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Happy Birthday Bron. :)
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Fayette County was beautiful. Parker had seen that already as they drove through. What she saw at the end of Patterson Ferry Road was something else. A whole secret world tucked away amid huge lush trees and rolling hills and craggy outcrops. It was breathtaking.
"Eliot, this place is beyond real."
"Yeah. I kinda like it." Eliot's expression relaxed as he took in the scenery and Parker had no words to express how she felt about seeing such beauty. Then someone else's words came to mind.
"Let our luggage pass duty free through the gates of heaven. We will bring you brushes paints and canvas. That you may spend your sacred leisure in the light..." She trailed off, self consciously as Eliot glanced at her curiously.
"What's that? You ain't wrong, this place is a lot like heaven on earth as far as I'm concerned."
Parker shrugged, twiddling with a strand of hair as she stared into the tree canopies that dusted the hills either side. Greens and yellows and oranges of every shade glowed bright in the sunshine.
"Something written on Henri Rousseau's tombstone." Her favourite artist. Bright, jewel sharp images that saw the world like she did. Full of wonder, terror and colour and surprise.
"Tiger In a Tropical Storm huh? I know that feeling." He paused and Parker turned and they both said, "Surprised!" It was stupid but they both laughed, and it felt good to do it.
Parker watched the dream like vista roll by as Eliot navigated his way up a long drive and down roads with no names. He had been here before. He was relaxed here. She wondered if she should ask where she could hole up while he dealt with whoever's wedding this was. She had dust and grit in her hair from her road dive, every muscle was aching and she had dirt on her jeans and top too. Besides he probably needed to give them a story about who she was and what the hell she was doing crashing the wedding. It was cool. She expected to be squirrelled away till the actual wedding. At least she could shower and check out just how messed up her body was from the tumble. And put on the dress. Though she felt nervous about that now. Like Eliot had seen her at her worst, weakest point. What the hell was the point in putting on a dress? She was still crazy underneath it.
"You ready?" Eliot's question broke her meandering thoughts and she made a face.
"For what?"
"Introductions." The truck pulled up in front of a wooden villa, exquisitely crafted and landscaped to nestle into an open space amongst the trees, slightly on a crest of a hill so the sun hit it just right, causing the wood to glow. There were cars and trucks parked up alongside. Noise poured from the open door.
"Wait, now? You want me to meet people now?"
"Well I sure as hell ain't smuggling you in Parker." He gave her an odd look, then reached out lightning fast and shook her hair with one hand, loosening any remaining dust and grit. "You'll be fine. C'mon."
He climbed down from the truck and Parker stared at him through the windscreen, baffled. Well okay then.
She climbed out and dusted her jeans as best she could, letting Eliot tuck her in beside him as they strolled up the short path to the door. She felt sick.
"Anyone seen the groom?" Eliot called out as they reached the hallway and a flurry of thank gods and hello's poured toward them from people that seemed to magically appear from every doorway and the huge open lounge straight ahead.
A young man, good looking, nervous as hell and wearing a pitch black morning suit, with an indigo coloured waistcoat underneath charged through the throng and caught Eliot in a hug. Parker blinked in shock when Eliot accepted the hug and patted the kid on the back.
"Thank God Eric. I knew you'd make it, I wasn't worried at all." He made a pah face, and Parker liked him instantly. Then she worked out the implications. Was this the groom? He looked like, twenty.
"You know me Cor. Just like keepin' you on your toes college brat. Cory, meet Parker. Parker, this is Cory." Eliot made the introduction she had been sweating over so simple. This is Parker. Huh. No story, no role, just...this is Parker. She smiled and reached out a hand but Cory extended his hug to her and she took it, awkwardly, glancing at Eliot over the boys dark hair. Eliot just shrugged.
"Great to meet you Parker."
"You too Cory." She wanted to know who he was and how Eliot, well Eric knew him. Eliot looked at her a little uncomfortably and ran a hand through his hair.
"Your suit's upstairs, and we commence at," Cory addressed his watch, "2pm, so you guys have time to get ready. Phew." Cory rubbed his hands together, eyes bright and hands just trembling slightly.
"Hey Parker, I'm gonna go on up with Cory to fetch my suit, will you be okay for a minute?" Eliot had a hand on the kid's shoulder, and was asking her something else entirely with his eyes. She nodded mechanically.
