Page 13 of Wish We Were There

He’d aimed to arrive a bit early, but as he parked in front of Taylor’s house, he saw that Kylie had arrived at the same time. She noticed him as she was getting out of her car and waved at him with a smile. He managed a smile back and waved in return. She was wearing a black dress with straps around the neckline that created the shape of a pentagram underneath a black-and-white checkered cardigan. Her outfits always looked perfectly put together, but he was relieved to see that she was dressed relatively casually, so his outfit wouldn’t be out of place.

“Stop freaking out,” he hissed to his reflection in the rearview mirror, before getting out of the car and jogging across the street to join Kylie, a canvas tote bag slung over her shoulder. Should he have brought something? Taylor told him that he was having dinner catered, so there was no need to bring anything, but it definitely looked like Kylie brought something.

“Hey, Parker,” she said with a wide grin. “I didn’t know you were part of the dinner party.”

“Oh,” he said, surprised. “Er, yeah. Taylor invited me. I hope that’s okay?”

She laughed. “I mean, it’s his house. I just didn’t realize. It’s good to see you.”

There was something sly in the way that she smiled at him as they walked up to the front door, but he was too anxious about Taylor to give it much consideration. He reached for the doorbell, but Kylie pushed right past him and opened the door.

“We’re here!” she called out cheerfully. “You didn’t tell me you were inviting Parker!”

Taylor’s voice came from the kitchen. “Come on in. And, oh, yeah, I invited Parker.”

“I’m here too,” Parker called nervously, hovering in the doorway as Kylie waltzed through. Taylor appeared from the kitchen, smiling first at her, then across the hallway at Parker.

For a moment, they both stood there, motionless, looking at each other with slight smiles.

Why am I so pathetic? Parker thought, everything in him melting at the sight of the other man. His blond hair was tucked behind his ears, and he wore an oversized mustard yellow sweater over a collared shirt and light jeans, his feet bare. He looked so cozy and homey and comforting, like a warm mug of apple cider.

Taylor’s smile became shy as he glanced away—Parker was sure he was imagining the faint flush rising in the other man’s cheeks. “Don’t just stand there, dude. C’mon.”

“Right, yeah,” he stammered, hurriedly pulling his shoes off and setting them on the shoe rack by the doorway. Kylie hadn’t bothered with her Converse, and Taylor didn’t seem to care; but he could always hear his mother in the back of his head, chiding him not to wear shoes indoors. “I didn’t bring anything. I hope that’s okay?”

“Yeah, of course,” Taylor replied. “I got everything, so no worries.”

“I just brought wine ‘cause I figured we were gonna need it,” Kylie called from the kitchen.

Taylor nodded, and Parker breathed a sigh of relief.

“So when’s everyone else getting here?” he asked, following Taylor to the kitchen.

“Any minute now,” Taylor replied, glancing at the clock. “I’m sure Dean and Angie will come together. She can drive again now, but I’d be surprised if they turn up separately.” He hesitated, shooting Parker a furtive glance. “They’re, uh... The only ones who don’t know so far.”

Despite his hushed tone, Kylie whirled on them with a scandalized expression. “Seriously, Taylor, you told him before you told them?”

Parker’s heart sunk into his stomach at her tone, but Taylor only huffed and waved her away.

“Sorry I talk to people other than you, Kylie,” he muttered, but Parker could tell he was fighting down a smile. Kylie’s answering scoff sounded just as good-natured, filling him with relief. The last thing he wanted was to cause any sort of divide between Taylor and the rest of the band, all things considered.

“Oh, god, Parker, stop looking like such a lost puppy!” Kylie exclaimed. “Don’t be freaked out, okay? This is just how we are. Everyone loves you already. Seriously, when was the last time we hung out?”

“Uh, I’m not sure,” Parker replied, laughing nervously. Nothing she was saying was making him feel any better, though he supposed it was meant to be reassuring. Taylor shot her an unreadable look, and her expression morphed rapidly over several seconds, until finally she chirped out,

“You know what, I’m going to go set out some wine glasses. Excuse me.”

She bustled past him carrying several wine glasses by their stems, leaving Parker bewildered in the middle of the kitchen with Taylor looking uncomfortable, as he busied himself with pulling plates out of the cabinet.

“What—What was that about?” Parker asked, half-laughing, and Taylor let out a strained noise in response.

“She has this idea that...” he started, then trailed off, waving a hand dismissively. “You know, never mind. It’s stupid. I don’t know how to explain. Ignore her. Listen, when Dean and Angie get here...”

Parker waited, but Taylor only trailed off again, his face pinching with frustration. “I... Um, will you just sit next to me?”

Somehow, he was sure that this wasn’t what Taylor wanted to say when he started talking, but Parker still smiled in return, hoping he looked more confident and unperturbed than he felt.

“Yeah, of course,” he replied quickly.

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