Bare Hearts (11 page)

“Should I call him now so we can get rid of it?” She asks, looking up me as we stand staring at the stack.

“Sure, have him meet you at that abandoned air strip just on the edge of town. I’ll go with you, because you aren’t going along. I don’t trust him.”

I watch as she puts his number into the house phone. She puts it on speaker so I can hear.

“Hello, my darling daughter,” Tony says before Lily can say anything. His voice makes me cringe.

“I have your money; meet me at the abandon air strip on the other side of town. I’m sure you can manage to find it,” Lily says coldly.

“No formal meeting?” He chuckles

“Just meet me there at six this evening,” she says before hanging up on him. “That guy disgusts me,” she says sitting on the stool positioned at the island.

“How ‘bout’ we get something to eat; I’m sure you’re starving after all that searching and you only had toast this morning,” I offer as I wrap my arm around her, nuzzling her neck. A smile appears as she nods in agreement, turning back to kiss me.

*****

Six O’ Clock comes quickly. “Are you ready?” I ask as we manage to get the money in a brown paper bag.

“Yeah,” she says with a nod, strapping her bag over her shoulder. Then she pulls her hair into a ponytail and we head out the door.

We arrive at the abandon air strip first. Looking around, the place has an eerie feeling to it; the hangars are old and decaying. The strip itself isn’t very long, but long enough for a small private plane to land.

“Are you nervous?” I ask, placing my hand on her leg to keep it from bouncing up and down.

“I’m not nervous. I just want him out of my life.”

I know she is nervous. I know I would be. I mean. I
am
nervous. Carrying a huge stack of money like that would make any person nervous.

Waiting in the car, we see a black SUV pulling up, positioning themselves in front of us. Tony gets out the back with sunglasses on and his signature dark suit. He looks every bit of a business man.
Does this guy ever take a day off?
He buttons his suit jacket and approaches us alone while others wait at the SUV.

Lily digs around in the back seat, looking for the bag of money while I get out and stand next to the car, waiting for her.

“Here, now leave me the hell alone,” she says with furrowed brows and a serious tone. She hands him the money and takes several steps back, keeping her distance. I watch his every move so nothing goes down. I have my gun tucked in the back of my jeans, just in case.

“Thank you,” he hands the bag over to one of his men that had gotten out of the SUV and made their way over to us. “I see you haven’t dumped lover boy, yet.”

Lily just shakes her head in disgust, and doesn’t bother giving a response. The evening sun is beating down on us and I wipe the sweat from my forehead; it feels like a hundred degrees out here.

“Don’t you think you’ve done enough to the girl? Can’t you just let her be?” I growl.

Tony looks around. “You believe this guy?” He says in his thick accent to his bodyguard and shakes his head.

Chapter Seventeen

“You don’t have room to talk. I know you haven’t told her your little secret. If you did, she would have dumped you by now,” he continues.

“You clearly don’t know what you’re talking about. Lily, get in the car,” Parker instructs, pointing to his Camaro. My heart is already beating so rapidly and loud from encountering Tony, and I fear for both our lives, but mostly I’m worried for Parker. I know he won’t back down if it comes down to it.

“Just let it go, Parker,” I say tugging on his arm and, pulling him toward the car. Finally I manage to get us both in the car and the SUV floors it out of the air strip field, leaving a trail of dust behind.

Parker slams his fists on the steering wheel, causing me to jump. “I swear if I knew what he was talking about I would tell you,” he says angrily. He puts the car in drive and drives really fast down the air strip angrily. Quite frankly, he is scaring me.

“Parker, stop!” I yell as he slams on the brakes, halting the car. “Just let it go,” I say lightly touching his arm. He jerks his body back and gets out of the car, slamming the door shut in his wake.

I get out of the car and walk over to him on the driver’s side. His arms are crossed over his chest and one ankle is overlapping the other as he leans against the car door. The pain his face shows; is breaking my heart. He just stares out in the distance at the wide open nothingness.

