Defying Gravity

by Kendra C. Highley

  Luke shook his head, a smile of disbelief tugging at his mouth. “Kid, does it matter?”

  “You know damn well it matters.” Parker glared at him. “You’re playing some kind of game with Zoey, and with me. I have a right to know what you’re up to.”

  “Fine.” Luke crossed his arms. “I gave her flowers to apologize for missing you two last night. Happy?”

  No, not in the least. “What about the bet?”

  “What about it?” His brother shrugged. “It’s on until she makes a decision. She hasn’t, far as I can tell.” He smirked. “She agreed to have coffee with me tomorrow at ten.”

  On Christmas Eve? But that was when they all went to the mountain for a morning run. It was tradition…and she was abandoning him? For Luke? Again? “Did she?”

  “Yep.” Luke gave him a superior look. “Whatever you’re doing, it isn’t enough. You want to win that girl’s heart? Try harder, because I’m not letting up until Zoey makes a decision. Now, are you coming to Snowmass with me, or not?”

  “Not.”

  Luke pushed past him and went into the house. Parker stood in the snow, shivering without his coat, not sure what to do next. Part of him wanted to rush over to Zoey’s and demand to know what Luke had said to her. The other part wanted to slink back home. Neither option would work. He wasn’t beaten. Coffee was just coffee…and she did say she wanted to see him. Not Luke, him.

  Luke was right—he had to try harder. It was time to let it all go and see where the chips landed. If she chose Luke, he’d have to live with it and be happy for her. He wasn’t going to go down without a fight, though. No fucking way.

  Nodding, he trudged through the snow and rang her doorbell.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Zoey

  When the doorbell rang again, Zoey took her time answering it. What if it was Luke again? She was still upset with herself for agreeing to coffee when all three of them should be together on Christmas Eve morning.

  But when she opened the front door, it was Parker. Her body went limp with relief. “So you decided the plague wasn’t too scary?”

  “I was exposed to your germs enough last night that coming over now won’t matter.” He smiled, but the skin around his eyes was tight. Something was bothering him.

  She let him into the house, wondering what was going on. “Is everything okay?”

  “Sure, why wouldn’t it be?” He sniffed the air. “Something burning?”

  Her breath hitched at his rough tone. Oh, no. Oh, God, he was upset about last night. By the way she’d acted. She’d misread everything and now he was here to tell her that he just wanted to be friends.

  She started hyperventilating a little. The thought of him passing her by made her heart thump in painful beats, hard against her ribs. What was she going to do? “Just cookies. I’ll make some more later.”

  “Okay, but maybe I should ask the same question. Are you all right?” Parker frowned, and reached out to brush her hair off her face. “You look like you’re about to faint.”

  “I’m still a little dizzy,” she gasped out. Tears stung the backs of her eyes. How could she have been so spectacularly wrong about him? About them?

  “Maybe we should sit.” He started for the living room, but she stopped him.

  “Let’s…let’s go upstairs. To the game room.” It was quieter up there, and if her parents came back for some reason, she didn’t want them to walk in on a scene. If there was one. Maybe she could hide the fact her heart was breaking until he left.

  On the way upstairs, he asked, “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.” She led him up the stairs and to the game room. “You can ask me anything.”

  “Anything? Wow, that’s some offer.” He smiled, but he looked torn—like he wanted to ask, but wasn’t sure about the answer.

  “Only if you answer a question or two of mine,” she said, pulling down the pool rack.

  “I will, but are you sure you’re up to play?” He eyed the pool table dubiously, like it was going to knock her out. “Maybe we should sit and watch a movie instead.”

  There was no way she was having this conversation without something to do with her hands and an excuse not to meet his eyes. “I’m fine. Fever’s gone, and everything. I’m a little tired, is all.”

  “Then let’s play.” He helped her set the balls on the table. “Who goes first?”

  “At pool or the question asking?”

  He chewed on his bottom lip. She’d forgotten how cute that gesture was, like he was really thinking it over. Like everything she said should be pondered carefully. And, God help her, that was pretty sexy.

