Page 23 of Mother Parker
“I-I didn’t mean it that way. I just…I hate that I put you in touch with him only for him to drag you into this mess,” I said.
She placed her hand on my shoulder and squeezed with a pointed look.
“He didn’t. You didn’t. Wyatt wanted me to just look after the Outpost while he went around chasing ghosts. I volunteered to be more. I wanted to do something. God, Parker, you don’t know what it’s like for me. You have always had the Navy. Cam has always had dancing. I’ve had nothing. You don’t know what it’s like feeling useless all your life while everyone around you has dreams and aspirations.”
My shoulders sagged and I fell back against the couch. I hadn’t even realized I was straining.
She thought I didn’t know what that was like when this was exactly what I was going through now. Feeling utterly useless and stuck.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“Huh? What was that? Did I hear right?” she said.
“I’m sorry,” I repeated.
“Was that my brother admitting he was wrong? I don’t believe it—”
“Don’t push it, Autumn. I said I’m sorry for treating you like that, but I’m still mad with Wyatt for putting you in danger like that. And I’m annoyed that you’re treating it like it’s nothing.”
“I don’t. I know it’s dangerous, but I can’t just sit around the bar serving drinks all day doing nothing.”
“Yeah.”
That sounded so familiar to how I’d felt all my life. It led me to go into a life of service to my country. To train the hardest anyone could to keep those I loved safe.
“If I can’t convince you to stop, at least…at least let me teach you how to protect yourself,” I said.
Her eyes twinkled and her lips curved into a smile before she said, “I’d love that.”
Before I could say anything, she wrapped both arms around me. And it felt good. It felt good not to have pissed someone off for three seconds.
“Knock, knock,” Asher said behind us at the front door, and naturally, Biscuit went into a frenzy.
Autumn and I separated, and I turned to find not just Asher but Wyatt too.
“Hey,” I said and stood.
Maddox came down with a towel wrapped around his hips and nothing else—fucking show-off—and kissed his boyfriend.
“Wyatt. What brings you here?” he asked.
“We’ve got to talk,” he said.
Asher nodded, and they all stood around the kitchen island, so Autumn and I joined them.
“What happened?” Autumn asked.
“It’s Hwan,” Asher said.
“Is he okay?” she said, bringing a hand to her mouth.
“Yes, he’s fine. But something happened to his shop last night, and we don’t know who or why.”
Maddox nodded as if he already knew about it.
“Who is Hwan?” I asked.
“He’s a local kid. Great guy. He just opened a bubble tea shop on the pier,” Maddox answered and turned to Asher and Wyatt. “So, what are we doing?”
