The Personal Shopper

by T. L. Quinn

“Hey girly. “ Becca smiles at Ava then looks over at me. “Parker? What are you doing here?”

  Why did I think it would be a good idea to come here? Ava laughs, “Well, if Doug asks we were watching a movie together.” Ava’s eyes bug out of her head. “I mean....that is what we were doing.” She gives Becca as innocent of a smile as she can.

  Becca looks between the two of us a couple times and then gasps. “Oh my god. Were you two fucking?” Now it’s my turn for my eyes to bug out my head. I look over to Ava in shock.

  She just shushes Becca. “Will you keep your voice down?”

  Becca just laughs. “Well, it’s about damn time.”

  Now it’s my turn to be confused. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  She just looks at me like I am dumb. “Oh please Parker. This girl has been hopefully in love with you since she was 13.”

  Ava reaches over and pinches Becca’s arm. “Ow.” Ava continues to glare at her. “What was that for? Ohh....I see. You haven’t gotten to the ‘I love you’ stage yet.”

  I am just staring between the two of them. Love? Has Ava talked about me to Becca before? Becca never mentioned anything to me.

  Ava tries to shush Becca again. “Jeez Becca. We aren’t at any stage. Can’t you keep your mouth shut? We haven’t even fucked. You just assumed that.”

  Since Ava doesn’t seem to really care that Becca knows, I decide to push her buttons a little.

  “Oh really? What exactly would you call what you did with your mouth in the car before we got here?” I smirk at her.

  Becca covers her ears. “God Parker. Too much information. She is still my niece you know?” Her tone is joking though, so I know she is getting just as much enjoyment out of this conversation as I am.

  Ava stands up. “We are all going to pretend this conversation never happened. I am going to the bathroom. When I get back, can you two start acting normal again?” Then she turns and stomps away to the bathroom.

  After I watch her walk away, I turn back to Becca. “So what’s this she’s been in love with me since 13 business?”

  Becca laughs, but then she looks at me seriously. “For real though Parker, don’t go breaking her heart again.”

  I open my eyes wide at her confused. “What do you mean again?”

  She just looks back at me like really? Then I understand. “She told you about the kiss?”

  Becca nods. “She tells me everything.” She pauses. “Well except about this apparently.” She motions her hand to me.

  I let out a small laugh. “Don’t feel bad. It only just started tonight.”

  Becca raises her eyebrows at me. “Started? That implies it will continue.”

  I laugh again and then look at her. “Of course I want it to continue. It’s Ava. I just...I don’t know. Is this all too weird?”

  She just looks at me confused. “What do you mean? Why would it be weird?”

  “Uhm...because she’s your niece. Doug’s niece. She’s a lot younger than me. I’ve known her since she was a little girl.” I wave my hand as if to say the list goes on.

  Becca just laughs. “Oh Parker, you really think Doug would care? You aren’t that much older than her. Maybe back then, but you are both adults now. If you like her, you should go for it.” She pauses. “Like I said, Ava really cared for you. A lot of time has passed, but I don’t think those feelings ever went away, so if you aren’t serious about her, don’t let it go any further.”

  I think about what a future being with Ava would be like and I smile. Becca gives me a knowing look and says, “That’s what I thought. Seems your feelings haven’t changed much either. You’re just as in love with her now as you were before you left.”

  I go to protest, but I stop myself because I can’t lie to Becca. “How did you know?”

  She just laughs. “Oh Parker, everyone could tell. Your face would light up every time she came into the room. Whenever she was talking, you couldn’t pay attention to anything else”

  I laugh. “Okay. Okay. I don’t think it was quite that obvious.”

  “Why didn’t you tell her how you felt? Why did you leave?”

  I blow out a breath and put my face in my hands. “I wanted to. But she was so young. She was just heading out to college. I couldn’t put that pressure on her. It’s not like I could just casually date her. She meant too much to me. Plus I didn’t know how Doug would feel about it. I had to leave. It was my only option.”

  Becca just grabs my hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze. “Well, you’re here now. That’s what counts.” I smile back at her, and she adds, “So what’s with all the secrecy? Did you really think Doug was going to fight you or something?”

  I laugh. “Well, I mean we’ve fought over less important things before, but no not exactly. It’s her dad?”

  Becca laughs. “Her dad? You’re scared of Peter?”

  I raise my brows at her. “Hey, he is a pretty scary guy, but no it has something to do with Ava thinking he’s going to fire me.”

  Becca laughs. “Ahh yes Ava has lost a few good employees that way.”

