Page 314 of Untouchable

“Oh, you’re so cute,” Parker says, squeezing Harp’s arm. “I mean, not the depression part, that’s sad I guess. But I’m like, not even surprised that—”

* * *

Parker stopsas a strange look crosses Harp’s face.

“What?”

Harp is looking over Parker’s shoulder, and when Parker turns around, he sees Cole’s table is empty, and he’s making his way towards them, his new boyfriend in tow.

Parker’s head snaps back to Harp, and his jaw clenches.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me,” Parker says grimly.

"You don't have to talk to him if you don't want to," Harp says quickly. "I can just shut this down right now."

“No,” Parker says, the word flying out of his mouth with more force than he expects. There’s something buzzing in him, like he’s had too much caffeine, but he knows it’s not from the coffee.

This is my fight, he thinks. And, when Cole is involved, it will be a fight. Cole can’t resist the opportunity to try to dig at Parker.

But Parker doesn’t need Harp to protect him. It’s nice, but he doesn’t need it. Not anymore.

“Parker,” Cole purrs as he stops at their table, looming above them, his arm wrapped around his new boyfriend’s waist. Parker looks up at him, smiling blandly, focusing on Cole’s forehead. “It’s been a while. How are you?”

“I’m fine,” Parker says tightly. He immediately turns his focus back to Harp. “So, uh, I was thinking we could—“

“Still at Rocky Mountain?” Cole says. “It’s nice you’ve found a place you’re so.... comfortable.”

Parker has no idea what this vague statement is even supposed to imply, but he’s not interested in trying to parse Cole’s veiled insult.

“Yeah,” Parker says. “So, if we—“

Cole breaks in again.

“Hunter,” he says to the guy beside him, who Parker has barely even noticed. “I’d like you to meet Parker.”

Hunter is wearing an expression that is all too familiar to Parker. Tight smile, slightly panicked, glassy sheen in the eyes. It’s the expression of someone who is constantly on the knife’s edge of something, waiting for disaster to strike. Waiting to be reprimanded for fucking up.

Parker’s heart breaks for him, but there’s nothing Parker can do.

“Great,” Parker says, flashing a smile at Hunter before turning back to Harp.

* * *

Cole'sfake friendliness makes Harp's skin crawl. He's acting as if Harp doesn't even exist, but the Parker substitute on his hip seems to zero in on Harp.

Harp has fifteen thousand rejoinders flashing through his consciousness.

Instead of giving voice to them, though, he squares his shoulders and his jaw. He'll look to Parker for leadership here.

Harp's mind is still reeling from the revelation that the botched Parker clone is actually named Hunter. If it weren't such a tense moment, Harp would be laughing.

But he's not. It's clear Parker is doing his best to defuse the situation and move on—but it's also apparent that Cole isn't going to go anywhere until he's scratched whatever itch he's attempting to reach by coming over and talking to Parker.

Parker turns further away from Cole, refusing to give him an 'in' to talk any more, and begins talking about vacation plans again. But it's clear that this isn't going to deter Cole, and frustration is already building for Harp. It's obvious that Parker wants him gone but that Cole isn't going to leave unless they confront him—and if that means Harp has to take charge...

Cole clears his throat and Harp frowns. "I met Hunter at—"

"As great as it is to see you, Cole," Harp says, interrupting loudly, "we're discussing some travel plans right now. I'm sure you understand. You two have a great night."

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