“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Lucy,” Parker says.
Dan looks over his shoulder at Parker, then turns back to me and whispers, “Is that your dad?”
“Nope,” is all Parker says.
Then Dan looks back and forth between the two of us, his eyes wide. “Sure… uh… no problem. I’m always around if you need anything.”
I’m surprised Dan offered that much considering the dark look Parker’s shooting him. I open the door wider and take a step back, letting Parker in.
“Were you just channeling my mom or what?”
He huffs out a sigh. “Sorry. I don’t want to control your every move or anything, but him being the welcome wagon is a little too convenient.”
“He didn’t even ask me out.”
Parker snorts. “That’s right, he was going to get your number without even asking you out. Then he was going to text back and forth with you about a party that didn’t exist until five minutes ago so that he’d have a reason to reach out. And finally, he’d probably get you drunk, have sex with you, and then when you thought he was your boyfriend, he’d remind you that he never even asked you out on a date.”
My eyes are wide by the time he’s done. “You really are channeling my mom.”
He shakes his head. “You forget, I’m a guy and I was a horny twenty-one-year-old once.”
“I’m not forgetting you’re a guy. Was that what you were like in college?”
“I was more of a serial monogamist in college, moving from one girlfriend to the next without much time in between. But I knew guys like your friend next-door.”
I huff out a frustrated sigh. “He’s not my friend. I don’t even know him.”
“My point exactly.”
“None of what you said was actually going to happen. Despite my mother’s best efforts to keep me naïve to all aspects of the world, I have tried alcohol. I didn’t like it. I have no intention of getting drunk, though I might try weed though.”
“You still have to be twenty-one to buy pot in California.”
“I shrug. It’s the same in Washington, but all my friends were still able to get a hold of it.” As soon as his lips part, I hold up my hand. “Or I might wait until I’m twenty-one. I haven’t decided yet.”
“Just don’t get what’s-his-name to buy it for you.”
“Parker— “
“Look,” he interrupts, sending my frustration level through the roof. “I’m all for you making your own choices, but that guy? I have a feeling about him. Just be careful.”
“Parker! If I didn’t give it up to any of the guys in high school, I’m definitely not going to give it up to some random guy who happens to live next door. I can take care of myself.”
His mouth is still open from me, interrupting his little speech, his eyes wide. When I realize what I just admitted, my cheeks burn. I cover my face with my hands, walk over to the sofa, and throw myself down on it.
“Mom was always worried about me getting pregnant and those worries sunk in, okay?”
“Lucy…”
I shake my head.
“I’m glad you didn’t make some rash decision. I always knew you were smart.”
That has me dropping my hands. “It didn’t sound that way a minute ago.”
He shrugs. “Like I said, I had a bad feeling about him.”
Parker looks around my apartment, his brow furrowing as his head turns this way and that. “Where’s your bed?”