Chapter Two

PARKER

 

“And then she left,” Parker said to Nathan.

“She just…walked out?” he asked, screwing up his face. “That’s sooo not a lesbian move.”

“She did. She’d warned me, but I’m not used to that. It was an incredible night. I’m not used to a woman running out on me.”

Nathan shook his head, clearly bemused. “It’s usually the other way around.”

“To be fair, you know I’m not a player. But yes, if it happens, it’s usually me who ends up running.” Parker gave a small grin, pausing for a moment. “She’s got me intrigued.”

“You know the saying,” Nathan said, “if someone tells you who they are, believe them. She’s told you she’s not a relationship girl, she didn’t give you her number, just let it go.” The waiter delivered them their brunch plates, interrupting their conversation.

Parker shrugged as she surveyed her breakfast, and then picked up her fork. “So, tell me about your night.”

Nathan gave Parker a cheeky grin. “I went home with some incredible flight attendant. I ended up staying the night at his hotel.”

Parker raised her eyebrows. “That’s sooo not a Nathan move.”

“I know! I woke up and thought ‘Crap, what’s my escape plan?’ His flight out wasn’t til six pm. And so when you texted and suggested brunch, it was the perfect getaway. I jumped at the chance.”

“Here I was thinking you were jumping at the chance to see your best mate, given we didn’t get much time to catch up last night.”

“That too, darling. Of course.” Nathan grinned at Parker, clearly realising he could have offended her.

Parker wasn’t easily offended, though, especially when it came to Nathan. Besides, if he hadn’t abandoned her, she might not have met Lily. Although Lily was determined it was a one-night fling, Parker hoped that maybe she’d come across her again. Canberra wasn’t that big a city, so maybe they’d meet again through their networks or maybe they’d run into one another on another evening at the Palace. Parker half wondered if she should go there every weekend on the off chance of running into her but recognised that was an act of desperation.

She wished she’d asked Lily more questions. She didn’t even know what she did for work. It really was a strange evening. They’d talked a lot and really connected on a deep level, but in hindsight, Parker knew nothing about her. She didn’t even know why Lily didn’t want a relationship. She did know that Lily loved Friends and Seinfeld, was a huge fan of KD Lang, and could do a mean moonwalk. She felt she knew who Lily was as a person, and she’d seen her vulnerable and open to her, but in terms of actual day-to-day life, or even how to track her down, she knew nothing.

“Penny for your thoughts, Parks,” Nathan said. Parker simply shrugged in response.

“You have it bad, don’t you?” he asked.

Parker didn’t respond. She knew it was a one-night fling, and she wasn’t going to let herself go crazy now, but she had to admit, Lily had been on her mind. Still, she would survive.

“Anyway, school holidays soon enough. That’ll cheer you up!”

Parker smiled and nodded. “What are your plans?” She couldn’t believe she hadn’t already discussed this with Nathan. Normally they planned their holidays down to the day.

“I’m spending Easter visiting my cousins. I decided to drive to Melbourne, rather than fly this time.”

“You should have flown,” Parker quipped. “I hear the flight attendants are pretty cool.”

“Touché.” Nathan winked at her. “Melbourne should be fun. I’ll spend five days there, maybe, and then come home. I’d like to relax a bit, but I’ll be up for a night out on the second weekend.”

That sounded good to Parker. She secretly hoped she might run into Lily, the first woman to capture her interest in a long time.

After she left Nathan, she decided to go straight home and get ready for the week ahead. She took a leaf out of Nathan’s book and decided to make some Easter plans. She rang her parents and made plans to visit them in Sydney for the Easter weekend.

“That’ll be lovely. Briony was planning to visit too. She might have told you. I’m sure Nick, Jenny, and the kids would love to come over for Easter lunch unless they’re doing something with Jenny’s family. Maybe dinner then. Look, I’ll speak to Jenny and make a plan,” Parker’s mum, Judy, said.

“Thanks, Mum. That sounds nice.” Parker’s sister, Briony, lived about an hour out of Sydney. Her brother, Nick, lived in Sydney, only about fifteen minutes from their parents. By that evening, Parker was pleased that the plan was locked in, and she would be sharing Easter Sunday lunch with her whole family. She couldn’t wait even though it was still over a month away.