Page 11 of Surrender
Even more so than they had been at the thought of relying on muscle memory, and a hope and a dream to get through this.
“Come on!” Parker sighed, his patience obviously growing thin. “You’re being a little dr—”
“Don’t you dare say dramatic.” The sharp snap surprised us both, and a frightening expression flickered quickly across hisface. The instant shift had me taking a step back, but when I blinked, the unnerving look in his eyes had gone, and a smile was once again pulling at the corner of his mouth.
“I’m sorry.” A gentleness had returned, but I couldn’t help but feel like I was still standing on the edge of some kind of cliff, preparing to be shoved off. “That shit out there has shaken you up a little, and that’s my fault for not protecting you better. But we can’t let them ruin this. I know you’re eager to prove to Mom how amazing you are, and I’ve been so excited to show you off to the world.”
Show you off.
I think it was meant as a compliment, but instead, the words settled uneasily in my chest. They made me feel like some kind of prize or trophy meant to be placed on a shelf and admired.
“It’s just like riding a bike, right?” Parker insisted as he inched closer. He reached out and pinched at my chin, lifting it so my eyes met his.
His touch was light, almost affectionate.
Almost.
“Just get through these few minutes,” he coaxed, his voice becoming lower and more menacing. “And together we’ll show everyone that we are a force to be reckoned with.”
That wasn’t encouragement.
That wasexpectation.
It wasobligation.
There was noif you still want to do this.
There was onlywhen it’s done.
The pressure of his fingers lingered on my skin as he pulled back with an encouraging smile.
I tried to mirror it, but I knew instantly I probably just looked awkward. “I’m going to go get dressed,” I told him, taking the leotard and skirt from the hanger outside the small dressing room. “Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need it!” he said with a wink. “You’ll be incredible.”
I swallowed hard, closing the dressing room door and trying to ignore the knot forming in my stomach.
I wasn’t ready for this.
Notfor the performance.
Andnotfor the version of Parker I was beginning to see.
Chapter Five
BLUE
“Do you know where your dad is?” Rafe asked, wiping a cobweb from his face and sitting back on the clubhouse floor.
“Prison, thank fuck,” I answered, absentmindedly twisting a couple of dusty wires together.
I had my hand deep in the back of an old jukebox. One that’d sat in the corner of the clubhouse, next to the bar for longer than I think I’d been alive, but since Calli and Shay decided they were organizing some fucking sixties-themed party for Bishop’s birthday in a couple of weeks, Rafe had opened his big fucking mouth, swearing that we could fix this thing up and have it running.
And while my first instinct had been fuck that, it actually worked out to be the perfect distraction for something else we’d been planning for a lot longer.
“My brother and sister’s dad has been back in town lately, harassing my mom to let him see them,” the kid continued, tapping his boots on the hardwood.
I paused, glancing over at him. “He not meant to be around?”
