Chapter Five

Parker

Parker avoided looking at Luke as much as humanly possible while helping Mom set the table for dinner. Candles glowed, tall and elegant in their crystal holders, and she’d pulled out all the stops with linen tablecloths and a flower centerpiece ordered from her favorite florist in downtown Aspen. She was even wearing dress pants and a nice top instead of her usual sweater and jeans.

And now she was fixing the silverware he’d just laid on the table. Apparently they were a millimeter out of alignment. “Mom, it’s just the Millers. Not a state dinner.”

“It’s their first night in town, and I want it to be perfect.” She flashed him a smile. “I’ve missed Jen and Brian so much. I imagine it’s nice to have Zoey back, too.”

Her tone sounded expectant. Wait, did she know something? The knowing look in her eye said she did. Crap.

He used the excuse of folding a napkin to avoid looking at her. What was it about mothers and their relationship-ESP? “Yeah. I love it when Miller’s in town.”

“Of course he does. Peanut Butter is incomplete without Jelly,” Luke said, putting the last pot in the dishwasher. He stole a stuffed mushroom from the tray on the counter, narrowly avoiding a slap on the hand from Mom. “What?”

“Those are for our guests.” The doorbell rang and Mom clapped. “They’re here!”

“Does that mean I can eat the mushrooms now?” Luke called at her back as she raced to the door.

“Dude, really?” Parker muttered. “Can’t you wait thirty seconds?”

“Why wait when something’s right in front of you—that’s what I always say.”

Luke’s tone was mischievous, and Parker’s eyes narrowed. “What the hell does that mean?”

His brother popped a mushroom into his mouth and raised his hands as if to say, “Sorry, can’t tell you.”

Excited voices filled the house—Mom and Mrs. Miller talking about Mom’s latest reno project, Dad teasing Mr. Miller about how bad the Cowboys looked this year. Zoey rounded the corner into the kitchen and Parker’s jaw dropped. She had on tight jeans and a sweater, with her hair and makeup done. She never dressed up for dinner, and he’d never minded, but…

Damn she looked hot.

She waved a hand toward the living room. “You’d think it’s been ten years since they’ve seen each other.”

Luke swallowed the mushroom and smiled at her. “They’re so cute at that age.”

Zoey laughed. “Yeah? Get ready to hear that phrase all night, big boy. Mom brought photo albums with her.”

Parker and Luke groaned in unison, which set them all off laughing.

“How’re your legs?” Parker asked. “Think you’ll be able to board tomorrow?”

“Hey, don’t think you’re getting out of showing off for me.” She put her hands on her hips like an angry playground monitor. “I’ll be just fine tomorrow.”

“I’ll bring some Advil anyway, hotshot.”

They stared at each other down, grinning, before Zoey said, “Point taken.”

“Bring the Advil.” Luke grabbed another mushroom and toasted them with it. “’Cause, bro, I think you’ll need it after trying to keep up with me.”

Great, here we go again. Could Luke lay off for one night? “If you’re suggesting I’m going to wipe out tomorrow, think again. I’ve been home since the parks opened—you haven’t. I have two weeks on you.”

“And I have two years on you, little man.” Luke puffed his chest out, looking smug, which struck Parker as stupid since he was taller. “I was boarding while you were in bunny class with Z here.”

To his surprise, Zoey jumped to his rescue. “Maybe, but you taught us everything you know, which means Parker might have tricks up his sleeve you don’t.”

Heat spread across his chest and up the back of his neck. After the flirting earlier, it was nice to see Zoey stick up for him. “And I’m only one here smart enough to wear my helmet.”

Zoey rolled her eyes. “I feel like I can’t move my head in one.”

Luke gave Zoey a fist bump. “And I think they look stupid. No sense in preparing for a fall that won’t happen.”

“You wear them to Boardercross,” Parker said.

“Yeah, because that’s more like roller derby than pure downhill. I don’t need one for everyday stuff.”

Parker sighed. “Don’t come crying to me when your eyeball falls out, then.”

