Etched in Stone (Six Degrees Series Book 2)

by Statham, Mayra

  Beautiful possibilities!

  BBQ’s with his family when they’re in town, my girls over here. My heartbeat picks up as I turn and look at the distressed farm table that Parker had made his own two hands. The possibility of a high chair or two on the ends, hand print art on the walls, maybe even a puppy that through the years grows to a beloved family member.

  I swallow hard.

  I used to be a part of something like that.

  My parents might not have had everything material wise, but we had what mattered. We use to laugh all the time. How did I let myself forget that? We’d laugh so much. Everything had been great. Until that cold December night, it all ended. Leaning my body against the cold of the granite countertop, I’m not even sure how it happens but I start to drown in old memories. The memories that had been locked up tight in my heart and mind and stored in the deepest part of my soul start to surface.

  It’d been my tenth birthday. They had pulled me out of school early, surprising me with a picnic on the beach. My mom and dad told me the story of how they had gone to that very spot on their first date for the millionth time. My mom kept repeating how that spot held magic.

  The same spot Parker had taken me to the night before my birthday. Eighteen years later.

  We’d got back home late. My dad carried me to my room and kissed me good night.

  Something fell and it woke me up from my deep sleep. Instead of my mom waking me up for school the next day, my life turned upside down and inside out. I remember opening my eyes, my head groggy and heavy. Extreme heat surrounded me, smoke so thick it hurt to open my eyes. Suddenly, strong arms embraced me, my dad lifting me up as if I weighed nothing. His hand was cupping the back of my head into his neck still holding me like I was a delicate treasure. He moves us through our small house and to the front yard. He whispered reassurances that everything’s going to be okay. He sits me on the grass and I ask for mom. He looks back, his face serious, worried, and torn. He looks at me and tells me he’ll be right back. Before I can say anything to him, he ran back in….

  He never came back out.

  Profound sadness strikes me, snapping me out of my own thoughts. My breathing is off at the remembered flashback. A flashback that felt so damn real that I can smell the smoke of that night. Clenching my coffee mug in my hands that tremble, I blink away tears, and stare down at my phone in front of me.

  My parents had had everything until then. Having everything with Parker didn’t scare me. It terrifies me. When you have everything, you have everything to lose. Jake had been right that one dinner we’d shared. I’d never needed him not really. I didn’t know that at the time, but I’d set myself up like that. What I’d felt for Jake all those years ago, was nothing compared to how I feel for Parker. Completely and utterly in love with Parker, and it’s only been a couple of months.

  A sick feeling twists deep inside of my stomach and makes me pull my mug away from my lips. Turning my body, I dump the coffee in the sink.

  Can I take a chance with Parker? Can I risk having this, only to one day maybe lose it?

  “Hey you're up,” he says and I turn to look at him. Why is he so damn beautiful? So beautiful that it’s hard to look away, even with the anxiety brewing inside of me.

  “Yeah,” I say clearing my throat.

  “What’s wrong?” He asks, his face slightly scowling.

  I open my mouth and close it. How can I explain something I don’t even fully understand? I can’t seem to find the words. I can’t figure out how to explain the way I’m feeling without him thinking I’m insane. We haven’t been together that long and much less mix in the mess with the Judge. So I do what do best, without thinking I go into survival mode.

  “Nothing.”

  “Something’s wrong,” he says coming towards me. His strong arms pulling me to him, my hands go onto his chest. His muscular, strong chest is warm from the sun.

  “Tess called. The cake I worked on fell. I need to go into the shop.” I lie. I didn’t know why. I just know I needed a little space from him and his house and everything we could possibly ever have or share.

  “The one you were working on yesterday?” He asks tilting his face, his grey eyes kind, his hands at my hips and I nod because I'm not sure how convincing I can make myself sound.

  “I’m sorry, baby. Want me to take you?” He asks, his hand brushing the apples of my cheeks.

  I shake my head, “No it’s okay. I have my car here, I’ll go. You should go do something...fun.”

