Parker Sibling Series Box Set

by Leigh Ann Lunsford

  Do you know if Dustin left any of his condoms? I want to be prepared just in case!!! XOXO

  If I listen really closely, I bet I can hear her scream from here. I know it is evil, but it is so fun. Usually it is her getting the best of us, so to give her a taste of her own medicine is an opportunity you can’t pass up.

  I decide on leaving my hair down and plain. Jeans and my favorite yellow peasant top with my brown hooker boots and minimal jewelry. It is understated but will pass in case we go somewhere a bit dressier. Right as the doorbell goes off, my phone does, too . . . it is a text from Addison.

  Stop tormenting B – that shit was funny but you should have heard the phone call I just got. I think she is planning an exorcism or something. She asked if we could have daily devotionals and scripture readings . . . want me to let her know when you are free?

  Oh hell to the no! We have been raised fairly freely with religion. We don’t go to church, but that doesn’t mean we weren’t taught religion. We believe and try and live our lives with morals and scruples, but our faith is our own.

  I decide to text Brielle once again, and then I will let Addison deal with her.

  Heading out . . . I told Amelia not to wait up ☺ Do you think you could make me a quick playlist with mood music and forward to me?

  I am still laughing as I make my way to the front door. I look up and catch Max just staring at me. I tilt my head and stare back. What is this all about? He is acting like he hasn’t ever seen me. “What?”

  He reaches out and grabs my hand. “I haven’t seen this Cambree in a while. The carefree, happy one, I have missed her. You walking towards me just now reminded me of the girl I met in the gym last year.” I know I am blushing. I can feel the heat, and my cheeks and the smile he is sporting proves me right. He is a shameless flirt, and always has been. It has made our banter easy.

  “Well, totally screwing with Brielle’s head is really fun. And I am hoping that girl you like so much is here to stay.”

  “I will take your word on screwing with Brielle, you can count me out of that game. I got a text from her as I was pulling up with the word ‘castration’ and that was it. Want to explain?”

  I can’t help the laugh that escapes my mouth. “No, you are safe, I think. I will explain it later, but don’t be afraid. I will protect you from big bad Brielle.” He finds this amusing, without wanting me to know. I can tell because his eyes have that gleam he gets when he is about to laugh, and he is holding his mouth closed. I wink at him. “We leaving sometime tonight?”

  He shakes his head at me and pulls me through the door. I still have no idea where we are going, but right now I don’t care. This light and happy feeling I have right now is enough. I know it may not always be hearts and flowers, but for right now, I will take it. The flowers . . .

  “Thanks for the flowers. They are beautiful.” I reach up and kiss his cheek.

  I can tell I took him by surprise. I haven’t initiated contact with him since we broke up. “If flowers got me that, what will chocolate get me?” Asshole. He winks at me and continues pulling me towards his car.

  Chapter 20

  Max

  I had almost forgotten how beautiful she was when she didn’t act like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. She is always gorgeous, no matter what, but when she has that carefree smile, her eyes bright with happiness, and walks as if she is floating . . . she is mesmerizing. It has been too long since I have seen that girl. Seeing her tonight reminded me of being drawn to her, why I couldn’t stay away even after Mitch told me to, and after you experience that from her, there is no going back. I know I am a selfish prick, but visualizing her in that moment, I can’t blame myself for wanting her.

  “Do I get to know where we are going now?” she asks me.

  “No, you will see soon enough.” I know she is getting frustrated. “What did you do today?” As soon as I ask that question, I see her guard go back up.

  She seems to ponder my question for a moment, then shakes it off. “Let’s leave that for after the fun. If that is okay.”

