The Personal Shopper

by T. L. Quinn

  Copyright © 2021 T.L. Quinn

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  ISBN-13: 9798710413890

  Prologue

  Six Years Ago

  Ava

  I reach for another glass of champagne off of the waiter’s tray walking by me. Dad took my last glass away. He pretends that he cares if I drink at these events since I am only 19, but really he knows I will just go grab another glass. Hey, if they can drink at 19 in Canada, why can’t I drink here?

  I sip my champagne, and my eyes scan around the party. Oh great...Jeff is here. I try to walk away before he sees me but no such luck. Our eyes catch eachother's, so I can't pretend I didn't see him. He walks up to me.

  “Ava, hey good to see you.” I smile back at him.

  “Good to see you too. I was actually just heading into the house to help my dad with some of the catering items.

  We can catch up later though, yeah?” I really hope I don’t see him later.

  My dad and Jeff’s parents have been friends forever. They both seem to think we are going to end up married with kids someday. Unfortunately for me, Jeff seems to buy into the idea. I don’t know how many times I can politely blow him off again before I seriously lose it on the guy. Like take a hint. I am not into you, but I can’t make things awkward between us. We are together all the time at events like this, so I just play friendly.

  There’s nothing exactly wrong with Jeff. He’s three years older than me and already working at his dad’s company, which works closely along with my own dad’s company. Another reason I have to remain friendly with Jeff. We will most likely be working together in the future.

  I took a year off of school after highschool to intern at my dad’s company. I moved around from department to department to try to see what I like best before I start college this fall. There were a few areas I felt comfortable in, but my favorite was public relations. There is something so satisfying about being able to create whatever image you want for yourself to present to the

  public.

  I decided to double major in PR and fashion this coming fall. Public relations for obvious reasons and fashion because I love it. Although it is not necessary for most PR resumes, I think fashion is going to give us that extra edge. I mean how am I supposed to present our company correctly if we are not looking the part.

  My mom always told me I had a knack for knowing what outfits and accessories go good with certain people. I can just tell by their body type and facial structure what will look good on the person. I would always help my mom and her friends with picking out their outfits for charity events and work functions. It is one of my favorite memories I have with my mom.

  “You need any help?” Jeff pulls me from my thoughts.

  I look back at him for a moment. I don’t actually have to help with anything with the caterers, so I have to try to ditch him somehow without him finding out.

  “Oh, there you are!” My aunt Becca saves me before I have to answer Jeff. She walks up to us.

  “I was just looking for you to see if you could help me with something inside." She turns to Jeff. "Hi Jeff, nice to see you. Think you could go give Doug a hand with those tables over there. They are trying to create more space on the back patio.”

  Jeff nods. “Sure. Good to see you see both.”

  Jeff walks away to help my uncle Doug with the tables, and I turn to my aunt. “What do you need help with?”

  She just laughs. “Oh nothing. I just came to rescue you from having to talk to Jeff.”

  We both laugh, and I hug her. “You are a lifesaver.”

  My aunt Becca has always known I am not interested in Jeff. Mainly because I constantly am telling my dad and uncle at family dinners that I am not interested after every time they try to get us to hang out.

  Becca never tried to push me towards him. She always encouraged me to do things that were good for me and not just good for the family. She’s pretty much my best friend and has been like a mom to me after my own passed when I was sixteen.

  My aunt Becca smiles at me. “You know I’ll always support you, but have you seen Jeff lately? He really has grown into that body of his.” She looks over toward Jeff walking away, and runs her eyes up and down him dramatically.

  I roll my eyes and laugh at her. “Cougar much?”

  “Hey! Just because I may be older than you, I am still a woman. I can appreciate the male body and all its forms. Just so happens his is a very, very good form.”

  I laugh and look over to where Jeff was heading. He has filled out quite nicely. He has always been attractive, but he no longer looks like the little boy I’ve known for so many years.

  His blonde hair has darkened a little. His shoudlers have broadened. His jaw is even more chizzled. Those cute little dimples he had when he smiled are now a ladykiller.

  It doesn’t matter though. No matter how hard I try to feel something for Jeff, it just never happens. It might have something to do with me giving my heart away to another man. Another man who would never think about me that way.

  Parker. Technically, Theadore Parker Jr. after his dad, but everyone just calls him Parker.