  “Fun?” He asks his eyes amused.

  “Yeah, you know something weekend-ish. I’ll come back later.” I tell him, not sure if I’m lying or not. “I should go get dressed.” I say trying to step away from his hold, but he doesn't let me.

  “Okay baby… you know we still need to talk.” He reminds me, tears are threatening behind my eyes. He’s so good. He’s everything I want, but I… I don’t even know what’s wrong with me.

  I just need a little space. I need somewhere to think.

  “I know.” I say, trying not to sound defensive and I know. I know I fail because I see something flash in his eyes. He stays quiet for a second, what feels like the longest second ever known to man, his face clearly worried.

  “You okay?” He asks, his hands cupping my face. His eyes are begging me to lean into the promise of him, but my heart is beating too quickly, the acid in my stomach churning deep inside on my stomach.

  “Yes.” No. I think.

  “We okay?” He asks concern clear on his face.

  “Yeah.” I hope.

  “Last night…?”

  “Last night was incredible.” I tell him honestly. It was. It was amazing. It was intimate and sensual. Perfect.

  “Okay, angel. Go get ready… I’ll make you some toast to eat on your way to the shop.” He says a small smile on his face.

  It is a completely fake smile.

  Like the kind I’d seen him give others. One he’d never given to me. Before I can think too much about how shitty it was of me to do that to us, he pulls me into his arms. The heated skin of his arms wrap around me, warming me up not only physically, but emotionally. He moves his mouth down to mine and kisses me so damn sweetly that it makes me want to cry. Breaking the kiss he was in charge of, he nuzzles my nose with his, squeezing me even tighter for a second, then lets me go.

  Frozen in place I am slightly surprised that I’d been so convincing. I watch him walk to the fridge, shirtless, in slightly damp basketball shorts.

  Taking a deep breath I walk to his room to get ready.

  Parker

  She’s freaked about something and even if my gut’s yelling at me to push her till she tells me, I need to give her space. The night before had been beyond any fantasy one could conjure, and we’d both been insatiable, hungry, starving for the other.

  Sitting on the couch staring at the TV, I’m pissed. I hate feeling helpless, especially when it comes to my angel. The Duke mess had been awful and even though I know it could have been worse, I hate it.

  I hate how I’d reacted when I found out she’d worked at Shine. I’d treated her like shit. By a miracle, she let me back in after the mess with the judge. She’d let me help her while she’d healed, all while whatever we share grew bigger and brighter. She’d let me have her body, this morning and now she’s pushing me away. I can feel it. I can see it in her eyes and I hate the helplessness I feel.

  I am leaning my head back against my couch, just as my cell phone rings next to me. Tess Calling.

  “Hello.”

  “Hey, Parker. Umm, listen I know she needs some time off and away and it’s her day off, but I just have a quick question for her about an order, any chance I can talk to her?”

  “What?” I ask sitting up, leaning my elbows on my knees.

  “I just need to ask if I should take on a last minute wedding cake. I don’t know if our new baker is ready, and I know Liz needs time off but….”

  “Wait… isn’t she with you?�
� I ask cutting her off.

  “What?” Tess asks and I stand up.

  “Tess, isn’t Liz with you?” I ask, heading to my room.

  “No. I called her cell but it was off. I thought you had snuck it away so she could rest since she’d worked yesterday. Why would you think she was with me?”

  “She said a cake fall and you needed her in to help you finish it up before delivery time.” I tell her as I grab a shirt from my drawer.

  “Shit.” Tess says softly.

  “She hasn’t stopped by at all?” I ask, grabbing socks and my running shoes.

  “Let me ask the girls, but I haven't seen her. Why would she leave your place? Did you two fight?” Tess asked, sounding slightly irritated.

  “No.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” I snap, grinding my teeth to keep my cool.

  “I thought everything was good. I saw her, before she left here yesterday morning. It’s not even ten in the morning, what happened?” Tess asks, and I can hear shuffling in the background as she is probably texting the girls.

