Page 128 of The Wrong Heart

My smile is immediate when his name meets my highly caffeinated eyes.

Parker:Happy Birthday.

Leah addresses me with a mouthful of food, her crumbs dispersing all over the high-top. She’s one of those flawless beauties who can get away with eating like a total savage and still look cute. “Is it him?”

“Yes,” I reply through a widening grin.

It’s been two weeks since I showed up at Parker’s house unannounced, and we had hot sex on the hood of my car in the middle of his driveway, officially consummating this… well, whatever this is. Parker doesn’t really do titles.

Whatever it is, it seems to have swallowed me whole, and I’m just kind of floating through life right now with a goofy grin and spazzy heart.

I send him a reply.

Me:Thank you :)

Parker:You busy tonight? I have your present.

My chest warms. I wasn’t expecting much from Parker, and not because I don’t think he cares or is incapable—I just figured he was so new at this, he wouldn’t know what to do. Besides, the truth is, we still don’t even know each other all that well. He doesn’t know my favorite color, my favorite coffee flavor or television show, my shoe size, my taste in literature, or my quirky fascination with house plants.

He doesn’t know that I haven’t been able to eat or even look at peaches since last April.

Gnawing at my lip, I shoot back:

Me:I’m having dinner with my family at 5pm, but I can probably skip out around 7pm :)

Parker:Okay. Meet me at the lake at 7:30.

The lake?

My curiosity piques, sending a tingle of anticipation up my spine.

Leah licks the grease from her fingers as she swallows down a bite. “Are sexy birthday plans commencing?” she wonders with an eyebrow waggle.

I close my phone and return my fidgety hands to the plastic coffee cup. “Possibly. He said to meet him at the lake tonight.”

“Ooh. Skinny dipping.”

“Definitely not.”

“Fishing?” Her thumb plummets in a downward motion.

“Also, no.”

“Maybe a romantic, beachside dinner?”

That doesn’t sound like Parker, either, but my shoulders shrug at the suggestion. “Whatever it is, I’m excited. Just the idea that he has something planned for me is sweet and thoughtful.”

Smiling reflectively, Leah softens, propping her elbows to the tabletop and spearing me with her shimmering copper eyes. She flicks a loose strand of blue-black hair from her face. “This guy is pretty special, huh?”

My cheeks stain with blush.

God, yes.

I’m not sure what it is, but there’s been a draw from the very start. A tether. His frosty disposition and crass words weren’t enough to deviate me from the crackle in the air every time he’d glance my way with his penetrative green eyes.

Every time our skin would brush, I’d feel it. Every time he’d say my name, I’d feel it.

Some things can’t be explained. Some things justare.

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