  “Whatever you need, Camy.” I turn on the radio with the controls of the steering wheel and “Get Me Some of That” by Thomas Rhett is on, and I joke around with her, singing the words to her. She joins in and we are laughing by the end of the song; neither of us is a threat for a recording deal. This is what I was drawn to with her. She never took herself seriously, not a superficial bone in her body. She used to embrace life and live it to the fullest. That started changing when she found out the truth about Brielle and what Brent did to her, and if I am honest, she lost more of it when she started questioning my honesty to her, and pulling away from everyone. I think she was trying to protect what we had. The final nail in the coffin was when she found out about Kamryn.

  I vow this time; things will be different. She knows up front that there are some things I can’t tell her, but anything else is fair game. I hope that is enough. Also not having to stay away from her family will help, I always felt like I had to keep a line of division between us, I needed to be clear headed about that situation because Mitch couldn’t be. Problem is, you spend more than five minutes with them and your guard is down, you get so deep in with them, you don’t see yourself escaping. That feeling isn’t as bad as I thought.

  She is staring at landmarks trying to figure out where we are going. She doesn’t do well with surprises, and makes no secret of it. “No way. Are you serious?” She asks when I pull into the parking lot. My little speed racer is in heaven right now at the go-kart track. We have had a rule since the first time I rode as a passenger with her . . . never again will I be in the car with her when she is driving.

  She is jumping up and down and clapping her hands. So damn cute. My cheeks are hurting because of the permanent grin on my face. I go for it. I grab her face and kiss her. It is close-mouthed and chaste, but with that little contact I feel her sigh against my lips, and her body melts into mine. I pull away before I decide to deepen it.

  She looks up at me, “What was that for?”

  “Irresistible. That is the only word I can use to describe you right now.” I pull her towards the desk so we can get tickets, and it is a good thing I have her hand because she trips over her own feet. I hold back a chuckle, knowing she is thinking about that kiss, because she is not clumsy at all.

  I get us several tickets each because I know once won’t be enough for her. She actually beat me on the first round, and I had to redeem myself because she was relentless while gloating in victory. The second, it was close, but I beat her. When she started pouting I wanted to unhook her and drag her over to me and kiss that pout right off her mouth. The third spin around the track, I lost concentration. Seeing her long hair flowing behind her, and her grin about to split her face. I couldn’t focus, and I am pretty sure the six-year-old beat me.

  Sitting at the table, eating fries, she can’t stop rubbing it in. I am not a sore loser, only because I don’t lose. It has never been an option. But she won’t stop. I take my ketchup-dipped fry and toss it at her. It hits her right on her nose and the ketchup drips down to her chin. Now I am the one laughing. She is staring at me with her mouth wide open.

  “Close your mouth, Camy. I could find other uses for it being wide open like that, if you want.” She slammed it shut so fast I think I heard her teeth clash together across the table.

  “I cannot believe you threw food at me. Sore loser.” She sticks her tongue out at me. I lean over, and instead of wiping the ketchup off, I dip my finger in more and smear it down her cheek. She just smirks at me, and says, “Payback’s a bitch, Max. Remember that.”

  “Counting on it. That means you will be thinking of me while thinking of my payback, and any second I can be on your mind, I will take whatever is coming to me.”

  That sweet blush spreads up her cheeks. She doesn’t think I remember. She is all talk. She sucks at pranks and getting back at people. Her temper flares. She used to always find the hum
or in the situation. We finish our food in silence, both of us grinning like fools and decide to head out.

  “Where to now?” I ask her.

  “I don’t know. We can go back to the farmhouse and talk, or we can drive around. What do you want to do?” Talk? Why do we need to talk? When she starts over-analyzing things that is when I lose her.

  “Camy, I don’t think we are at the part in our relationship where we need to talk yet. Let it ride for a little while and see what happens.” I am reaching for anything here to get her off this crusade.

  “It is important. I don’t want to decipher what this is yet, and it may be nothing but us becoming friends, but I have things I need to say, to tell you.” That can’t be good.

  “I don’t kiss my friends, let’s clear that up right now. If you feel we need this now, then fine. But I want a promise first.” She narrows her eyes trying to figure out what I could possibly ask of her. I am giving her nothing with my expression.