  I first developed a crush on Parker when I was thirteen when he started showing up at my family’s events and parties. He is best friends with my uncle Doug. My uncle Doug met Parker when he volunteered to be a mentor for the incoming freshman at his university. Parker’s parents had just died the summer before he started college, and Doug became like a second family to him.

  When Doug finished college, they still remained friends even though he was four years older than Parker, and that is when he started showing up around the house more.

  As a thirteen year old eighth grader, Parker was the hottest guy I had ever seen. Well, not counting all the guys on the posters hanging in my room. Parker was real though.

  He would tease me about Jeff, which would always make me blush, and he’d throw me into the pool when we had family dinner’s at my house. I didn’t stand a chance in not crushing hard on him. What girl wouldn’t?

  As I got older and started hanging out with other boys in highschool, I realized I was just a dumb kid with a silly crush, but that didn’t stop it from coming back every time I saw him. I tried to date other guys, but somehow I’d always compare them to Parker.

  Unfortunately, he just saw me as a spoiled little girl. His best friend’s little niece. He would never look at me the way I wanted him to. And sure maybe I was a spoiled little brat, but that’s not exactly my fault.

  My parents were richer than I ever understood growing up. I thought all kids had the same things and lifestyle as me. I mean I never had to have a job or anything growing up, but I worked hard at school and got good grades. It’s not my fault I was spoiled. What was I supposed to do, reject the gifts from my parents? Yeah, I don’t think so.

  I thought I was in love with Parker when I was thirteen, but it wasn’t until the day of my mom’s funeral that I really, truly fell in love with him, and I haven’t been able to stop it since that day.

  We found out my mom was sick when I was ten years old. She would go through patches of time where she was perfectly healthy, but it always came back. My mom was my rock. She never felt sorry for herself and always pushed herself to be able to participate in everything even when it was during one of her bad times.

  My dad helped get us through i
t too. He always had a positive outlook, and even though he works a lot, he would always take time to spend with the family. He still does. My mom would never let him miss a Sunday dinner with the whole family.

  If I didn’t have my dad, I don’t think I would have survived when my mom died. Even though we all kind of knew it was coming because she had gotten worse that time than ever before, it still knocked me off my feet. I had just turned 16 when she was admitted into the hospital for an extended stay, but after a while and no improvement in sight, she told my dad she wanted to spend the rest of the time at home with her family. She was with us for a month more at home, and then she died in her sleep.

  The days after she passed, I was in shock. I didn’t process what had happened. I didn’t even cry. The day her funeral came around all I kept thinking was I need these people to stop hugging me and looking at me with sad eyes. I needed to get away.

  The second I had a free moment, I ran out of the main room and down an empty hall at the church. All I remember was I was having a hard time catching my breath and was clenching my hands at my sides. I kept opening and closing my eyes shut like maybe I would wake up and this would all be a dream.

  I didn’t even hear Parker approach me when his arms came and wrapped tightly around me.

  “Hey, everything is going to be okay.” He whispered into my ear. I tried to push at him and screamed out. “No! Let me go! Let me go!” I continue to pound against his chest.

  Parker just held me tighter and continued to try to calm me down. Suddenly, it was like everything hit me at once, and I couldn’t stop the tears from coming. Parker just continued to hold me while I sobbed for who knows how long.

  When I finally calmed down a little, I looked up at Parker, and he smiled back at me and ran his hand down the side of my face. I gave him a small smile back to thank him for staying with me and for letting me get his dress shirt covered in mascara and snot.

  “Hey, there’s my beautiful Ava smile.” He whispered and touched me lightly on the chin.

  It made my half smile grow into a real one, but it only lasted a moment. I looked back down at my feet and tried not to cry some more.

  Parker lifted my chin back up. “You know when I last talked to your mom when I was over the last time, she asked me to make sure that you never lost your smile no matter what happens. She said she doesn’t care what you end up doing or how you look or dress as long as you continue to smile even through pain and even without her here.”

  I couldn’t help it. I burst into more tears. That’s exactly what my mom would always tell me. She said a girl could have the prettiest face and the best body, but unless she had a smile on her face, she could never truly be beautiful.

  It felt like my mom was back with me for a few minutes to let me know everything was going to be okay, and I fell into Parker’s arms again. I never felt safer. This was the moment I truly fell for him all the way.

