to-be sister-in-law, who was heavily pregnant and clearly displeased by this fact.

“Hey, Cal!” I called from the back of the line. “Parker upstairs?”

Cal glanced over at me, looking a little tired and distinctly unimpressed by my presence. “Parker? What would he be doing here?”

What? “Everett said he was here.” I looked around to find Ev for confirmation, but he’d apparently decided not to come inside.

“He was,” Cal confirmed. “He’s not now.”

Cal smiled at his sister-in-law. “Sorry about that interruption, Karen. Now, what were you saying about your back spasms? Don’t leave out a single detail.”

I huffed out a breath.

Ash was turned around, preparing coffee at the little espresso machine on the back counter, so I tried him instead. “Ash! Do you know where Parker went?”

Ash turned around and surveyed me. He took a deep breath, but before he could answer, Cal interjected.

“Not sure why you wanna know, Jameson.”

I blinked at the hostility. “Because I need to talk to him, obviously.”

“Have you tried his phone?” Cal shot back.

I swallowed. “No, I haven’t. I need to speak to him in person.”

“Hmm. Well, that’s gonna be tricky.”