No Regrets (A Stepbrother New Adult Novella) (7 page)

I
n his young
life he had enjoyed a lot of sex. But in all of those encounters, he had never experienced anything like he had with Olivia. It had been three weeks, three long weeks, since he had seen her at the wedding. They had enjoyed each other that night, but the next morning, he had to leave.

Parker was lost in thought over what would happen now. He had wanted to tell her…something. He simply didn’t know what to say. They had a special connection, he knew that, but getting his emotions from his head out into the open was not an easy task for him.

He would text back and forth with her from time to time, along with an occasional phone call, but each time when he wanted to say something about their time together, nothing would come out.

He felt guilt, at least some, anyway. He had given his father his word to stay away from her, and he was doing his best, but she consumed his thoughts more than he thought possible. He would go so far as to say that he missed her—her laugh and the smell of her perfume—and even her flushed angry face when he did something to infuriate her. Even now, he was supposed to be studying, and he was spinning his pen around the desk as he thought about her.

He ran a hand through his hair. He had to wonder about that guy, what was his name again? Yeah, he wanted more than Olivia realized. Just thinking about him—or anyone for that matter—touching her, enraged him. He should just tell her that. But he didn’t know how. Graduation was in a couple of weeks, and he would see her then. Maybe by then he would know the right words to say.

He glanced down and noticed his phone was ringing—it must have been on silent. It was Olivia.

“Parker, oh my God, Parker, I’ve been trying to get in touch with you. There’s been an accident. Our parents were hurt, but—”

He didn’t hear anything else. He went into panic mode, grabbed his keys, and headed to his car as she spoke.

O
n the surface
, Parker looked fine. He was asking all the right questions, but she knew he was a mess on the inside. He was pacing, and—more often than not—acted as if he was someplace else. The accident had taken its toll, but both her mother and Richard were going to be okay, eventually.

Richard was still unconscious—something that was expected since he’d had surgery. Her mother was awake but had a broken leg and two broken ribs. Liv had stayed with her mother until she’d fallen asleep, and now she sat with Richard as she watched Parker talk to the doctor. She waited as he walked back into the room.

“Parker, you need to sit down and relax. He’s going to be fine, but he has to rest.” She tried to talk to him, but she was getting nowhere.

The nurse came in. “Hey there, you two. I’m going to need you to clear out for the night. We have to run some tests, just routine, but your Dad needs some rest. He’ll be right here in the morning. You need to get home and get some rest, as well.” She gave Olivia a look that Parker missed.

“Thank you so much, we were just leaving. Come on, Parker. Let’s get you home.”

“I can’t leave him, Olivia, I have to wait…I have to watch him.” He was so distraught that she took his face in her hands until he looked at her.

“We’re coming back in the morning, Parker. But, they need us to go now. We
will
be back. Do you understand?” His eyes searched hers.

He finally nodded, grabbing his jacket as he followed her. They made it home to his house, and she watched him as he slowly walked up the stairs.

“I’m going to shower, Olivia.” His voice sounded flat and unfeeling.

She wasn’t sure what to do, but instinctively, she found herself climbing the stairs after him. For a few seconds, she stood outside his room. Then, she took two big breaths and walked inside. She had never been this bold, never this daring.
It’s time to take what I want.

He looked up at her as she entered but didn’t say a word. Dressed only in his boxers, he held out his hand to her, and she let him undress her also, then pull her into the shower with him.

It was simple and sweet. She was there for him—she washed his back and then he did hers. It was almost sexual, but at the same time, not quite—simply being there with each other was enough. They stepped out and dried off. He walked to the bedroom while she slipped back into her T-shirt. When she went into the room, she found him sitting on the bed.

“My mother died in a car accident. I’m not sure if I ever told you that. She went out to get a few things from the store, and someone just ran into her. She was gone so fast…when you called…it was all I thought of.” His voice broke. “I can’t lose him, Olivia. I can’t lose him, too. He’s all I have.”

She walked over to him, and he wrapped his arms around her middle. She hugged his head against her, as he cried like he must have when he was a boy. Eventually, she crawled into bed with him, and held him tight until they both fell asleep, exhausted.

G
raduation had come and gone
, but it wasn’t Parker’s primary concern. His dad was recovering well, and with physical therapy, he would be up and walking again soon. Parker had moved back home, permanently now. His father had been there for him, and now he would do the same.

He thought about Olivia. Her graduation was today, and she had decided to come home and not walk in the ceremony. She said it was to avoid the hype, but it was likely to prevent the parents from feeling badly since they couldn’t really get around that well. There were so many sides to her, and he could never figure out what she was going to do next.

She had been there for him, and he had opened up to her like he had never been able to do with anyone before. They spoke more often now, long late night conversations about anything and everything. She was a big part of his life, and he now knew he was in love with her, but he couldn’t tell her, not yet. Not when he didn’t know yet what to do about it.

He had promised to leave her alone, but that had been before. Today, he was going to tell his dad, and hope for the best. It had taken a long time before he knew that it was love. He still wasn’t sure when it had happened, but he knew it to be as true as anything else. He was going to buy a ring and hoped she’d say yes. If his mother had taught him anything, it was to always go for what you want. And, he wanted Olivia.

To be honest, he was scared to death. There was no guarantee she even wanted him, at least in a long-term capacity. But, he knew he had to try.

He walked into the kitchen where his Dad was sipping his coffee. His father looked up at him.

“Parker, you missed your graduation. I feel so awful about that.” He seemed genuinely sorrowful, and Parker gave him a pat on the shoulder.

“Dad, it’s fine, really. I’m finished with school, that’s the important part. Where is Linda this morning?”

“She’s meeting with the realtor, I believe.” He looked back down at his paper.

“Realtor, for what?” He poured himself some coffee.

“To sell her house, of course.”

Parker almost dropped his cup. “Her house? She can’t do that, Dad.” He moved back to the table.

His father folded up the paper and frowned as he watched Parker sit down. “Parker, what are you talking about, son?”

“There are some things I need to tell you Dad, and I’m not sure you’re going to like them.”

He watched his Dad lean back in the chair and cross his arms.

“Okay Parker, this is sounding like high school all over again. What did you do, and how much is it going to cost to fix it?” He raised an eyebrow at him.

P
arker had
one last thing to take care of before he could tell Olivia how he felt about her, and his hopes for their future together.

He slid into the lounge seat by the pool and waited. Amelia was never late, and today would be no different. He was sure of it. He wanted to wrap this up quickly, so that he could see Olivia. Glancing down at his watch again, he saw her come around the corner and wave.

Amelia gave Parker a once over and slid into the seat beside him. “Parker, I’ve missed you, baby.” She touched his face and he grabbed her hand, gently pushing her away.

“Amelia, did you give Olivia the impression that we slept together that night a few months ago?” He leaned forward, watching her closely.

“Who…oh, that chubby, mousy girl? Yes. Well, I meant no harm, Parker, really.” She rolled her eyes, and Parker felt the rush of anger.

“You shouldn’t have done that, Amelia! I want you to understand something. Whatever there used to be between us, it’s done. We’re done,” he said adamantly.

She laughed lightly. “Parker, you can’t be serious! You would give me up because I told one little white lie?”

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.

E
very 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.

“
W
hat 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.”

He smiled at them. “Looks like I’m going to Paris.”