Page 315 of Untouchable

A dark expression slips over Cole's face like clouds momentarily blotting out the sun, but he recovers quickly, sitting down in a plush armchair across the table from them and practically pulling Hunter to sit down in the next chair. Harp's blood boils. This is ridiculous.

"Nonsense," Cole says, not taking his eyes off of Parker. "Parker always has time to catch up."

* * *

Something in Parker snaps.

He’s not afraid of Cole anymore, he realizes. He’s just irritated. He wants a nice evening with his boyfriend. He wants fancy cocktails and overly-sweetened coffee. He wants to dream up vacation plans they may or may not even take.

He definitely doesn’t want to play whatever little game Cole is playing.

Parker wrenches around in his seat to face Cole.

“I really don’t, Cole,” Parker snaps. His hands are shaking, and he’s too rattled to enjoy the look of shock on Cole’s face. “In fact, I don’t want to catch up with you ever. So either you can go, or we can, but I’m not going to sit here and ruin a nice evening by catching up with someone who spent five years making me feel small and stupid and bad about myself.”

He meets Hunter’s eyes for these last few words. He can’t quite read Hunter’s wide-eyed expression, but Parker hopes the message sinks in.

If he’s doing this to you, too, you’re not the only one. It’s not because of you. It’s because this is what he does.

Maybe they’re perfectly happy. Maybe Hunter isn’t as broken and downtrodden as Parker had been.

But if he is, Parker needs him to know he’s not the only one this has happened to.

Heart in his throat, Parker turns back to Harp as he pulls out his wallet.

“Come on—“ he says, before Cole can respond. “Let’s head out.”

Parker throws down a handful of bills on the table—more than enough to cover their coffees and the dessert that hasn’t even arrived yet—and he prays he hasn’t accidentally grabbed the $50 he was tipped this morning. He catches Harp’s hand, yanking him up off the couch.

“Don’t speak to me again,” Parker spits out at Cole. He turns to Hunter. “Good luck. You’re gonna need it.”

And with that he practically sprints out of the bar, dragging Harp behind him.

When he gets outside, the night still warm and pleasant, he’s shaking so hard he has to steady himself against the side of the building.

* * *

"Jesus, baby,"Harp says, breathless.

"Look, I'm sorry, I just couldn't—"

"Don't apologize," Harp says, pulling Parker into a kiss that feels suddenly urgent, hotter than Harp had intended. When they part, Parker looks a little stunned.

"What was that for?"

"You're amazing. You were amazing back there," Harp says, refusing to let Parker get too far from him, pulling him by the waist so they can walk hip-to-hip towards the car.

Parker laughs gently. "My hands are still shaking."

"Yeah, I guess so!" Harp says. "You delivered a one-two knockout punch in there. Might take a minute for the adrenaline to taper off."

He's so proud of Parker that he doesn't even know what to say. Harp had been completely ready to wade into the fray on his own, fighting off Cole's unwelcome presence and rescuing Parker.

But he hadn't needed rescuing. Parker is his own hero, and the realization doesn't make Harp feel redundant or as if he didn't do his job protecting his boyfriend.

It makes him ecstatic.

He loves this version of Parker with flashing eyes and confidence and assertive words that he absolutely owns when he says them.

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