  The intimate moment did not last long though. Suddenly, we heard a woman’s voice. “Teddy! There you are. I”ve been looking all over for you.”

  The woman stopped when she saw me standing there with him. “Oh sorry sweetie. I didn’t realize you were out here.” She smiled at me but didn’t try to give me a hug. Thank goodness. At least she had enough sense to know I don’t want a stranger touching me.

  She started rubbing her hand up Parker’s arm. This was the first moment I ever felt true jealousy. I didn't want her touching him. I only wanted it to be me touching him.

  She whispered to him. “Hey, Doug wanted to see if you could help get the food set up.”

  He nodded his head at her. “I’ll be there in a second.”

  She kissed his cheek and walked away.

  Parker turned back to me, and I must’ve had a disgusted look on my face because he just gave me a confused look. “What?”

  I raised an eyebrow at him. “Teddy?”

  He rolled his eyes at me. “Hey, one day when you marry Jeff, I’m sure you’ll have plenty of nicknames for him.”

  Then it was my turn to roll my eyes at him, but his words did something painful to my heart. “You’re planning on marrying her?”

  Parker laughed. “Jesus. No.” He paused. “I mean not right now. We just started dating.”

  I am snapped out of my memory when Becca grabs my arm. “Oh look! Parker just got here with Nina. I’m going to go say hi.”

  Before she walks away, I add. “Don’t you mean Teddy?”

  We both laugh and Becca turns to me. “Seriously though, I am still not sure how those two are still dating.”

  You and me both aunt Becca.

  I finish off my champagne and go in search of another one. I still can’t get over how Nina calls him Teddy. Short for Theadore. I mean if he wanted to go by his first name, then he would. Ugh. I can’t get started thinking about Parker. It will just make me upset. I need to just forget about him. Maybe my aunt Becca is right, and I should give Jeff another chance. I mean, I’ve had enough champagne to think it’s a good idea at least.

  I start walking over toward him when I am stopped by something I hear. I turn toward the voice and see my great aunt Ella. She is the biggest gossip in the world, but usually her information is pretty accurate, so everyone still likes to hear what she has to say.

  “Yes. They just broke up before they got here. I ran into Parker when he was coming in. You know that boy loves to open up to me. Told me the whole story how they ended things, but they are just going to play it cool for today so it doesn’t cause any drama.”

  I can’t help the smile that forms on my face. Parker is single? Not that it matters. He still wouldn’t be interested in me, but I’m not a little girl anymore, so maybe there's a chance. I know I shouldn’t start fantasizing about all the things that could happen now that he and Nina broke up, but I can’t help myself.

  I spend the rest of the party all giddy. It might have something to do with how much alcohol I’ve consumed, but somehow I know I would be just as happy if I were completely sober.

  It's not that I want Parker to be unhappy, but I know that Nina wasn’t the girl for him. If he actually found a good girl, I’d be happy for him. I think.

  The party starts to dwindle down after the sunset. There are a few remaining guests outside by the fire. I head into the kitchen to get some water. The kitchen is dark, and I let out a small scream when I see someone standing by the kitchen island.

  “Geez! You scared the shit out of me.”

  Parker glares at me. He still thinks I’m a little girl and shouldn’t be swearing. Well, tough luck.

  He doesn’t say anything, so I just grab a glass of water and say, “Okaaaaay.”

  He makes a small grunt noise in acknowledgement. I am still in a giddy mood, so I don’t let it phase me. A thought then occurs to me. “Hey aren’t you forgetting to ask me something today?” I say playfully as I walk up closer to him.

  Ever since that day at the funeral, whenever Parker sees me, he always asks, “Where’s that beautiful Ava smile?” I know it is cheesy, but it’s our thing and I wouldn't change it for the world.

  Parker just grunts again. “I’ve had a long day Ava.”

  That’s all he says. My smile drops from my face as I stare back at him for a moment.

  Suddenly, I feel really uncomfortable. I’ve never felt uncomfortable with Parker before. I know it’s something so dumb, but I always count on him asking me. It helps me get through anything I am dealing with.

  I can feel tears starting to prick at my eyes, so I quickly turn around and try to leave the kitchen as fast as possible. I can’t let him see me cry over this.

  I almost make it to the door when I feel his hand grabbing my elbow. “Ava, wait.”

  I turn to look at him. “I’m sorry. I really have had a bad day, but I shouldn't have taken that out on you.”