  It was really going to hurt when he let her down.

  If, girl. If he lets you down. He might not.

  Right. She’d hang onto that hope with both hands and see what happened before she broke down crying about her screwed up situation.

  “How about this. If you sink more than one ball on your break, you ask first,” he said. “And if you don’t, I get to ask my question first.”

  That sounded pretty terrifying, given what she wanted to ask—and what he might want her to answer—but she played it off. “I like this game. Then, any time we don’t get at least one ball in on a turn, we have to answer a question,” she said, waggling her eyebrows at him, making a show of confidence she didn’t have. “Pretty soon I’ll know everything about you.”

  “Hey, I’m better at pool than that.” He handed her a cue. “Now break, Miller.”

  She leaned over the table, gripping the cue hard to keep it from shaking. Focusing on the cue ball, she gave it a hard tap, and the colored balls scattered across the table.

  The four ball went into one corner pocket, and the seven wobbled dangerously close to the other, but stopped just short.

  “Nooo!” she groaned. “Guess I’m stripes. All right, ask away.”

  He lined up his shot and asked, “Why Luke? What do you see in him?”

  His tone was casual, but she saw how tight his shoulders were. Did he still think there was something between her and Luke? What had she done to give him that idea?

  Obviously she’d done something, because it bothered him enough to ask. “What do you mean?”

  “Come on, Zoey. I’ve seen how you look at him.” He glared at the carpet. “And I saw him leaving your house earlier. He told me you two were having coffee tomorrow.”

  A stone settled in her stomach and she wanted to sink to her knees. He’d seen Luke leave? Was that what was bothering him, thinking Luke was over here with her, doing God knows what? “He asked. I’m not sure I actually said yes, but maybe he interpreted it that way.”

  “You didn’t answer the question,” he said, leveling a gaze at her.

  “His? No.”

  “Mine,” Parker growled.

  She shivered. Something dangerous was about to happen, and she’d better be careful. More careful than she’d been last night, anyway. “He’s a good friend,” she murmured. Squaring her shoulders, she looked Parker in the eye. “That’s all.”

  Parker stood up without shooting. “Funny, it seemed like you had a crush on him.”

  “I also had a crush on the Channel 5 weatherman when I was eight, certain I’d marry him.” She laughed. “Things change.”

  “In three days?”

  She looked away from the weight of his stare. “Yes. Sometimes that quickly.”

  Parker didn’t say anything about her answer. Instead he hit the cue ball so hard it skipped off the table. “Damn it.”

  He was coiled so tightly…she’d thought his aversion to her spending time with Luke was overprotectiveness. But what if it was something more simple: jealousy?

  A little bubble of hope filled her. “My turn!” What could she ask that would steer the questions the right way? It had to be something suggestive, but safe. Something to get him talking, and off-balance, but away from the subject of Luke. Hmmm… “How many girls have you kissed?”

  “Seriously?”
he said, sounding embarrassed. “Come on.”

  “Nope, you asked about Luke, you can answer this.”

  “You really want to know?” he asked, walking slowly her direction.

  Not sure what he was planning, she nodded. He kept walking until he stood right in front of her. Close enough that she could feel his body heat, which in turn, made her want to lean toward him, feel his body against hers. Giggling uncomfortably, she backed up instead. He followed until her legs hit the pool table, and stopped just short of touching her. Staring at her mouth in a way that made her think he might just kiss her this time, he said, “Three. Or four if you count the kiss on the cheek you gave me.”

  “I don’t think that kiss counts.” Her pulse beat harder than it had during her first black diamond run of the year. His nearness was intoxicating. Best friends didn’t make you feel like you were in freefall. And “just” best friends didn’t sway your direction like he was a magnet and you were steel.

  That was because he wasn’t just her friend, and they both knew it, even if they couldn’t quite say it out loud. She’d been right—something dangerous was definitely happening, and she was ready for it.