Zoey and Luke exchanged looks and Parker gave them both a wicked grin. “Totally happened to a guy last year at one of the Snowmass Big Air Friday Nights. Hit his cheekbone and face so hard, his eye socket lost pressure and his eyeball fell out. I swear—I saw it happen. Helmets, children. Helmets.”

Luke stared at the mushroom in his hands. “Think I’ll throw this away.”

He staggered off, face green, but Zoey shuddered with morbid glee. “You tell the most disgusting stories.”

“Is that a clue you want more?” He knew full well she would. The two of them had spent hours as kids sneaking horror movies in her game room. The gorier, the more she shrieked…and the more she liked it.

“Yes, but wait until Luke’s back.” She chuckled. “Did you see his face? He’s such a weenie.”

“Remember that time he passed out when he cut his hand? Dude only needed two stitches!”

They both dissolved into silent laughter. Luke came back in and eyed them. Parker swallowed his amusement and asked, “All better?”

“Wait, about your story,” Zoey said, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “What did you do?”

Parker sobered. He hadn’t known the guy, but had felt for him tremendously. “I helped push the crowd out of the way so the medics could get to him.”

“Wonder what happened to the eyeball?” Zoey tapped her chin with her finger, and Luke swallowed hard.

“You kids ready for dinner?” Mom called.

“Not anymore,” Luke muttered, and Zoey giggled into her hand.

A pang hit Parker’s chest. He liked teasing Luke, but this was probably over the line. “Just don’t think about it. Trust me, you’re still hungry. You just have to turn your brain off.”

“Yeah?” Luke smirked. “Tell me, bro. How do you do it?”

Okay, maybe it wasn’t so over the line after all.

Mom bustled into the kitchen, followed by Zoey’s parents. Jen Miller was an older version of her daughter, right down to the blue eyes and blond hair. Brian Miller was a hulk of a guy—six-five, most of it muscle. To look at them, you’d see a socialite and her square-jawed bodyguard. In reality, Brian had founded a dot.com right out of college that he then sold for millions.

When he stopped to think about it—how the Millers were worth half a billion—it was kind of hard to believe. Zoey was as down-to-earth as any normal girl, not affected by her wealth, or her looks. His own parents were doing just fine. They owned a high-end ski gear line, which always ensured Parker had the best of everything, and allowed them to live in high-rent Aspen year round. But the Millers? They were a whole other kind of wealthy. Hell, Zoey drove a new BMW to school.

“Parker!” Jen stepped forward and gave him a hug, while Brian shook Luke’s hand. “It’s so nice to see you, honey.”

He squirmed at her warm, affectionate tone. More affectionate than usual, anyway. Did she know how he felt about her daughter, too? Wait, had his mom said something? From the fond, conspiratorial twinkle in her eye, he thought she might have.

She turned to Luke next, and while her greeting was warm, it lacked a note that Parker’s had.

Yeah…she knew.

They settled into their usual places around his family’s huge kitchen table—the Dads at one end, the Moms at the other, with Zoey and Parker sharing a side of the middle, across from Luke. In the early days, this arrangement had been to entertain the two youngest. Later, it was to keep a twelve-year-old Luke and a ten-year-old Parker from trying to steal food off each other’s plates. Now, it was simply tradition, and no one had to be told where to sit. Parker liked it that way, especially since it meant Zoey was to his left for every meal they shared.

“So, Zoey?” Parker’s dad asked. “Any word on college, yet?”

She picked at her chicken. “I’m accepted to Texas, Arizona State, and Colorado State, but I haven’t decided.”

“Yet,” her mother corrected. “But she will soon.”

“Yes, mother, she will.” Zoey’s tone was caustic and she curled in on herself.

Parker frowned. He’d thought she was going to Colorado State with him. They’d talked about it a few years ago. Since when had she applied to Arizona State? UT made sense—that’s where all four of their parents had gone. Their moms had been sorority sisters and best friends. So, when his mom fell in love with his dad, she fixed Jen up with his best friend: Brian.

But why was Zoey applying to ASU?

There was only one reason.

Luke.

