by Cass Sellars
Parker sipped and replaced the mug on the counter, watching her carefully. “And the second?”
“I can fit a whole weekend of carnal interludes into one lust-filled Sunday.” Syd swept Parker up and over her shoulder to the sound of her delighted screech. “How does a replay of last night sound, to start?”
“You’re on, Hyatt.”
Chapter Twenty-three
Parker was planning a late night at the office while Syd was out of town for a deposition. Parker didn’t expect her home until late, so she decided she would rather catch up at work than be home without Syd. Since she had spent the last two nights helping to finalize plans for the boys’ New Year’s Eve gala, much work was left on her desk.
Parker was on her knees, marking up blueprints on the floor, when her phone chimed. Meet me where you left me June 18th, six months ago today. 4:00 p.m.
Parker grinned foolishly and she inventoried her dark gray slacks and plain blue blouse. She shrugged and replied. I will be there. Will I meet a tall handsome stranger?
A second later: I certainly hope not.
Parker giggled and clambered to her feet. She glanced at her office clock. If she left now, she would be right on time.
*
Parker pulled the door to the Pride open and cautiously peered inside. The bar was empty and dark as she would have expected on a Tuesday afternoon. She pushed away the chaotic memories of the weekend before and of the first time they were both there together.
She could picture the space packed with people and the very different place she was in just six months ago. She could picture the woman she now loved coming through the doors. She thought the energy in the room had actually shifted when Syd arrived.
Parker squinted into the dimly lit room and called out, “Syd? I’m here.”
As she searched the bar, she glimpsed the dark figure she was consistently amazed by. Sydney was standing in the same dark jeans and T-shirt in the very place they had first danced so many Friday nights ago.
Parker walked toward her, still stunned by how captivated she was by her. “What are you up to? And by the way, I didn’t leave you here.”
Wrapping her arms around Parker’s waist, Sydney looked at her carefully. “So, I was thinking about what you did after the incident with Becky, taking me to every place you saw her and replacing the memory. I wanted you here to do the same thing with me.”
Parker searched her face and found Syd’s eyes smiling into hers. She scanned the bar in which they were clearly alone. The womanizing, commitment-phobic barfly had turned into a sensitive, romantic, protective partner. Parker would never have guessed.
“Here”—she indicated the center of the dance floor—“was where I first touched you, and where you stopped dancing with me.” Syd pulled her in for a brief spin and a kiss. Parker could hear the music in her mind and recalled the burn of a stranger’s fingers on her skin. “If I was being honest, I desperately wanted to kiss you that night, too.”
“Ah, the whims of a player,” Parker drawled in her best Southern accent, kissing Sydney’s neck and feeling strong arms at her back.
Syd laughed as she backed her to where the bathroom line should have been and kissed her again. “Here is where I had to admit defeat—not an easy thing on my old stomping ground, y’know.”
“Oh, how the mighty fall.” Parker sneaked a kiss onto Syd’s cheek, and Syd grinned at her in return. Parker recalled how fast her heart had beaten when her fingers had inadvertently met the span of Sydney’s muscled thigh.
Pulling her down the short hall, Sydney stopped outside the dingy brown door. Before drawing her into the bathroom, Syd looked at her carefully. “This one is risky. If you would like to skip this, tell me now.”
Parker smiled at her uncomfortable expression. “I’m good. Where?” Syd shouldered open the dark wood door and lifted Parker onto the vanity. She brushed back a loose strand of Parker’s hair and kissed her hard. Parker returned the kiss even harder, locking her legs behind Sydney’s knees.
As Syd embraced her lover, she caught herself in the mirror. “Much better.”
Parker didn’t think Syd was talking to her. Wrapping her calves more firmly around Sydney, Parker roughly pulled her hips against her, making Sydney shudder.
“You do realize I will bury your lifeless body under the stairs and sell your Porsche for ten bucks if you’re ever in here with another woman again, right?”
