Chapter Nine

 

Parker looked around the room, hoping she wasn’t forgetting anything. Tomorrow she’d be headed to the Ambrosian Islands to prepare for the final competition. The packet they’d sent over had tons of information in it. There would be a jam-packed itinerary as soon as she landed. There would be plenty of schmoozing with the show staff, other contestants and the sponsors of the show. Jen had told her this was the time when opportunities arose for people to segue into stardom. At least one champion had scored a short-lived reality show. And a few, like Abel, had parlayed the exposure into the fitness arena.

She wasn’t there to get any deals. She wanted to see the competition to the end. She’d started this competition as a lark, but now it had taken on meaning in her life. She’d tested her physical and mental mettle. She’d made a new friend in Melissa. She loved that she was an inspiration to Mackenzie.

There was also another reason she wanted to see it through. It was hard not to take it personally that someone had tried to hurt her. She didn’t believe she was the intended target. The randomness of the accidents was a matter of who was unfortunate enough to be around when the obstacle failed.

The producers had a new problem on their hands too. Someone had leaked what was going on to the press, and there was a news story about to break about the things going on with the show. So she anticipated the atmosphere being at a fever pitch with everyone waiting for the other shoe to drop. She had no intention of letting anything else escape her. It was pissing her off that someone was one step ahead of her. It would give her great satisfaction to catch the idiot who was behind the sabotage.

The producers weren’t the only ones on edge. Riley had been plenty tense since the last show. He’d be joining her on the island, and she hoped to distract him with some fun. Maybe lie out on a beach, get some sun, and build a sand castle with him when they weren’t on the hunt for a psycho with a mysterious endgame. She’d informed Carmichael and Rafe, who’d immediately contacted the police officers investigating the incident at the hotel to see if they had any leads.

She looked in her bathroom for her curling iron. It wasn’t there.

“Av, have you seen my big curling iron?” Parker yelled out.

“No,” Avery yelled back. “Try Bridgette’s room.”

Parker went into Bridgette’s bedroom. The curling iron was on her vanity. She resisted the urge to snoop, pivoted, and headed back to her own room.

“Got it!” She opened her top dresser drawer and retrieved her birth control pills. She may have still been thinking about Derek Jr.’s heavenly scent, but she didn’t want any kids right now.

“I thought I’d try my hand at cooking tonight. You up for it?”

“Sure. I’ll help. I could use the break.” Parker picked up her laptop. “But instead of cooking something, why don’t we eat some of the cake left over from your engagement party?”

“I like the sound of that.” Avery giggled. “Cake and wine.”

“The perfect meal. I have to bring the laptop. I want to check my emails.”

Parker sat on a stool with her laptop while Avery got out the cake. She opened her laptop and started tapping away. She checked emails, looked up the weather on the island, then went to her social media accounts. She began to scroll the page of well-wishers. Everyone was jazzed about her being in the finale.

“I must say how impressed I am with Bridgette. I hate to keep making a big deal about it, but she’s been great.”

“Bridgette just needs something to occupy her mind.” Avery cut a healthy chunk of cake and put it on a plate.

“I know, right? Where is she by the way?” Parker hopped off the stool and retrieved a bottle of wine and the electric corkscrew remover.

“She went on a date.” Avery got two glasses out of the cupboard. “She told me beforehand, and I didn’t have to badger her about where she was going. He picked her up and everything.”

“You mean you didn’t get the ‘you’re invading my privacy’ speech?” Parker poured the wine into the glasses and sat back down.

“Not this time.”

“Good. I don’t like that whole ‘meeting up thing’ for a date, unless you intend to ditch him early anyway. If you want to spend time with me, I want door-to-door service.”

“The downside to her evening was that Riley and Wyatt had to meet him.”

“I missed that?” Parker looked up from the screen. “Damn. That must have been entertaining.”

“It was. I know Bridgette didn’t grow up with the rest of us, but it’s standard operating procedure in our family to meet the date. He gets a veiled threat of violence from a family member that if anything happens to you, he’ll get dipped in boiling water. Then they go out and have a good time.”

“She’ll come around when she sees that we do it because we care. If I watch one more true crime story about a woman who went out with friends and was never seen again, I think I’ll punch a hole in the television.”

“We live in dangerous times. But then again, when was it ever a good time to be a woman?” Avery lamented.

“I’m sure the day will come soon.”

“Did you remember to pack all of your necessities?”

