Page 110 of Cruise Control

"I wanted to kill him," he whispered. Paige nodded.

"I know you did. It's sad, cause off drugs he's really not a bad guy. He calls me sometimes, you know," she said slowly. Parker's eyes got wide.

"You talk to him!?"

She shrugged. "He's usually just apologizing. He wants to come visit me, but I told him I don't want to see him."

"Good. He comes near you, and I'm gonna break his fucking face,again."

"I'll be sure to tell him," she laughed. He shook his head.

"I'm serious. Apparently I need to be on a constant vigil. This new you is too forgiving. Look how easy it was for me to infiltrate. I'd better stay here. In this room. Indefinitely. You know, for your protection."

She laughed again.

"I wouldn't mind that one bit."

*

"OH MY GOD ...”

"Right there?"

"Mmmm ...”

"I like these noises you make."

"Shut up."

"Holy fuck, don't stop doing that."

"I ... I ... uh, mmm ... Parker ...”

"I love the way you say my fucking name."

"Parker."

*

PARKER SLOWLY CAMEawake, but didn't open his eyes. He yawned loudly and stretched his arms out. He frowned when he didn't feel anything next to him. He cracked an eye open and saw that Paige was gone. He glanced around the room, but the only living thing he saw was her cat, who was sitting at the foot of the mattress, staring at him. Parker chuckled and from under the blanket, he gently rubbed his foot against the cat's side.

“A cat named Cat,” he spoke softly. “That just won't do. You haven't known her very long, but sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands where Paige is concerned.”

The cat didn't say anything, just purred loudly and continued staring at him

“Don't worry, kid. We'll come up with a name for you. I'm gonna be around a lot, and I'm just not calling youCat.”

The staring contest went on for a few more seconds, then the cat rubbed its head once against Parker's foot before leisurely walking across the mattress and dropping to the floor. He smile after it, then yawned again and scratched his fingers through his hair.

"Paige?" he called out.

They hadn't left her apartment for the rest of the day and all night. He glanced at the clock – it was five in the morning. He strained his ears to see if he could hear her moving around outside the bedroom and he picked up on the sound of the shower. He laid back down and rubbed at his face, groaning as his muscles protested at every movement.

She's trying to kill me.

Parker chuckled and vaguely remembered having a similar thought many months ago. At least this time, he welcomed it.

He couldn't believe how easy it had been – on the road Paige had fought him tooth and nail over their feelings. Her fear that having feelings for someone meant submitting to them had all but ruined them. But now, it almost seemed like dealing with a different person.

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