Parker laughed. “No. That was apersonalmove to check you out.”
I blushed and couldn’t help but giggle. Parker was being charming and funny, and the wine had loosened me up a little.
“You must miss your dad,” I said before I could catch myself.
Parker nodded. “I do.”
“Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to pry.”
“No, don’t be. A man as incredible as he was deserves to be talked about. It’s how we keep his memory alive.”
What a sweet way to look at it.
“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t wish I could have talked to him. Whether it’s about business, or his advice on money, or something personal. He used to be such an open mind, always ready with an answer when I needed advice. Especially with the money he left me and the business I’ve grown. I want him to see what I’ve done. And I want to know if he would have done it differently.”
“You were very lucky to have a man like that in your life,” I said. “And for him to have left you enough money to get on your feet.”
Parker nodded, lifting his wine glass to his lips and draining the last bit before pouring more wine. He topped my glass up too.
“I always tell everyone that I’m so lucky I got all this money, and if it wasn’t for my dad, I wouldn’t have been where I am today. That’s all true, of course. And not just with the company. But what I never tell anyone is that I would much rather have nothing, but still have my dad around.”
Sadness clouded his features for a moment.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I can imagine. Not everyone understands grief.”
“No,” Parker said. “They share their condolences, but most of the time they don’t know what to say, so it’s easier not to talk about it.”
“You’re talking about it to me,” I said.
Parker nodded and reached across the table. He squeezed my hand, holding it for a moment.
“Talking to you is different than talking to the rest of them. When we talk, it feels like you get it.”
“I haven’t lost a parent,” I said.
Parker shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe not in that sense. But you know loss. With everything that happened with your family ...” His eyes were dark and drowning-deep, and he talked like he was staring into my soul.
Of course, Ryan was his best friend. Parker knew what had happened in our family. He knew everything.
“You don’t have to lose a parent to death to lose them,” Parker said softly.
“I guess that’s true,” I said and thought about my mom who was slowly sinking herself. If I wasn’t careful, she would drag me under too. I’d come a little too close to that for comfort when I’d lost Richmond. It was only thanks to Parker that I would get through this month at all.
“Ryan probably told you how pathetic it is that I’m looking after her,” I said bitterly. “He doesn’t like that I’m paying my mom’s way. But she has no way of doing it on her own. Not really—she was a stay-at-home mom her whole life.”
“I think it’s noble,” Parker said.
“You do?”
He nodded. “You’re lucky to still have both your parents. And your mom will always be your mom. We all make mistakes, don’t we?”
“We do,” I agreed.
Parker smiled at me, and I got lost in his eyes. He understood me. He understood where I was coming from.
Our server arrived with the first course, breaking the spell. Bowls with cold summer cucumber and avocado soup appeared before us, with a dash of cream. Parker thanked the server, and we dived in.
And it was fantastic.