Page 91 of The Valentine's Bet

“Where are you going?” Parker asks as I turn away from him.

“It doesn’t matter. Just leave me alone.” I head for the door, shoving my arms into my jacket and batting away my tears.

Parker follows me out of the restaurant and onto the street, but I don’t stop until he wraps his hand around my wrist.

“What?” I explode, pulling away.

“Look, I’m sorry, butyou—”

“No,” I cut him off. “This time, it isn’t aboutme.It’s aboutyou.” I let the anger bubble up, honesty brimming on my lips. “You’ve messed things up with every single guy I’ve tried to date—and maybe the first few times were for the best, because those guys were jerks... But Dalton? Seriously? He was a good guy. Clearly, all you care about is this stupid bet!”

“It wasn’t about the bet,” Parker says, his voice flat.

“Oh yeah? Thenwhatwas it about, Parker? You don’t want me as more than a friend, but you don’t want me with anyone else, either? Isthatwhat this is?” Fresh tears stream down my face, and the realization of my feelings suddenly slams into my heart.

“Amy...” Parker tries to step closer to me.

I shake my head. “Maybe I’m nuts for wanting to find love so badly, but at least I’m not scaredof it. I just want to find someone who kisses me every day the way you kissed me on New Year’s. And I’mnotscared to admit...” My voice trails off as I think about my conversations with Eliza and my mom.

“Sometimes, love is in the small, everyday things.”I can hear my mom’s voice in my head, and my mind begins to replay all thesmallmoments that have transpired between Parker and me.

Like the first time he walked me home ... and every time after that.

How he cheered me up after I got stood up. And bought my coffee.

When he took me to the ER after I hurt my ankle.

And rescued me from my flooded apartment.

How he opened up his home to me ... and cooked me dinner.

How he checks in on me to make sure I’m safe.

I shake my head.

No. It can’t be true...

“Admit what, Amy?” Parker’s voice is thick with emotion. “What is that you’re not scared to admit? That you love Dalton? And I messed that up for you?”

I look up at him, and for the first time, I see Parker as a little kid, his eyes full of past hurts and trauma that have left him unwilling to step out of the safe zone he’s created for himself. And suddenly, I’m filled with compassion.

I owe it to myself and to him to just be honest.

“No, Parker. I don’t love Dalton ... I loveyou.”

Parker falls into silence as my confession hangs heavy in the air between us. I wait patiently for him to say something. Anything. But as he opens his mouth to speak, no words come out.

The bustling city around us fades into the background, leaving only the echo of those three words hovering delicately in the chilly night air.

Silence has never felt so loud.

Parker breaks eye contact and looks down at his shoes. And as the seconds stretch into minutes, my heart sinks lower and lower, until I can barely stand it anymore. The weight of my confession bears down on me, suffocating me with its intensity. Tears stream down my cheeks as the reality of the moment settles in.

Perhaps I’ve made a huge mistake.

I wipe the moisture from my face. “You know what’s crazy is that evenifyou felt something for me, you’d never admit it. You’llneverrealize that love is worth the risk, but I’m glad I was honest—even if it hurts. I don’t think we should be friends anymore, Parker.” I turn to go, and I know that this time, he won’t follow me. “I’ll stay with Nellie tonight and come get my stuff while you’re at work tomorrow,” I call over my shoulder, just in case he’s wondering.

However, he doesn’t make a sound, and I don’t know if it’s because the street is full of people and I just don’t hear, or if he’s really letting me go without even an apology.

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