Page 45 of It Never Was

So, Parker has good taste, huh? A small smile forms on my face, and I turn to look out the window, so he won't see me, but my neck snaps to him when he clears his throat.

I'm a little jumpy.

"So, why are you walking to work?" he asks, his voice deep, jaw clenching. He seems a bit annoyed.

I hope he doesn't feel obligated to make small talk. I am perfectly fine sitting in silence.

"My car is at work. I was supposed to have a ride back this morning, but it fell through." I shrug, not mentioning Devon, I want to keep him out of my head, if that is even possible.

"Were you walking a while before I came around?" His voice remained deep.

He is chatty this morning.

"No, about five minutes, not long." I study his face, taking full advantage of the fact that his eyes are focused on the road. My own eyes wander down his body. Watching his arm flex as he grips the steering wheel tighter. His shoulders relax; I didn't even notice they were tense.

"We must be neighbors. I just left my place when I found you." He gives me another glance, longer this time. His smoky eyes linger, and I can't look away.

Butterflies catch in my stomach.

They shouldn't be doing that. Not here, not now, not with him.

"Oh really? Where?" I ask.

Did you really just ask where he lives?

Stupid.

You sound like a creep now!

"Crestview Complex." He doesn't seem bothered about me asking. "You know where it is?"

"Yeah, that is close to me. I live off Ether Drive. What are the chances?" I need to stop talking.

And you are telling him where you live?

What is wrong with you?

"I think I have seen that name, but I am also very new to the area so…" He smiles fully at me. It reaches his eyes, making them soften. I can't help but melt. I take a sip of my coffee, trying to cover my reactions. His lips curled a little more then returned to the road. I chanced another glance to watch his lips. They look so soft I can only imagine what they would feel like brushing up against mine, trailing down my neck… Stop!

He is looking at me again, catching me in full creep mode as I take in the sight of his lips. Light flickers in his eyes, moving them to look at my lips, causing my breath to stop. I twist to look out the window, taking another sip of my coffee.

A faint chuckle comes from Parker behind me as I stare at the trees we are passing by. The music grows louder in the car. His voice breaks through the music, singing along.

How can I even think of that with everything that just happened?

What. Is. Wrong. With. Me.

I try to relax as Parker taps on his steering wheel, but the visions of last night are bouncing in my head.

I look over at Parker; his attention is on the road. I advert my eyes slowly to my sleeves. I pull them up a little to show just the small bit of my wrists, assessing the damage Devon did. I only got to take a glimpse earlier this morning. I didn't want to see it. I still don't, but I need to know.

I let out a sigh as I saw the redness wrapping all the way around. Small purple bruises are forming where his fingers dug into them, and the wrists were pushed together. My stomach flips as I think about him on top of me, not able to get away. I can't help the burn that forms in the back of my throat, water rising in my vision. I feel eyes on me and look over my shoulder to see Parker bobbing his head to the beat, singing every lyric in a hushed tone. He is side eyeing me, watching me. I tug at my sleeves to cover my marks.

How much did he see?

"You sure you’re okay? You seem bothered?" The concern in his voice makes my tears overflow. I try to wipe them away as discreetly as I can, keeping my gaze on the view out my window. "I hope it's not me…"

NO!

---