Dare Me Not | 18+ ✔

28. Not Yet (Parker)

"Parker Hayes, fancy to meet you here." A feminine voice comes from behind me.

When I turn around, a pale girl with vibrant pink hair is staring at me. I wouldn't have guessed that I would bump into Roy's girl in this bar. That boy chooses his girls from certain social groups, but Blair seems to be the exception. But again, she's also still a uni girl, and this is a popular place for uni students to hang out.

"Blair Harris," I say, cocking my eyebrow. "Likewise. It's a surprise to see you here."

She shrugs. "I'm hanging out with" — she glances back at the crowd in front of the stage — "my uni friends," she replies before ordering a mocktail from the bartender. No alcohol. As if knowing what I'm thinking, she glances at me and smiles. "He knows I'm not twenty-one yet. He has the skills."

"He should have applied for a detective job rather than bartending."

"Nick is passionate about this business. He's the owner."

"Ah." I take a sip of my cocktail, but I don't take my eyes off her. The more I look at her, the more she looks familiar. Or is my brain getting wonky lately? "So, you figured out my last name, huh?"

"Roy told me."

"Of course."

"He didn't know who Parker Scott was, but the only buddy he had back in uni was Parker Hayes. Now it makes sense why your face looks familiar."

"I just don't like walking around wearing that last name. Scott is my mom's family name, so yeah." I shrug. "Easier."

The person next to me leaves her seat, and Bair jumps on it right away. "I get it. I would probably do the same. My brother works for Hayes, by the way."

"Oh." I rake my brain, trying to remember anyone with Harris's last name, but no face comes up in my head.

"But I'm not here to talk about my silly brother. It's about Roy."

"Oh." I take another sip of my drink. "Okay. What about him?"

"You were Roy's girl. Back in uni."

I purse my lips. "I wouldn't use the term 'girl' for that. We were just messing around; no real status."

"Still, he adores you."

"You forgot the past tense. Adored. We fancied each other, yeah."

"He still does. I can see it in his eyes every time he talks about you." Nick places her mocktail in front of her, and she says thank you.

"That's possible. I wouldn't know," I say.

"I know it's probably not my business, but are you guys" — she gulps— "still–"

"Fucking? No." I shake my head firmly. Well, the thing we did inside his father's office room doesn't count because it was over a month ago and a one-time thing. "And it's absolutely your business because you guys are dating. But I assure you, Roy and I aren't seeing each other. We haven't even talked for weeks."

"What we have is complicated," she says, sighing before picking up her mocktail glass. "But I just want to know where I stand, you know. It's hard to read him sometimes."

"I get what you mean. Dealing with Roy can be a headache, but at least, he's straightforward with what he wants. You shouldn't overanalyze every word he tells you, you know." I stomp the mint leaves in my glass, wondering if Blair falls head over heels for Roy. I hope she doesn't. "At least, that was the Roy I knew. But you're aware he's a jackass, right?"

Blair laughs at my question, throwing her head backward. "Yes. I know he's an ass. I'm hopeless because I don't care, and I keep seeing him."

I shrug. "You're young. I won't oppose being adventurous, but just watch your back. Roy isn't worth your tears. Have fun while it lasts."