Page 88 of Mother Parker
“No. I just hope I’ve converted enough of them.”
I put my hands around his waist and nuzzled against his neck, breathing in his fresh fruity scent.
“You converted me,” I whispered.
“Huh? Wait, what?”
I shrugged, smiling.
“Wait, are you finally ready to admit you like my bubble tea?” he asked.
I looked at his reflection in the mirror, caught those beautiful eyes there, and without missing a beat, said: “I like everything you do.”
He fist-pumped the air.
“I knew the day would come. I knew it! You finally admit it! It only took what? Three weeks?”
“I thought I did a better job of hiding it.”
“You did the worst job of hiding it. The evidence was all over the shop. And your face.” He pointed at me through the mirror, and I shrugged it off.
There was a buzz, and we pulled apart.
“That would be our pizza, boba boy,” I said.
“Well, I didn’t think it was our Chinese,” he answered and got a slap on the ass for the wisecrack.
He opened the closet and threw me a pair of underwear, and after slipping them on, I went down to get them.
“Elliot!” I said when I saw who our pizza boy was.
“Mr. Hawkins,” he said, swallowing very slowly and giving me the once-over.
“I didn’t know you had another job,” I said.
“Gotta pay the bills somehow, Mr. Hawkins,” he replied.
“Just Parker, Elliot, please,” I said. “I thought you were in school.”
He shrugged and looked down with a grimace.
“School was too hard for me,” he said.
“Hey, don’t feel bad.” I put a hand on his shoulder, and he almost jumped out of his skin. “It was hard for me too.”
“Thanks. Your pizzas. They’re already paid for.”
“Thanks, Elliot. I don’t have cash on me, so I’ll make sure to tip you next time you’re in,” I told him, and he shrugged it off.
“Don’t worry about it. I’d feel bad taking your money anyway.”
“Now, now. That’s silly talk. Anyway. Thanks for these. See you on Friday?”
Elliot nodded. I took the pizzas and closed the door behind me. If he was curious about my presence here, he didn’t show it. Although, he could barely talk to anyone without fainting, so that didn’t surprise me. Everyone knew I was staying at Hwan’s. Everyone thought I was sleeping in the guestroom.
Everyone but Autumn.
It wasn’t on purpose, but I didn’t want to jump the gun if Hwan didn’t want to tell anyone about us. And I kinda wanted to keep him to myself. Our little secret. Not because I was ashamed—although I wasn’t looking forward to the ribbing by Ash after what I put him through—but because I liked having him to myself. Like it was us against the world.