  “Maybe we should try it for real, though. Kissing, I mean,” she murmured, staring at his mouth, wondering what he tasted like. A shiver ran up her spine. “You know, for practice.”

  He smiled slowly, and his lips were a breath away from hers. She tilted her chin up, waiting for him to make a move, hardly able to stand the suspense.

  Instead he backed away, still smiling that mysterious smile. “You might still be contagious.”

  She stared at him in frustration. Her entire body ached for him, and he walked away. Was she going to have to draw this out of him, inch by inch? “You’re a big tease, Parker Madison.”

  “Hmm, you think? Now, your turn.”

  Her hands shook on the pool cue. She reset the cue ball and took a look at the table. The six was at a funky angle to the right middle pocket, but maybe she could make it work. Nothing else was even doable.

  Except Parker.

  Oh, dear God, that thought popped into her head with far more ease than she would’ve believed three days ago. Her body felt so hot, she wondered if she was glowing…or running a fever again. This guy was going to drive her crazy. Blowing out a long breath, she took her shot. And missed.

  “I’m really starting to hate this game,” she said.

  “It was your idea.” Thankfully, this time he stayed six feet away. “Is there a guy you like?”

  You! was on the tip of her tongue. Her more reasonable self clucked its tongue in her head. You need to slow this down. It could be amazing, but it’s early enough to ruin it. Don’t fuck this up.

  There were days when she really didn’t want to listen to her more reasonable self, but taking things slow wasn’t a terrible idea, even if she was one to race ahead of the curve. He hadn’t kissed her, after all. Fine, two could play this game. It would be interesting to see who confessed first.

  Zoey forced herself to stare at a point over Parker’s left shoulder. Her face burned, but she said, “Yes.”

  “Fair enough,” he said softly, and when she looked at him, he turned away, ears pink. He lined up a shot and hit the easy seven into the corner. He took a swipe at the three, but missed. “You’re up.”

  The three had knocked the six into a better spot, and she sank it easily. She got the two as well, but missed the ten. When Parker went to line up for his shot—a really easy corner for the five—she walked over and blew in his ear right as he was about to strike the cue ball. He’d been distracting her. It was only fair that she did the same.

  The cue skidded off the table and the cue ball rolled about two inches, then stopped.

  “You cheated,” he said, pointing his cue at her.

  “Is there a girl you like?” she asked. The answer terrified and excited her enough to make her knees knock together, but she held his gaze steadily.

  His face flushed scarlet. “Yes.”

  His reaction made her want to ask the big question. “Hmm, I really hope you miss the next one,” she said, before sinking the ten. She went after the fourteen next, using it to scatter the solids across the table. Let him avoid her questions now. Ha.

  Parker stared her with a look of helpless outrage on his face. She’d effectively ruined just about every shot he had. He went for the three again, and missed. “Damn. Okay, ask away.”

  She smiled. “Do you want to kiss me?”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Parker

  Blood was roaring in Parker’s ears. That wasn’t what he thought she’d ask, but he didn’t mind answering, so long as his actions spoke louder than words. It was time to get real with this thing. She’d obviously blown Luke off, no matter what his brother said, which left him with only one real conclusion. He just needed to confirm it.

  He set the pool cue down, and stalked after her. Her eyes went wide and she giggled as she tried to back away again. This time she got around the pool table, but ended up against the wall. He put a hand on either side of her shoulders and swayed dangerously close to her, just enough that her chest brushed against his. She froze, staring up at him with wide eyes.

  “Yes.” He didn’t let his gaze leave hers.

  Her expression faded into something hungry, but unsure. “Are you being a tease again?”

  “No.” He shifted closer so that they were touching—just barely—and slid his hands down to her hips. God, he wanted to kiss her. Maybe then she’d realize he was the right choice—not just for this, but for everything else in her life, too.

  Her gaze lowered, checking him out. When she looked at his face again, her eyes were glassy, and that set him on fire. “Don’t leave me hanging, then.”

