E M I L Y R O S E
2 years later
"Rosey, we need that cream lace fabric over here," My purple-haired roommate, Kenna, flashed me a smile as she paused at what she was sewing to wave me over.
"Got it," I quickly rushed over to the baker's rack and scanned over the millions of fabric on it. My hand trailed over the beautiful material before I found the right one and pulled it out. "This one?" I asked as I held up the rolled cloth for Kenna to see.
She briskly nodded before waving me over there again. "Hand it over, please."
I walked over and handed it to her in which she thanked me.
"I still can't believe it's been a year since we've opened this place up." My other roommate, Quinn, sat down on the top of the front desk and allowed her legs to dangle aimlessly.
I nod my head in agreement, my mind skimming over my past years here.
After moving here and staying with my old college friend, Amber, I met her 2 other roommates, Kenna and Quinn. We instantly hit it off, our meeting was just fated itself.
Anyways, after a couple of months of working at a cafe, I decided to take matters into my own hand and decided to talk to my roommates about opening a wedding business. Thankfully they were all on board and we began creating the business we have today. It's not big but it still pays the bills and it's also fun.
Kenna's mind began to space as she daydreamed about the past. "It was A LOT of work," she chuckled to herself, "but we've made it."
My eyes catch onto the ticking time on the clock and I began packing my stuff. "Gotta go guys."
"Mrs. Folley?" Quinn asked about the woman as if she didn't know that she was my therapist.
"Yep," I reply coolly, desperately trying my hardest to hide my shiver. Today we're talking about closure and I can't seem to figure out if I wanna run away or stick it out. I shrug my shoulders and decide to think about it in my easy walk there.
"It's gonna be fine." Kenna glances up from her sewing machine to eye me carefully.
I flash her a kind smile before making my way towards the front door.
Just as I'm about the leave, my eyes catch onto a familiar set of dark brown hair and similar build to a man who's pending letter was still burning into the pages of a book I stuffed it in after I read it again the night before. Like I do almost every night.
I began straightening out my clothes and remembering the breathing technique Mrs. Folley showed me almost 2 years ago when I started telling her again about the sightings.
He's not here, I take a deep breathe repeatedly. In, out, in, out. One day he will be, but today isn't that day. I remind myself before I open the front door to leave.
"oh! Don't forget we have a wedding tonight!" Kenna calls out at me and I yell back an okay before placing that into my mental calendar for today.
*****
"So... do you and Henry still keep in contact." The older wrinkled woman questioned me as one of her worn-out eyebrows quirked up. Some part of me wanted to believe that Mrs. Folley's choice for this profession was because she loved drama since she's always bringing up my ex.
"Not really. We both have lives." I shrugged nonchalantly ignoring the questioning expression on her face.
"Yes, yes," she nodded before writing down on the small notepad in her hand, "are you accepting of you guys fate?"
I resist the urge to roll my eyes, "yes, I'm completely fine with us ending."
She nods swiftly again before pausing, her critical eyes matching mine, "Are you still waiting on him?"
My mind traces back to this morning when I peered outside of the window believing that I'd saw him.
I shake my head, "nope."
She raises a single eyebrow at me before letting it go. "Waiting for someone is okay," she sucks her bottom lip in between her teeth, "just don't allow it to stop you in life. It's not fair for you."
"I know."
"Good." She scribbles down something else before moving to the real subject. "Have you called Tomas anytime soon?"
"No. Not in the last 2 years. He's supposed to get out in a year though." I shrug, not caring anymore.
"Good. Toxic people can bring back to square one again."
A smirk stretches over my lips, "and what stage am I on?"
She ponders the question for a second before flashing a smile at me, "you're already finished Rose, we're just wrapping things up."
*****
The bright lights made my eyes squint as I lifted my hand over my head, blocking the light.
"Ugh, why did they want this?" Quinn asks, irritation marking her words as she tugs on the front of the flowing purple dress which hugged her curves. "I swear I'm gonna flash someone in your dress, Kenna. This does nothing for the ladies." She shakes her head with strong disapproval wrapped her arms around her dress.
"You said you wanted it," Kenna shrugged nonchalantly but we could all tell she was trying her hardest to hide a smile.
