Escaping Parker - F.T. Zele Page 0,42

just tosses me in like no big deal. With a huge splash, I’m completely submerged, water filling my nose. I kick my way to the top, coughing and spitting. Rig just stands there laughing.

“That was so unfair. I can’t believe you did that. My hair,” I exclaim, still coughing and wondering if my wig is messed up.

“Well, you look cooled off now, and your hair is just fine. Don’t worry about it.” He takes off his shirt and tosses it up on the bank. He swims over to me, grabbing my ankle and making me slip under water again.

I quickly resurface. “You just started a war, you know that?” But I’m no match for him.

“You sure you want to start something you can’t finish?”

I give him the stink eye and jump on his back, trying my hardest to dunk him under, but it’s like trying to move a cement wall. He doesn’t even budge. He falls back with me still clinging on. Clearly, I’m not winning at this one here, so I swim away from him, hoping it will keep him from dunking me again.

“You sure there isn’t anything in here that’s going to bite or attack me?” I ask.

“I’m not really sure about anything. I mean we are down south. So it could be a gator or something, but I can guarantee you it’s not a piranha. Those I believe are in the Amazon.” He laughs.

Gators? “Are you kidding me? You’re supposed to make me feel safe, not scare the shit out of me.”

“Yes, I’m kidding. Do you think they would’ve told us to jump in here whenever we wanted if there was something that would kill us?” he scoffs.

I take his word for it, because it’s awfully cool in here, and I didn’t realize how hot I really was sitting under that tree. I float on my back for a little while, just watching the sky and some random birds. I tune everything out, and just relax.

“I know I’m a little difficult sometimes, but thank you for making me come in. It’s nice in here.” I admit to him that he actually had a good idea, something I probably don’t do enough.

“You, difficult? Never.” He jokes.

“Ha ha ha. Seriously, though. This is nice.”

“Well, I figured after this we could get some dinner,” he says.

“Sure. Sounds good.”

I swim around some more, loving that I’m seeing Rig completely carefree for the first time. It’s a welcome change from his normal demeanor.

After our swim, I take a shower to rinse off. Rig is waiting in the small common area to take one as well, and then we’ll make our dinner together.

“Bathroom is all yours.” I let him know.

“Cool, I’ll be out in a second. Then we’ll eat.”

While Rig is in the shower, I decide to set the table and pick up some stuff that’s around the small living room. A bottle of wine sits on the counter with some glasses, which is a little strange since he clearly doesn’t drink when he works. I fiddle around with the silverware on the table while I wait. Then he walks past me and starts messing around with something in the oven.

“Whatever you’re making smells good,” I say.

“Thanks, it’s really nothing at all. I bought some wine for you to drink, too. It’s not the vodka from the hotel, but I thought maybe you would like it.” He gives me a crass smile.

“Well, you know, I’m a lush and all. Thanks, I guess I’ll make do with it,” I say with a sassy tone.

“Like I said, it’s nothing fancy or anything, just some chicken and rice casserole. It’s all made with stuff from the farm here, except the rice.” He spoons the food onto my plate.

“I’m not used to this.”

“To what?”

“Being cooked for, the thoughtfulness. Thank you. You don’t know what it really means to me.”

“It’s nothing.” Rig waves dismissively. “After everything you’ve been through, you should be showed how you deserve to be treated.”

He pours me a glass of wine and I take sip. Not what I would’ve chosen for myself, but I still drink it.

“So, I was talking to Andrew, and he’s looking at a couple places he thinks would be a good place for you to start over. It wouldn’t be confirmed for two more weeks at the most. It’s a start, though.” He smiles.

“Oh,” I say dryly.

The second he brings this up, I see Rig leaving. The thought of not having him around terrifies me. As much as I want