Page 54 of The Complication
“What are you doing?”
“I’m adding it to my calendar. My memory is shit, and I don’t want to forget this,” he answered without even looking up.
My heart flopped a little in my chest, and I momentarily worried that I was having a heart attack. The only person who went out of his way to remember my birthday was Sebastian, but Parker was making sure he could celebrate it. While I was pretty sure I would never forget it, I also pulled out my phone and added Parker’s birthday to my calendar. It was still over five months away, but was there an actual chance I could plan something for his birthday? A party? An extravagant gift?
“Funny enough, Joy was born on February twenty-first,just three days after my birthday, which makes it so much easier to remember. I teased Molly about her thoughtful planning and how she’d been trying to give birth on my birthday so she’d have to remember only one date. She was freaking horrible about remembering dates and appointments. She always got me a card or a gift, but I swear it was at least a day late every time.” Parker’s voice grew husky and wobbled slightly toward the end. His smile grew brittle as he continued to clutch his phone with both hands, but not typing on it.
“We should throw a big party for Joy’s first birthday. We can invite your family and Molly’s family here for the party. Your family can even come a few days early so they can celebrate your birthday. If we plan now, we’ll have time to gather pictures of Molly to put together in an album for Joy. She’ll want something like that as she gets older.”
I’d barely finished talking when Parker shoved to his feet, the wooden legs of the chair loudly scraping along the floor. He stepped around the table to stand beside me. I shifted in my seat, preparing to stand as well, my heart hammering because I wasn’t quite sure what I’d said to make him act so suddenly. But I never reached my feet. Parker cupped my face with both hands and captured my mouth in a soft kiss that completely locked up my brain.
He broke off the kiss but remained bent over. His longish hair had fallen forward to frame his face, nearly hiding us from view, but I could see a sparkle of unshed tears in his pale eyes.
“Sometimes I break my own PDA rules when someone says something so wonderful, I can’t stop myself.”
I was enchanted. I wanted to wrap him in my arms and pull him into my lap, although he was taller than me and we were in the middle of a restaurant. Maybe I should postpone this date and take him home right now for more tender kisses.
Unfortunately, someone close by loudly cleared their throat. Parker released me and we looked at the same time tofind our server standing a few feet away with a tray of our food.
“Sorry about that. He had an eyelash in his eye. We got it,” Parker cheerfully said before dropping into his seat.
“Not a problem,” our server stated as he placed my rib eye in front of me while Parker got the prime rib.
“Oh damn, this smells amazing.”
I grunted in agreement as I picked up my utensils. “This is the only restaurant I’ve found that does a prime rib better than Chef Donovan.”
“No!” Parker gasped.
“Not that I would ever tell him that. I’m afraid it would break his heart. He’s top notch in everything else.”
Parker ate his first bite and moaned, his eyes rolling back into his head. “Oh, God. This…this is amazing. I’m glad Donovan can’t make it better, because I don’t think I’d survive it. Soooo good.”
We ate in silence for several minutes, simply enjoying our meal. The Avenue was a restaurant I frequented with Sebastian at least once a month for a long lunch. It had an Old World feel with dark woods, heavy leather furniture, elegant rugs, and classic oil paintings on the walls. It was as if someone had transplanted an English gentleman’s club from the Victorian era. The tables were also widely spaced, so you didn’t get the feel of being crammed into a small space with a bunch of people. Low conversation and classical music filled the air, allowing you to speak to the person across from you without shouting.
“I feel like I’ve babbled about my family this entire time. What about you and your family? Are your parents still around? Do you have siblings? Are you close?” Parker fired one question at me after another as he continued to cut into his meat.
My own hands stilled as I stared at my grilled asparagus stalks. “My family…”
“Declan, stop.”
My head snapped up to find Parker glaring at me. “You don’t have to answer any questions if you’re not comfortable.”
“No. That’s not it. There isn’t much to tell. My mom died shortly after I was born. I never knew her. My family was always well-off. A nanny raised me until I was about ten. My father’s name is Howard, and he’s still alive…I believe. I haven’t spoken to him since I finished college. I have no siblings.”
Parker’s happiness dimmed before my eyes. His shoulders slumped, and a furrow formed on his brow that I immediately wanted to smooth with my thumb. “I’m sorry. That sounds…lonely.”
“My father was cold and distant. He believed in order and strict rules. No messes. No loud noises. Meals were always at the same time with a minimum of flavor. I don’t think he wanted a child. Just a son to carry on the family name.”
As I spoke, an old memory popped up in my mind of the time during elementary school that I’d won first place in a mathematics competition. It had also been the first year without having my nanny there to herd me away from my father. I’d thought earning a big blue ribbon in something respectable like math would earn his approval. It wasn’t as if I’d earned it for something he didn’t value such as being able to run fast or drawing well.This was math. Cold, hard, logical math.
My heart had pounded so hard in my chest, it was nearly shaking my entire slender frame by the time I’d worked up the courage to knock on my father’s study door.
He beckoned me inside with his low, stern voice and I almost froze in the hall. I walked in and stood in front of his desk, my spine and shoulders straight. My ribbon held in my trembling hand, I quickly told him about the competition and how I’d come in first ahead of all the other kids in my grade. He didn’t even blink. Just stared at me with those dead, coldeyes. Seconds ticked by and I regretted every word out of my mouth, the decision to see him, possibly even my birth.
After what felt like minutes, Howard grunted and lowered his eyes back to his book. “Next time you wish to speak with me, submit a request in writing detailing your reason before coming to my study. I don’t have time to waste on your nonsense. You’re dismissed.”
I scurried out of the room after a soft “Yes, sir,” feeling like an unwanted fool.