  With a wordless growl, he pressed his body tighter against hers and kissed her like his life depended on it. She was the sun, the air. She trembled against him and her arms came around his back, pulling him closer. With one hand tangled in her hair, the other on her hip, he pulled away to kiss her jaw, her neck, her collarbone, tasting her, drowning in her. He would’ve kept going if he hadn’t kissed a salty spot on her cheek.

  Zoey was crying.

  “What is it?” Alarm beat a hard rhythm in his chest. He took a small step away and let his arms drop to his sides. Had she changed her mind already? “Too much?”

  “No, it’s not that.” She swiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand. “I’m just confused.”

  Confused? He’d kissed her with everything he had. What was confusing her? “Why, Buttercup?”

  She startled and stared at him. “What did you call me?”

  A smile tugged its way free from his worry. “Um, you don’t remember that, do you?”

  She shook her head. “Was that something we talked about last night?”

  “Yeah.” Unsure how she’d react, he ran his hands up and down her arms, fighting off a grin when her pupils dilated. She liked it when he touched her. “You gave me instructions about pet names.”

  “You’ll have to tell me what happened last night. I’m missing…pieces.” She swallowed hard, and he couldn’t help watching the movement of her throat. God, he wanted to kiss her again, but she put a hand on his chest, pushing him back. “I’m confused because I need a straight answer. I think we’re avoiding saying something important out loud. I know why I am, and it’s probably the same for you.”

  He held very still, and a tiny thrill of fear caught in his chest. “Probably.”

  “Then say the words, Parker.” She put a hand on his cheek. “Tell me why we’re doing this.”

  He pressed his forehead to hers, and a lump grew in his throat. He’d thought about doing this with flowers, or a candlelit dinner, or with some other grand gesture, but here it was, on a random Thursday, in the middle of the afternoon. He sighed softly. “I don’t want you to be with Luke. I want you to be with me.”

  Her arms slid around to the back of his neck and tears filled
her eyes again. “Then it’s time for me to be honest with you. I did have a thing for Luke. But the more time I spent with him, the more my eyes were opened. I realized what I thought I felt for him was something shallow, just like all those guys at high school feel for me. Like I’m a trophy to be won.” Her fingers traced his hairline, making goose bumps rise on his neck. “Then I saw you on your board the other day, with your friends. There isn’t anything fake about you. What you see is what you get, and I like that. Something clicked. After the competition yesterday, I was sure. The stupid flu got in the way, though.”

  “What clicked?” His voice had dropped to a raspy whisper and he closed his eyes to better enjoy the feel of her fingers in his hair.

  She paused. “Us.”

  Such a small word. Two letters, nothing special, but it was a whole world, complete. “Us. So my admission hasn’t scared you off, then?”

  She laughed, and started crying again, but it was the joyful kind of tears, when girls were overwhelmed and couldn’t contain it. “Opposite.”

  He burst out laughing, because his joy didn’t want to be contained, either. “Was that what you meant last night? When you told Luke that PB&J were in the opposite of trouble?”

  She pulled back, an embarrassed grimace on her face. “Were you listening to all that?”

  He kissed her forehead. “Most of it. Sorry, I eavesdropped, but I had my reasons.”

  “Uh huh.” She shook her head in amusement. “Can you tell me what I said?”

  “Maybe later.” He cupped her face in his hands. “I have more important things on my mind.”

  She bit her lip and he felt it in his knees. “Like what?”

  He leaned closer, closer, then stopped an inch from her lips. “I have no idea.”

  “I do.” Zoey closed the distance and pressed her lips to his.

  He’d been wrong yesterday. Today was the best day ever. He kissed her with his heart on his sleeve, and he felt something unwind inside of her, some doubt, or fear, or question. This was right, and her body knew it, as much as his did.

  He held her against him, no negative space between them. Her mouth was warm and soft and open. He forgot to breathe—she was his. He still wasn’t sure what he’d done or said to change her mind, but that didn’t matter. They were together, and that was all he cared about.