in a teasing voice.
“I guess you could say that,” I say, glancing over to Parker. His eyes are fixated on me, which makes me quite uncomfortable since Phoebe’s standing right there.
“I was trying to tell you today at the store that he’d be here, Dani,” Phoebe explains. “He’s been talking my ear off about how he needed to chat with you about something.”
“I’m sorry, Phoebe, but don’t you remember how this,” I say pointing back and forth from me to Parker, “almost ruined our friendship? How are you not losing your shit right now?”
“I guess I just got over it. Besides, it’s not like you guys are going to start hooking up again or anything,” she says. I send her a confused look. “What? I’m right, right?”
“I think we need to talk,” Parker says. The look on his face is serious. His teeth must be clenched since his jawline looks razor sharp.
“I agree,” I hear Phoebe interject.
After sending another confused look Phoebe’s way, I take Janice by the arm and lead her off to the side for some privacy. “Do you want to get out of here?”
“Aren’t you going to at least talk to that guy first? Sounds like you two have some stuff to work out,” she comments, and I realize that if it’s that apparent to an outsider to the situation, maybe she’s right.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay for a little bit while I talk to him? Actually, scratch that…it may be a lot a bit.”
“Sure, take your time. It’s been nice catching up with Phoebe. She’s been introducing me to a whole bunch of people. I finally feel accepted,” she states with an overjoyed smile. “And it’s all thanks to you, Dani. So, thank you.”
“I’ve so missed you, Janice,” I say, throwing my arms around her and giving her a light squeeze. “I’ll be right back, okay?”
“Okay.”
I snatch my drink from the top of the keg. “Oh, and Janice, your beer is right here,” I say, pointing to the other cup sitting there. She nods with a smile.
Parker comes to stand next to me as I take a sizable gulp of the beer in anticipation of the talk I’m about to have with him. Well, the one big gulp actually turns into me downing the entire drink.
Wiping my mouth, I say, “All right, let’s talk.”
Parker doesn’t say anything. He just starts walking away from the crowd and waits for me at the edge of the forest to catch up with him. He turns to look at me once I join him. His baby blue eyes glisten with the light from the bonfire, adding more punch to the smirk on his face.
“Let’s go somewhere a little more private, okay?” he asks. His smooth, deep voice flows over me and puts me more at ease.
“Sure,” I reply quietly.
He begins to walk ahead of me, following a trail leading deeper into the forest. I look back and see Janice talking and laughing with a large group of people, and I can’t help but be happy for her. She looks like she’s having so much fun. Janice actually looks like she’s meant to be here.
“Coming?” I hear Parker’s voice behind me.
“Yeah, sorry.”
After walking a little ways, Parker stops and turns to look at me. His features are illuminated by the moonlight seeping through the pockets in the canopy overhead. Sadness reflects in his eyes when his meet mine.
“So, we’re here. Let’s talk,” I say, breaking the silence.
Parker takes my hand in his and pulls me to stand right in front of him. I want to fight back, but deep down I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. I’ve been waiting for him to explain why he did what he did. He left a giant hole in my heart, and it’s about time he mans up and tries to fill it.
The pensive look on his face causes my anger to subside for a moment, allowing the heartache I felt when he left to invade. Seeing him again draws out all of the feelings I had for him. We were so close back then. We used to spend many restless nights talking on the phone about our future plans. He was supposed to go to Blackburn University in order to be close by while I finished up high school. It was all set. He even received a full scholarship.
To me, our relationship seemed like the real thing, and even though Parker was my first true boyfriend, I was sure