Page 43 of Someday You Learn

Hazel scoffs. “Sorry, Cashlynn, but my brother wouldn’t even be able to admit to himself if he had feelings for you, let alone anyone else, even if they were holding a match to his balls.” Willow snorts. “Has he told you much about his past?”

I look between her and Willow. “Only that he was engaged once and it didn’t work out.”

Hazel sighs. “Well, at least he admitted that much.”

“Is there more I should know?”

Willow looks at Hazel and then directs her gaze back to me. “It’s not our story to tell, and I wasn’t around when it happened, but I can tell you that Parker was scarred from that relationship. Dallas worries abouthim a lot—says he’s not the same person he was before. If you do want more with him, it’s going to require some patience.”

I shake my head, not liking where this conversation is headed, letting my guilt for talking him into this consume me even more. As soon as Parker agreed to this fake engagement, I told myself to shove down the feelings I’ve been denying for a year, especially every time my father brought Parker up in conversation.

I never should have slept with him. I should have thanked him for comforting me and walked away, pretending I never knew who he was. But the second he offered to play rock, paper, scissors to hold my hand, I was powerless over what happened next. How can a man that showed such compassion, humor, and lust-filled need like he did, not see that he’s capable and deserving of being in a relationship again?

My focus is supposed to be on my gallery, not my love life. But being Parker’s fake fiancée is making me wonder if I could possibly have it all by making this move—the job and the man.

Could Parker and I turn this into something real? Was our initial connection enough to build a relationship on? Or are we better off just following through with our promises to each other and moving on afterward?

Hazel taps her chin thoughtfully. “No, I think patience will get her nowhere. If she’s going to make him admit that he wants her, she needs to be a little more…direct.”

Willow beams as she looks over at Hazel. “What are you thinking?”

I’m not sure I like where their train of thought is headed. “Look, I know you two are trying to play matchmaker and all, but honestly, I can’t afford to push him away. I need him to keep pretending to be my fiancé until my business is up and running.”

Hazel leans forward in her seat. “My brother wants you, Cashlynn. It’s written all over his face, and don’t take this the wrong way, but you look at him like you want to jump his bones. You two have already slept together, so why not make the most of your arrangement?”

Willow chimes in. “Uh Hazel, it sounds like you’re trying to pimp out your brother right now.”

Hazel shrugs. “I just know what I see. Like with you and Dallas, and Penn and Astrid…” She rolls her eyes dramatically. “Those two gave everyone around them blue balls for years.” Willow laughs. “And now Parker is living with a woman he clearly wants and is trying to be this saint when I know he’s at war inside. I’m tired of him punishing himself for what happened with Sasha.”

“Sasha?” I ask.

“His ex,” she clarifies.And now the ex has a name. “I’m telling you, she did a number on him.” Tilting her head at me, she narrows her eyes. “But I like you. My gut is telling me you’ve got your head on straight, you’re driven, and you can actually take a joke. It’s obvious you care about my brother, and sometimes people need a little push to get out of their own damn way.”

“I appreciate that, but Parker clearly doesn’t feel the same way.”

“I can see why you think that, but I’m telling you, I know my brother.” She winks at me. “Test him. Do something that you know will get a reaction out of him and see how he responds.”

“Like what?” Willow asks before I can.

Hazel hums for a moment and then her eyes light up. “Accidentallyspill something on his floor, and then whip off your shirt to clean it up.”

Willow snorts. “Subtle.”

“He might freak out on me,” I say. “Have you seen his house? It’s so clean, it looks like nobody lives there. He has freaking vacuum lines in his carpet.”

Hazel nods, rolling her eyes. “I’m aware. He has always been a little high strung, but it got worse after Sasha… Like he tried to control everything around him because she left him in a tailspin and he didn’t know which way was up.”

My word. What did this woman do to him?

A slow grin spreads across Willow’s face. “Oh my God. You know what you should do? Unplug all of his appliances when they aren’t being used. It will drive him nuts.”

Hazel tosses her head back in laughter. “Oh fuck, that will send him over the edge, for sure.”

“Tell him it helps conserve energy.” Willow joins in the laughter. “It’s genius.”

“I thought we were trying to get him to admit he wants me, not kill me?”

Hazel waves me off. “Same thing. Haven’t you ever had hate sex?”

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