Page 34 of Playing with My Heart

“I'm gonna grab some water,” he said, his voice slightly husky. “You want anything?”

I shook my head, watching as he made his way to the kitchen. The sight of him moving through the space we’d been sharing stirred something deep within me. I followed him, drawn like a magnet.

He was leaning against the counter, water glass in hand, when I entered. His eyes met mine, and the intensity I saw there made my breath catch. “Parker,” he said softly, setting down his glass. “I?—"

I closed the distance between us in two quick strides. Before I could second-guess myself, I cupped his face in my hands andpressed my lips to his. For a heart-stopping moment, he stood frozen, not kissing me back. Then, with a low groan, he came alive under my touch. His fingers gripping me by the shirt and pulling me flush against his body as he deepened the kiss.

It was electric, passionate, everything I’d been imagining and more. I dove into the kiss, slipping my tongue between his open lips and coaxing his into a dance. My heart soared and my pulse began to race. I was so lost in the kiss that it took a few seconds for me to realize Travis was no longer kissing me back and the hand that had been clutching the front of my shirt was gently pushing me away.

I stumbled back, my cheeks burning with embarrassment as reality came crashing down around me. The warmth of his lips still lingered on mine, but his eyes were wide with emotion I couldn’t quite place. My stomach twisted into knots as I realized I had completely misread the situation.

“Oh god,” I mumbled, running a shaky hand through my hair. “I’m so sorry, Travis. I thought—I mean, I felt like there was something between us, but clearly, I was wrong. I’m such an idiot.”

The silence that followed was deafening. I could hear my own heartbeat pounding in my ears. The kitchen suddenly felt too small, too intimate. I wanted nothing more than to disappear into thin air, to erase the last few minutes from existence.

Travis stood there, his expression unreadable, one hand still pressed against his lips. The silence stretched between us, thick and oppressive. I felt my face burning with shame, my stomach churning with regret. How could I have misread things so badly?

“Parker, I—" he began, his voice low and strained.

I held up a hand, unable to meet his eyes. “No, please. You don’t have to say anything. I’m so sorry. I’ll just...I’ll get out of here.” I turned to flee, desperate to escape the suffocating tension of the kitchen. My vision blurred with unshed tears asI stumbled up the stairs. How could I have been so stupid? I’d ruined everything—our friendship, our working relationship, the comfortable routine we’d fallen into.

“Parker, wait!” Travis called after me, his footsteps echoing behind me. I froze, my hand on the doorknob of the guest room, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it. I couldn't turn around, couldn’t bear to see the pity or disgust in his eyes.

“Please,” he said softly, his voice closer now. “Can we talk about this?”

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the floor to open up and swallow me whole. The silence stretched between us. Finally, I mustered the courage to turn around, keeping my gaze fixed on the floor. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I completely misread everything. I thought—God, I’m such an idiot.”

“Parker, look at me,” he said, his voice gentle but firm. I reluctantly raised my eyes to meet his, bracing myself for the worst. But instead of disgust or anger, I saw a mix of emotions swirling in those blue depths—concern, affection, and something else I couldn’t quite place.

“I like you, Parker. I like you A LOT, which is why I can’t just be a rebound guy for you.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, leaving me breathless and confused. “A rebound guy?” I echoed, my brow furrowing as I tried to process what he was saying.

He ran a hand over his jaw. “Look, you just got out of a long-term relationship. And I’d be lying if I said I haven’t thought about this—about us.” He took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving mine. “But I can’t be a simple fling for you, Parker. I care about you too much for that. And I’m worried you’re not ready for anything serious yet.”

My heart raced as I processed his words. He hadn’t turned me away because he didn’t want me, he’d pushed me away because he wanted something more, something real. Travis liked me. He actually liked me. But he thought I was just looking for a rebound.

“Travis,” I said softly, taking a step closer to him. “You're not a rebound. Not even close.”

His eyebrows raised slightly, a flicker of hope crossing his features. “I'm not?”

I shook my head, gathering my courage. “Travis, I’ve seen men and women fall all over themselves to get your attention; servers, patients, even that little old lady that lives down the hall from you. You could never be someone’s rebound guy. You’re the one they’re rebounding from. And besides—I like you too. A lot.” I emphasized the last part the way he had.

His eyes softened, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Really?”

I nodded, my heart pounding. “Really. Being around you these past weeks, it’s like—I don’t know, like I’m finally waking up. Seeing things clearly for the first time.”

He took a step closer, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from his body through his clothes. “Parker,” he said softly, his voice low and husky. “Are you sure about this? Because if we do this, I don’t want there to be any doubts or regrets. I don’t think I could stand it if you regretted something we did. And I think we should go out. Properly.”

“Oh my God! Is Travis Brooks actually asking me out on a date?” I teased. “But wait, I thought you never dated.”

His eyes softened, a vulnerability I’d never seen before flickering across his features. He rubbed the back of his neck, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks. For a moment, the confident, carefree man I knew was replaced by someone almost shy, uncertain.

“I haven’t,” he admitted quietly, his gaze dropping to the floor before meeting mine again. “But that's only because I never met anyone I wanted to be with like that.” He took a deep breath, as if steeling himself. “But you’re different. You’re—Fuck, Parker, you’re everything.”

My heart stuttered in my chest as he reached out, his fingers ghosting along my cheek. The touch was feather-light, but it sent electricity coursing through my body. “I want to take you out,” he continued, his voice low and earnest. “I want to show you how special you are to me. I want to do this differently, because you’re different. I want to do it right.”

I leaned into his touch, my eyes fluttering closed for a moment as I savored the feeling of his hand on my skin. When I opened them again, Travis was looking at me with such intensity that it took my breath away. “Okay,” I whispered, a smile tugging at my lips. “Let’s do this right.”

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