  I narrow my eyes at her. She pats my arm. “Relax, pretty sure her dad only put that rule in place because he didn’t want anyone dating his daughter.”

  I just raise my eyebrows at her. “How does that make the situation better? That’s what I’m trying to do. Date Ava.”

  Just then I feel Ava’s hand on my shoulder. “What are you guys talking about?” She asks, but I know she heard that last part. How could she not have?

  I wrap my arm around her legs and look up at her. “You.”

  She smiles back at me but then pushes me away. “Parker.” She grits through her teeth. I can’t tell if she actually cares if her dad finds out or if she is just trying to protect herself and doesn’t want to be too serious with me. I need to change her mind about both, but it’s not going to happen in a day, so I just let her go for now.

  Doug walks back into the waiting room. “Hey Peter just came out of grandma’s room. Said we can go in now.” We all stand and head into her room. I try to stand back as her family talks with her, but of course grandma Pearson notices me standing there. “Is that my handsome boy Parker over there?”

  I smile and come up to kiss her on the cheek. “Hey granny how ya feeling?”

  She just smiles back at me. “Oh you know me. Always getting into trouble. Don’t you worry though, they got me on those good meds. I can’t feel a thing.”

  We all laugh, and then she pulls me closer and whispers loudly. “So have you finally come back to marry that great granddaughter of mine?” I just laugh. “Something like that.”

  Geez. Did every single person know how I felt about Ava? Grandma Pearson smiles so big. “Oh good! Ava honey, when is the big day? You know I’m not going to be around much longer. You need to get married to this man before I die.”

  Peter walks back in then. “Ava married? We’ll be lucky if that happens before I die.”

  Ava just glares at him. “Dad! Can you not?”

  He just pats her on her shoulder. “What’s the matter dear? Are we embarrassing you in front of Parker?” He leans over to me and pretends to whisper. “See what I told you about that crush?”

  Ava just sighs. “Oh my gosh. I can’t deal with this family today.” Then she turns to Grandma Pearson. “Except you Grandma. I’m glad you’re okay. I’ll come visit you tomorrow. Let you get your rest tonight.” She leans down and kisses her forehead.

  “Oh alright dear, but make sure to bring your handsome little friend over there with you again.” Ava just rolls her eyes. “I’ll see what I can do, but it’d help if you promised him some of your cookies.”

  After Ava hugs Becca goodbye, she turns and walks out the door without even waiting for me, which is funny because we took my car. She can’t exactly go anywhere. “I guess we’re leaving. See everyone later.”

  Peter shakes my hand and says. “Since you are back in town, we’d love to have you over for Sunday dinners aga
in. I know Ava really enjoyed when you used to come.”

  I just smile back at him. “I’d like that.” Then I leave to go chase after Ava.

  I find her out by the elevators. “You trying to leave without me?”

  She just smiles. “Yeah, well I had to get out of there before they started naming our children.”

  I laugh at that. “Yeah, when exactly did I become the new Jeff?” I give her a wink.

  She cringes. “Oh god. If you want to try to run away, leave now before you are permanently the new Jeff. I can call a car.”

  I just laugh. “Hey, you’re the one who is trying to just use me for my body and not tell anyone.”

  She just rolls her eyes. “C’mon lover boy. Maybe you’ll actually get lucky yet tonight.”

  She didn’t have to ask me twice.

  ◆◆◆

  We arrive home 45 minutes later, and Ava is asleep in the passenger seat. I go around and scoop her up like a little kid. She stirs awake a little. “What are you doing?” She giggles but never opens her eyes.

  I just kiss her forehead. “Well, apparently not getting laid” She giggles again.

  I bring her up to her bedroom and lay her in her bed. “Goodnight Ava.”

  She finally opens her eyes and looks up at me. “Goodnight Parker.”

  Chapter 9

  Ava

  When I woke up this morning, I just laid in my bed for a little while trying to remember if last night really happened or if I dreamed it all up. I can still smell Parker’s cologne lingering in my bed. I finally decide to get up and take a shower.

  We were up late last night, and I definitely need some coffee. I don’t bother getting dressed and head out to the kitchen for a cup. I am pouring myself a cup when out of nowhere I hear. “Morning sleepyhead.”

  I scream and drop my coffee cup on the floor. I whip around and see Parker sitting on my couch. I clench my hand to my chest trying to calm my heart down. “Jesus Parker!” I grab some paper towel and wipe up the mess.

  He just laughs. I glance back up at him. “What are you doing in my apartment?”