  “Nothing everything was fine. She slept... fine. I woke up and washed my car came back in and she was ….”

  “She was what?” Tess asks interrupting me.

  “I don’t know… she seemed a little freaked about something. She was holding her cell next to her, so I believed her that you called. Shit.” I growl, running my fingers through my hair. Fear was setting in.

  “Calm down. Let me talk to the girls, maybe she slipped in without me noticing, how long ago did she leave your place?” Tess asks, her shit clearly more together than I was feeling.

  “Like almost an hour ago.”

  “Okay, hold on…,” she says, putting the call on hold, and I grab a baseball hat. Once ready, I grab my landline phone, dialing her cell.

  It goes straight to voicemail.

  I have an ugly sinking feeling falling into the pit of my belly. Where would she go? Why did she go? What if… what if she wasn’t as stable as we’d all thought? What if she just disappears?

  “Park?” Tess says, snapping me out of my thoughts.

  “Yeah.”

  “No one here’s seen her.”

  “Fuck,” I growl, putting my hands on top of my head.

  “Okay. Calm down. Let me call the girls and Matt. Maybe she just needed some space…,” she starts to suggest and I snap.

  “Space?”

  “Look, you two have been inseparable since … since everything. Maybe she just needed a breather. I’ll call you if I hear anything okay?” She says calmly, surprising me that she hasn’t chewed my head off yet.

  “Tess…,” worry strangles my voice, and I didn’t give a shit if it makes me seem weak.

  “She wouldn’t hurt herself.” Tess immediately says, “I know her. She’s a strong cookie. She might have a crack or two, but she isn’t the type to crumble. I’ll call you back...just ….try to relax.”

  “But….”

  “Maybe call, Jake.”

  “Jake?” Why the fuck would I call Jake?

  “Never mind. Let me call the girls and Matt.”

  “Okay.” Hanging up the phone I pace back and forth trying to keep calm and not freak out. I pick up my cell and try her phone again.

  “You’ve reached Liz...Leave your message and I’ll call you back!” Her voice plays in my ear, a smile clear in her voice.

  “Angel, call me. I know you’re not at the shop.” I tell the line and hang up.

  Not able to stay in my place I get in my truck and drive to her place. Maybe she needed to go home?

  ***

  Walking up to the door as Matt is walking away.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” I growl, pissed at seeing him.

  “Tess called. I told her I’d come to see if she was home.”

  “Is she?”

  He shakes his head and I put my hands on my head, trying not to freak out.

  “I knocked and used the key Tess gave me. No one’s been there since you took her home with you.” Closing my eyes, I tilt my head back.

  “Before me, you guys were close?” I ask him as I open my eyes, not really wanting to know but needing to put it out there. My eyes meeting his stare.

  “It was complicated.” He says calmly.

  “How complicated?” I sadistically ask and he shakes his head.

  “A misunderstanding… but regardless… she’s my friend. We had a moment… Nothing compared to what you guys share, seriously man.” He says patting my back and even though I’m reading between the lines that he’s been with my girl, I almost believe I can get through that. Matt’s a good guy. He’d stepped up and protected the girls, especially Liz. He had the scar on his head to prove it.

  Thinking about her, I remember. The first time I laid eyes on her, the first night we’d spent sitting on the beach…. This place is magic she had said, and it dawned on me.

  “Shit.” I whisper.

  “What?”

  “I know where she is. I’ll call you if I’m right.” I tell him as I jog away.

  “Okay.” I hear him say as I run to my truck.

  Liz

  My body’s curled up tight. My knees bent, my chin resting on them. I am curled up, sitting on my favorite spot on the beach. This place makes me feel cozy and safe. I watch as the waves pound onto the shore.

  I’m such a weenie, a freaking coward.

  I should have talked to Parker, instead of lying leaving his place with no place to go. When I got to my spot, I realized my phone battery was dead and my charger was probably somewhere in my apartment, since I’d been using Parker’s charger at his house.

