Gemma wraps her arm around Parker’s shoulders and pulls her daughter close as if to protect her from me.
And given what I’m here for, she’s probably right to.
“She’s understandably shaken up after what she went through tonight,” Gemma states, her tone cool.
I nod, letting my feelings drain out of me. It’s the only way I can proceed with shattering any lingering interest Gemma might have in me. “Landon is very sorry for what he did,” I tell Parker.
Gemma snaps before Parker even has a chance to respond. “If Landon is very sorry, why isn’tLandonthe one apologizing?”
Parker responds before I can. “Because he’snotsorry.” Not broking bullshit, she meets my gaze dead-on. “I don’t know if you think I’m some utter fucking moron or what, but I know your son isn’t sorry. And I know you’re probably saying he is because you want me to rescind my statement and say something like, ‘oh, I was confused and thought he was an intruder, but we’re actually friends from school, and I just didn’t expect him to stop by,’ so I’ll save you some time. Not a chance in hell. Your sontrapped mein my bedroom tonight and tried to break down the door. God knows what would have happened if he would’ve succeeded.”
I open my mouth to speak, but before I can, Landon calls out from across the room. “Bullshit. If I wanted to break down your fucking door, I would have. I was only trying to scare you.”
Parker lifts her eyebrows and gestures to Landon. “See? He’s not sorry. And I’m not taking back my statement. I have put up witha lotfrom your son over the years. If this is how it finally ends, so be it.”
Wow. Parker is not what I was expecting after having met her mother, but it’s hard to argue any of her points—at least, when she’s the one I’m arguing with. Sure, I could dig around her life and find grounds to discredit her in the court of public opinion if I had to, but I don’t want to. I like Parker, and I like her mother, and none of this is their fault.
My gaze shifts to Gemma, holding her daughter like a protective mama bear.
Even though Parker is the one who has been through a trauma tonight, her hand rests over her mother’s kneecap like she’s providing her stability and comfort, too.
And I’ll bet she is.
Gemma is an absolute sweetheart, but her protective—and more assertive—instincts come out when she needs to protect her daughter.
I bet the daughter is just as protective of the mother.
I’m a bastard to use personal information Gemma has given me when we’ve spent time together, but she said herself that Parker is mature for her age, that it has always been just the two of them.
Ordinarily, I’d want to speak with a parent over their child, but I have a feeling Parker can handle herself.
“May I speak with you alone for a moment?”
Parker’s eyebrows rise in surprise.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Gemma says.
Parker’s eyes narrow but never leave my face. She’s debating, and she must decide she’s not afraid to go toe-to-toe with me because she moves her hand off her mom’s knee, gently moves out of her embrace, and stands. “No, I’ll talk to him.”
I offer her a mild smile. Not that she seems to need the reassurance, but I don’t want her to think of me as the bad guy here.
Ridiculous that I’m still trying to salvage things when I know the chances of Gemma ever looking past this are fucking minuscule.
Since this area is so open that anyone can overhear, I find an empty interrogation room I can use to converse with Parker. Gemma does not like that at all, but Parker assures her mom she’s fine and follows me in.
I close the door and gesture for her to take a seat.
She shakes her head knowingly, crossing her arms. “I’m okay to stand.”
I nod slowly, trying to get my bearings. I’m at a disadvantage not knowing this girl. I’ve had minor interactions with females Landon has brought around, but none of them have been as capable as I take Parker to be.
“Your mother tells me that you and my son have had run-ins for quite some time.”
“My mother?” she echoes, her eyebrows rising.
I know Gemma hasn’t told her she’s been spending time with me, so I say, “She came to my office the other day about your neighbor. We ended up discussing your relationship with my son.”
Parker nods, her lips pressed together. “Ah. Well, I don’t have a relationship with your son any more than the mole and the mallet have a relationship in a game of Whack-A-Mole.”