Page 177 of Just This Once

I nodded, but my legs didn’t move. “I don’t know what the hell to say to them,” I admitted.

My brain felt like mush, as if all the words in the universe suddenly eluded me.

Stupid words.

“How abouthi?” she suggested. “It’s nice to see you again. I missed you.”

Both of my parents reached me at the same time, stumbling to a stop in front of me and giving me my space, even as they breathed hard from their jog and couldn’t seem to stop smiling.

“Hi,” I said uneasily and waved lamely. “I—it’s nice to see you again.”

They hadn’t aged a day. My mom still had sandy brown hair, the same shade as mine, and Dad sported his usual dark beard and thick-rimmed glasses. They were undeniably my parents, and as pressure built in my chest, I grew choked up.

“God, I’ve really missed you guys,” I rasped.

“Oh, Parker.” My mom finally lurched forward with her arms open wide.

I hugged her hard and buried my face in her hair, sobbing when a familiar smell wafted over me that I hadn’t inhaled in years. Her perfume.

“Mom,” I said, amazed by her solid presence in my arms. “Fuck. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry?” She laughed out her confusion and pulled away to clasp my face between her hands. “Baby, what in the world are you sorry for?”

I shook my head as if I had no idea before I explained, “I was a complete shit to you the last time we saw each other. I never got to apologize for that. I never?—”

My dad chuckled and patted my back before pulling me from my mother so he could give me a side-arm hug. “Damn, kiddo. We forgot all about that. We were a little too concerned with hoping you were happy and healthy and being treated well.”

“Yeah.” I nodded to reassure them. “Yeah, the, uh, the Eisners took me in. They treat me like one of their own.”

“Zeke and Chauncy took you in?” Mom hugged her hands to her chest and sighed. “Oh, thank God. See…” She smacked Dad in the gut with the back of her hand. “I knew he’d be fine.”

Rolling his eyes my way, Dad spoke from the side of his mouth, muttering, “She’s only been stressing over it for the last fucking decade.”

I snickered while Mom harrumphed and crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, he was our only child; what was I supposed to do?” Turning back to me, she took my hands. “I’m glad you got them. The Eisners were probably better parents for you than we ever could’ve been. And we’re sorry about that,” she added before I could protest. “We werenotthe greatest, always leaving you with someone else so we could run off and go traveling on our own. We should’ve been more present with you. More?—”

“I don’t care,” I told her. “I still would’ve rather had you around than anyone else.”

“Yes, well.” She smiled sadly and stroked my face. “I’m sorry about that too. But I’m happy that you grew up so well. I mean, look at you.” Spreading her arms, she took a step back and looked me over, shaking her head in awe. “You’re so handsome and tall. And Raina says you’re good with money. You’re richer than we ever were.”

“Plus you got a girl?” Dad joined in, nudging my arm with a way-to-go lift of his brows. “Hope, was it?”

“Yeah.” I nodded, feeling strangely sheepish for the first time in my life. “Yeah. Hope,” I told them. “But she’s, uh, she’s not doing so well right now.”

“She’ll be okay,” Mom assured me as she clasped her hands to her chest and looked at me as if she were actually proud of me. “No matter what happens to her, she’ll be okay.”

I heaved out a steadying breath and nodded along with her. “Yeah,” I murmured. “Thanks.”

The dog came up and licked my hand as if to console me as well, and I pulled my fingers back to frown at him. “What the fuck is up with this dog, anyway?” I asked.

“Parker!” Raina scolded.

But my parents only laughed. “Oh, we just—well, you wanted a dog, so…” My mom motioned to it awkwardly.

I lifted my eyebrows and glanced between the dog and my parents. “So… You brought me a dead dog to meet?” I asked slowly.

Dad scoffed and bumped his arm into Mom’s. “Told you it was a dumb idea.”

“Well, I don’t know!” Mom threw up her hands in frustration. “We hadn’t seen him in over ten years, and he wanted a dog.” Turning to me with imploring eyes, she begged, “Please tell me you finally got a dog.”

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