No Regrets (A Stepbrother New Adult Novella)(20)

His expression didn’t change. She leaned in close to him and ran her hands through his hair, trying her best to kiss him, but he pushed her away again.

“Fine, Parker. Fine. There are more men out there besides you, and some better, as well.” She turned and left in a huff without looking back.

Parker smiled to himself. He had felt absolutely nothing, and when she had gone, all he did feel was relief. Now, he could see Olivia.





Chapter Seventeen





Olivia





Every single part of her hurt.

She had seen it with her own eyes, and it was like a slap in the face. Everything she knew seemed to turn on her, and she felt a wave of nausea well up in the pit of her stomach.

Of all people, why Amelia?

Liv went there to see him this morning, to tell him…everything. She had to talk herself into it from the start. That small voice inside her head told her to be brave, and to go for what she wanted. So today, she drove out there to see him before graduation, and tell him that she was in love with him.

And then she saw the two of them sitting on that lounge chair, her kissing him.

Liv’s hand grazed her stomach. She planned to tell him about that, too. She hoped…well, she was a fool, and she knew now, more than ever, that she’d been wrong. Parker Jackson had no room in his life for anything other than himself, and his random parade of women. He would never love someone like her, much less a child they created together.

One pill, she missed one pill, and now there was no undoing what they shared. She hoped he would take it well, but now she knew she would have to make some major decisions about her life on her own.

Her mother and Richard bought her tickets to Paris for graduation. She would be leaving tomorrow and her plan was to take Parker and go together, but not anymore. Now, she could take the trip and pick up the pieces of her broken heart, and start planning for her child.

She drove to her mother’s house, her mind racing. At least, she would get to say goodbye to her home. She walked up the long steps to the front door and opened it, walking inside one last time.

Liv almost cried when she saw the lines drawn on the wall that gauged her height as she grew over the years. The house was empty now, a mere shell of what it had once been. Even still, she could close her eyes and hear the music playing when she and her mother danced in the kitchen during her grade school years. She could smell cookies baking for her to take and share with her class. She let her tears slip away unchecked.


There was nothing left for her to do but leave town. She needed the time to herself, time to get away. She picked up her phone and called the airline. Within minutes, she was on an earlier flight, and she’d left for the airport.

She knew she should call her mother and explain. It would hurt her to do it, but it was necessary.

“Hey, Mom, can we talk?”

She started at the beginning, and told her everything.

Two hours later, she was on her flight. Tucked away and ready to start a new chapter, she sighed and settled in for a good nap. Her mother had done what she always did—she comforted her and made her feel better. Perhaps soon Liv could start to look forward to all the ‘mom’ things.

She glanced out of the window and watched the lights of the airport fade in the distance. When she closed her eyes, the last thing she thought of before she fell asleep was the pool house, despite how hard she tried to avoid thinking about it.





Chapter Eighteen





Parker





“What the hell do you mean, she’s gone?” Parker faced his step mother.

Linda looked at him hesitantly. “Parker, she was hurting and she…well, she wanted to go early, that’s all.”

“Hurting from what?” He watched his dad and Linda exchange glances, feeling fear settle in his stomach like a rock. He slumped down in a chair. “Will someone please tell me what’s going on?”

Linda started first. “Parker, Liv came by the old house today. I was here, obviously, so she called me. I thought we were doing dinner, but she had other plans.” She paused. “It seemed that she came here first, to see you, but when she arrived, she saw you and…well, a woman outside. Olivia saw you kiss her, and she left.” Linda blushed slightly.

“She what? Dammit! I called Amelia here to tell her to never bother me, or us, again. She tried to kiss me, but I wanted no part of it! I sent her away, and then I came in here to get ready for tonight.” He hung his head in his hands, an ache in his chest at what Liv must be thinking.

“Parker.” It was his father now. “Son, she’ll be home in a week or so, you can talk to her then and explain it all. If I were you, I would waste no time in telling her the truth about how you feel while you’re at it.”

“I can’t wait, Dad. I can’t. She must think I just moved on with Amelia again, and she must be so hurt by that. I can’t stomach thinking about her hurting, ever, especially not if it’s my fault.” He looked at them both.

“Well, it’s up to you what you do now, Parker.”

“I love her, Linda. I know I shouldn’t. I know my reputation with women isn’t promising. But with Olivia, it’s different. She’s good, and kind. And, I love her.”

Linda smiled at him. “I know you do, Parker. I’ve watched the two of you fall for each other since the first night you ran into one another at the grocery store. I just don’t want her to get hurt, and I don’t want you to get hurt, either. Please be sure about whatever you do next.”