Page 21 of Taurus

“Actually no. I couldn’t make out words, just tones and laughs.” I shrug and sigh. “I was surprised you came inside alone, to be honest.”

“Parker,” he says, then wipes his mouth with a napkin. “Did you really think I’d bring a woman in a home you own and have sex with her in the bedroom right next door to yours?”

“I would hope not but, Austin, our last interaction before I left Summer’s Grove wasn’t exactly stellar.” I shrug.

“No, it wasn’t.” I watch him closely and his face changes just a little, like he’s pondering something or wanting to say something, but it passes in a fleeting moment then it’s gone. “But, just know, that is not something I’d ever do to anyone, let alone you.”

Austin

All I could think about while I was with Carrie was Parker.

I chose to sit with her on the front porch on the swing because I knew Parker was going to be able to hear us, and something deep inside of me needed her to know that nothing was happening between us more than a conversation and a drink after dinner.

I’m not sure it mattered or that she cared, but for myself, I needed her to know, and outside of a kiss before she left, nothing happened this time.

I could tell Carrie was confused, and maybe even disappointed when I didn’t invite her inside with me for the night, but that wasn’t even on my radar.

Any other time, I’d have had her bent over the side of my bed and pumping my frustrations and stress from the day into her body, but today, I wanted to do that in the form of a midnight snack with Parker.

“Let alone me? What does that mean?”

“It means you’re Parker. You’re special, regardless of how things ended between us. I respect you for many reasons. That’s not something I’d jeopardize for a quick fuck with Carrie Brands.”

She visibly recoils at my crass words, but she recovers quickly. “Thanks… I think.”

We eat the remainder of our meal with general chitchat, and it’s ten times more enjoyable than what I experienced earlier this evening.

She tells me about the career she’s built working closely with a congresswoman at the Capitol, but she feels like being that close to politics is sucking her dry. I find out she has dated casually and had something serious for a few years, but that ended a year ago. She says it ended amicably, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to bash his goddamn brains in for hurting her in any way.

Before we realize it, two hours have passed.

“God, is it really nearly three already?” She smiles and lays her head in her hands. “We are going to be so tired tomorrow.”

“I say it’s worth it.” I stand to gather our plates and the music from my phone changes and the slow, acoustic sounds of “A Beautiful Mess” by Jason Mraz begins.

Our eyes meet as the memory-filled music wraps around us. The very first time we danced together, it was outside in the field, vines just starting to bloom, and I was laying my wooing thickly on her at the time. We had a romantic picnic in the middle of the vineyard, and this song randomly came on and I asked her to dance with me. She didn’t even hesitate.

So the song making itself known right now is kismet… right?

Instead of taking the dishes away to the kitchen, I take a shot in the dark. I go for broke, because in this moment, just like back then in the vineyard, it feels right. I extend my hand to her.

“Dance with me? For old times’ sake?”

And just like when we were kids… she doesn’t even hesitate.

“Absolutely.”

We come together easily, her hand in mine and my other at the small of her back. We dance in silence, letting the music do the talking for us. I try my best to memorize every detail of this moment because I’m not sure it’ll ever happen again. There’s something about the air tonight that is making things easier than they ever should be.

She tips her head back and looks me in the eyes and I think for a moment she’s going to speak, but just like me, she opts not to.

We both want to relish in the feeling of whatever it is that’s igniting back to life, even if it’s gone tomorrow.

And when I lay my head on my pillow later, I’ll do it knowing that I actually went on two dates tonight… and the second is the only one that mattered at all.

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