"Come, on girls, it's a wedding." Amber frowned at us all.
"Yes and we've planned it." Quinn sips on her martini as she scanned through all the men in the reception room. "Hmm.. let's see what's on the menu." She muttered to herself and Kenna slapped her arm.
"Gross."
Quinn rolled her eyes before arguing with Kenna.
I smiled into my glass as I lift the glass up and allow myself to gulp down the last of the campaign in the elegant cup.
I place it down on the bar before slipping off my seat and dusting off my rose gold dress. "I'm gonna go get some air," I announced, jabbing a thumb back to the rest of the park where the wedding was.
"Okay," Amber nodded, "keep your phone on and text us."
I smiled before crossing my heart and walking away from the festivities.
A cool breeze passes by me and I allow a shiver to hit me. I wrap my arms around myself for some comfort before allowing my mind to race away from everything as my feet carry me.
I peer at the greenery around me and smile to myself.
It's beautiful out here.
Abruptly, goosebumps appear on my skin and a familiar shiver travels down my back.
"Emily?" A husky voice calls from behind me.
Wait...
I swerve around and peer at the man in front of me. The man whos letter I've been holding onto. Whos promise I've been working my hardest to keep.
Parker Bowmen.
Muscles flexed against his causal grey t-shirt as he tensed. Unsure hazel eyes studied me carefully as a 5 o'clock shadow marked its way on his chin. A towel hung from his shoulders as small droplets of water fall from his freshly showered hair, which looked a little overgrown but added to his allure as it was slicked back onto his head, a few strains out of place. A small cut nicked on his lip.
His hands clenched onto his towel tightly as he cocked his head to the side. "Is that really you?"
As unladylike as it was, my mouth hung open.
Gaining my composure again before running a hand ferociously through my dark brown hair. It had grown a couple of inches and I've been too lazy or busy to cut it.
I'm regretting that now.
"Yeah, yeah." I give him a nervous and weak smile. "It is."
He peers at me for a second before laughing.
Oh great, already a second in and I'm a laughing stock, I mock myself in my head.
He continues to laugh and I jab my foot into the dirt ground before finally deciding that enough is enough.
"Okay, are you done?!" I snap at him and it takes him by surprise.
He jumps before studying me again, his body leans in and he gives me a once over before flashing me a nice smile and sticking out his hand. "Parker Bowmen."
"What?"
"Parker Bowmen." A patient expression smile easies onto his face.
It's taken me a while before I remembered our promise.
If we meet again and we are both single, we will try again. No past, no lies, just the present, and the future.
"Emily Rose Shivers." I grasp his hand and shake it, deciding to play his game.
"Not to seem to forward but I must ask, Miss Shivers, are you single because that's the only way we can try again?" He asks playfully, one of his eyebrows quirks up.
I nod, "yes I am. Are you Mr. Bowmen because that's the only way that we can start again." I use his words against him and he grins happily.
"Yes I am."
He stops the game suddenly before speaking, "the only reason why I was laughing at you was because of how weird you were acting."
I gasp and shove him barely moving him at all. "Not funny."
"Sorry." He grins at me before offering me his arm and gesturing towards the large park with a wave of his hand. "Do you wanna walk with me."
I ponder it for a second before gladly linking his arm up with mine. "Let's go." I smile and we began to walk with each other.
"Well Mr. Bowmen, what were you doing out in the park on a night like this?" I ask.
"I'm not sure but I had this certain urge to escape my hotel room... so I decided to take a walk. And please it's Parker. You?"
"Wedding,"
"Planning it?"
"Yeah."
A moment of silence passes between us before I asked.
"So.. how did you get that scratch on your lip."
He laughs at the memory before telling me. "So a couple weeks ago, I had gotten this new kitten right?.."
And we walked in the park for the rest of the night, talking to each other about us and ourselves.
And for the first time in a long time, I was ready to accept everything that is Parker Bowmen.
*****
Hey guys!
That was the ending to The Love That Is Parker Bowmen!!!
It's a bittersweet but still sweet moment. I hope you've had as much of a rollercoaster of emotions as I've have with this book.
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