“You have to know I would never do anything to hurt you.” He stands upright, gripping my neck while his thumb grazes my jawline, looking deeply into my eyes. I could stare at his blue eyes for eternity; they show so much emotion, and they grow dark when he gets mad. His touch calms my heart and that’s enough for me.

“I know you wouldn’t.” I close my eyes enjoying the feeling of his hand against my face. I feel so much loyalty from Parker and the spark between is something I don’t think I’ll get use too. I’ve never felt this with anyone else.

“Let’s go,” he says, turning to the car.

We arrive back at his house in less than ten minutes. Once inside, I grab a bottle of water and throw him one as he sits on the couch. “How’s your rib?” I ask, concerned and trying to change the subject.

“Still a little sore,” he catches the bottle and lifts his shirt up for me to see.

He doesn’t wince with pain when I lightly touch it. “You should still ice it some while we’re here. Maybe we should go upstairs and get some rest. I need a shower first, though,” I say pulling my shirt away from my chest from the stickiness outside.

Knowing we didn’t get much sleep last night, sleep is all I can think about at this point. Parker lazily relaxes on the bed while I take a shower. The hot water feels so nice as it erases away the dirt from the air strip, as well as the grim that Tony’s presence seemed to bring with it. Outside the shower, I wrap my body in a towel as I clear the mirror of the dew. My face is starting to look pale and my body is shrinking from the nerves I’ve had dealing with from my mom’s death, and everything after that. I towel dry my hair as I silently wish that my father is out of my life for good now that he has the money. But somehow I doubt it. Back in the bedroom, Parker is fast asleep and I don’t have the heart to wake him to change his clothes. I cover him up with the blanket that is spread on the edge of the bed. My heart melts for this man. I think I could actually love him, just maybe.

Quietly, I put on my pajamas and slip into bed, trying not to wake him. Turning out the light, I quickly fall asleep. A few hours later, I awake when I feel the bed shaking. I realize it’s Parker having a nightmare. Placing my hand on his arm, I push it, trying to wake him up.

“What, huh?” He says groggily.

“You were having a nightmare,” I whisper. His face looks of shock as he registers what just happened.

“Oh my god, Lily,” he says, sitting up in bed. He brings his knees to his chest, running his hands through his hair. “Where did you say your mom’s accident was?”

“I don’t think we ever discussed it. But she was heading east on Emerald Street. Why do you ask?”

He covers his mouth and there is a look of shock in his eyes. “Oh my god, that is what my dad meant.”

“Parker, you’re starting to scare me. What are you talking about?” I ask as my heart starts to race uncontrollably.

“Tell her I’m sorry. Those were my dad’s last words. He was on that very same road as your mom….”

I immediately jump from the bed. “Don’t say anymore, please,” I plead with him to stop talking. I don’t like where this heading and my eyes are welling up with tears. “Please stop, I don’t want to hear anymore.” I back up, holding my hands over my ears. I feel the room closing in on me and it’s hard to breathe.

“It was a three car accident. My dad was in the back and he must have spun your mom’s car out of control, causing her to hit the car in front of her,” he continues.

“Just stop, Parker!” I scream through the tears as I start grabbing clothes to throw on.

“Where are you going at this time of night? You can’t leave now.” He jumps out of the bed, pulling me toward him.

“I need to get out of here. I don’t want to hear anymore. Please, just let me go,” I say, yanking my arm from his grip. “I want to go home.” Parker is silent while I start grabbing my things and heading toward the door to leave.

“Let me drive you at least,” he says in barely a whisper.

“Fine,” I say, waiting in the entryway of the house.

I watch as he grabs his keys and wallet. The pain in my heart is excruciating, it feels like it is literally broken in two. He opens the car door for me, as always.

“Part of me wishes you would just stay with me. Let me hold you and make everything okay,” he says with a somber tone.

“This is not something you can just make go away.” I remain silent the rest of the ride home. I know he means well and wants to make everything okay. But now that I know what happened, I need time to process this new information. This must be what Tony has been talking about, knowing everything about the accident. Before Parker is able to get to my side of the car, I rush out and head inside, waving him off as I close the door.

