You Were Never Mine

The Past - Chapter 13

Elle

The drive back to Parker's was quiet despite the radio playing lowly in the background. He kept tightening his grip on the steering wheel and then letting go, repeating this the whole drive. I kept my mouth shut and tapped my fingers against my thighs trying to hold my anxiety in. When Hanson had made that comment about us knowing each other, Parker looked like he was about to tear him to shreds. Parker got us out of there quickly and forced me into the car without saying a word.

I had opened my mouth to protest and he shot me a glare, silencing me. So, here we are, still in silence. I let out a soft sigh as we park in the lot of his apartment complex. I remove the seatbelt from my torso and exit the car, meeting Parker at the front of it. The two of us make our way into the building and up the stairs to his apartment. He was further ahead of me, not slowing down his pace, leaving me trailing behind.

I follow him into his apartment and close the door behind me. He throws his keys onto the counter top with force, pushing his hair back with his fingers. I watch as he continues his path, into his room and shutting the door behind him. My eyebrows furrow in confusion as I kick off my shoes and remove my jacket, throwing it onto the barstool.

"Parker," I call out, crossing my arms over my chest. "Are you going to come and talk to me or are you going to throw a tantrum like a fifteen-year-old boy?" My voice was thick with aggravation and at this point, I didn't care how my words came across to him. I knew my tone came across snarky and angry, just what I wanted.

His door opens and he's standing there, shirtless. I take in the sight before me, my eyes moving over his abs, up his chest, and to his face. The ink that stained his skin was something that I loved about Parker; all the stories behind those tattoos. He had one arm above his head, his hand rested against the doorframe as the other hand held the door open.

"How the fuck do you know Hanson Miller?" He questions, his eyes narrowing in on me. I shiver under his gaze, rubbing the palms of my hands against my arms as they are still crossed. His eyes were dark, but from here I couldn't tell what they were hiding. "Answer me, Elle," he barks out, his voice coming out loud and full of anger.

"I knew him years ago, Parker. It doesn't fucking matter," I reply, letting my voice come out with as much anger as his, matching his energy and tone.

He pushes away from the doorframe, smacking his hand against the wood, "how do you know him, Elle?"

"I don't have to answer to you, Parker," I respond, "in case you forgot, you aren't my boyfriend."

Parker's eyes turn to slits and I watch as his jaw clenches. He reaches up with his hand, rubbing against his jaw, letting out an evil chuckle. "So, you don't want to tell me, that's fine. I'll find out myself, Elle and you're right, I'm not your boyfriend. Maybe you should get the fuck out of here so I can have someone else over."

I chew on my bottom lip as I walk over to him, stopping about a foot in front of him. I was becoming angry with him and it was showing through my body language. My chest was rising and falling quickly and I had my hands balled into fists at my side. "Hanson is from the past, Parker, at least he was. He worked for my dad's friend for a hot minute before getting fired. I was eighteen when I met him, so yes, he was twenty-five." I pause for a minute to look up at Parker and try to read the look on his face. "Hanson gave me these tattoos. The ones on my fingers, the one on my neck, and the one on my hip."

Parker licked his lips, shaking his head slightly, looking at me. "What else, Elle?"

"We spent a lot of time together the summer after I graduated, but Hanson was clearly busy with other things. He got into bad habits and started doing bad things, as you know. We never had any type of label, Parker."