He glanced up at his brother and the corner of Luke’s mouth twitched. He hadn’t missed that exchange, probably tallying it as another reason to make a play for Zoey. Parker fought a glare. It’d be a cold day in Hell before he’d let that happen.

He nudged Zoey’s shoulder lightly. “You know, if you go to Colorado State, we can board every weekend during the season.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she muttered.

Nobody talked much after that.

Once they finished the dishes, Parker finally couldn’t take the silence. “Miller, talk to me.”

She sighed. “It’s nothing.”

“No, ‘it’ cratered dinner.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Let’s go upstairs first.” She glanced toward the living room, where the parents were chatting quietly in front of the huge stone fireplace. The dads were having a post-dinner scotch, and the moms had their heads leaned together, urgently discussing something. When his mom caught him looking, she started—guilty, he thought. Yeah, they’d been talking about Zoey.

“Fine by me.” He led her to the stairs at the back of the kitchen to avoid making her walk past their parents to the front staircase. The back stairs let out at the end of the upstairs hallway, across from their media room. It was empty—Luke had scarfed down his dinner, then disappeared upstairs without saying what he was up to. From the chuckles coming through his bedroom door, Parker suspected Luke was on Snapchat, checking out his groupies.

Zoey settled onto the battered couch, and he sat next to her so he could wrap an arm around her shoulders. Two years ago, that gesture would’ve merely been for comfort or in friendship. Tonight, he was hyperaware of the smell of her shampoo—something light, that reminded him of summer—the softness of her body leaning into his, and the feel of her breath against his neck when she rested her head on his shoulder.

Then he realized she was crying. He’d been checking her out, and she was crying. He was a total asshole.

He tightened his arm around her. “What’s going on with your mom?”

“Nothing.” She sniffled. “Really, it’s not her. My parents are normal like always. It’s just that I can’t decide where I want to go to school, and they’re in this huge hurry about it. Like they can’t wait for me to leave the house.”

Parker rested his cheek against the crown of her head. “You know that’s not true.”

“I know, I know.” She sighed heavily, and her breath made goose bumps rise on his neck. Would she notice? Wouldn’t that be great? Um, Zoey, sorry about all the college drama, but you’re really turning me on right now. Scratch that—you turn me on all the time.

He shook that thought off. Wrong time, wrong place. “So what’s the real problem?”

“The real problem is I’m still trying to figure out who I really am. Class President Barbie aside, I do like my life back in Texas. There are days when I wonder if I should go to UT and join a sorority and major in broadcast media—turn into a five o’clock news anchor. But then I realize how much of myself I’ll lose if I give in and go the easy route.”

Man, that sounded familiar—he could always have her for a friend, if only he settled for the easy way. “What’s the tough route?”

“I have no idea—that’s the problem. How can I decide what I really want—where I want to go to school, what I want to study—when I’m not sure who I really am?”

“I know who you are,” he whispered, stroking her hair. “You’re my Zoey, and that means you can do everything.”

She snuggled against him. “I like that you think I can. It makes me believe it.”

“I believe it, too.”

“Thanks. You know, there are days I want to major in something completely wild, like botany.” She looked up at him, a challenge in her eyes. “Or liberal arts.”

His lips twitched. “Really? You want to major in Humanities?”

“Stupid, right?” She sighed and settled back onto his shoulder. “My parents really want me at UT, but it doesn’t feel right. So I applied to the schools where you and Luke are, just for something different, knowing they wouldn’t argue.”

“Come to Colorado State with me.” The words came out in a rush, with an urgency he hadn’t meant to let through. “I’ll study architecture, and you’ll study plants or words or basket weaving, and we’ll snowboard every weekend together.”

She pulled away to smile at him. “That sounds nice, but I have to decide this for me. Understand?”

He did, but was disappointed anyway. This wasn’t the time to declare his love—if she wanted to figure out her future for herself, maybe he had to go about this another way. Maybe he needed to win her over. Hmm…

“What are you thinking about?” Zoey was full-on grinning now. “You have this faraway look on your face.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I was just thinking…uh…”

“Better stop that,” Luke said from the doorway to the media room. “Might hurt your brain.”

