Page 83 of Mother Parker
“You must be an imp. A fairy. Something.”
“What did you just call me?”
He laughed.
“I’ve never met anyone like you.” He leaned over the glass counter, and I leaned back on it so our mouths were only inches apart, and I inhaled his essence.
“And I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like you,” I told him, and it brightened his smile.
We stayed there for a few easy moments, a current smoothing over me and making my heart skip a beat.
Shit. No. That’s not good.
I pushed myself off and combed my fingers through my hair.
“So, what do you think I should do? Call the police?” I asked.
“Wyatt doesn’t trust them,” he replied, staying exactly where he was like a puppy desperate for attention.
A claw scratched at my chest, but I brushed it off.
“Then what?”
“We’ll find them. We’ll get the CCTV installed, and Ash will try and get the scoop from the other businesses that got hit. There might be something there,” he said.
Elliot stepped back into the shop, and Parker straightened up.
“I’ll get those greedy jerks some water,” Elliot said and went to the back to fill some bottles.
“I do think you need to move out,” Parker said.
“What?” I turned to look from Elliot back to Parker. “Why would I move out of my house?”
He pressed his hands down, trying to calm me down, but it only made me angrier.
“Relax. I just meant until we’ve got more clues, I think it’d be safer if you didn’t stay here.”
“Parker, this is my home. This is my shop. I’m not abandoning it because of a stupid homophobe,” I told him.
“That’s not—”
“What? Am I supposed to leave my café at their mercy? Should I let them squat in here? Leave the door unlocked? Let them help themselves to some boba?”
I knew I was overreacting, but the heat rising in my throat couldn’t be put out even if I wanted to.
I wouldn’t leave this place. I wouldn’t let those assholes win.
“Hwan, that’s not what I meant. It doesn’t have to be long. I just know I’d feel better if I knew you weren’t here on your own in the middle of the night,” he said.
“I’m not moving out, Parker, and that’s that,” I said.
“Don’t be so stubborn. It’s for—”
I balled my hands into fists and turned my back on him.
“I can’t believe you’re pushing this. You don’t understand what you’re asking me to do. If this was your place, would you move out?”
When I didn’t get an answer, I turned to look at him. His silence was answer enough.
