Page 238 of Untouchable

* * *

HavingHarp’s hand on his is such a small gesture, but it means the world to Parker, and his heart soars once more. He feels like he’s been on a serious emotional rollercoaster the past twelve hours, but Harp’s touch centers him. He laces their fingers together and gives Harp’s hand a small squeeze, which Harp returns.

“We’ve done tons of stuff,” Parker says with a smile. “Harp’s been volunteering at this animal shelter my friend spends a lot of time at, and he totally fixed, like, their entire water system. And we’ve gone out to lunch and stuff, and we had this awesome weekend at The Stewart.”

He doesn’t mention, of course, that Harp did almost have a panic attack there—but it hardly seems relevant. The important part is not whether or not Harp still has issues, he thinks, it’s that Harp is making progress and getting better—and becoming happier.

Gil scoffs and looks taken aback.

"Wow, Harp. That sounds... absolutely nothing like you. And what's 'The Stewart?'"

Parker’s smile is the sincerest it’s been since Gil arrived.

“It’s this totally gorgeous hotel in town—it’s like, a lodge or something, it’s actually pretty famous. It attracts a lot of tourism to Mink Creek, but even though I’ve lived here for a bunch of years I’d never actually been, and Harp booked us a night there and—” His cheeks turn a little pink at the memory of straddling Harp as Harp fingered him, of finally, finally taking Harp’s cock in his mouth and hearing the sounds he made as he came.

Parker clears his throat, realizing he’s just stopped mid-sentence.

“Anyway, uh, it was like, a present, I guess?” he says, glancing at Harp and grinning, wondering if he’ll agree with that phrasing. “It was totally the most luxe place I’ve ever been, and it was just, oh my god, it was just soperfect.”

He looks at Harp again, expecting to see something on Harp’s face to reflect how wonderful the night had been, but Harp’s expression is strange and flat.

"Sounds like a really special weekend," Gil says, frowning.

"So, Gil, what do you want to do today? Because I'd really only planned a day for two people,” Harp says pointedly.

"Oh, I'll just tag along with whatever you're going to do,” Gil says, shrugging casually.

"I don't know—do you want to get settled downstairs?" Harp says with a frown.

“I’ll wash up,” Parker says, a little desperately, and he jumps up, quickly snatching the plates from the table, glad to have something to focus on.

Still frowning, Harp grabs Gil's bags from the hall and walks them down the stairs.

"Oh, um. I guess I'm going down, then," Gil says with a snort. "Nice meeting you."

“Nice meeting you, too,” Parker says, and then turns his attention back to the dishes. He feels like he just needs a few moments alone with Harp to get his bearings and figure out why Harp is so on edge. He also realizes he’s terrified of Harp’s interpretation of his and Gil’s interactions—he’s desperate to show Harp that he and Gil get along, as if this is some sort of gauntlet he must run to earn his place in Harp’s life.

The problem is, he’s starting to have the sneaking suspicion that Gil doesn’t actually like him that much. The entire time they’d talked, he’d had an almost bored air about him, as if he was drumming his fingers, waiting for Parker to leave so he could get on with his visit.

* * *

"I needto regroup and figure out what we're going to do with you," Harp says, tossing Gil's bag on the bed in the guest room. "There's clean towels and a bunch of your old clothes in the closet."

"Uhhh," Gil drones, "am I in trouble or something? Am I not allowed to be upstairs?"

"No, come on up when you're ready. I just thought you'd like a shower and a moment to unpack after being on the road so long. And quite frankly, I'd like a minute to talk to Parker alone since I had no idea you were coming."

"I really thought you'd be happy to see me."

Harp feels so conflicted. Of course he wants to see Gil—but he’s Gil’s brother, not his father—and they both ought to respect each other’s boundaries. Harp specifically told Gil that he wasn’t invited for Christmas, and yet here he is.

But another part of him is twisted up, realizing that he’s grown so distant from Gil over the months, just assumed that Gil was doing fine and didn’t need him. He’s honored, frankly, that anyone who knows his history would travel across the country to be with him on Christmas day.

This simply isn’t what Harp had expected. Today was for Parker.

"I am happy you’re here, Gil. Of course I am. It's a goddamn treat to see you on Christmas. Just, like I said, I didn't plan anything for you. I planned things for me and Parker. So it's going to take me a minute to decide what we should do while you're here. Fair?"

Gil's frown softens. "Fair."

---