Page 58 of Happenstance
Lillianna almost sounded too smooth with her answer. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“What’s in this drink, Mother?”
My lips curled. I doubted either of us wanted to know the answer to that one.
“It’s an old family recipe.”
For grossness.
“For what,” Parker barked back at his mother, “Abortion?”
I froze.What?
“I found these in your purse.”
My ears twitched at the distinct sound of a pill bottle being shaken. Nan was on enough medication–it came with age she said–that I recognized the tiny clinks ringing through the air. It made my blood run cold. Nan always claimed Lillianna Whitley was evil, but was she that evil? Would she kill her own grandchildren?
“I’m trying to fix your mistake, Parker,” Lillianna shrieked back. “What that girl is carrying around are abominations.”
My breath hitched as my hand landed on my stomach. My babies were not abominations! Why would their own grandmother say that? For the first time in my life, I looked down and noticed the color of my skin. How the complexion was darker than most of my friends. Until that moment I’d never felt… different.
“Get out!” Parker yelled so loudly it made me jump.
“Parker…”
“I said get out!”
“Fine.” Lillianna growled as her heels clicked off the floor, “But one day you’ll thank me.”
“If you come near my wife again, you won’t have to worry about Preston, because I’ll slit your fucking throat myself!” Parker called out as his mother stormed out of the room.
She paused long enough to glare down at me and mutter, “I hope you’re happy,” before she slipped out the front door.
“Are you okay?” The concern shining in Parker’s eyes was almost as strong as the guilt. “I’m sorry you had to hear that. I was hoping to protect you from that part of my family.”
Suddenly it all made sense. The complete one-eighty he did after our first night together. How cruel he was to me after. The asshole side of him wasn’t his true colors. Parker Whitley never used me. He was trying to make me hate him. To keep me away from his mother. But that couldn’t be right. Unless…
“Parker,” I tipped my head, “Do you love me?”
There was no hesitation. No second where he had to think about the right response. Just one word.
“Yes.”
Chapter 19
Lana
Iexhaled and studied myself in the mirror. The knights were all scary guys, part of their draw I suppose, but I was never really scared of Parker. I’d either admired him from afar, or hated his guts. Now I didn’t know what to think? He said yes when I asked him if he loved me. Affirmed my question with so much conviction that I couldn’t doubt him. And I tried. Guys told girls lies all the time. Girls did too, except their lies were more deceptions of character than whispered promises and sweet words.
Sean told Harper and I to never believe a guy who used the L word. That they were only after one thing. Sound advice coming from a player like him. Except in this instance, one word kept ringing through my head. Wife. Yes, Parker tricked me into marriage, but why? There was only one thing he gained from it. Me. Parker Whitley wanted me, because he loved me. That was a truly terrifying thought.
Snatching an elastic off the bathroom counter, I pulled my hair back, and then quickly let it go to fall back down in a flow of tight curls. I’d been standing in here for so long, my hair was almost dry from the shower I took. Did I spend the time straightening my hair? Should I put on make-up? Did I pick the right pajamas? My mind was a whirlwind. I hadn’t been this confused about my appearance since my first day of school. The worst part was, I didn’t know why this was such a big deal. Who cared what I wore or how I looked? I was just going to bed.
With your husband…
Who loves you.
My eyes landed on the closed door. Was he out there right now, sprawled out on the bed like some perfect example of manly perfection? Nerves fluttered deep in my gut as I once again glanced at my reflection. On the other side of the door was a smooth skinned, muscled man, and in here was just me. The tall, lanky armed girl, with a thing for Troll dolls. They were even on my pajama shirt and shorts. Smiling back at me with their crazy hair.