Sydney threw her head back and laughed. “I do indeed,” she replied deferentially. She looked suddenly thoughtful. “You know, killing me is one thing, but my Porsche? Really?”
“Maybe five bucks…keep it up,” Parker teased as Sydney clutched her chest in mock agony.
Returning with her to the dance floor, Sydney looked embarrassed as she guided her to the bar stool near the end of the worn wooden top. “Here is where I made you walk away from me.” Sydney just held her and whispered another apology.
“And here,” she announced dramatically as she spun her to an imaginary mark in the center of the room, “is where Paula Tucker put her hands on my girlfriend. For the record, I could have dropped her where she stood.”
“I’m glad you refrained, love.” Parker pressed into her as her mind fired at the memory.
“Turn around,” Syd whispered. Without a word, Sydney draped a delicate chain around Parker’s neck as Parker pulled her hair to one side. Once the clasp took hold, Parker shot Syd a curious look, and then walked to a mirrored panel near the bar. Her fingers caressed the pendant at her throat—a solid platinum lightning bolt on a platinum snake chain. A square diamond dangled from the tip in a thick bezel.
Parker turned and wrapped her arms around Syd’s neck. “Syd! Oh my God, it’s so perfect. How did you find it?”
“Apparently Steve knows a guy who makes custom pieces. I drew him a picture and he just made what I sketched.”
“It’s beautiful, Syd. Wow, do I love you right now.” She stopped herself and wished for her words to rush back into her mind. She searched Sydney’s face. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that.” They hadn’t exchanged the words since the night Becky lay unconscious in her loft, and Parker was convinced they could undermine their tenuous foundation, even now.
Sydney smiled and brushed the same strand of dark hair from her face. “You don’t feel it or you just didn’t mean to say it?”
“Definitely the latter.” Parker felt self-conscious.
Syd brushed a kiss over her cheek. “I love you, Parker. Thank you for making that possible.” Sliding her hand under Parker’s hair, she kissed her gently and felt tears escape down her lover’s cheeks.
Sydney stroked her finger over the necklace. “You were right about everything and about us. You never know when it will find you.”
“You’re perfect for me, Syd. I’m sorry I made you work so hard to get here. You don’t deserve to pay for all of my past.”
“Let’s face it, I had it coming, but I need you to trust me to not let you down. I want you with me always.” Sydney spoke those words for the first time.
“I don’t want to be without you, Syd. You’re my home.” Parker’s words died on a whisper as she lamented the time she’d wasted protecting herself from what Sydney might have been instead of what she was.
“Follow me home?” Syd led her back to the door and their cars.
“Deal.”
Syd waited by the Audi until Parker was behind the wheel and her window open. “I have something else to give you when we get there.”
“Would it involve wine, chocolate, and sex?” Parker teased.
“Precisely. That is, if you stop for the chocolate and the wine.” She winked at Parker, and jogged to her car.
Chapter Twenty-four
New Year’s Eve
Parker stood in the foyer wearing a long black skirt, slit nearly to the top of her thigh, capped with a tight white knit halter top under a structured satin jacket.
Syd turned her key for Unit D, locking the door
behind them. Her ebony hair met the white of her collared shirt which was buttoned just at decency level. Her narrow-cut black pants and tuxedo jacket hugged her athletic figure and made Parker stare a bit too long.
“You are so gorgeous,” Parker gushed at her as her fingertips found Sydney’s neck.
“Thank you, my love, you are stunning as always.”
“Are you sure you’re up for this?” Parker searched her face hesitantly as she looped her arms around her neck.
“I am if you are. Remember, I ended up with the prize.” Sydney crippled her with her signature confident wink as she offered Parker her arm.
At her opened car door, Parker swung into the passenger seat and reached across to push open Sydney’s door, the practice now just part of their routine.
Syd glided the 911 to the curb behind the catering van and turned off the engine. Parker felt tense.
“You’re cutting off the circulation, you know,” Syd joked, pulling her out of some distant place.
