Page 124 of Could Have Been Us
Jess’s gaze follows mine. “My dad left when I was twelve. I remember that age and the anger and confusion. No matter what she shows, that girl is feeling the same thing. She’s just as confused and unsure. She wants to make her father happy, so she’s not going to approach it with him, no matter what she wants. Talk to Samuel, and then . . . talk to her. She’s your daughter, Stella, and she’d be so lucky to have you and Jack in her life.”
Kinsley laughs deeply at something, and I turn to look. She is smiling up at Jack as he holds Amelia upside down. All the people I love are gathered here with varying degrees of joy on their faces.
She belongs here.
She is a Parkerson, and yet she belongs to someone else.
Jack looks over at me and gives me a wink.
I smile and shake my head before replying to Jessica. “Luck sometimes isn’t on my side.”
“I know that all too well, but sometimes fate is, and that always wins. Don’t give up on her or anything you want, Stella. I’ve learned that in my two near-death experiences.”
“It’ll be good if you keep it at that number.”
Jess grins. “That’s the goal here. Hey, did you set up the call with the builder I emailed you about? Odette came highly recommended and her profile is outstanding.”
In all of the craziness of this month, I feel like I’ve been lost in regards to everything with the resort. I’ve done almost nothing, and my brothers haven’t been dicks about it, which is a very nice change.
“I emailed her, but I haven’t done more.”
Alex walks into the kitchen, eyeing Jessica and me. “What are you talking about?”
“You.”
He shrugs. “I wouldn’t be surprised. I am the best-looking Parkerson here.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re the dumbest.”
“If you were the best-looking, I wouldn’t have dated your brother, I would’ve gone for you. What does that say?” Jessica teases him.
“That Alex definitely wasn’t the best-looking,” I back her up.
Josh’s voice carries over from the other room. “Who is the best-looking what?”
Oh, God, here we go.
“Nothing, Josh!” I yell before this becomes a thing.
“Is Alex saying he’s the best-looking brother?” Oliver, who could never resist a chance to annoy anyone, chimes in.
“Nope, he said he was the best-lookingParkersonhere!” Jessica, who I thought was my ally in this, betrays me.
Jack laughs. “Well, that’s where we know he’s a complete idiot.” I raise a brow at him, surprised he’s entering the fray. “Stella is the hottest Parkerson.”
My brothers all start ribbing him, calling him whipped and slapping his chest or back. I don’t know that I’ve ever loved him more.
“And since Jack is not a Parkerson, he’s right and wins!” I say with finality.
“What about my vote?” Jessica asks.
“You’re a Parkerson now, you have no vote,” Josh says.
* * *
One day.
Twenty-four hours left.
