Page 79 of It Never Was

I look over to Willow who is already giving him siren eyes as she stands tall at the register, "Hey little Parker," she says lacing her voice with lustful poison.

"Gabriel is the name." He tries to make his voice deeper, "I wouldn't want my future wife to not know her husband's name." He lifts his brows and swings a bundle of flowers to Willow. Her eyes have a look of shock as she flutters her eyes from Gabe to the mess of flowers. I know those flowers. They are from the planters on campus and just the thought of Gabe stopping to pick a bundle for Willow has me giggling.

They were limp and bowing from the cold outside, "What is that?" Willow's voice cracks a bit and I've never seen her vixen face falter before now. But just as fast as I notice it, it's gone.

With a bow of his head Gabe answers, "For you, me lady." His voice is attempting an English accent, but it comes out jumbled and I can see his cheeks start to heat up and a soft shade of pink crosses them.

I hear the door behind me swing open and an annoyed sigh, "Are you harassing my co-workers now?" Parker's deep velvety voice hit my ears and a warmth entered my core. I can't see him, but I can feel his eyes on me, my heartbeat quickens with every step closer till I can see his tall muscular frame from the corner of my eye.

"It's called flattery. You should try it sometime. Might help you out." Gabe's eyes darted towards me and quickly back to Parker. Willow reaches for the flowers, plucking them from his hands. Absent-mindedly brings them closer. Taking a whiff, I notice a small smile forming at the corner of her mouth as she inhales the floral aroma.

Bringing back my gaze to the two brothers, I can see the mental conversation between them, their silent exchange of words. I don't know what they are giving each other eyes about but I have a gut feeling it's me. I wonder if he told his brother about our kiss, would Parker be the type to kiss and tell? I didn't think so and judging by the dig Gabe just gave him it seems he doesn't know.

A second goes by and they snap out of their stare off, Gabe's eyes rush back to Willow, softening as he watches her enjoy his gift.

"You like them?" He sounds like he is begging her more than asking her.

Willow's smile disappears, "Yeah," Her response is clipped, and her vixen mask is back on.

Gabe catches her mood change, the hope in his eyes dim because of it and in a soft voice he says, "I'm glad to be of service." Before walking away and coming in front of where Parker and I stand.

I shot Willow daggered eyes, her shaking her head in response playing dumb. Acting as if she didn’t know she just shattered his hopes.

Gabe is now talking to Parker about if he will be done with his shift yet so they can head home, sagging in his shoulders makes me want to come around the counter and hug him. Willow is my best friend, but Gabe didn't deserve to feel that way over my man eater of a friend. I clean my station getting ready for my own shift to come to a close so I can head to campus. Gabe walks over to an empty seat closest to the door, waiting for Parker to clock out.

"You have class tonight. Want a ride to campus?" Parker booms from behind me.

Turning around to see him centimeters from me, I can feel the heat of his chest on my cheeks. This closeness brings back the feeling of his lips on mine. All I can do is nod my answer to him. My body subconsciously leans in wanting to feel him, he reaches for my arm slowly, his eyes surveying my face. Reading me for cues that what he is doing is okay. I watch him smile as his fingertips slide off my forearm, watching goosebumps erupt up my arm, a shudder going up my spine. "Yeah" he breathes out, surprised and intrigued, "Let's clock you out and get you to class, shall we?" His eyes lift, his eyes continued to rake down my body.

We get to campus in no time, Parker takes a drop off spot by the curb near the entrance of the school. I go to grab my bag when his fingers faintly lace along mine, turning to face him. I see his eyes questioning what he can and can't do in this situation. I hesitate a moment but lean into him over the center console and with a smile I say, "Thank you for the ride." I bat my lashes at him, bring my eyes to his lips and back up to the now burning embers of ash. These gray eyes will be the death of me, taking my breath away even when they lock with mine.

He smirks at me, butterflies exploding into flight around my belly, taking his hand from mine and then brushes his knuckles along my cheeks, my eyelids flutter and his mouth dips to mine, a small whimper bleeds out of me when they brush against mine. This makes his smirk grow wider and he crashes his lips to mine with hunger, I practically fall into him over the seat and his hands reach up to hold me in place.

He backs away, his hot gaze telling me he doesn't want me to leave, fuck I don't want to leave. But if I miss class, it's a point on the gradebooks.

He let out a sigh, pressing his forehead against mine, "The pleasure is all mine. Have a great day at school," breaking away he tips my chin up with his index finger, seriousness in his face as he adds, "and be safe." With those words he is out of his seat and coming around the front of the car. The protectiveness makes me weak. He isn't making me feel small or incapable. He genuinely just wants me to be safe. If I wasn't sitting down, I know my knees would have buckled. He lands a small kiss on my lips again as he helps me out of the car.

He watches me walk to the doors of the school, leaning against the passenger door, "Is this a thing now?!" I hear Gabe's voice as he peeks through the window he is rolling down. "Is it happening?"

The sound of the deep laugh Parker lets out behind me makes my heart melt. I am fully tempted to run back and get in his car. Letting him take me wherever he is going. But I keep my steps moving forward with a pout on my face, heading to lecture.

47

Parker

I kept my eyes on the sway of her hips and the bounce of her ponytail till she was behind the glass doors of the school. I needed to see her get inside safely.

Gabe was questioning my ears off the minute Ryen left the car. I couldn't help but laugh at all his questions. He was full-on fangirling over our kiss in the car and I explained to him that we didn't have a label but for me she was mine.

My one. My only. My Ryen.

I have never felt this way about a woman before, I didn't think I would ever meet someone that made me feel not only good enough but wanted.

Gabe didn't hold back his excitement. He was all for it since day one. I think seeing the way I embraced her earlier just made his whole year.

"You deserve to have someone that isn't me, you know?" Gabe says out of nowhere, as we are making our way into our condo.

Halting in place on the step of the doorway inside the garage, I turn and look at him, "I know." My tone is skeptical.

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