Page 319 of Untouchable

He grins at Harp.

“Hey, do you want two boyfriends? Maybe we can run in and like, yank him out and set him free from Cole.”

* * *

"Why wouldI need a body double when I've got the real authentic original Parker James on hand?" Harp asks, raising an eyebrow. The lights of Mink Creek are disappearing behind them, the volume of cars dropping off to nothing. Harp settles into the familiar feeling of going back up the mountain with Parker by his side, heading towards their home.

"Although," Harp says a moment later, "I will say I'm completely on board with any mission to liberate Hunter from Cole. If he's got even a fraction of the heart that you do, I'm sure he deserves better."

“Everyone deserves better than Cole,” Parker says. “And, for the record, I’d rather not share you. I think I’d get too jealous.” He reaches across the cab of the truck and puts his hand on Harp’s thigh, squeezing. He is quiet for a moment.

“I really wouldn’t have been able to do that, y’know. Without you, I mean,” he says, looking thoughtfully out at the dark curves of the mountains that rise up around them. “I know this sounds corny, but… you make me better. I feel safe for the first time… ever, really.”

Harp has a million things he wishes he could say in the moment—how proud he is of the man Parker has become, how sorry he is that Parker ever had to be surrounded with people who only care about tearing him down, how certain he is that Parker will only become more extraordinary. But tears prick his eyes abruptly and he knows if he says much, he'll start blubbering.

So all he says is a gruff "Likewise."

It takes a moment to find Parker's hand in the dark, but when he does, Parker twines their fingers and squeezes hard.

"I love you so goddamn much," Harp manages, a minute later when he knows he won't choke up.

“I love you, too,” Parker says.

* * *

Parker is smiling so hardthat his face hurts. Saying I love you sounds hollow in comparison to the depth of emotion currently swelling in Parker’s chest, but he knows Harp knows how Parker feels about him. He trusts him. They trust each other.

And what a gorgeous, precious, rare thing that is.

“Get me home,” Parker says, squeezing Harp’s hand one more time. “We’re both wearing way too many clothes.”

* * *

Portland, Oregon

Parker loves flying,but the whole plane ride to Portland he grips his armrest and looks out the window nervously. He wonders what the hell he’d been thinking, agreeing to go when Harp visited his brother. Harp had insisted Gil had asked Parker to come along, had specifically requested his presence. But given the way their last encounter had gone, Parker isn’t sure he trusts that Gil wasn’t lying to make Harp happy.

But at the end of the day, Parker had had the vacation time and didn’t want to pass up on an opportunity to travel with Harp.

So here he is, looking down as they fly over Mt. Hood, hoping he doesn’t throw up. The mountains here are different than in Colorado. Back home in Mink Creek, the mountains feel almost aggressive at times, crowding in on one another, as if they’re jockeying for position to prove to you just how tall they are. Here feels different, though—there’s simply Mt. Hood, rising above the rest, calmly keeping watch over the city.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Harp asks him for the millionth time that morning.

“Yeah,” Parker says, smiling weakly. “Just a little, um—motion sick, is all.”

Harp gives Parker a pointed look to let him know just how convincing he’s notbeing.

“You can’t blame me for being nervous,” Parker says, reaching over to squeeze Harp’s hand. “I know you said it will be fine, it’s just—y’know. I mean, worse case I’ll just hide out in the Airbnb until it’s time to go.”

* * *

The place Harpbooked them is in Gil's neighborhood and is even more adorable in real life than it looked online. It's hipster-friendly with tasteful, bold decorations—but once Harp is inside, he notices how neatly every piece of molding is joined, how carefully the accent paint has been cut in at the borders. He's pleasantly surprised to find himself admiring different details in every room, all expertly installed.

As they unpack, Harp finds himself reciting all of the things that he's noticed about the place. Harp only realizes how boring that is when Parker leaves for a moment and then reappears in the doorway, half naked with a shameless grin.

Harp smiles. He'll never get tired of moments like these. "I think you lost your shirt," he teases.

"And I think you have more important things to be thinking about than baseboards and... external corners or whatever," Parker says. He moves up to Harp and strokes a hand through his hair.

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