“To say I had an interesting day would be an understatement.”

I don’t move. He’s turning around.

Move!

He’s still speaking, but I don’t pay attention to anything he says. I just watch his mouth move as he follows my sister into the living room. That’s when I see his face.

“Fuck. Me,” I whisper loud enough for Jason to hear.

Jason starts laughing so loudly it causes me to jump. I forgot he was still standing next to me. “Oh, Aundrea, you’re going to fit in perfectly with the girls,” he says, continuing to laugh as he wraps his arm around my shoulders. I can feel his body shaking with every laugh.

It’s then I notice that Parker is staring straight into my hazel eyes. Mouth agape.

I can’t breathe.

I can’t move.

I can’t hear anything.

The man I slept with last night is now standing in my sister’s house.

Holy freaking hell.

“Come on, let me introduce you,” Jason says as he drags me to Parker. It’s a good thing he’s guiding me because I would still be stuck on the bottom step.

Parker’s eyes don’t leave mine.

My eyes don’t leave Parker.

“Parker, this is Aundrea. Aundrea, this is Parker.” Neither of us makes a move. I just stand looking at him. This cannot be happening to me.

Of course it is! Everything happens to me.

Clearing his throat, Parker reaches his hand out, taking mine in his grasp. Shaking my hand, he smiles. “Nice to formally meet you, Aundrea.”

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out, so I close it. Jason starts to laugh again. I elbow his side, which causes him to laugh harder. If only he knew how funny this really is. And I don’t mean that lightly.

Finding my voice, I reply, “Yeah, uh, it’s nice to meet you too.” This causes him to give me a wide smile. Jason doesn’t stop laughing. Genna says something to him, and he instantly becomes quiet.

“Dinner is done. Why don’t we go eat?” she asks, giving Jason a stern look.

I can’t eat. I’m sitting across the table from Parker. He doesn’t appear to be affected by my presence as I am by his. He carries on a conversation through the whole dinner with Genna and Jason. I nod when needed. Smile when indicated. Laugh when they do. All while not paying attention to anything they’re saying.

“Aundrea?” I hear my name, but I don’t know who said it.

“Yes?”

“I was just telling Parker here how you’ll be helping out around the office,” Genna says, taking a break between bites.

Looking at Parker, I find my voice. “Oh, I’m not helping there. It was brought up, but I’ll be too busy with school.”

“Class is only onli—”

“Wednesdays. Not to mention I signed up to help tutor,” I interrupt. I specify Wednesdays because that’s my chemo day.

“Since when?” she counters, giving me an odd expression.

“Today.”

“It’s Sunday.” Oops.

“I emailed my instructor today and told him I would. He emailed the class last week to ask who would be interested.”

“Riiiight.” She knows I’m lying.

“Well, if you’ll excuse me. I’m not very hungry.” I stand up from the table.

Genna lets out a soft sigh. “Aundrea.” Her eyes plead with me. She looks at my barely touched plate, then back at me, but she doesn’t have to say anything. I can see it in her sad eyes. She’s doing it. Trying to tell me that I need to eat. I contemplate sitting back down, but then remember who is across from me.

I look at Parker. I try to put on a fake smile for my sister and Jason. “Parker, it was great meeting you. Maybe I’ll see you around.”

Or not.

I leave the dining room and head toward the stairs. I can hear Parker mumble something to Genna and Jason, but I don’t turn back. Instead, I take the steps two at a time.

When I make it into my room, my heart is pounding so fast. I go to push my door closed, but it’s stopped. There’s a hand pushing it back open. Parker.

Parker walks into my room, closing my door quietly behind him.

“You left.” I don’t think he’s talking about just now.

He takes a step toward me. I take a step back. He’s looking at me with those eyes. The ones from the bar. The ones with fire. I suddenly can’t breathe again. I look at his lips and back up into his eyes.

“Look, Parker. I don’t usually go home with strange men, or strangers for that matter. I promise after this moment I won’t bring up last night again, or even think about it. It won’t happen again, and I swear I won’t tell Jason. So, your secret of screwing your boss’ sister-in-law is safe with me.” I make a zipper motion across my lips when I say the last part.

“Usually?”

“Never. I never go home with strange men.”

“You think I’m strange?”

“Yes. I mean, no.” I’m flustered because all I can think about is me on his couch and him holding my hands above my head while thrusting inside of me. “Are we done?” I ask, trying to get back to the topic on hand.

“No.”

Okay, then.

He walks toward me, causing me to bump into the bed. He’s so close. Close enough that I can smell his cologne. Why does he have to smell so good?

“I want to make sure we are on the same page. First, I hope what you said about not ever thinking about last night isn’t true because it’s all I can think about. And second, I hope it does happen again. As a matter of fact, I’m counting on it.”