"Sure, I'm cool." She waved him off and then put her hands to her hips as they vanished up some hand carved stairs, feeling every muscle protest as she creaked backwards trying to loosen the pain.
"Did I hear right? It's Parker?" A woman with red hair and red lips and a whole mess of red dress was at her elbow in a flash and Parker started, before nodding. Red? At a wedding? Sophie would not approve.
"So you came in with Eric I see." The woman was holding a flute of champagne and Parker wondered if she was family. Then weighed up the red dress, and dismissed that idea outright.
"That I did." She confirmed the observation, then smiled at the lady."I'm sorry I didn't catch your name?" Wow. Parker heard the claws in her own tone and dialled it back. Poor woman hadn't done a thing and yet she had Parker's skin all hot and brain all fried. Possible concussion? Yup. She really needed to find a quiet corner and call Hardison.
"Oh me? Why I am Scarlet Woodeaves." Parker never understood why people gave away their whole names like that. As if Parker were supposed to know what a Woodeaves was. It was an easy trait to use in a con as a result, that air of expectancy the tone engendered. It was odd to be on the receiving end of it.
"Nice to meet you Scarlet, I'm just gonna-" Parker spied an open deck through the living room, and only a small number of people using it and was keen to head through the fancy house and make her call. Scarlet wasn't so easily brushed off.
"So how do you know Eric?" Oh great, the third degree? It was a freakin' wedding. Interrogations not implied and not prepped for. Parker swung her arms breezily.
"Oh, through work. Yeah. So I'm gonna go-"
"So are you and Eric-"
"Oh Scarlet are you monopolising this poor girl?" Parker was eternally grateful to the older lady with soft brown curls and an easy smile who interrupted and caught her arm. "Why she has just driven lord knows how long, Eric told me you are most likely exhausted." He did? Parker mumbled something, very aware of Scarlet's bright blue eyes narrowing on her. Hmmm. For no particular reason Parker wanted to call Sophie. Despite her hurt about the Hardison fiasco, Sophie was mostly her go to option when she was overwhelmed. She wouldn't this time though. It would give too much away about this weekend. Plus she had another call to make first. The older lady manoeuvred her through the room to the open patio doors and Parker felt jostled but in a good way.
"Thank you." The woman clucked in a forget it fashion. She was wearing a lilac dress that highlighted her silver streaked chestnut hair and twinkly eyes. "Are you Mrs Claus?"
"Excuse me honey?" Parker checked herself. Alone for five minutes and the wacky was slipping out. Crap.
"I said are you Cory's mother? You have the same eyes." She smiled at the lady in what she hoped was a pretty manner.
"Why yes I am. Louise Wentworth. Mother of the groom at your service." Parker felt the sun on her face as they stepped onto the wooden deck, potted shrubs and rainbow flowers at the railing edges and the wide steps leading to the manicured lawn. Her cell burnt a hole in her pocket.
"Well thanks for the save Mrs Wentworth. Scarlet? A bit rah." She made tiger claws to match her rah and Mrs Wentworth chuckled and patted her arm kindly.
"Call me Lou. Oh pay her no mind. She's just curious about the competition is all." Parker gazed out at the gorgeous scene, the greens like jades and the blue of the sky reminding her of The Star of Bombay, another item on her bucket list. Then she stilled.
"I'm sorry the what?"
"Oh well Scarlet has made no secret of her interest in Eric. Whenever he visits they-"
"Oh. Right. I get it." Huh. Parker smiled benignly not needing the full details. Her chest felt tight. Stupid. Eliot not having a woman stashed somewhere? About as likely as Nate not have sixteen back up plans or Sophie eating chicken fried steak.
"Well I am sure happy y'all made it. Cory was tryin' not to let on but I could tell he was worried."
"Really? So he and El-ric are that close?" Parker decided she didn't care and still asked the question. And listened to the answer, whilst noting the open plan kitchen over Louise's shoulder, replete with catering trays full of appetisers and a fully stocked fridge the guests were not shy about emptying.
"Why of-course! Ever since they met at that mine, Eric has been so helpful to Cory. but you know that obviously if you work with him at the trust. The work must be so rewarding." The trust? What the hell had Eliot told these people? "I mean I don't know whether Cory would have gotten into the College of Engineering without that scholarship fund. He's smart my boy but, well you know, it's what you do! Why am I talkin' your ear off about it?"
