Shared Interest

2.2: Charcoal Gray

(A/N) I hope you enjoy the updates! Don't forget to vote and comment!

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM @MorganGiglioBooks OR JOIN OUR DISCORD SERVER (LINK IN BIO) FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT AND UPDATES!

***

Parker, I mean Payton, had taken me to a nice Italian restaurant called Grazie's and while the food was delicious, it didn't even compare to Giovannis. I had been feeling home sick since we got here and I was honestly starting to think it would never end. After paying the check we had walked down to a local gay bar Payton had been trying to get me to go to for weeks now. The inside was packed which made sense for a Friday night I guess. An array of colorful lights flashed all around us as we made our way up to the bar where a blonde woman with dark red eye shadow and brown eyes smiled and mumbled that she'd get to us soon. She ran all over, expertly grabbing, making, and pouring drinks until she finally came over to us.

"What can I get for you ladies?" She asked smiling at us

Payton instantly responded with "Two captain and cokes please."

The bartender nodded in return before grabbing two glasses and pouring the captain into each before spraying in coke and then mixing them up.

She set them down in front of us "That'll be seven each."

Payton handed her a twenty "Keep the change."

"Why thank you." She grinned as she took the cash and turned to the register

I grabbed my drink and took a sip as I followed after Payton through the crowd. We made it to a small clearing where an area with three couches was roped off with a man standing at the entrance. There were an array of women sitting in the area, one in a suit similar to those that Parker used to wear that had just uncorked a bottle of champagne that sprayed out. Payton looked over at me, her lips tugged down slightly into a frown.

"What's wrong?" I questioned looking back at her

She gave me a weak smile "Nothing it's just really crowded in here."

"Hey ladies." A voice called from behind me causing me to turn and see the woman dressed in the charcoal gray suit staring at us as she leaned over the red rope

She was surprisingly tall, maybe even six foot, with long brown hair, sparkling blue eyes, and sun kissed skin.

"Hi." I nodded awkwardly

She smirked "Would you two care to join us?"

I looked to Payton who had an unreadable expression as she stared back at the woman. I peeked over at the guard and he was staring us down as though we were going to try something at any second.

After an awkward amount of delay Payton spoke up "I guess that all depends on why you want us to join you."

"To have fun of course," the woman smiled, cocking her head to the side a devious look in her eyes "you do like to have fun don't you?"

Is this woman really challenging Payton right now?

Payton smirked and laughed slightly shaking her head dismissively "Of course I do, I just know your type and I'm not unaware of your intentions."

"So what are they then Ms. Intuitive?" She countered

Payton rolled her eyes turning to me "Let's get out of here."

"I don't see what the harm in joining us is if you're aware of whatever it is you're worried about." The woman stated, looking directly at me now "I mean your friend here seems like she likes to have fun," the woman paused turning back to Payton "so I advise you either show her a good time or I will."

Holy fuck is this the lesbian equivalent of a dick measuring competition or something?

Parker laughed and shrugged "Go ahead and try."

The woman smirked, clearly enjoying the invitation of the challenge Payton had just presented her with.

She turned to me and extended out her hand "I'm Aria North, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Let's hold up and back track a second." Payton stated holding her hand up as Aria turned back to look at her "Are you Mr. North's daughter? As in Holden North's daughter?"

She gave Parker a curious look "Yes, and how do you know my father exactly?"

Payton paused and then just shrugged "He's a big name in the auto industry."

There was a shared look between them as though I was on the outs of some information even beyond the grand revelation of her identity.

"He's basically the king of it," she paused turning back to me "which makes me the princess of the auto industry." she smirked once more looking me over suggestively "Have you ever slept with a princess before?"

"Every night," I stated, my voice low as I took Payton's hand in mine "and she's better than you in every way despite how great you clearly think you are."

Aria let out a half suppressed laugh "Damn you're fiesty," she paused glancing over to Payton "alright I secede, you win."

"It was over before it even started." Payton countered as she stung her arm around me "Pleasure meeting you Ms. North, enjoy spending daddy's money."

She glared back "Don't speak to me as though you know me."

Payton shrugged "I know you better than you think, bye Aria."

"Wait I never caught your names." She stated as we started to turn to leave

I smirked back at her "That's because we never gave them to you."

We walked away, leaving her standing there with a shocked expression on her face.

~Six Months Ago~

As she walked out I was shocked to see that her hair was now dyed lighter and styled with long layers.

She grumpily glared back at me as she crossed her arms over her chest "This is bullshit."

"C'mon Parker it's not that bad, besides you look great!" I smiled back at her

She rolled her eyes as Aaron interrupted us "Actually what you should say is c'mon Payton, not Parker."

I gave him a confused look "What are you talking about?"

"You two are not Parker and Harper anymore," he started as he pulled out two New York State IDs "you are Payton Mason, a business major at university and Hayden Jacobs, a up and coming marketing coordinator at Luminos. Together you're an adorably classic suburban couple coming from old money that live in the suburbs outside of New York City."

"I'm not changing my name." Parker stated glaring at him

He let out a sigh turning to her "Parker look, I understand your frustration but we can't risk it."

"Whatever." She grumbled as she stormed off to the next room

~Present~

"Did you see the look on her face!" I laughed as I followed Payton through the crowd

She shrugged carelessly "Yeah."

I stopped pulling her to look at me which caused her to spill her drink a bit on the floor.

"Why are we stopping?" She questioned glaring back at me

I tried my best to give her a serious look "Parker what's wrong?"

Her eyes went wide as she looked around us and then looked back at me, a fire in her eyes "My name is Payton."

She pulled her hand from mine and turned, storming off through the crowd and leaving me standing there with my captain and Coke in hand.