The Broken Pieces novel Chapter 29

Parker shrugs, "I'll start proving it to you, once we get into the building."

I stop in front of him. "Phone, now."

Parker leans into me and raises an eyebrow. "What's the magic word?"

I smile sweetly, "give my phone now or next thing that'll be missing will be your eye."

He fakes a winced. "Feisty. Put your claws back in, Emmie. I didn't find out your password," he pauses, a cocky smirk plays on his lips, "... yet."

Parker hands me my phone and I snatch it out of his hands before walking inside the skating rink.

"Changed, my ass." I mutter under my breath.

The bright, florescent lights flashed around the rink as it supported a couple, man and a group of kids.

As I sat on the wooden bench, I stared at the hard wood on the rink. My stomach was doing that weird twisting and turning thing and my legs felt like jelly. A pair of size 7 skates laid lifeless beside me and I could've almost swear that I never learned how to skate.

I know, crazy right?

But I never learned. My mother was one of those "health comes before fun" kind of parents and stopped me from any kind of danger, which in her book includes skating. So every birthday party and family gathering, my brothers and I were those weird kids that would sit out and arcade games instead.

I guess I didn't realize that while I was arguing with Parker.

My gaze shifted over towards the whistling baboon beside me. "You ready?" He asked me as he happily tied his skates.

I gulped, my throat suddenly dry.

"Emily?" Parker stopped what he was doing and turned towards me, concern masked on his face. "You okay?"

I bit my lip and hesitated. "Yeah... yeah, I'm good."

Parker stands up and squats in front of my closed legs.

I lowered my head.

"Emily..." he pauses, and slips two fingers under my chin, forcing me to look up and into his eyes. "You don't know how to skate, don't you?"

Tingles rushed up my arms as my heart began to beat faster. The more I stared into Parker's captivating eyes, the more I began to drown into the mixture of russet and chocolates. Every little part of him shocking me with a felling that I knew too well, a feeling that I had gotten caught up with years ago. I let it take over me and decide who I was and who I wanted to become...

I let it consume me and now look where I am.

He's too close...

I grabbed onto Parker's arm and pulled his fingers away from me.

Parker glimpsed at his hand for a second before bringing his attention back to me.

"I never learned." I explained, "you know my mom, you know how she is."

A line appeared between his brows, confusion crossing his face. "Why did you tell me that years ago? I would've taken you."

I bite my lip and let out a fake laugh. "It was the Parker Show back then, nothing I'd said would've mattered." I try to joke but his confusion transforms into a blinding seriousness.

As my body flashed with sudden adrenaline and fear, my hands clenched tighter onto his arms.

I paled, the feeling of nausea getting to me.

"What?! Let go?!"

His eyes find mine. "Don't worry, you'll be fine."

"You're trying to kill me, aren't you?"

His eyes draw together in confusion, before he lets out a loud, smokey laugh.

"Obviously."

"I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not."

He gave a half shrug before letting my hands slip from his arms to his hands. His eyes lit like the brightest fireflies. "You ready?"

I bit my lip before nodding.

There's no stopping now, I'm already up and moving.

"Okay... 1... 2... 3. Go!" Parker releases of my hands and I began to stand.

"Oh my God! I'm doing it!" I look down at my feet before bringing my attention back to him. A joyful smile overtaking my lips.