Page 76 of Parker

“I know it sounds crazy,” Sawyer had agreed. “But talk to him. Hear him out sometime. You’ll believe him, Reeve. I promise.”

I’d sighed, looking to my right, at my little brother. “Anything else you want to say, Sawyer? I was sureyou’dhave a mouthful for me.”

“I’m sorry, Quinn, and I teased you so much. We shouldn’t have done that. As your brother, I shouldn’t have encouraged it.”

“Thanks for that, Sawyer.”

“And, for the record, I believe that he loves you.”

Me, too.

“You have to figure out what you want, Parker, but if it’s Quinn? Go for it.”

“What about the video?”

“I’m with Reeve. I think it’ll blow over…” His eyes had sparkled with sudden amusement. “But I’m a little surprised. An old-fashioned phone booth? Is that your fetish, Park?”

Grateful for a little levity, I’d grinned at him. “Shut up, Sawyer.”

“Seriously, Park,” Tanner had added, winking at me. “Pick a better make-out spot next time.”

“Preferably one with dimmer lighting and less people,” Harper had suggested with a little chuckle.

I’d looked at my dad then, hoping he could get in on the joke, but he’d met my eyes, shaken his head again, then stood up and left the room. A second later, Reeve had followed him.

Okay, then, I’d thought, my heart aching,Dad and Reeve need time.

“Gran?” I’d asked, looking to my left. “And Paw-Paw? Anything you two want to say?”

My grandfather’s smile was wide and loving. “Glad you’re home, granddaughter. I don’t know about this Takky-Tik nonsense, but I do know that airplanes crash. I’d just as soon have you on the ground.”

“Thanks, Paw-Paw.”

“I’m gonna make more coffee,” Gran had said, patting my hand on the way to the kitchen. “Make better choices when it comes to business, Parker. But when it comes to love, follow your heart.”

Inquisition blessedly over, I was left alone with Harper, Tanner, and Sawyer.

“You really done with Quinn?” my sister had asked.

I’d shrugged, getting up from my seat. I was exhausted. All I wanted to do at that point was go back to my cabin, get under the covers, and sleep for hours.

“I don’t know,” I’d answered honestly.

“He loves you, Park,” Sawyer had added.

“I know,” I’d told him. “I know he does.”

Then I’d pushed in my chair, turned around, and left the lodge.

***

Today marks a week since I left Vegas.

The campground’s been quiet since Tuesday. Not only is mid-January off-season for tourists, but my dad, Tanner, and Sawyer are on their annual weeklong snowmobiling/cross-country skiing trip, and McKenna’s down in Seattle helping Hunter and Isabella plan their wedding.

That only leaves my grandparents, Harper, who lives in town and has her hands full with Wren, and Reeve, who’s still mad at me and avoiding me like a contagious virus. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, I went up to the lodge for dinner with Reeve, Gran, and Paw-Paw, but with Reeve still refusing tospeak to me, those suppers were super tense and awkward. I told Gran to count me out for the rest of the week.

Since then, I’ve been laying low, spending a lot of time in my cabin, on my own, taking stock of my life and my choices—what I did in Vegas, what I learned in Vegas, and what I will change as a result of that behavior. Those reflections were pretty easy, actually. I will do anything I can to recuperate my image and—from here on out—to protect the reputation of Stewart Travel. I will also be more mindful of my surroundings and remind myself that cell phones (and therefore, cameras) are everywhere. A social media post can go viral in a hot minute, and that what ends up on social media lingers there indefinitely.

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