When the Music Stops (Mason Brothers Book #2)

Chapter 7

JOLIE

After my shift, I was getting ready to head out to my car when I felt Parker’s presence coming down the hallway. There was no denying that it was him. I always felt the same way when he was around. My heart would go back and forth between skipping beats and pounding out of my chest. I turn around to see him coming out of the office, throwing his jacket on. He looks up and our eyes meet. A huge smile crosses over his face and there is a quickened pace in his step.

“You heading out?” He asked, even though he already knew the answer.

“Yeah, long day, you know?”

“I feel you,” he covered his mouth to stifle a perfectly queued yawn. “You know the funny thing is I’m dead on my feet, but if I go home and try to fall asleep, it won’t happen.”

“The exact same thing happens to me,” I admit. “Even if I’m working until 2 am, it’s another two or three hours before I can wind down for the night.”

“So what are your plans then?”

“Probably swing by McDonald’s and get something greasy that I’ll be regretting in the morning.”

“Alright let’s go,” he says without hesitation.

“Let’s go?” I glance up at him, confused.

“Yeah, let’s grab some food and we can meet back at your place.”

“Parker…”

“No pressure, Jolie,” he puts his hands up, “We’re friends, right?”

“Of course.”

“Friends get late-night greasy food together,” he argues.

I can’t say no to him, it is just impossible. I nod my head and he opens the back door and lets me out first. I get in my car and take a few deep breaths. I’ve tried so hard to pull myself away from Parker, but he makes it impossible. It isn’t his fault, he doesn’t pressure me or anything. He’s like nobody I have ever met before.

He’s so handsome, deliciously handsome, funny, thoughtful, and responsible. It sounds totally cliche, but he’s such a good man. The problem is that deep down inside, I’m not too sure that I deserve a good man in my life.

I have made so many mistakes and messed up so many times. Parker needs to meet a girl that could give him the picket fence life. Not a woman that would constantly struggle with her demons. So even though I dropped my guard once and I let him in, I knew that it could only ever be a one-time deal. Parker was not something I could revisit.

I did want to be his friend though. So even though part of my gut was telling me that this was a bad idea, I said yes to him coming over anyway. I pulled out of the back parking lot first and then he followed right behind me. It was kind of funny watching him follow me to the fast food drive-thru and then follow me home. He pulled up next to me in the apartment complex and rushed over to get the door for me and put a hand out to help me out of my car.

“Thank you, such a gentleman.”

“Well, you’ve met my mom, are you really surprised?”

I shake my head, “Not one bit.”

“So hey, thanks for the awkward conversation with the drive-thru worker,” he cringes.

I start laughing as Parker and I are walking up to my apartment. 

“It isn’t funny, Jolie,” he says, trying to keep a straight face.