  “I am not promising you anything without knowing what you want.” I just hold her gaze. “With your demented mind, it could be anything.”

  “You never complained before.”

  I have her right there. I see her eyes get hooded as she is remembering how good it was with us. “Okay,” she tells me softly.

  “You agree to another date. No matter what we talk about tonight, you have to go out with me again.” She didn’t see such a simple request coming.

  “I will leave that up to you. I can’t guarantee what you hear tonight will make you jump for joy in seeing me again.” Now she has me worried. How can I put this off?

  “Farmhouse.” I decided.

  The music fills the silence in the car, but neither of us is listening. Our minds are in the exact same spot, wondering what will come of such a great night.

  Once I pull up and shut the car off, I grab her hand before she can get out of the car. “Remember your promise. Give me your word.” I don’t know why I am so desperate to make her tell me again.

  “I promise,” she tells me simply. She is almost resigned to another date not happening. I don’t know what she thinks she has to tell me. I am pretty sure I know everything about her.

  We make our way to the front porch, and I pull her to the swing on the porch and up against me. She tries to create space between us, but right now, I have the urge to hold her as close as possible so I don’t let her pull away. She lets out a small sigh, and that is her giving in. I guess she needs the closeness as much as I do.

  “What do we need to figure out tonight, Camy?”

  “Remember you asked me about the text Brielle sent you earlier?” I nod my head. “It has to do with what I talked with them about earlier. You have to understand I am not that girl.”

  She is confusing me. “Start from the beginning, but if this is about what happened with us, we get it out now, and move on.”

  “I understand now why you were the way you were. Always a few steps behind me in the relationship. You did it more for the benefit of the case, I guess. What I want to know is was the case the reason you pursued me?” Seeing her doubt why I want her does not sit well with me.

  “From the moment I saw you in that gym, Camy, I wanted you. I didn’t know you, and yes at first it was about your looks, your body, I won’t deny that. But when you talked to me, I was taken with you. I couldn’t put my finger on it then, and I am not sure I have a lock on it now, all I know is it is you. You are correct with the reasons I held back from you, it was guilt, it was fear, and uncertainty. It wasn’t and never has been about the case. Has the case made me protect you even more? Yes, but only because I knew what was happening, and I wanted you safe. I didn’t do too well at that, but it won’t happen again.”

  “Stop blaming yourself. For the last time, it wasn’t your fault. Remember me? The one who acted like a two-year-old and ran away instead of facing a tough situation? There is enough blame and guilt to go around in this situation. We get it and move on, somewhat. My burning question is why not tell me about Kamryn when I first introduced y’all . . . that is the part I struggle with.”

  “I don’t have a clear cut answer for you. I wanted to, but we weren’t strong enough. We had just begun, and honestly, she meant nothing to me. You knew I wasn’t a choir boy when we met. I was upfront and honest with you about my past. No, I didn’t give you names and details, and that is all she was, just another name. I think I knew if I told you, it would be over.”

  She doesn’t answer me.

  “Camy, get out of your head. It happened, and I can’t change the past, but I promise you I can work on our future, if there is one.”

  “When we broke up, I started doubting everything about us, about what I thought I meant to you. I started dating Adam, and well that didn’t work out so much.” I feel my body tense with the mention of that guy’s name.

  “We don’t need to discuss him, nothing about the two of you together needs to be shared with me.”

  “Max, that is the problem, we have a lot to talk about, and you either need to deal, or you need to leave. I need you to listen to me and my reasons, and you need to decide if you can do that or not.”

  “Say what you need to say, but Camy, I am warning you, make it quick, and don’t mention his name again.”

  Chapter 21

  Cambree

  As much as I don’t want to share and open up issues we don’t have, I know this is the only way. If he didn’t look like he was about to explode, maybe I wouldn’t be so worried. Oh, who am I kidding, losing him again before I really have him back scares the hell out of me. Guess I should jump right in.

