Page 19 of Taurus

Chapter seven

Parker

WhenIwasgrowing up here, I was always grateful, for nefarious reasons, my bedroom window opened right up onto the front porch. I could slide it up, climb through, and be right there outside, able to come and go without Grandad being any the wiser.

But today, with Austin and Carrie sitting there on the porch swing, talking and having beers, I’m tempted to bury my head under the pillows and scream.

I’m not able to make out the exact words being spoken, but I can hear her cackling laugh and his deep baritone as he talks. The lulls in conversation are worse though, because that’s when my imagination takes over and I convince myself they are making out right there, two feet from me.

“Jesus Christ,” I mutter to myself when I hear her laugh again.

I roll to my side on the bed and snatch my phone off the charger to check the time.

It’s nearing one in the morning. Who could possibly talk to Austin that long?

Me. I could, and I have many times. As much as I hate admitting it, he’s a very charming man, and it’s easy to lose track of time with him.

Twenty minutes later, I’m still lying awake when I hear them both rise from the porch swing and my body tenses when the reality of what is about to happen sets in.

Austin’s bedroom is now right next to mine. Our headboards share a wall. If he brings her inside to have sex, I’ll hear every, single sordid moment.

My heart feels like it’s going to pound out of my chest while I wait for their footfalls to echo down the hall and past my room, but when the front door opens then closes… I only hear one set of shoes on the hardwood.

They are heavy, like work boots.

He came inside alone.

I am going to choose to ignore the sense of relief and happiness that washes over me at that realization. That’s too much to unpack right now.

I lie on my back, staring up at the ceiling, listening to him preparing for bed in the room next to me and when the creak of the mattress touches my ears, I use that as my cue to go down to the kitchen for some tea and a snack.

Stress eating is the way to go these days.

I flip the switch to turn on the small, under-counter lights, giving me just enough to see, but not enough to illuminate the entire kitchen and dining room.

I am so focused on searching for a tea bag in the cabinet, I don’t even notice I’m no longer alone in my search for a midnight nosh.

“Can’t sleep?” Austin’s deep voice startles me so badly I pick up a nearby spatula from the dish drainer to defend myself.

“HOLY FUCKING SHIT!” I scream and raise my arm, ready to strike the ghost or attacker behind me with my newly acquired weapon.

“Whoa!” Austin steps back and raises his hands in surrender. “Easy, Park, fucking hell.”

“Oh my GOD, Austin.” I put my hand on my chest, over my racing heart. “You can’t sneak up on me like that.”

“I didn’t sneak. I was kind of loud, actually.” He reaches forward and gently takes the spatula out of my hand. “What were you going to do with this?”

“I don’t know. Stab the handle into your eye? Slap you with the flippy side. I was just trying to defend myself.” I lean back against the counter and release my breath. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“I didn’t mean to. I was just coming out to get a bottle of water and to make a sandwich.”

“Mmm. A sandwich does sound good, doesn't it?” I turn away from him to fill the small, enamel teakettle. “Wait, didn’t you just have dinner with Carrie?” I ask, trying to sound as flippant as I can about it.

“I did, but she picked this fancy, small-plate-only place. It was good and all, but I’m a meat and potatoes man who is still hungry.” He chuckles to himself. “Oh, you know what sounds great? One of those sandwiches you used to make for us. With that flavored oil and ham.”

I can’t stop myself from smiling. He would beg me to make those sandwiches all the time. At the end of the day, they are basic sandwiches, nothing special, but he absolutely loved them.

“I still make them all the time for myself,” I tell him as I walk over to the fridge and open it, taking a look around. “I think I got everything I need in the grocery order.” I look over my shoulder to see him fully begging, with his bottom lip pouting out.

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