Don't Call Me Kid by Popescu Alina

Author:Popescu, Alina
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Gay Romance
Publisher: Alina Popescu
Published: 2018-12-01T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

AFTER OUR LITTLE INCIDENT AT his place, Parker made a point of in meeting me in public. We still saw each other almost every week, but he'd only go for plans that involved us being surrounded by people. It hurt, but if it kept us from being awkward, I'd deal with it.

The pins shattered once again, and I raised my hands in a dramatic sign of victory. He'd invited me bowling with the guys from his dad's shop.

"Nice going, kid."

I turned to him and saw his smile falter. "Sorry," he mouthed, and I felt like crap.

He'd danced around me like that for a while now. Every time he called me kid, his cheer faded, and he started apologizing.

"We're going to get refills," I announced. Everyone cheered at that, even the losing team. I motioned for Parker to follow me and he complied, still looking contrite.

I pulled him into the hallway and looked around to see if anyone was within earshot. "Hey, relax. I know what I said, but I didn't mean to make you so uncomfortable."

Parker looked at me with so much remorse in his beautiful eyes, I hated myself for ever saying anything. "But it bothers you, doesn't it?"

I sighed and hung my head. "Sometimes, yes. It's a context thing, I guess. I don't always mind it. I just... I wish to be more to you than Taylor's younger brother."

Parker smiled and ruffled my hair. "You've always been more than that. You're my family, yeah?"

I tried, I really tried to keep the hurt from showing. I thought I had, even if I couldn't bring myself to say anything.

"Shit. I made it worse," Parker whispered.

"No!" His guilt jump-started my mouth. "You did nothing wrong. Look, we're friends, right? And we're still hanging out, even though Taylor's out of the picture. I am really grateful for that."

Parker stared at me for a long moment, his face void of any expression. "Right. Okay then. I'll apologize less. But I'll also try to limit my use of 'kid'."

I grinned and relaxed. "Sounds great to me."

My cheer didn't last long. We got the drinks and played on, but Parker seemed distracted for the rest of the evening. I caught him stealing glances at me, but he kept his distance. At the end of the evening, he grabbed a ride with one of the guys rather than sharing one with me. That hammered in the final nail in the evening. I'd ruined it. For both of us, not just for myself. I'd somehow ended up worrying Parker. As if he didn't have enough on his plate. I'd had to play up the family genes and act like a spoiled brat.

I sighed as the lights of his cab disappeared. I'd have to find a way to fix this. Fast.

***

"What are you doing here?"

Taylor stared down at me, his lips twisted in disgust.

"I live here for now, remember?"

He rolled his eyes and managed to preserve his sour grimace. "It's the weekend. Aren't you usually all over Parker when he's not working?"

My brother knew where to hit for maximum damage.

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