  “Max, don’t assume the worst. I was going to say that no matter who I was dating, I was thinking of you. I broke up with him before we went to UGA for many reasons, but mainly because I wasn’t being fair to him or to myself. He wanted more, and I wasn’t willing to give it to him because I never felt it was truly over with you.”

  “How much more did he want Cambree?” Damn, he is practically growling at me, and I haven’t even gotten to the bad parts. “Cambree, not asking again.” Bossy.

  “He wanted more than I was willing to give, okay?” I hope that gives him the clarification he needs. When he opens his mouth, I see it didn’t.

  “Did you sleep with him?” He really doesn’t have that right, but yet, I demanded this conversation and harp about honesty, so I guess in a way he does.

  “No, Max. He wanted to, but I couldn’t. We kissed, that is it.” He grabs my head so fast and kisses me so hard I am sure my mouth will be bruised. What started out hard and fast, turned into long, but just as hard. He is marking my lips, I realize. I let him do what he needs to do, but when his tongue enters my mouth I cannot be a submissive partner anymore. I tug on his hair and thrust my tongue in his mouth, and when he sucks my tongue the rest of the way in his mouth, I can’t help the moan that escapes me. As quickly as it started, it ends. He pulls me back and we both try to control our breathing.

  “See what talking about you kissing another man does to me? It makes me want to mark you. Let everyone know, they can’t have what is mine.”

  “Hang on. I am not yours, we haven’t even moved to that stage yet where you claim me you Neanderthal.” He glares at me, like he is daring me to say anything else to contradict his claim. I wisely don’t push that. “Back to what I was saying before you assaulted my mouth . . .”

  “I happen to think it is my mouth to assault, and right now I don’t like what is coming out of it.” I roll my eyes at him. This is why I can’t resist him. His take charge, take no prisoners attitude is sexy to me. I really need my head examined, and I can’t blame it on the concussion because it was like this before.

  “Okay, Max. Just let me get this out. I broke up with Adam before we left for school. Once I got there and started training with the squad, I was feeling lost, and I knew I didn’t want to be there. I made a choice that I didn’t think through, and I didn’t want to admit that. I have always had choices made
for me, and I allowed that to happen my entire life. I decided that I was going to find me, figure out who I was without my family identity. It was a stupid decision. I went to a few fraternity parties, and football parties. I drank, I made poor choices, and some involved other guys, and after each encounter I felt worse about myself. I missed you, I missed my old life, and I was looking for an outlet to make me forget.” I chance a look at him and see his eyes are squeezed shut, and he is rubbing his hands over his face and breathing heavily. “I felt like I should tell you, and you need to know what I did in our time apart, and make the choice for yourself. I loved you last summer, and I guess I was looking to replace that. I know you didn’t feel the same, but I can’t blame you for not returning my feelings.”

  “Shut up, Cambree. I need a minute.” He stands up and walks down the stairs around the side of the house. I pull my knees up to my chest and wrap my arms around my legs. I am silently berating myself for ruining such a great evening. I just can’t be the girl who doesn’t share. Maybe it wasn’t his business, and maybe this will end before we can begin again, but I had to follow my heart. Minutes pass, and he still hasn’t come back. I don’t take this as a good sign. He is probably waiting for me to go in so he doesn’t have to face me again. I don’t blame him because right now I don’t even want to look at myself in the mirror. Yes, he hurt me, but I have never been the girl who believes an eye for an eye. I don’t purposely set out to hurt anyone, no matter if they deserve it or not. Reaching up and wiping the tears that escaped and are running down my face, I decide to go in so he can leave in peace.

  About three steps before I reach the door I hear him, “Where the hell do you think you are going?”

  I turn and look at him. Even in the dark night I can see the anguish on his face. I want to spare him any more pain. “I was giving you time to leave without facing me again. I know you are mad, disgusted, or whatever, and I don’t want to put you through anymore.”