Page 25 of Just This Once

I sidled up next to him, and he glanced over warily, his frown telling me he didn’t want my company.

But I ignored the glower. “Are you going to be able to drive me anywhere after drinking that much?”

“Nope,” he answered with a clever little smirk. “I most definitely will not. I’m officially off the clock. But here.” Digging his hand into his pocket, he pulled up a slim, black remote and tossed it my way. “Knock yourself out.”

“What the hell is this?” I demanded as I fumbled to catch the fob. “Like I know how to even start that fancy piece of shit of yours.”

“You don’t have to,” he told me before taking another drink. “The motherfucker starts itself. You approach, it turns on andunlocks, ready to go. Then, the gear shifter is on the right side of the steering column. Down is drive, up is reverse, and the silver button on the end is park. Boom. Done. Then you walk away with the fob, and it shuts itself off and locks back up again. Easy.”

I scowled, not exactly excited to be gifted with the responsibility of one of his vehicles that probably cost the amount of a small island. “You really want me to take your car?”

He only shrugged. “No. I justreallydon’t want to spend another minute alone with you.”

“Wow,” I shot back dryly. “You’re too kind.”

He sniffed and took another drink.

“How areyougoing to get home, though?” I asked since he didn’t want to be alone with me.

He glanced around the room before saying, “I’ll catch a ride with the Happys.”

“Oh, man,” Foster groaned. “She’s got you stuck on the seven-dwarf thing, too? Seriously, Ohrley?”

“What?” Parker shrugged. “It’s contagious.” Then he sent me a dark glance. “Like the flu.”

“Hey, I’m fine with it,” Raina said. “Because we got Happy.” Then she paused to tilt Parker an inquisitive glance. “Does this mean you want to try again tonight?”

When Parker lifted a single shoulder and lowered his face as if defeated before mumbling, “I guess,” into his chest, my curiosity got the better of me.

“Try what again?” I had to ask.

He looked up and snarled, “None of your fucking business.”

Just as Raina told me, “I’m helping him contact his parents.” But her eyes widened as soon as she spoke. Wincing, she shifted her balled hand to her mouth. “I’m sorry. Was that a secret?”

“Not at all,” I assured her, shaking my head. “Dopey mentioned that one of you girls could visit with the dead whileyou slept. And I know all about how you’re able to share your dreams with others.”

Foster and Raina nodded together. “Yeah, it’s been quite a learning experience.”

“I’ll bet. It’s cool as hell, though,” I praised, lifting my eyebrows in wonder as I thought up what I’d say if I were able to see my dad again.

“Yeah,” Foster explained. “So we’ve been trying to help Parker see his?—”

When Parker glanced his way with a warning scowl, Foster stopped talking and gulped uneasily.

But I’d already heard enough, so I finished the sentence for them, saying, “His parents.”

Parker lifted his glass and drained it, ignoring me completely. Looking almost haunted as he set it down on the counter behind him, he pushed away from the cabinets to wander across the kitchen toward Faith and Hudson.

I glanced at the Happys, and they winced back.

“No luck yet, huh?” I stated the obvious.

Raina’s shoulders slumped and her voice was low as she answered, “It’s just been hard to…sync right with him.”

I nodded, not sure what that meant but certain it had to be causing Parker some serious irritation. I knew how much he wanted to see his mom and dad. Alec had told me over the years just how many times Parker had tried to reach out between the two worlds to find them through various mediums and fortune tellers.

But when I turned my sympathetic gaze his way, I only found Oaklynn approaching.

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