Emily Rose

Parker walked us to his large, black truck before saying, "I'm glad that you'd agreed to this."

I shrugged as Parker unlocked his car. "I need answers, don't I?" I asked rhetorically as I climbed inside his truck.

Parker nodded before starting the car and driving off.

I turned my head towards the window, looking outside at all of the passing buildings, "so where are you taking me?" I asked, a small smile on my lips.

"It's a secret."

Secret?

"Really? Fine, I'll guess... McDonalds?" I looked over at him as he smiled brightly before laughing. "Oh, come on, you're not saying anything. I need to guess!"

Parker turned his head towards me and gave me a funny smile. "I missed you."

I looked away, hiding my blush, not saying a word.

Tension and silence begins to fill the the car, suffocating the once loose and free environment.

Parker drives for a couple of minutes before turning  the truck into the park lot of a familiar modern bakery.

Excitement rises in me. "Oh my God, Lily's Bakery?!" I turns towards Parker and smile at him.

"Yep," he grins, shutting off the car. "our old hangout."

I shake my head, laughing. "Yeah," I look around at all the people walking around, going in and out of the bakery, "it's gotten more attention than it did when we went there." I noticed.

"Yeah, it turns out it was going to close but then someone bought a share of it and it bloomed." He told me as he hoped out of the truck.

Parker quickly moved over to my door and opened it for me. "Here you go..."

"Thanks,"

I get out of the car and we both walk towards the bakery, side by side.

Parker opens the door for me and a couple behind us.

They thanked him and he nodded.

"Well, that was nice," I said as we walked towards a random table together.

Parker looked over at me and shrugged, "just doin' what I was taught."

Parker and I sit down at a table and almost instantly a server comes over to our table and hands us some menus.

We both mutter a thanks and begin to look over our menus before our server, apparently his name was Alexander, comes back to our table and takes our orders.

Alexander soon then came back and took our orders; mine, a chocolate croissant and Parker's, a apple tart.

"We need to talk," Parker said, when Alexander was away from hearing distance.

I nod, "I know."

Parker begins, roughly running his hand through his hair. "Okay, the reason why-," he tried to start but I cut him off by lifting my hand.

"No, no. Not that part. Why are you here, Parker?" I asked and he bit his lip.

"Emily Rose, please, I'm trying to explain. I'll answer questions after my explanation." He messaged his temples, and I nodded as shame rushed through me, causing me to blush.

"Good," He sighs before continuing, "Okay, so before... that night, I knew I was going to leave." He admitted and my eyebrows furrowed as I scooted up in my chair.

I was going to say something, but he stopped me by holding up his hand. "Questions later, remember?"

I sighed and nodded, keeping quiet.

"Anyway I knew I was going to leave because after the Spring Break Party your parents had, I went home. I was a little out of it and brought the girl I had home. I didn't mean to, I just..." Parker sighs, running his hands through his hair. "Never mind, so anyways we went home and I decided to bring her upstairs and whatever happened."

A pinch of sickness and anger rises in me but I push it back down, trying my hardest to ignore it and not loose control.

"Apparently, my uncle— Uncle John, you know him. The man with the graying hair, hazel eyes... the one who used to be in the army?" He asks me and I nod with a bright smile on my face.

Uncle John was always so kind towards me as a kid. Parker on the other hand... not so much.

"Yeah anyways, he was there and was getting some water or whatever when he saw me bring whatever-her-name-is upstairs. The next day, he sat me down and we had a long talk; too long, almost."

He took a deep breath, and I resisted the urge to reach over and place my hand on his.

I'm not ready for that.

Parker still continues, "finally, it was decided that I would work for him at his airport, directly after college. Uncle John thought it would keep me and line and I wanted something more that to be just Parker Bowmen here, I need something better. To be something better."

He looked down at the clean wooden table, avoiding my gaze. "We decided to only tell one person and that was it. Then it was set in stone, I was to go and leave. After that, I did the things, I always wanted to do..." He lets the words drag out, slowly as if it was pure torture to say before looking back at me again, his eyes intense."I don't regret Emily. You might do, but don't. I don't think I ever will. I'm sorry. It was selfish, I was selfish-,"

Our waiter, Alexander came back with our drinks, "your food will be out in a second."

We both nodded and he left.

Parker bit his lip before speaking again. "Look, Emily, I'm not asking for your forgiveness or anything, I'm just trying to give a clear explanation and help ease your mind. I know that the things I did aren't the best, shit, they're horrible, but I'm still here. Trying to make up for the lost time that we had."

Parker then turns away, looking at something distant before bringing his attention back towards me and asking, "Questions?" 

I give him a sad smile and shake my head.

Alexander comes back with our food, placing neatly on the table before walking away again, and a new idea pops up in my head. 

"Hey Parker?" I asked.

"Yes?"

"Can we start over again? Like nothing between us happened? I don't completely forgive you, but I can't live the rest of my life holding onto a grudge. It wouldn't benefit me and plus... I really want my best friend back again."

Parker gives me an happy smile, "thanks, Emmie. I seriously don't deserve it."

I pause before shrug, "I know."

Parker places a hand over his heart and grimace. "Shit! Blunt, aren't you."

I shrug again.

*****

After parking in front of my bridal shop, Parker decides to walk me to the door.

"Yeah, so I run a couple of airports around the world, it's big business but I manage." Parker tells me and I smile at him.

"That's really great, Parker."

He shrugs, a small smile dangling from his lips. "Yeah, I guess, but that's not as good as you. You're living your dream, now that is amazing. Many people don't get to do that."

I laugh. "Thanks for the compliment, suck-up!"

Parker and I stop at the door.

Parker shakes his head in disbelief, "Come on, Emily why don't you think that your job is amazing?"

"I do think that my job is pretty cool, I just think that it's not as grand as you make it seem."

"Pretty cool? Come on, your job is amazing.

"It's not amazing."

"It's amazing."

"It's not."

"It is."

"It's n-,"

Parker completely interrupts me by grabbing my face, cradling it between his two massive hands.

I freeze, "Parker?... what are you doing?!" My voice comes out in a high pitch squeal.

His thumb strokes my cheek softly before he leans in.

"EMILY! EMILY!" A familiar voice screams and I'm broken out of my trance.

I push Parker away from me and turn towards the screams.

Sprinting down the street was Cameron.

"Cameron? Cameron, what's wrong." I walk over towards her and catches her as she falls in my arms.

"Emily, oh, Emily. I'm so so sorry." She cries and shakes, tears streaming down her face.

"Cam, what are you talking about?" Parker's voice asks from behind me.

Cameron continues to tremble in my arms, her wails getting louder as she clenches onto my arms.

"Cameron. Cameron! CAMERON!" I scream over her tears and she blinks at me. "What happened?"

Cameron's eyes frantically scan Parker and I before taking a deep breath.

Cameron seems to compose herself for a second before gasping out the words. "Tomas.... he was in a... in a... car crash..."

And I break.

*****

Hey guys!

WOW! We made it to 3k! This is insane! 😆😆

Anyways back to the story stuff.

Tomas? Car crash?

What's going on with that?

Was Parker trying to kiss Emmie or was it something else?

Can Emmie truly forgive Parker or will he do something to break her trust again?

Hold onto to your seatbelts people because this is a ride that's only going up!!

Anyways, I hope you liked Chapter 7 of The Love That Is Parker Bowmen.

Remember don't forget to vote, comment and add to your library, if you want more!