Author's Note: You're probably going to get annoyed and hate them both for the next few chapters, but hang in there, it will be worth it in the end. You'll see. Many thanks for your wonderful reviews, PM's, and compliments. They are so heartwarming. ~Iz.
Chapter 12
Kelly knocked on Parker's apartment door. She opened it and he walked inside, tossing the six pack next to the pizza that was waiting on the counter. He slammed the door closed and locked it. He moved toward Parker. She met him halfway, and backing him up against the door. Their lips met as they both started pulling off clothes and tossing them to the floor.
"Kelly," she groaned as he kissed her again.
"Where's your bedroom?" he asked.
Kelly returned to his car after shift to find a wicker picnic basket sitting on the hood of his car. "What the heck?" he asked as he reached for the basket and opened it up. Inside was a note .
Jackson Park Statue of the Republic
He shoved the note back in the basket and tossed it on the passenger seat. He got in and started the car, wondering who was inviting him to the park. He wondered if it was Parker, but he didn't want to speculate. He and Parker had a very awkward morning after a week ago. He hadn't seen her since and he didn't call because he had been busy picking up overtime and filling in for vacations in the house. Every time he had thought about calling her, it was late at night and he didn't want to disturb her.
He found a parking place and pulled in, locking the car. As he approached the statue, he noticed someone sitting on the statue step. She was drinking something in a tall glass.
"Hi," she greeted.
"Hi," he said as he approached her.
She stood up and gave him a hug. He stiffened awkwardly. She felt him stiffen and immediately dropped her arms.
"Might have been a bad idea," she said.
"What is this, Parker?" he asked, a bit too impatiently.
"Well, it was supposed to be a breakfast picnic. I thought you might be hungry after shift."
She tossed down the rest of the mimosa in the glass and tucked it back into the basket that had been sitting beside her. She picked the basket up and opened it. She reached inside and pulled out a foil wrapped plate and a set of silverware wrapped in a napkin.
She handed it to him and started off to her car.
Kelly took the plate and watched her walk away. He felt like an ass. He really should follow her and apologize, but he found himself rooted to where he stood. He stared down at the plate. He was an ass, he realized. She had reached out to him after their awkward morning after, and he had shut her down.
Parker found a homeless person in the park and reached into the basket hanging on her arm. She picked out the plate and handed it to him. She hated to waste food, and she knew she could never eat the breakfast she had cooked without getting sick. She hoped that this was the something good out of the something bad. She continued on, reaching her car. She tossed the basket into the back seat, and got in. She hurriedly started it up and pulled into traffic. She had to get the hell out of there.