“What?” Parker looked down where her fingers had made white circles on Syd’s skin. She instantly opened her hand to release her. “Oh, sorry.”
“Don’t let go completely.” Syd smiled, her concern obvious.
Parker took an audible breath. “Sorry. I guess, this is a little more nerve-racking than I thought.”
“Why?” Syd pressed Parker’s hand to her lips.
“Because this is the first time I have had to face her post-divorce and she is unpredictable and I don’t want you to have to deal with her either.” The words rushed out but she never once thought about censoring them.
“Why? I look forward to it. Like I said, I won the prize. I envy her ten years with you but I’m planning for ages beyond that.”
“Wow. How do you always say just the right thing? I guess now I know how you could talk any woman into bed.” Parker squeezed her hand again playfully.
“Does that mean I have a chance with you later?” Syd nearly whispered the words into Parker’s neck.
“Please. I’m embarrassingly easy where you’re concerned. You could probably have me before my second drink.” She laid her head against the seat as she delighted in the sensation of Sydney kissing under her hair and behind her ear.
“Good to know. Drink fast.”
Parker exhaled heavily and fought against the desire to make Sydney just drive her home.
“Just one thing.” Syd moved away enough to look at Parker when her tone sounded serious. “There was a time that I thought you were just like her…like Dayne. I want you to know that you couldn’t be more different from her. Thank you for that.”
“I love you.” Parker was watching Syd as she delivered the words.
“God knows, I love you.”
Syd pulled away from her many minutes later and rounded the nose of the car to meet Parker at her door.
“Ready?” Sydney offered her hand.
“As I’ll ever be.” Parker took a deep cleansing breath and took her lover’s hand before bringing it to her cheek.
*
Richard swung open the door and greeted them both warmly. His glittery red bow tie matched an equally glittery cummerbund. He clutched a rocks glass full of clear liquid and Parker laughingly debated if it was water or straight vodka. She held his arm and sniffed like a mother interrupting an impromptu high school house party.
“Welcome, ladies.” He bowed deeply. “And yes, Mom, I am having mineral water…so far.”
The house boasted even more décor than it had at Christmas. Streamers and baskets full of noisemakers graced the grand hallway while party hats sat waiting to be collected by arriving revelers.
“What can we do to help?” Parker asked, scanning the room for familiar faces, one in particular.
“Well you can go find Allen and talk him off the proverbial ledge. Otherwise, just try to relax and enjoy, okay?” Richard looked at Sydney to gauge the level of nerves between the two. Syd smiled, indicating that she was fine and Parker would be.
“Baby, let’s go find Allen.” Parker squeezed Richard’s shoulder before he greeted the queuing merrymakers lining up behind them.
Allen was in the kitchen, sweating and pointing frantically at caterers and assistants. His red shoes now boasted sparking red laces, also complementing his tuxedo accessories.
Parker laughed. “Biscuit, you look like a very nervous candy cane in need of a very strong drink.” She hugged him briefly, trying to avoid his perspiration-laden face.
“Please, I need three! No one listens to me, I swear.” He hugged Sydney and appraised their attire. “Dapper as ever, Sydney. And you,” he said, looking at his best friend, “will be the belle of the ball, my dear.”
“I’ll settle for a camouflaged wallflower in a drama-free New Year,” Parker proclaimed.
Sydney swept a red wine from a passing tray and handed it to Parker. “I’m going over to the bar, meet you right back here?” Syd asked as Parker nodded.
Sydney heard Allen begin to regale his friend with tales of disobedient staff and overcooked puff pastries. She crossed to the corner bar and watched a tall, short-haired blonde accept a drink from the stocky bartender. “Single malt, rocks, please,” Sydney requested when the bartender nodded to her. The blonde turned to meet Sydney’s eye, slightly raising her glass. “We have similar taste, it seems.”
Sydney nodded at her ridiculously ironic statement and tried not to smile. She recognized Dayne Grant from pictures, but of course Dayne had never seen Parker’s new lover. Sydney idly wondered if she was even aware that she had one.
