What I Wish You Knew | ꪜ

Chapter Twenty One

To Parker,

21. I wish you knew in that exact moment I knew I liked you.

Hayley's POV

We trekked up towards my house in silence and I kept my eyes fixated on the ground as we tumbled up onto the porch. What Parker said to me, the way he touched my cheek, the way his eyes peered into mine as he spoke: it was the same way I always dreamt that Landon would look at me for as long as I could remember.

With just a little–even if it were minuscule–attraction. But at this very moment, even though the conversation had been solely about Landon's feelings towards me I could hardly think of him when those words came from Parker's lips. I'm a hopeless romantic but I can't decipher someone's true feelings for me even if you paid me to do so.

When he looked into my eyes as he said those words. . .did he just see me as a friend or more than that? "Hay bear, are we going to stand outside the entire time or are you gonna open the door?" Parker inquired as his head lowered down to mine. I gulped, growing increasingly flustered by the distance–or lack thereof–between us.

I unlocked the door hastily and stepped inside with Parker trailing closely behind me. When I was at a safe distance away from him I slipped off my shoes quickly, nearly tripping on my own feet to the point where Parker had to outstretch his hands towards me out of concern, "are you okay?" He snickered.

I kicked my shoes off, "y-yeah! I'm great!" He didn't seem convinced. I mean how would he when I'm acting like a deer caught in the headlights? "Is this about what I said in the car?" He asked, sensing my uneasiness. "I-I meant it by the way," he said as his hand disappeared in his jet black hair, "but if it made you feel uncomfortable, I'm sorry."

Can this guy be any more perfect? He apologized for saying something so minuscule, thinking that it made me uncomfortable. Why have I not come across more guys like this who care for little things that affect you whether it's positive or negative?

I waved my hands in the air dismissively, "no, you didn't make me feel uncomfortable. It's just– no guy has ever said anything even remotely close to what you did and it was just a lousy compliment. I'm pathetic, I know." It wasn't the compliment itself but rather the implications behind it. That's what made me flustered.

I lowered my gaze to the floor just as he began to close the space I had purposely put between us. I backed into the wall, lips pursed in a thin line, eyes boring into Parker's feet which came into my line of vision. He lowered his hands down onto his knees and after a few seconds, his face came into view as he crouched down to my height.

He then smiled, "it's not pathetic, it's normal. Don't be embarrassed for something so small, I don't judge, you've got the wrong guy." He said reassuringly. Why am I so whipped? It makes me feel weak when I can't even look him in the eye when he's only a guy. I'm usually the one who makes people run away from me, not the other way around.

I don't like this. I don't like the fact that I'm slowly changing. "Do you-do you want something to eat or drink?" I even stutter now? Great, a few more days and I'm gonna start tucking my hair behind my ear. He shook his head, "no, thank you for asking. I just want to get started on the assignment."

Thank god, I don't know what we would talk about if we were only chilling and eating. Parker and I are pretty much compatible but considering how whipped I've now become there's no doubt in my mind that I'll end every conversation before it even starts out of nervousness. "Oh, okay, well let's go to my room."

That sounded way less dirty in my head. "Do you think that's a good idea?" He asked as he began to eye the foyer warily. I stopped in my tracks, "unless you have some other motives in mind?" YES, there's my confidence. Where have you gone, darling? Although I know you're only back for a fleeting moment because any minute now Parker will say something that'll make me revert- it's still nice to know you're hanging around.