Page 103 of Mother Parker
“I do? Bitch, I bring the fun.”
He squeezed my butt and winked reassuringly.
“That you do.”
I opened the door, and he followed behind me, empty bubble tea cup in hand.
“How was that? You hated it, I see.”
“It was good. Not sweet enough,” he said. Naturally.
“Listen, Mr. Sweet Tooth, if I made all the drinks sweet enough for you, all the dentists in Mayberry Holm would send me flowers and gift cards.”
“Hm. Not a bad idea, you know,” he said, putting a finger under his chin as if he was seriously contemplating it.
I slapped his ass just before we walked into the café and got to work.
As soon as we opened the doors, the crowds streamed in, and we alleviated everyone’s bloatedness with sugar and tea until they forgot how much they’d eaten the day before and how many calories were in a single bubble tea.
Around five, Autumn waltzed in with Camden and Linc in tow, carrying a gazillion shopping bags from the local businesses, and they sat at one of the free tables.
Once I’d helped Camden and Linc pick a flavor, Parker sat down with them, and since no customers were waiting to be served, for now, I left Elliot at the bar and sat with them.
“So…how long has this been a thing?” Camden asked, waving a finger between Parker and me.
“None of your business. How long has this been a thing?” Parker mocked him by waving his finger between Camden and Linc.
“Ignore him. He must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed,” Autumn said, rolling her eyes. “Or maybe he woke up with the wrong thingupthe wrongplace. I really don’t know what these two get up to.”
“And that’s a good thing, thank you very much. You’re his sister,” I told her.
“But I can tell you it’s been going on for two weeks. At least.” She pretended not to hear me.
“Autumn!” Parker shouted at her.
Some of the customers from the other tables turned around to stare at him, taken aback, and he half-heartedly apologized for startling them out of their chill evening.
“I’m sorry, but there have been enough secrets in this family,” she said.
Camden grabbed his sister’s hand and shook his head.
“But, Autumn, this is his secret to share. You know that.”
“Yeah, I know, but still. We’re a family. Look at us. He doesn’t even know us anymore, and we don’t know him. It’s time we stop hiding everything and just be open with each other. Like we used to be.”
“Autumn! Secrets aren’t a bad thing. They kept me safe until they didn’t, even if they hurt. You need to stop this crap. Let Parker decide when and what he wants to—” Camden said.
“She’s right,” Parker said beside me, and he glanced at me before taking my hand in his. “Hwan and I are together.”
We were?
“And you guys live together already?” Linc asked. “Mad props to you, my man. Going from straight to bi to cohabiting in a matter of two weeks.”
I raised an eyebrow at that, but I didn’t say anything. This wasn’t my family to interfere with.
Besides, I was still focused on the whole “we’re together” thing. I thought we were dating. Obviously, there was the whole living together ordeal, but that was only temporary due to the circumstances.
“Gay, actually,” Parker corrected him as if not bothered by Linc’s words. “I don’t think I ever liked womenlike that.”