“How do you know Richard and Allen?” Dayne asked conversationally.
“I am in a relationship with a good friend of theirs,” Sydney replied without offering any more information. She took her drink as the words ruminated with Dayne, seeming to land nowhere. “I’m sure we’ll run into each other again before the night is over.” Syd lifted her glass in a casual toast and walked purposefully back toward the kitchen and Parker. She heard Dayne call to another guest and head away from the bar, easily dismissing the interaction.
Sydney skimmed a hand along the small of Parker’s back possessively. “The eagle has landed,” she whispered into Parker’s right ear.
“Oh. Okay.” Parker shook off her nerves. She knew they would eventually see her. Parker was proud of where she was now and even prouder of who she was with. Seeing Dayne with someone else was the last hurdle, not because she had residual feelings for Dayne, but because she realized too late who Dayne’s paramour had been and how long she’d been an unwelcome part of their relationship. She idly wondered if she had completely forgiven Dayne for making such a fool of her.
Parker proudly introduced Sydney to several guests she knew only from the annual soirée. She giddily greeted an increasingly rounding Jenny when she and Mack had joined them. Parker watched Mack jokingly balance her glass on Jenny’s belly before Jenny slapped it away and rolled her eyes at her wife.
“You look fabulous,” Parker gushed at her friend who looked amazing in a long black knit dress, highlighting the bump at her middle.
“So do you. Wow. And Sydney is delicious as always,” Jenny whispered.
“Mack looks very handsome, too.” Parker appraised her tailored black suit and gray patterned shirt. “I know who picked that out.” She nudged Jenny who nodded.
“Seen her yet?” Jenny spoke quietly scanning the immediate vicinity.
“No, but Syd has. Mutual scotches at the bar.” Parker rolled her eyes and laughed. “No one can say I don’t have a type. Although, I think I’m improving.”
Jenny squeezed her and glanced at Sydney. “I think you did really good, Park. I’m really happy for you both. And Syd knows she won the lottery when she found you.”
“Thank you.” Parker was sure her face glowed with happiness. “How is everything with you and Mack and the littlest Foster?” Parker tapped her stomach in the way a best friend could, not in the way some random strangers did at the supermarket.
<
br /> “Really great. Mack pretends that I am not becoming a human beach ball with fat ankles and pudgy fingers. Sometimes I even believe her.” Jenny laughed, holding up her hands for inspection. She stepped closer to Parker and whispered, “You know she finds me more desirable now than before? What does that even mean, Parker?”
“It means that she finds the mother of her child incredibly sexy. How lucky are we to have found those two?” She looked happily at Syd as she and Mack crafted a plan to work together in the New Year.
“Nature calls. I’ll be right back,” Parker whispered to Jenny, not wanting to interrupt her lover’s deep conversation with Mack.
She was grateful for the tiny space of the washroom, just to get her bearings. After rinsing her hands and rearranging errant strands of hair, she reentered the hallway on the way back to Syd.
“Happy New Year, princess.” Dayne startled Parker as she stepped forward to stand directly in front her, effectively blocking her travel path back to the kitchen. She looked exactly the same, but this time wearing a white Armani suit and overpriced accessories. Dayne seemed to search Parker’s face for the old unconditional devotion, and instead, Parker offered her a tense demeanor and annoyed expression as she fidgeted nervously on the Oriental rug.
“Hi, Dayne,” Parker returned with a steady voice, threading her hands together in front of her. Her stomach roiled despite her quiet intention to remain calm.
“How have you been?” Dayne used her intense but quiet voice, the one Parker used to hear when she was attempting to manipulate a situation to get what she wanted. She idly considered how often that had been.
“Super, Dayne, and you?” Parker managed, though she was becoming increasingly uncomfortable, standing in the darkish hall with Dayne. Sydney trusted her, she knew, but then she had never given her reason not to. She certainly didn’t want this awkward, unwelcome encounter to change that.