Inside the house, I drop my bag on the floor and my body slides down the door as the tears fall freely. I manage to straighten up and head straight to my room. Opening up the small chest of my mom’s things, I pull out the newspaper clipping of the accident. Scanning its contents, I see the names that were involved in the accident and Parker’s dad’s name is mentioned, but it never clicked before when I read it. Maybe I was just too upset to process the information at the time. It all makes sense now. I take a moment, remembering my first chance meeting with Parker. I remember his eyes vividly, so blue in contrast to his black hair, and him retrieving the pretzels for me, the shockwaves that shot through my body. Then seeing him again on the fateful day of our parents’ funeral it seemed like it was meant to be. We shared a special bond and nothing else mattered.

A stray tear streams down my cheek as I remember burying my mother. And knowing who caused the accident pains me even more. His dad was high on prescription meds and drinking causing him to kill my mom. That thought makes my heart feel like it was stabbed a million times over. I pull a photo from the chest, it’s of her and me the day I graduated high school. She looked so happy and proud of me. I remember celebrating my graduation. She always made sure I had everything I needed. Rolling on my side, I clutch the picture as I cry myself to sleep.

*****

Waking up in the morning, I forget where I am, quickly remembering what happened last night. I roll out of bed and get ready for work. Downstairs, I make a cup of coffee and fill my thermo to get me through the day. As I’m sitting down to enjoy a few moments before heading into work, my phone buzzes.

It’s me. I’m sorry about everything. Guess you were right.

Okay now I’m confused. What is he sorry for, and what am I right about? Does he regret spending time with me now? Maybe it’s best this way; maybe we just need time apart for a while. It would be hard for me to even see him, knowing what his father did. How could I face him after that? I take a minute to text him back.

Just letting you know I’m still trying to process this. I know none of this is your fault, but it would be hard to face you right now, knowing what I know.

I swallow hard after hitting the send button. I just don’t know how to deal with my feelings for him; part of me wants to run to him and the other part wants to run from him.

Realizing the time I hurriedly make my way to work. Everyone comes rushing over to see if I’m okay. I have to reassure them multiple times that I’m fine and thank them for holding down the shop yesterday.

Looking over the schedule, it seems I have a few events I need to get organized for. One event for today is for an extravagant bridal shower. It takes the whole crew to get the arrangements together in time for the party. Once we have everything together we load the van and head to that location. Staying busy today is just what I need to keep my mind occupied on something other than thinking about Parker or my mom.

Just as I am about to close the store a well-dressed gentleman approaches me. “I apologize, but would it be possible for me to grab some flowers real quick?” The guy is tall with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. His smile showcases his dimples, and his suit suggests that he is well to do. I’m sure he’s used those dimples to get his way, in more ways than one.

“Oh yeah, sure come on in. Is there something in particular you’re looking for?” I offer once I catch my breath.

“You know, I’m looking for some calla lilies or something of the sort.”

“Well, I think you’re in luck,” I motion for him follow me. “How ‘bout’ these?” I ask, pointing to the different variety of lilies.

“Yes, that’s perfect. I’ll take a few of each. Think you can whip something up real quick?” He flashes his dimples once more.

“Sure, I’ll be right back.” I carry the flowers to the back to put the arrangement together quickly. I wonder why he would want such an extravagant arrangement.

“How’s this?” I ask, showcasing the bouquet.

“Wow, you have a gift, it’s beautiful,” he says following me to the register, I ring up the flowers and he pays via credit card.

Once he leaves, the staff and I head to the bridal shower and it turns out to be one exhausting day.

At home, later, I get ready for bed. The picture of Parker and me on a rollercoaster still remains on my nightstand. I can’t help but pick it up and admire it. We look happy, like nothing else matters except us. It was the best day I’d had in a long time. The way he looked at me in that picture makes my heart melt all over.

Chapter Eighteen