Parker cursed under his breath. Of all times for him to show. Zoey hurriedly wiped her tears away, then smiled. “So, how about those plans? You’re going to hang with us, right?”

“Sorry, Z, but they’re solid. Need a raincheck on movie night.” He didn’t sound the least bit sorry, but he said it with a possessive smile, like he didn’t want her to worry so much as wait her turn. Parker seethed at the hope in her eyes, even though she’d been blown off.

“Oh, okay.” She scooted away from Parker. “I’m tired anyway. Think I’ll go home and get some sleep since we’re going up to Snowmass in the morning. You two picking me up?”

“Of course,” Luke said smoothly, before Parker could reply.

“Great. See you then.”

She hurried out of the room, head down. Parker turned to Luke, suspicious…and more than a little pissed off. “What are you even doing here?”

“Just testing the waters.” Luke dug a handful of popcorn out of the half-full bowl. “I’m thinking I’ll take a shot.”

Parker stood up, feeling dangerous and raw. “What do you mean?”

Luke turned his head at Parker’s cold tone. “You know what I mean. Show Zoey a good time, see if anything happens.”

Over his dead body. Seriously. “You can’t.”

“Why not, Park?” Luke’s voice was teasing, like he knew exactly where this conversation was headed and wanted to force Parker to spill his guts. “Give me a reason why I shouldn’t go after her? She’s cute, she’s fearless on a snowboard, and she’s feisty. All things I like. It might be strange at first—”

“How long?” Parker snapped. “How long would it be before you broke her heart? Like every other girl you’ve dated. You’re a player, asshole. A complete, unapologetic player with a horde of groupies, and I won’t let you play with her. Not when…”

Luke cocked his head and gave Parker a keen look. “‘When’ what?”

Time to stop pulling punches. “When I’ve been in love with her for damn near a year.”

“A year? More like two.” Luke laughed, sharp and vicious. “I see how you look at her.”

Parker’s face flamed. “If you knew, why didn’t you say anything?”

“Why would I? It was your business. But I could ask the same question—why haven’t you told her?” His brother shook his head. “Oh, don’t tell me. You were waiting for the ‘right time.’ Let me tell you something, bro—the right time is always right now. You wait, and someone else will blow your shot. I know you see how she looks at me. She’ll pick me if you don’t give it your all, kid.”

“Yeah, I see. But you’re a predator when it comes to girls.” Parker’s fists clenched. “Zoey will realize that eventually once she gets a good hard look at the real guy, and not the big brother she’s looked up to for years.”

“Prove it.” Luke’s eyes sparkled, like this was all one big game. “I bet I can win her over before you can.”

Parker’s blood boiled. “You don’t even want her. Why would you even suggest something so…so…stupid?”

“Because I can, and you know I love a good bet.” Luke rubbed his hands together like a supervillain crafting a plan. “Now, being the nice guy I am, I promise not to fight dirty…well, not that dirty. I’m willing to give you a clear shot. She’ll probably still pick me, but you deserve a fighting chance.”

Parker clenched his jaw. Luke promised not to get in his way? Like it was some kind of favor, like he was tossing his little brother a bone because there was no way Parker could possibly convince a girl to notice him if Luke was in the picture. And now that the gauntlet was thrown, Luke wouldn’t take no for an answer—he was going to go after Zoey for the hell of it, just to force Parker’s hand.

“If Zoey finds out we have a deal she’s going to walk out on both of us.”

“Which is why we aren’t going to tell her. This deal is man-to-man.” He leaned close. “Or are you scared you’ll lose?”

His brother wanted a fight? He’d get one—and Parker wasn’t about to make any promises about sportsmanlike behavior. He was in this to win the heart of the girl he loved, just like he’d planned before Luke showed up. It wasn’t a game to him, not one bit. He was going to fight—dirty, hard, madly—and Luke would be smart get to out of his way.

“I’m not scared. Not even a little bit.” Crossing his arms over his chest, he said, “It’s a deal. Let the best Madison win.”