Kismet by AE Woodward Page B

together. I’m acting stupid. He’s just being nice. “That would be fun.”
    “You have no idea, do you, Katie?” he asks.
    “No idea of what?”
    Parker leans closer to me and tucks a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “No idea how beautiful… how special you are.”
    Special? Beautiful? He thinks I’m beautiful? “You think I’m beautiful?” I whisper in awe. It feels like I’m dreaming, but Parker is really here, sitting next to me and saying things that I have longed to hear. His hand comes to cup my cheek as he stares deep into my eyes. His calloused thumb rubs against my cheek. “Of course I do, kiddo.”
    Before I can say another word, his lips press softly to mine. It isn’t an earth-moving kiss, just a quick peck. His lips against mine. My heart leaps and then it’s over.
    He pulls back from me and grins. I’m sure my shock and disbelief is written all over my face.
    “That your first kiss?”
    I nod.
    “Good.” He smiles at me and stands, his eyes falling to my bracelet. “I love that you still wear that thing.”
    “Of course. It gives me strength, remember?”
     
    The memory makes me happy, but in my happiness my hand absently finds its way to my empty belly and the sadness, and guilt, creep back in. Slowly at first, then they’re all I can think about. I’m just about to let myself break down when his voice cuts to my core.
    “You’re still just as beautiful.”
    Startled, I sit up, throwing my arms around my torso in a weak attempt at shielding myself. I peer over my shoulder, catching a glimpse of Parker leaned up against the tree, smoldering as he takes a drag of his cigarette.
    I shake my head and press my eyes shut, hoping that it’s just a remainder of my memory. But when I open my eyes, he’s still there. I glare at him, hoping he’ll sense my anger. I was having a private, and slightly enjoyable moment, and he is muddling it all up again.
    “I’m sorry,” he mutters, “I followed you… obviously. I was just worried when I saw you take off running towards the woods. You’re not exactly the most stable person these days.” He pauses, gauging my reaction. I shrug. “No offense.”
    I want to be mad at him for disrupting my moment of peace, but how can I when he had only been concerned. Typical Parker, always spinning shit in his favor. I stand from the rock, still shielding myself from his unrelenting gaze, and stalk towards the bank where my tank top had fallen. I throw it on before I become any more self-conscious. My body isn’t the same one Parker had seen when I was younger. It has been home to two babies, the tightness I used to have replaced by a slight roundness, and a few tiger stripes to boot.
    “I mean it, Katie, you’re just as beautiful as I remember you.” Parker speaks softly as if reading my self-deprecating thoughts.
    I stare blankly at him, watching him flick his ash carelessly. Looking at him, I realize that all those feelings are still there.
    I loved him.
    I still love him.
    I hate that I still love him.
    Sure, he was there for me through a lot, but at the same time he wasn’t. He’s incorrigible. He’s arrogant. He’s just… Parker.
    Defeated, I sigh and start to make my way back toward the house. Unsure of the time that has passed since I ran out back, I expect the family to return and check on me soon and I don’t want them to worry. I brush past Parker but he reaches out and grabs me by the wrist before I can flee.
    “Katie…”
    I look over my shoulder at him, waiting for him to say something, anything . I just want an explanation. Some sort of understanding of what happened. Why things were the way they were. Why, after all these years, are we back here? I need answers and my eyes burn into his face.
    He opens and closes his mouth repeatedly, seemingly searching for words as I stand there, precious moments slowly passing us by. This just might be the clarification that I’ve been waiting for. Maybe now I can understand.