  My apartment!

  I used to be able to call it home so easily, but now it holds too many bad memories. Not even the memories I had shared with Jake had been able to tarnish that space. It was the place that had been my safe haven and my home. Now the thought of going to it all alone makes me break into a cold sweat with trembling hands.

  I think about my time at Shine, and what I had done. I didn’t necessarily regret what I’d done at Shine or my past. Maybe if I were a better person I would. I just didn’t. I couldn’t. Working there, making the smart choices I did, Tess and I were able to open our business. In a way it had even brought my right to Parker. Life one way or another would have made our paths cross.

  Time dwindles away and the only thing on my mind is Parker. My bare feet digging into the warm sand, the sun shining brightly, the warmth begins to help my mood. I’ve been cold too long.

  Parker

  The beach is pretty bare for being a late Sunday morning, so she’s easy to spot. Her bright blue tank top is obvious from where I stand. Picking up the phone I call Tess.

  “Did you find her?” Tess asks, bypassing pleasantries, it shows me how worried she is.

  “I found her. I’m looking at her. She’s at the beach.” I tell her.

  “The beach? What the hell is she doing there?” She asks, sounding confused.

  “It’s one of her favorite places….”

  “Since when?” She asks and I take a step back, leaning against my truck my eyes never leaving her back. Liz let me in from day one even more than her girls, from day freaking one.

  Fuck. Fuck!

  “Look I got to go.” I tell her

  “Park...?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Take care of our girl.” Tess said and I close my eyes. Tess and I had been amicable since the Duke thing, but I had a feeling she held me responsible. This was her way of giving me the okay.

  “I will….”

  “No Park...she’s… she isn’t as tough as she makes herself seem….” Tess starts to say and I smile, glad my angel has a girl like Tess watching her back.

  “I know, Tess. Look… I know I dropped the ball with how I first reacted with her having been one of Belle’s girls… but I swear to you I’m in this. I’m in this for however long she’ll let me be here… I love her.” I share with Tess.
>
  Tess is silent, but I know she’s still there.

  “Tess?”

  “Good. Go… take care of our girl,” she says, her voice slightly strained.

  “Right… Bye.” I end the call, silencing my phone and putting it in my pocket. Taking off my shoes, throwing them in the back of the bed of my truck, I walk towards her.

  As I approach she turns almost as if she can somehow feel my eyes on her. Sitting down on the sand right behind her, her warm back on my front, I wrap my arms around her. Her body is rigid for a moment, and I hold my breath. Is she going to push me away? It isn’t until the second that her body relaxes into mine, I can breathe.

  My hands stroke her bare arms. Her skin is warm from having been under the sun. We sit there quietly until she breaks the silence.

  “How did you know I was here?” She asks.

  “Tess called asking for you, I got worried. I thought about where you might go. I took a chance coming here.” She stays quiet then leans her head into me, the top of it tucked into my neck.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispers.

  “About?” I ask.

  “Lying that I needed to go into the store… I just needed….”

  “Some space?” I ask interrupting her and she nods. Snuggling her body back closer to mine, I hold her tighter.

  “What freaked you out?” I ask her and I hear her sigh.

  “You were washing your truck.”

  “What?” I ask looking down at her, not able to see her face, feeling confused.

  “You were washing your truck, my tooth brush is in your bathroom, my clothes are in your closet… and I like it.” She admits, her hand going over mine. For a second, I think she might push me away, but she holds on tight. She holds on tight like it’s a lifeline to her.

  “I like it a lot.” She whispers and continues, “I went to get coffee and I was looking around and I could see our future together and … and I couldn't breathe.”

  “You’re scared?”

  “No…,” she shakes her head, “I’m terrified. I’m terrified of what I want with you.”

  “Why? Is it me? Is it because…,” she starts to shake her head, her hand over mine, she squeezes tighter and I shut my mouth.