Parker didn't know, but the gratitude was clear in Lou's face, and the pride in her son. So Eliot kept in touch with this kid from the mining job all that time ago? Why?
"It's no problem. But no shop talk at a wedding right? It's all about the kids today." She spread her hands and smiled, needing to make that call. It was a rock in her lungs with every passing minute. She wanted to talk to Hardison without Eliot in the next room and had no idea when that opportunity would arise again. "Louise, sorry, Lou, would you mind if I just excused myself to make a call? I'll be right back."
"Oh certainly dear you go right ahead. Reception is spotty here though, so you may need to test it."
Oh crap, Parker had not thought of that. She palmed her cell, and caught Scarlet's eye as she headed off the deck and up the hill a little way. She screwed her face up in response and felt a stab of satisfaction when the red head cocked her head, viper like. Then ignored the weird bubbling in her stomach. It reminded her of facing off another thief once in a job, and the thrill of adrenalin and challenge his skill had evoked. Parker did not like to be beaten. Not that Eliot was a painting she wanted to steal. So it wasn't right to feel like that about him. Or any person. She shook it off. Let Eric have his trust and red heads. Nothing to do with her. Nothing at all.
Hardison answered after three rings. She sat on the grass and crossed her legs. Nerves screeched along her veins. As soon as he said hey, she wanted things back the way they had been before. Comfortable. It took her a long time to feel comfortable.
"Hardison have you dumped me?"
"Hey slow down Parker, girl I am so sorry about drunk texting you. Very not cool. Are you all right? How's the fishin'?" He yawned. Yawned.
"I haven't caught anything yet. How could you be drunk texting? It was like at 9 o clock in the morning."
"Parker sweetie, y'all are aware of time zones right? We pulled an all nighter. I was wasted. Damn I think I still am wasted. I do not know how Nate functions day to day when he is on this shit dude, I mean I don't want to admire his alcoholism but he does perform spectacularly all things considered."
"Hardison. We need to talk."
"We are talking. What's wrong P?"
"Don't you remember what you said?" And she had thrown herself from a moving vehicle. Huh, Parker wondered if the problem was not that she didn't care enough, but cared too much.
"Not really. Something about saving you from a fire? There was definite fire saving going on."
"You said we are best friends."
"Oh. Well we are. Aren't we?" Now he sounded slightly sharper, and she could picture him sitting up in bed, trying to clear his foggy head. A lump in the throat choked her for a minute. She plucked at the grass as she tried to breathe.
"Is that all we are though Hardison? You seemed to think so."
"Oh." Now she had his full attention. She waited, tummy flipping. "Well, I mean, what do you think?" She heard the pain and confusion in his tone. But also, the carefulness. Oh God. You didn't react to that question like that if there wasn't something to it. Even she knew that. So, she had been right in her initial reaction. And though she had made peace with it in a weird way, it didn't make the reality any easier.
"I feel confused about it." She flattened some grass and sighed. "I don't want us to be different. But I know we aren't like Nate and Sophie."
"Nobodies like them sweet thing, do not sweat that." Silence. "Maybe what we need to be is what we already were, without trying to be different. This dating is different. Not us."
"Did I do it wrong?" She couldn't help the inflection in her tone as she tried hard not to cry.
"What? Hell no Parker, why would you think that?"
"Because it's what you wanted and now you don't."
"Girl," he sighed, and she could see him, closing his eyes and gathering his thoughts,"that sentence has everything to do with me and nothing to do with you. Why wouldn't I want you? You are hot. I know you look in mirrors honey, this isn't new information."
"So what I'm not hot any more?" She smiled, and he chuckled.
"Oh you fishin' for real now huh? Parker, how do you feel about it? I know I love you. You rock ten ways from Sunday. What we got don't need dating to make it better. I never had a best friend before."
"Me either." Parker felt her heart constrict. "I want us to be that."
"We will be. We are. I'm not a kid Parker. I know when it's right and when it ain't. You can't get mad at chemistry. Ours is cool. I tried to change it. My bad."
"Hardison, will we still have our TV nights? I like them a lot."
