Page 43 of Zero Chance

“I just wanted to know if I evencould,” I said.“Because I was sure I’d never be able to.Not after—well…not after….”I glanced warily at Parker.

And I could tell he knew exactly what I meant.His gaze flared with realization before he gave a slight nod of understanding.

I started to wring my hands and rock slightly, needing to confess my sins.Too many years of stupid therapy sessions had conditioned me to admit the worst things about myself.“Keene was right there, and he—so I just—and then we—” Swallowing noisily, I gulped for air before admitting, “I found out that I guess I could, after all.”

Parker’s lips parted and his eyebrows lifted in surprise.But he remained calm enough that it didn’t scare me into thinking I’d done something beyond redemption.

In fact, he sent me a proud nod.“Well, that’s good, though.Right?Learning you could?Now you know you’re not broken after all.”

“Wait.”Hope lifted her hands and shook them to interrupt us.She sent her boyfriend a dismayed glance.“Are you saying you actuallyunderstoodwhatshe just said?”

Parker never took his eyes off me as he smiled softly.“Yeah,” he murmured.“I think I did.”He inclined his head my way as he added, “Congratulations,” only to furrow his brow.“Except, I don’t see how kicking him in the nuts came into play.”

“Oh.”My shoulders collapsed.“The girl he was supposed to be meeting showed up, and he realized I wasn’t her.When he tried to find out who I was, I—I couldn’t let him.Letting him find out it was me was more than I could take.So I tried to run.And he tried to stop me.Then I just…”

I tipped my head with a wince, hoping I didn’t have to explain more.

Thankfully, Parker seemed to catch the gist of it.After a brief wince, he huffed in amusement and nodded.“Well, okay then.”

But Hope lifted both hands.“Wait.”She glanced between me and Parker.“So you and Keene…” Her mouth dropped open.“Holy shit.You andKeene?”

With a sickened wince, I hugged myself and sank a step backward.

“Just how far did yougo?”she demanded, aghast and unable to keep her mouth shut.Seriously, every time she pressed her lips back together, her jaw would just sag loose again.

“I don’t think that’s really any of our business, Trouble,” Parker answered.

With a snort, Hope shook her head.“Doesn’t mean I still don’t want all the details.But damn…” Still blinking at me, she uttered, “You and Keene.”

“Oh, God,” I groaned, feeling slightly sick again.“Could you please stop saying that?”

“Sorry, I just—” She shook her head and straightened, repeating, “Right.Sorry.”

“And could you not tell him?”I asked, glancing between the two of them.“That it was me?”

Hope and Parker exchanged a glance, and I nearly whimpered in defeat.Damn, they were going to tell him everything.

Finally, Parker turned back to me.“Wewon’t,” he assured, only to lift his eyebrows.“But I thinkyoushould.He has a right to know who he was with.”

I winced and swallowed guiltily.

Only for Parker to add, “But we won’t tell him.”

With a relieved nod, I dropped my gaze and mumbled, “Thank you.”

He sighed heavily and glanced down the street in the direction of Archer House.“Want us to walk you back to the party?”

I immediately shied from that idea, shaking my head madly.“No.I—I can’t go back there.Not tonight.”Probably not ever again.

“Okay,” he said calmly.“So we’ll get you to your car, then.”

But that only made me deflate.“I, uh, I walked here.”Then, I remembered, “And I forgot my phone at home, so I can’t order a ride back.”

Gah.I must’ve left my brain at home as well.I don’t think I’d done any thinking at all since I’d left my house this evening.

With a self-defeated groan, I shook my head, trying to calculate how many blocks—miles—I was going to have to walk through the dark, alone, to get home.

But Parker said, “We’ll drive you.We were heading out, anyway.”

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