“Yes. Bathing suits, sun block, birth control. I even threw in a bikini I bought this afternoon.” Parker laughed. “As soon as my contractual obligations are over, Riley and I are hitting the beach.”

“Good. But don’t give him a heart attack with the bikini.” Avery chuckled.

“Well, I go into cardiac arrest every time I see him in a pair of swim trunks hanging low on his hips.”

“Well, you two are hard-body types. I think it’s nice you two have so much in common. Even though your athleticism turns into a contest most of the time. I think it’s great you share being physical and have a sense of adventure.”

“Who knew we’d be so compatible?” Parker sipped her wine.

Avery raised her hand. “I knew it the second you bickered that it was a match made in heaven.”

“Know it all.” Parker stuck her tongue out at her.

“Do you remember what Aunt Morgan said the other night about us having babies?” Avery forked a piece of cake into her mouth.

“Yes. I woke up screaming that night. I told Riley I dreamed I was being chased by a giant hotdog.”

“Are you ready for that? For babies I mean?”

“No.” Parker put her fork down. “I like my life the way it is. I’m not ready for that kind of responsibility yet. Don’t get me wrong, holding Derek Jr. made me feel all warm and cuddly inside. And I love all of the kids. But I like that Riley and I are still getting to know each other.”

“I feel the same way. Wyatt and I have plenty of time for that. But I am happy we’re getting married.” Avery fingered her engagement ring. “He’s the one. I know with all my heart that he’s the man I’m meant to be with for the rest of my life.”

Parker smiled. “I think it’s nice you can be so sure.”

“You’re not sure about Riley?” Avery furrowed her eyebrows.

“I don’t know.”

“What don’t you know?” Avery pressed.

“I want more with him, but sometimes I feel like he deserves more.”

“Huh?”

“Sometimes I feel like he needs someone more sophisticated who wants to be in the limelight. I spend most of my time dodging cameras. Let’s face it, on my best days I’m blue jeans and a T-shirt. He’s Riley Sloane. Sexy, sought-after football player.”

“So? Riley’s not the kind of guy to play around. He wouldn’t do that to you. He doesn’t care about how you dress. And believe me, you saved him from becoming a full-fledged media whore. He needed substance in his life. He needed someone to challenge him mentally. To help him focus on his priorities. You give him those things.”

“I suppose so.” Parker sipped her wine. “We’re both competitive but in a fun way. He knows when to push, but he backs off when he feels I’m too raw to deal with whatever is going on. He can be funny, but he can be serious too. To tell you the truth, I’ve never felt this way about a person.”

“It takes a lot to be vulnerable. I was scared to be in a relationship with Wyatt. I had virtually no experience with men. I thought he’d see me as naïve and uptight.”

“Uptight women don’t get into bar fights with chicks who keep hitting on their men.” Parker bit back a smile. Avery’s twenty-first birthday was an event the family still talked about. She’d duked it out at the Bright Star with a girl who’d tormented her and ended up in jail. The family had been freaking out. It was an awesome initiation into adulthood for her friend.

“Uncle Seth never lets me live that down.” Avery rolled her eyes. “I did realize how important Wyatt was to me. We decided to give in to the feelings we had after that. It was an incredible turning point for us.”

“You are very lucky. He’s handsome, smart, funny, kind, and generous.”

“Can you imagine I’m going to marry that man?” Avery wrinkled her nose.

“Yes, I can.” Parker smiled. “It’s just the beginning for the two of you. I wish you all the happiness in the world.”

“I couldn’t imagine my life without him. I am so happy I decided to go to college in Texas. It changed my life. I met you. We did make an unlikely pair of roommates. But look how well we turned out.”

“Being your friend has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life,” Parker replied. “You were there for me when I was trying to figure out what to do after being a police officer. You didn’t judge. You encouraged me to examine the feelings I had for Riley. You are the best friend a person could ever have.”

“As your best friend, I will give you another piece of cake.” Avery cut another slab of the cake. “And some advice. Follow your heart.”

There was only one person in the world who made her feel safe and who loved her just the way she was.

Parker sighed. “If I did, it would lead me to Riley. He’s the one.”

“Doesn’t it feel good to say it out loud?”

“No. Now I feel like something’s going to come along and mess it up.”

“Not going to happen.” Avery sipped her wine.

It felt good saying it. She hoped she and Riley would get to talk when they were on the island. She wanted Riley to know that she was invested in the relationship and looked forward to it blossoming even more. The tropical backdrop would be the perfect place to talk about their future.