Page 81 of Mother Parker
The guy had just had his first gay experience. I didn’t know if he wanted anyone to know. I didn’t know ifIwanted anyone to know. No one needed to know about a fling or who I slept with in my downtime.
“Yup. Yup,” Ash said, and I realized I’d frozen still.
“What?” I asked.
“That ass is impossible to look away from, isn’t it?” Ash said.
“What? I wasn’t staring at his ass.”
Had I?
“Why were you looking at his ass, dick?” Maddox punched his boyfriend’s shoulder, making Ash laugh.
“Oh, come on. Like you didn’t notice. It’s so…” He put his hands up and curled his fingers as if squeezing Parker’s ass, but he was stuck for the word.
I couldn’t help but feel a little jealous.
I wanted to be the only one who admired Parker’s assets. I didn’t want anyone else looking and getting any ideas.
“Watermelony,” I said.
“Huh?” Carson asked.
“Yes! You’re right. Who could look away from those firm watermelons?” Ash asked.
Maddox put his hand around his mouth to shut him up, but Ash just bit him, making his boyfriend curse and spit.
“You…you noticed?” Carson asked, and I had to fight with the urge to keep admiring how cute Ash and Maddox were.
“What was that?” I asked when I managed to.
“Nothing,” he replied and returned to scraping using both hands and a lot of muscle.
I checked across the street, Parker’s figure domineering and irresistible as he spoke to someone behind a desk.
His brows were furrowed and his eyes slit, and even though I couldn’t hear what was being said, I could see the employee cowering in front of him.
How could someone like him be so sweet and funny? Was I the only one who knew he wasn’t this scary giant? Was I the only one who’d heard his vivid, guttural laughter? Was I the only one he’d ever asked permission to kiss like he was out of his depth?
A fire lit inside me at the thought, whether true or not, and I felt like a teenager hiding a secret and trying not to get caught. I liked being the only one who had seen those parts of him. And what was more, I liked that I’d been right about him from the start. He was a softie underneath that armor built from years of training and danger.
“Excuse me, Mr. Kim. Will you stop staring at your boyfriend and get us our drinks? We’re not your slaves, you know,” Ash said.
I glowered and flipped him the bird before I joined Elliot inside, and we got to work making the teas and paninis for everyone.
When everything was ready, Parker returned. Elliot grabbed the tray and practically ran outside and away from him.
“Is it something I do, or…?” he asked, noticing it too.
I laughed.
“You’re twice his size and literally growl at anything that moves. Cut the kid some slack,” I said.
“I don’t growl,” he said, his face sinking slightly and melting my heart.
“You don’t. Most times,” I said, smirking, hoping it would give him back some of that confidence he always had.
I had no idea where this new Parker had come from or if I was the only one who could notice because I’d spent so much time with him in the last few weeks.
