Page 38 of Happenstance
Trying to explain to my friends why I was suddenly shacking up with the guy I’d been bitching about was incredibly exhausting. Riley was utterly convinced something shady was going on, and spent the last two weeks on the warpath. She was right, not that I was going to tell her that. The girl was a force to be reckoned with, but even she was scared of Preston.
“Callaghan!”
I looked over at where the football team was practicing. The coach was yelling at Sean again, which probably had something to do with Parker picking himself off the ground. Needless to say, Sean was less than impressed when he heard the news. He was never a fan of the Knights. Now, though…
He’d started three fist fights with Mason, threatened Micha, and openly hit on Shelby in front of Logan. Part of the reason I’d agreed to this whole thing was to protect him, and he was diving head first into the pit. This was the fourth time today the coach was giving him crap for tackling Parker.
“Your brother is going to get himself hurt.”
Harper lifted her head and squinted. “He chose to play the stupid game.”
I wasn’t talking about football.
“Today’s the day, isn’t it?” Shelby tore open a pastry, I swear she could eat whatever she wanted and not gain a pound. She was a good match for Logan. in that regard. He was always stuffing his face.
“Tomorrow,” I corrected her.
The timing of the move was one of the conditions Nan insisted on. She’d refused to sign anything that would make me reside with Parker’s mother. So, I didn’t have to move in with Parker until he took possession of the house, which he did today. Nan was always looking out for me, but I wasn’t sure if being alone in a house with Parker was any better. There was safety in numbers, even if one of those numbers was Lillianna Whitley.
Not that I was worried Parker would hurt me. If anything, he was kinda sweet. It was other things I was worried about. Like how good he looked all sweaty in his football uniform. Parker ripped his helmet off and pushed his fingers through his sandy hair. My gaze fell on his parted lips. Soft, moist, and plump.
What would he taste like right now?
“Aww,” Shelby sang, nudging me with her elbow, “Look at you all thirsty for your man.”
“What? I am not.” I wouldn’t mind running my hands across his chest though. All firm and chiselled. I could run my finger over each dip and curve.
Snap out of it,Lana!
“Girl, it’s okay. Football players are hot.”
Riley grumbled and rolled her eyes. “Stop gawking at the football players.”
“There’s nothing wrong with looking.”
“Tell that to your barbarian boyfriend.”
I couldn’t help but nod in agreement. “Riley has a point.”
As far as Logan was concerned, looking was as bad as touching. And it wasn’t Shelby’s fault, it was the guy’s fault for getting her attention.
“Ugh, you guys are no fun.” Shelby flicked her blonde hair over her shoulder. “Since when do you care if I look at other guys?”
“Since I don’t feel like consoling a crazy pregnant woman when her son goes to jail for murder. No offense,” Riley added, shooting me a look.
I shrugged. “None taken.”
Crazy was a nice way of putting it. So far this week, I’d cried because I couldn’t find my shoe, stared at the wall trying to remember the word bush, and gotten in a fight with Henry our goat over a carrot. I didn’t even like carrots. At least I wasn’t as bad as Paisley. Riley spent an hour comforting her last night, because she’d broken a nail.
The whole Sean thing, well, that was different. I was still having nightmares, and even though I knew he didn’t do anything, a chill ran up my back every time I looked into his or Harper’s eyes. It was messed up. No matter what I did, I couldn’t shake it. Even went back to see Mr. Kessler. I didn’t give any specific information, but I did tell him I was the one remembering crap that didn’t happen.
He said that pregnancy psychosis was incredibly rare, but could occur, and set up monthly appointments so he could keep track of my mental well being. I tried to tell him I didn’t need to keep seeing him. Ever try to tell a Kessler no? It doesn’t work out so well. I ended up walking out with biweekly appointments instead.
“Speaking of you and Parker,” Shelby’s big cinnamon eyes glimmered with excitement, “Tell me everything.”
“Not much to tell.” I liked gossip as much as the next girl–okay, maybe more than the next girl– but this topic wasn’t one I wanted to talk about.
Shelby grumbled out a sigh. “Does no one respect the girl code anymore? Friend’s are supposed to share the dirty details. I tell Riley everything.”