"Nothing's gonna change Parker. That's the point. Nothing really has. I guess I just needed to-never mind. I wish I handled that text better. I swear I passed out cold, I had no idea I had-"
"No, no it's fine." What's a few hours of emotional torture and self destruction between friends she thought. "So who is she?"
The silence was deafening, but for once, Parker didn't need an earbud to direct her. She followed her instincts.
"Who's who?"
"The girl you had chemistry with. Proper chemistry."
"Parker, you know I wouldn't ever-"
"I know. But you can't stop feelings can you? Or thoughts." She sighed, Eliot way too easy to think of as she waited for his reply. She half wondered if she was so desperate to have this conversation because of Eliot. Because she couldn't take the confusion and guilt of the feelings the long haired hitter inspired. She bit her lip and studied the lawn. The answer was as much yes as it was no. Parker needed clarity. She needed black or white, not maybe and if and one day. Those words had ruined her as a child. She wouldn't let them in on a matter this important. Whether it was in order to resolve her relationship status with Hardison or to alleviate her guilt for having sparky ideas about Eliot, it didn't matter. It just needed doing.
"Did something happen Parker?" He sounded concerned, and curious too. Maybe a bit hurt. But not mad. It told its own story she realised. You couldn't be mad at someone for something you were guilty of. Not if they really were your best friend.
"I-" She had reached for a lie, and stopped. She loved Hardison. He was her best friend. If she lied now, then they would never be the same. Pain now, or lose him later. She hoped she chose right.
"I honestly don't know Hard. I've been pretty messed up on this trip. I keep thinking about us and then with..." Say it Parker. Say it or you lose a best friend anyway. "Eliot, I get all weird. I swear Hardison I would never do anything to hurt you. I just-" Oh damn her eyes were leaking and she was hiccuping down the cell as her confession met silence.
Wrong choice. She had made the wrong choice.
"Well damn P. Don't cry sweetheart, please do not cry." His voice broke, and she swallowed, guilt and grief over a relationship shifting from a course she had actively tried to follow combining. "I ain't mad at ya. But Eliot? Damn. Does he...?"
"Hardison, c'mon." She sniffed.
"Right. It's tough to want more and not-" He cleared his throat. "Just be careful. Look I maybe had a moment. Nothin' happened, nothin'. But it might have. Could have. And I guess if we were right, that should not even have been a possibility."
"I'm sorry." Parker was. She just didn't know what for exactly.
"Me too baby. Hacker and thief. We still that. We will always be that." She had needed to hear that, and now, with Hardison sad but smiling in her ear, she knew he meant it. That he felt the same.
"Happy Hordeing Hardison. Will I see you Monday?"
"Yeah. You will."
"Cool." Parker raised her face to the sun, and let it dry her eyes. She felt sad, but lighter in spirit. Worrying over doing the right thing was exhausting. Turns out you just have to follow your instincts and not fall into the trap of what others want. It was hard having friends whose feelings were dependant on your actions. Hard to know where the line between pleasing them and yourself was drawn. Maybe now she knew.
"You okay Parker?" She jumped when Eliot called over, walking toward her up the hill, a suit draped over his arm. She stood a little quick and wobbled as the aches hit. Man that road roll was the gift that kept on giving.
"Yeah. We done?" He stopped and waited for her as she approached. His eyes narrowed.
"Sure, we got time to go get ready before the I do's. You still hurting from that fall Parker?"
"I'm fine." She cracked her neck and stretched her arms, the picture of limber. Man it hurt. "So is there a room to change in or-"
"No. I got a place here. C'mon it's five minutes drive." He held out his hand and she let him guide her, knowing her act hadn't fooled him, but glad he hadn't called her on it. Enough exposing of weaknesses had transpired these last few hours to last her a life time.
"You have a house here? I thought this was a rental?" The villa had been show home perfect, no private family pictures, no indications it was anything other than a rental laid on as part of the wedding service. It was not hard to envision Eliot in this rugged terrain though. It was just hard to know when he had the time. Did he ever really go fishing at all?
"Yeah. These are." He swept his hand to encompass the other villas dotted at far ends of the clearing, hidden amongst the tree line."I got a deal on the wedding for Cor since I'm a resident, got a patch of land over there."
Parker hmmm'd.
