I’d loved him in the tux at Josh’s wedding, but I liked this casual outfit just as much. While the guys went off to take pictures with the wedding party, I had fun chatting to the other girls. Once the reception was underway, the other guys slowly trickled back to our table, but when I looked around for Parker, I found him in the center of a gaggle of bridesmaids.
They were all looking stunning in their pale blue dresses, and from what I could see, Parker had noticed. Even from this distance, I could see two of them flirting with him. They were practically pawing at him, batting their lashes and smiling wide, radiant smiles.
As I watched, he nodded, then reached out and lifted one up, bench-pressing her—much to the delight of everyone around them. Even Colt seemed impressed, a grin on his face as he watched his friend’s antics from our table.
I, on the other hand, wasnotimpressed. Just two days ago, we’d discussed the last time he’d acted so childishly. On the very beach where the reception was taking place, he’d promised me he was going to do better. With this very ocean as his witness, he’d sworn to me that he wouldn’t behave like an adolescent again.
We’d talked it all over for hours while we’d sat just about a hundred yards from here, but none of it seemed to matter much to him now.Maybe he isn’t ready for a real relationship. He definitely isn’t mature enough for me.
What I wanted—what I’d always wanted—was stability. Reliability. When I realized where my thoughts had run off to, I frowned.Why am I thinking about a relationship anyway?
Parker and I had had fun together last night, but my career was all that really mattered to me. Even if my heart protested that thought now. Regardless of how sad it made me feel to envision a life without Parker in it once we got him a deal, I had to get over it. I was pretty sure the bridesmaid he was bench-pressing would agree with me, since it seemed he had her all lined up to be the next girl in his bed.
And to think, he hasn’t even made it up after last night yet.