ushernet Chapter 169 Lost Pieces
Chapter 169 Lost Pieces
Parker pushed the bedroom door open with his shoulder, the soft glow of the bedside lamp making the room feel warmer than it was. She'd fallen asleep mid-sob, her body finally giving out after all the emotional whiplash of the night. He laid her down gently, pulling the blanket over her and brushing a stray strand of hair from her damp face.
For a moment, he just stood there, watching her breathe. She looked fragile like this, so unlike the Tessa who smiled like nothing could hurt her. He bent down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Goodnight," he whispered, his voice almost breaking.
The living room was too quiet. The plates of food sat untouched on the table—carefully plated dishes meant to welcome Tessa home, now cold and forgotten. Parker sighed as he walked in, running a hand through his hair. Elena and Naomi were sitting on the couch, their faces etched with equal parts worry and exhaustion.
The smell of roasted vegetables and grilled steak lingered in the air, bittersweet and ironic. Parker leaned on the edge of the couch, his eyes scanning the room. "You guys put in a lot of effort tonight," he said softly. "I'm sorry it didn't turn out the way you planned."
Elena waved him off with a small laugh. "Don't be boss. We can cook anytime. What matters is that she's okay. And," she added, narrowing her eyes at him playfully, "that you're not behind bars."
Naomi nodded, smirking. "Yeah, because the last thing we need is a headline like: 'Rich Kid Fights in Public, Ends Up in Jail—Details Inside.'"
That earned a chuckle from Parker. He slid into the chair across from them, grabbing a fork and digging into the now-lukewarm meal. "Well," he said between bites, "let's at least not let this go to waste."
The lawyer sat at the far end of the table, eating in silence. She was efficient, just like Ava, but the occasional side-eye she threw Parker's way said she wasn't thrilled with how the night had gone down.@@@@
Ere was in her spot too eating her meat. Lots of it.
Parker's phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with two familiar names. He sighed and answered, propping the phone up against a glass of water. Ava's face appeared first, her expression a mix of exasperation and concern. Cassidy's followed, looking equally pissed but also... worried.
"What the hell, Parker?" Ava snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut through the room.
"You call that protecting her?" Cassidy chimed in, crossing her arms.
Ava and Cassidy exchanged a look, their anger softening into something closer to understanding.
Parker sat there, a quiet storm brewing in his chest, feeling like he'd fucked up the one thing that mattered. Protecting Tessa. That was his job, his responsibility. And tonight, he'd failed her.
The thought twisted in his gut, a bitter knot he couldn't untangle. Her past—it was still there, lurking in the shadows, haunting her like some goddamn ghost that wouldn't leave. What her uncle had done to her hadn't just disappeared, no matter how strong she acted.
Tessa was building walls, layers of fake smiles and "I'm fine" lies, but Parker saw through it. He always did. She'd given him something he'd never had before—something real, something that made him want to be better—but in return, she'd lost pieces of herself. Pieces he hadn't figured out how to give back yet.
He exhaled sharply, scrubbing a hand down his face. "Ava," he said into the phone, his voice low but steady. "I need everything taken care of. Every fucking thing. Rodeo, the cameras, her face—none of it shows up. Got it?"
Ava's tone softened, but there was an edge of amusement. "Consider it done. You're lucky I don't sleep, Parker. But..." She paused, then chuckled. "I'm starting to get jealous. Maybe I should've been the one in Tessa's place tonight. You'd probably kill for me too."
"Don't be too hopeful." The sleepy voice cut through the air, quiet but clear.
Parker's head snapped up just as Tessa appeared in the doorway, her hair a mess and her eyes half-closed, but her voice carried enough sass to make Ava laugh through the phone.
Tessa shuffled closer, her steps slow but steady, and Parker immediately stood, moving to help her before she could even make it to the table. She raised a hand to stop him, though it barely had the strength behind it. "I'm fine, Parker. I can walk, sit, and breathe all on my own."
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He didn't listen. Of course, he didn't. His hand was already on her arm, guiding her to the chair like she was some fragile glass doll about to shatter.
Once she was seated, she leaned back and gave him a teasing smile, her gaze drifting to the phone still in his hand. "So, who's admiring my position now?"