  He just shrugs. “You have better coffee than me.” Then his eyes scan my body in only a towel. “Plus the views here are much more inviting.” He smirks at me and sips from a coffee cup that Cassie got me last Christmas.

  I just glare at him. “You couldn't have at least brought your own cup. Or, oh I don’t know, maybe just go grocery shopping and buy better coffee.”

  He gets up from the couch and walks into the kitchen. He sets his cup down and wraps his arms around me from behind. He leans down and presses a few kisses to my bare shoulder. Well, I can’t very well stay mad at him when he is doing this. I lean into his embrace.

  He just whispers in my ear. “Maybe I just missed you.”

  I laugh. “You saw me last night.”

  His fingers push the towel up a little and he rubs his hands up my thighs. He kisses his way up my neck now. “So?”

  I step away from him and turn to face him. I smile at him. “So you don’t live here. Wait until you are invited over.”

  He just cocks an eyebrow at me. “Hm...have those rules applied to us? Because I vividly recall you bursting into my apartment on multiple occasions.”

  I laugh. “The rule can be broken when the other person does something royally dumb to piss you off.”

  He pretends to think of something. “Is it considered ‘royally dumb’ to go answer a phone when you are in the middle of some important business with your sexy secret boyfriend?

  I laugh again and head back toward my room. “Just secret hookup. You are not my boyfriend.”

  He grabs his heart like I stabbed it. “Oh ouch! I’ve been demoted to hookup, and I didn’t even get to finish hooking up.”

  I turn back around and smirk. “I seem to remember you finishing just fine. I can still taste it.”

  I lick my lips. Parker’s eyes narrow at me, and he starts coming after me. I squeal and run into my room, but he catches me before I can lock him out. He picks me up and throws me over his shoulder before throwing me back down on the bed. He crawls up on top of me and kisses my lips softly.

  That was not exactly what I was expecting when he threw me down on the bed. He pulls away and looks me in the eyes. “I have plans with Doug today. We’re going to be gone until tomorrow. I wanted to see you before we left.”

  I cock an eyebrow at him. “You wanted to see me or you wanted to do me?” I push my hips up against his.

  “Whoa there.” He quickly gets off of me and stands from the bed. I just look at him funny.

  “I’ve changed my mind. No more sexy time until you go out with me.” I laugh, but then he narrows his eyes at me. “You’re serious?”

  He just nods. “Yes.”

  I smile back at him. “And when is this date supposed to happen? I’m a very busy woman.”

  He scans his eyes back down my body again. Then his eyes snap back to mine. “As soon as possible. What about tomorrow?”

  I laugh. “Well, pretty sure you agreed to coming to our family Sunday dinner. Don’t really think that qualifies as a date.”

  He curses. “Monday?”

  “I have evening meetings Monday and Wednesday.”

  “Tuesday. Please say Tuesday.”

  I just grin at him. “Me and Cassie have a nail appointment after work.”

  Parker groans. “You’re killing me Ava.”

  I just laugh again. “I’m free Thursday.”

  Parker groans again. “I made a doctor appointment for Thursday. It’s the only day they are open late. I didn’t want to take off work my first couple weeks here.”

  I just laugh again. “Well, make sure to get all your tests done and I’ll make Friday worth it.”

  He looks confused at first. “Tests?” Then he understands. “Oh.” His eyes widen. “Oh!” I grin back at him. “Yes. Yes everything is fine down there.”

  I just raise my eyebrows at him, and he rolls his eyes. “But yes. I will have it done again.” He grins back at me again. “Friday.”

  I nod my head. “Friday.”

  He kisses my lips one more time. “I have to get going.”

  I nod at him. “Where are you guys going?”

  He grins back at me. “Hmm…that sounds like information that is privileged only to my girlfriend. Since you are just a hookup...”

  I roll my eyes at him. “Asshole.” He just laughs. “You know I can just ask Becca?”

  Parker just smirks. “Do you ask Becca about all your almost hookups or am I just special?”

  I roll my eyes again. “I am not admitting anything to you.”

  He grins. “Ahh, so there is something to admit then?” I just smile at him and don’t say anything.

  He smiles back. “Ah, there’s my Ava girl. Hard to find her lately with all the attitude.”

  I just laugh. “I don’t have any more attitude now than I did back then.”

  He laughs. “True.”

  He gives me one last kiss. “I really gotta go. I lo-...” He clears his throat. “I will see you tomorrow.”

  I just smile and he rushes out of the room. What was that? What was he going to say?