You Were Never Mine

Deal - Chapter 02

Elle

The party at Brice's was interesting. Thankfully, Julia never got thrown into the pool even though Henry did threaten her with it a few times. I snuck glances at Parker throughout most of the night while Julia was occupied with trying to entertain everyone. She was always the center of attention, the spotlight. It's what she was great at, radiating all of her energy and light onto others.

I breathed in deeply, thinking about the way Parker and I made eye contact every so often, catching each other's eyes. He was surrounded by a group of guys most of the night, I'm assuming his friends, but I've never seen him at any of Brice's parties. They would walk outside, take a hit off of a blunt, then come back in. Then when we'd meet gazes, his eyes were bloodshot and glossy, no longer full of a golden shine.

Tucking a stray hair behind my ear, I wrapped my arms around my torso and looked out at the ocean. The salt in the air was thick today, almost overpowering, and it was still not enough to distract me from Parker Kingston. Letting out a sigh, I wiggle my toes in the sand and then start to make my way back to the stairs. This was a routine of mine, coming down to the beach early in the morning and watching the sunrise or I'd come out in the evening and watch the sunset.

Once I made my way back up to the pier, I continued my trek back to my house. It was the day after Brice's party and my dad was off today, so I figured I'd make us breakfast. Slipping my earbuds in my ears, I continued the walk to my house, not too far from here. Slipping in through the front door, I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was only 7:15 am, which meant I had enough time to start breakfast before my dad woke up.

Slipping off my sandals, I walk into the kitchen, turning the lights on. I start taking the eggs and bacon out of the fridge, grabbing orange juice and butter while I'm at it. I removed my earbuds from my ears and placed them in the pocket of my jean shorts. Grabbing a pan from our oven rack, I place it on the stove and turn the burner on. Cracking an egg over the pan, I let it fall into the pan and start to make a few sunny-side up eggs.

About twenty minutes later, my dad comes walking into the kitchen, and walking over to the coffee pot on the counter. He starts it up and fills it with the coffee grounds, pushing a few buttons and then it's brewing.

"You forgot to start the most important part of breakfast," he comments, nodding at the coffee.

I let out a soft laugh and glance at him over my shoulder, flipping an egg. "That's not a good nutritional breakfast, we've been over this."

"I know. That's why I keep you around, to make me the good breakfast." He pours himself a cup of coffee and takes a seat on the barstool behind the island in the kitchen.

Shaking my head, I place his two eggs and few pieces of bacon on a plate for him. I made toast as well and already buttered it while waiting on the eggs earlier on. After finishing both of our plates, I walk over and take a seat next to him, placing our plates down on the granite countertop. I take a sip of the orange juice I poured for myself and start to dig into breakfast.

"Where were you at last night? I got home and you weren't here, it was quite late."

I swallow the food in my mouth and look over at my dad, "yeah, sorry. Julia and I went to one of Brice's parties again. It didn't get as out of hand as the last one though."

My dad lets out a chuckle, "I'm glad you guys had fun. Just leave me a note or something next time though. So I know I need to get dinner for myself or something."

I nudge him with my elbow and laugh, "you're ridiculous."

He smiles my way, "and yet, you chose me to live with over your mother."