Page 62 of Front Runner

A burst of laughter from the other room made me jump, and the knot inside me pulled a little tighter. What the fuck was wrong with me?

As if he sensed my presence, Noah stuck his head out the door. “Do I smell burritos?”

I pointed back toward the living room. “Better hurry. I’m not sure how many Mac bought, but I think he’s on number three.”

“Motherfucker,” Noah grumbled under his breath.

He came out and closed the door behind him, then gave me a second glance instead of heading into the living room. “You okay? You’re looking a little green.”

I tried a smile, but it felt awkward. “I’m fine.”

Noah narrowed his eyes at me. “You’re not, but I understand wanting to get away from Mac. I should warn you, I’m going to send Shaw this way.”

“I’m already here,” Parker said, joining us in the small hallway.

My whole body relaxed as he slipped an arm around my waist, and I was able to smile at Noah for real this time. “Mac’s going to eat your burritos if you don’t get in there.”

A silent message I didn’t understand passed between Parker and Noah before the big man sauntered away. Within seconds, I was calm enough to handle the rest of the lead up to Friendsgiving, but I still needed to talk to Parker about all the touchy-feely.

I hesitated again, trying to find the best way to bring up the topic, but nothing good came to mind. Blunt honesty would have to do.

“Does Soren know about us?”

“Is that what we’re doing in here?” he asked, turning me to face him.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

Parker let out a resigned sigh. “No. He doesn’t know. I haven’t told anyone. Mac and Noah are aware because they live here, and I assume Eva knows for the same reason.”

Warmth filled my face, and I dropped my head to his shoulder. “Eva knows because I told her.”

There was a small chance Parker wouldn’t react well to finding out I’d sort of broken our agreement not to tell anyone, but he held me loosely, pressing a kiss to my temple. “I trust them, and I trust Soren. You’re worried we’ll mess up with them around today?”

Relief at his understanding washed away the embarrassment. “I’m so used to acting a certain way with you in your apartment. This is our safe space to be with each other. The only way Soren and Vi aren’t going to figure it out is if they’re both suddenly struck blind.”

He tipped my chin up. “Would them finding out be so bad? I don’t like lying to my friends.”

I let out a groan. “This is going to bite me in the ass.”

Parker chuckled. “How about a compromise?”

Stupid hope lifted my head. “What kind of compromise?”

He played with the ends of my hair curling over my shoulder. “You could call me by my first name.”

“Everyone else calls you Shaw. In public, you’re Shaw to me.”

He stepped closer, not enough to cross any lines, but almost. “In private…”

I flattened my palm against his chest. “We’re not in private.”

Parker nodded, his eyes hooded. “That’s the compromise. We bring a little more of the private into the public.”

“That is not a compromise,Shaw. That’s you getting your way by using your sexy voice. A compromise requires give and take.”

“Semantics. Here’s what I think we should do. Act like we normally do in front of Soren and Vi, who will figure it out anyway, and trust them to have our backs. You can call me Parker or Shaw or Big Daddy—”

“I’m not calling you that,” I interrupted him.

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