Page 31 of Playing with My Heart

The doorbell chimed, announcing the arrival of our food. I paused the movie and jumped up, returning moments later with arms laden with fragrant paper bags. My stomach growled in anticipation.

“Alright, let’s see what we’ve got here,” I said, spreading the containers across the coffee table. “We’ve got spaghetti carbonara, margherita pizza, garlic bread, and—because I believe in balanced meals—a token salad.”

Parker’s eyes widened at the spread. “Travis, this is enough to feed an army!”

I grinned, handing Parker a plate. “Well, consider us a two-man army then. Dig in!”

We loaded our plates, the movie forgotten for the moment as we savored the first bites. The carbonara was creamy perfection, the pasta cooked to al dente brilliance. “Oh my god,” Parker moaned around a mouthful of garlic bread. “This is amazing.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at his enthusiasm. “Told you. It’s practically medicinal.”

As we ate, the heaviness that had hung over us all day seemed to lift slightly. We chatted about inconsequential things—favorite TV shows, the change in seasons, the merits of pineapple on pizza—Parker was for, I was vehemently against.It wasn’t earth-shattering conversation, but it felt normal, comfortable, like every other meal we’d shared together.

As we polished off the last of the garlic bread, Parker leaned back, patting his stomach with a contented sigh. “I can’t believe I ate that much,” he said, a lazy smile playing on his lips.

“Food coma incoming,” I teased, gathering up the empty containers. “You up for finishing the movie?”

Parker nodded, settling back into the couch as I cleaned up. When I returned, I noticed he’d pulled the throw blanket over his legs, looking cozy and at home. My heart did a little flip at the sight.

Hours later, the room had grown dark, illuminated only by the flickering light of the TV screen. We’d long since abandoned the movie, instead flipping through channels aimlessly, a comfortable silence settling between us.

I glanced over at Parker, his face bathed in the soft blue glow of the television. His eyes were heavy-lidded, exhaustion etched in the lines of his face, but there was a peace there that hadn’t been present earlier. The tightness in his shoulders had loosened, his posture more relaxed as he sank deeper into the couch cushions.

“Hey,” I said softly, nudging his foot with mine. “You look beat. Maybe we should call it a night?”

He blinked slowly, as if coming out of a trance, then he turned to look at me, his eyes soft in the dim light. “Yeah, I guess you’re right,” he murmured, stretching his arms above his head. The movement caused his shirt to ride up slightly, revealing a sliver of toned stomach that made my mouth go dry.

“Thanks, Travis,” he said, his voice low and sincere. “For everything. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”

I swallowed hard, pushing down the surge of emotions his words evoked. “That’s what friends are for,” I replied, hoping my voice didn’t betray the turmoil inside me.

Parker stood up, swaying slightly on his feet. Without thinking, I reached out to steady him, my hand on his arm. The contact sent a jolt through me, like a low current of electricity humming beneath my skin. Parker didn’t pull away, instead he stared down at my hand for a moment.

“You okay?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded, his eyes meeting mine. “Yeah, just a little dizzy. Guess I’m more tired than I thought.”

We stood there for a beat too long, my hand still on his arm, our bodies close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating off him. The air between us felt charged, heavy with unspoken words and—possibilities?

Parker was the first to break the spell, taking a small step back. “I should probably head to bed,” he said, running a hand through his hair.

“Right, of course,” I replied, dropping my hand to my side. “You remember where everything is?”

He nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “Yeah, I think I can manage. Thanks again, Travis.”

As he turned to head upstairs, I found myself calling out, “Hey, Parker?”

He paused on the first step, looking back at me with those beautiful gray eyes. “Yeah?”

I hesitated for a moment, my heart pounding. There were so many things I wanted to say, so many feelings I wanted to express. But now wasn’t the time. Instead, I simply said, “Sleep well, okay?”

A soft smile touched his lips. “You too, Travis. Goodnight.”

I watched as he climbed the stairs, disappearing into the guest room. The sound of the door clicking shut echoed in the quiet house, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Sighing, I began to clean up the living room, my mind replaying every moment of the day. The way Parker’s hand had felt in mine, thesound of his laughter during the movie, the vulnerability in his eyes as he thanked me. Each memory sent a wave of longing through me, tempered by the knowledge that he was still very raw from his breakup.

I retreated to my own bedroom, closing the door softly behind me. As I got ready for bed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between Parker and me today. Whether it was the beginning of something new or just the deepening of our friendship, I wasn’t sure.

Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, I found sleep elusive. My mind kept drifting to Parker, just a wall away. Was he sleeping peacefully, or lying awake replaying the events that led him here? The urge to go to him, to offer comfort, was almost overwhelming. But I knew I had to resist. He needed time and space to process everything.

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