"I remember that job. The one where I had to be that ADA's assistant?" He nodded as they got in the truck. Louise came to the door and waved them off, tapping her watch at Eliot. He grinned and saluted her. "Why'd y'you stay in touch with the kid?"
"It's not a big deal Parker. I just did all right?
"OK grumpy. Just asking." He sighed and she looked into the distance as he drove up a winding track off the main thoroughfare through the woods. Funny, but Parker had figured sorting things out with Hardison would make dealing with Eliot easier by default. Wrong again Parker.
"Look it's just not a big deal. The kid needed a push so I gave him one." The truck stopped at the end of a small drive, and Eliot parked up, hands firm on the gears and Parker watched them, fascinated. Then snapped out of it when she caught his puzzled frown on her.
"So you created a fake trust? Pretty tricky of you Eric." He had the grace to look contrite. Then he got out of the truck and grabbed the suit from the back along with their bags.
"He's a good kid Parker." As if that explained it. And perhaps it did, Parker reasoned. Sometimes the jobs they did threw up far more victims than the one who asked for help. Just look at Josie. Huh. Parker kept that to herself, knowing that the postcards she sent to the young car thief were a secret she maintained because she had no desire to see Nate's knowing eyes on her as he understood too easily why the girl had touched Parker enough that she followed up. Did Eliot see himself in Cory? It was an insight that shocked her. She wasn't all that good at insights as a rule.
"So you getting out or what?" Eliot was at the bonnet of the car and she blinked, before seeing the house he had parked in front of.
A rustic villa, tucked beneath the shelter of red oaks and yellow poplars sat on a jutting overhang hidden from the main road. The sound of water running in the distance soothed and the sun dappled the ground and the tiled roof through the canopy above.
Parker slid out of her seat and her feet hit the ground as she closed the door, taking the place in. Eliot's place. A bicycle was propped against the low fence, and a white haired old lady burst from the front door in a flurry of energy. Parker stepped back, wary of the ball of activity. And she did not like bike's. At all.
"All ready Eric honey, so nice to have you back! It's been a while. We missed you." Eliot accepted a hug off the lady and kissed her cheek. Sometimes he really was a gentleman.
"'Preciate it Florence."
Florence was a tiny bird of a woman and she gave Parker a very thorough examination as she mounted the bicycle and sped away into the trees. There seemed to be an abundance of woman of all kinds in Eric's life. She found that annoying.
"Tick tock Parker c'mon. we ain't got forever before the wedding." Impatient Eliot was back. It was oddly comforting that he wasn't kid gloving her.
She followed him in, and got hustled straight upstairs to a gleaming white bathroom with a floor to ceiling window overlooking the drop behind the house. A bath was already run, and fresh towels sat on a tall pale wicker basket beside the sink. For some reason Eliot having a wicker basket made her smile.
"You need something for your shoulders?" Eliot asked but avoided looking at her face and she shook her head mutely, causing him to glance at her to see her response. He nodded, then left her to it. At the door he hesitated. "Parker, you gonna be okay with this? All these people?"
Ahh. So he did think she was going to be a problem. It stung.
"I told you I'm not insane." She ripped of her shoes as she spoke. Eliot turned and appraised her with furrowed brows. She was aching, but as she watched him watching her, the ache transformed into another kind, and she shifted, skin itching from the inside out. She had the strange notion that if he touched her, the itch would stop. Or at least get scratched deliciously. She hid the mortification of such an outrageous thought.
"I know. You just had a rough day. People have 'em Parker. No need to be so touchy man, I'm just askin' if you're okay."
"Oh." She had no way of answering that. She found her hem and winced as she attempted to remove her tee shirt. Instead of showing her pain, she made a face at Eliot who had not budged. "A little privacy?"
"Right." But he still stayed, and their eyes met, and Parker swallowed. The hot bath sent heat into the rooms air, and she told herself that was why her cheeks were heating. Eliot's expression was unreadable. She doubted her poker face was holding up so well under scrutiny.
Finally he turned, his hand lingering on the door knob before it closed behind him.
Parker stripped, wincing as her top came off, followed by her jeans and slid into the bath gratefully.
She felt sad and tired. As she closed her eyes, it wasn't Hardison and their resolved issues she thought of though, it was Eliot, and a secret thrilling hope he would walk back in the bathroom and haul her out of the scented water and...
Crap. She was screwed.