Page 62 of For the Boys
Parker chose that moment to join them. “What sure thing?”
“Mitch!” Brent hissed at him. “You weren’t supposed to say anything.”
“Well fuck me,” Mitch said. “I didn’t know it was going to be some big secret.”
“What happened?” Parker asked.
Brent glared at Mitch but launched into the tale of Anna cornering him in the bathroom.
“Where did she go?” Parker asked, looking around the room in search of the tall redhead. “I’d be happy to take your place.”
Brent smacked him upside the head. “Don’t even think about it,” he said. “Besides, I told her to leave or I would have security escort her out.”
“She’s perfectly harmless, Jean,” Parker said. “I think that’s a bit of an overreaction.”
“Sure, Parker. If you ever find yourself in a situation where a woman, or maybe even a man, is throwing themselves at you and you want no part of it, and they won’t take no for an answer, we’ll see the lengths you’d go to in order to get yourself free. Now I know why no one ever takes women seriously when they make sexual assault accusations. Because of assholes like you.”
Parker blinked and reeled back as if he’d been slapped. “I’m just saying. You’re a six-foot, four-inch-tall hockey player. Surely you could’ve left that bathroom anytime you wanted. You didn’t have to let her feel you up first.”
Brent shook his head and said, “Go fuck yourself, Parker,” then stalked away, fuming.
He pulled out his phone, seeing another text from Berkley.
Berkley: I wish you were here.
Brent: I do, too. I’ll see you soon, though. I promise.
Chapter Twelve
Berkley
Sunday morning, Berkley loaded up her car and headed to Traverse City. From her apartment, it was just under a four-hour drive. In order to avoid the worst of the morning commuters, she left Detroit around seven a.m. but ran into traffic just outside the city, so she pulled up in front of her parents’ house shortly after eleven.
Traverse City was a coastal town, situated on the shores of Lake Michigan in the northwestern part of Michigan’s lower peninsula. It was a classic tourist town and also served as the gateway to Michigan’s version of wine country, the Leelanau and Grand Traverse Peninsulas playing host to the best wineries in the state.
Berkley had loved growing up there. It had a big-city feel while still being full of small-town charm. During high school and her undergrad summers, she’d worked at a local restaurant, and she always loved interacting with the people who came from far and wide to enjoy her little slice of paradise.
When she arrived, her mother and her younger sister, Jessica, met her in the driveway.
“You’re looking way too thin, Berkley,” her mother said, holding her at arm’s length after giving her a hug. “Are you eating enough, or do you spend all of your time studying?”
“Why is it that when Logan was in law school, he literally survived on Red Bull and donuts, and no one gave him shit for it? But I lose a couple pounds and suddenly I study too much? Damn double standards.”
Her mother stepped away and planted her hands on her hips. “Do not cop an attitude with me, Berkley Iris Daniels.”
Berkley rolled her eyes and pulled her little sister, who was actually six inches taller than her, into a hug. “Jessica looks skinny too, Mom!” she whined.
Jessica pinched her stomach and laughed. “Logan’s been taking me to the gym with him.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Berkley looked back and forth between her mother and sister. “Are we talking about the same Logan Daniels here?”
Jessica laughed and opened the hatch of Berkley’s Jeep, reaching in to grab one of her bags. “It is weird, right? Ever since he started at the firm, he’s been taking better care of himself. Still works stupid long hours but also manages to exercise daily.”
“Speaking of, where is my dear brother?” Berkley asked.
“He should be here any minute.”
Jessica was six years younger than Berkley and was halfway through her sophomore year at Michigan State University, the third and final Daniels kid to attend school there. She was tall and dark-haired like their dad. Berkley resembled her mother, who was short, blonde, and thin. The whole family had crystal-blue eyes.
