Chapter 4: Coffee Shop Drama

Yawning, Parker went to answer the rapid knocking on her front door. She’d hoped it would go away after the first few knocks, but it only got more incessant. Parker had dragged herself out of bed, not even bothering to put a robe on as she went downstairs in a tank top and short pajama shorts. She knew of only one person it could be.

“Parker, why are you still sleeping when there are hot boys next door that need entertaining?” Lissa asked as soon as Parker opened the door.

She rubbed her sleep-filled eyes while Lissa barged past her and ran up to her room.

“Come on, I’ll pick out your outfit and makeup, and then we will go over there and say ‘hi,’” Lissa urged. Parker slowly followed her friend back upstairs.

“I really don’t want to bother them so early,” Parker whined. She flopped back down on her bed.

“Parker, this is a huge opportunity for you,” Lissa said. “Whichever of the brothers doesn’t choose me will already know you well enough, and I’m sure they would date you.” Parker sighed at her friend’s failed attempt to cheer her up.

“Yea, I’m not sure they appreciate really forward girls,” Parker mumbled. Her conversation with Damien and Lucien the night before gave her the feeling that they hadn’t really enjoyed meeting Lissa.

“I wish your wardrobe wasn’t full of such emo clothing,” Lissa grumbled. She put her hands on her hips and huffed. Parker picked up her novel about the vampire Bernardo and Detective Lacey, beginning where she’d fallen asleep, where Bernardo had revealed himself to the detective and bit her, leading to an erotic scene.

Before she got far, Parker remembered her dream from the night before! She felt her cheeks turn red and she closed the book.

“Here we go, I knew you had a skirt in here somewhere,” Lissa said, pulling a skirt out of her closet. “Throw these on, and I’ll see what I can do about your makeup.”

“I’d rather not wear makeup, it only ends up making me look freakier,” Parker said as she reluctantly started to change.

“I wear makeup,” Lissa said, her mood souring suddenly. “Does that mean I’m a freak?” Swallowing, Parker quickly tried to make amends.

“You’re not a freak at all!” she argued. “You’re gorgeous and you know that. For me…it just makes my freaky features more noticeable.”

“Can I at least put some lip gloss on you?” Lissa asked, crossing her arms. Parker relented.

“Fine, fine,” she said. Lissa beamed happily and pulled her makeup bag out of her purse.

When Lissa was satisfied with Parker’s appearance, more or less, she insisted they go over and knock on the neighbors’ door.

“Good morning, ladies,” Malakai said, answering the door. He smiled at Parker, but when his eyes flickered over Lissa it was clear to Parker that he couldn’t remember where he’d seen her.

“Morning Mr. Miklos,” Parker said.

“Please, call me Malakai,” he said. “If you’re looking for Damien and Lucien, I’m afraid they’ve already left for the day. They went to Corner Coffee.”

“Oh, I know where that is,” Lissa said loudly. “We can probably catch up to them.”

“I’m sure they’d appreciate an escort around town,” Malakai said, nodding to Parker.

“I’ll do my best,” Parker said with a nervous smile. Lissa half-dragged Parker off the porch.

“What kind of single father doesn’t work during the day?” Lissa asked as they walked into the downtown area in search of the two brothers.

“They seem pretty loaded,” Parker said. “Mom and I went over there for dinner last night, and the house was nice, like really nice. Malakai said they travel a lot. Maybe he travels for work and got to retire early, or is taking a sabbatical or something.”

“Wait, what!?” Lissa asked, stopping dead and pulling Parker to a halt with her. “You went to their house and didn’t tell me all about it.” Parker glanced around quickly.

“Hey, it looks like they’re still there,” she said, pointing to the Corner Coffee shop. Damien and Lucien were sitting at a table in the window. Forgetting her question, Lissa dragged Parker across the street and to the coffee shop.

“Hey guys,” Lissa said, boldly approaching the table with her award-winning smile. Neither Damien nor Lucien looked remarkably happy to see her, but Damien smiled.

“Hi, you’re Parker’s friend, right?” he asked. Lissa’s smile faded.

“Yes, this is my friend Lissa,” Parker said, making herself known. “Your dad said we could find you here. I hope we’re not intruding.” She looked at the coffee table in front of them. Damien had a cup of coffee that hadn’t had a sip taken out of it and it wasn’t steaming. He’d let it sit there getting cold. Lucien didn’t have anything in front of him. He was angled to be looking out the window.

“You’re both welcome to join us,” Damien said. “Would either of you like anything to drink?”

“I’m fine, thanks,” Parker said with a nod.

“Oh, come with me,” Lissa said, grabbing Damien’s arm. “I’ll show you the best drink on the menu.” She winked at him. Damien’s lips wore a tight, polite smile, but he stood up and went with Lissa to the counter.

“You’re not drinking anything?” Parker asked, awkwardly taking the seat beside Lucien. He smirked, blue eyes still staring out the window.

“They don’t have my beverage of choice,” he said, chuckling darkly to a joke only he understood. Parker looked at her lap.

“Sorry to barge in on your morning with your brother,” she said. Lucien scoffed, turning to look at her. He tilted his head to the side. His eyes made her insides squirm in all kinds of ways that made her think he was looking at her the way a cat looks at a mouse.

“What’s on your face?” he asked. Parker didn’t know what he meant until he handed her a napkin.

“Oh, lip gloss,” she said, carefully wiping it off her lips. “Lissa’s idea.”

“You look better without it,” Lucien told her bluntly. He looked back out the window, and Parker looked at her lap so he wouldn’t see the smile that tugged at her lips.

“Yea, the whole thing hit me really hard,” Lissa said as she and Damien came back to the table. Lissa was holding her hot coffee in her hands.

“Lissa,” Damien said, turning to face her. Her smile brightened at being addressed directly.

“Yes?” she asked, giving Damien the flirty eyes that Parker had seen ensnare many boys their age.

“I think you’re a nice girl but,” Damien sighed, bowing his head slightly. “Nothing is going to happen between us. I’m sorry.” He was so formal and kind, even in letting someone down! It was such a display of propriety; Parker couldn’t imagine anyone taking offense to it.

Of course, Lissa did!

With a gasp, Lissa threw her steaming hot coffee in Damien’s face.

“You asshole!” she spat, turning on her heel and leaving the coffee shop.

Parker jumped to her feet and grabbed a napkin off the table.

“I’m so sorry!” she said, dabbing at Damien’s ruined shirt. Coffee dripped from his face, and when a drop hit Parker’s hand, it burned her. Damien was completely unaffected by the hot liquid running off of him.

“You don’t need to apologize,” Damien said, taking the napkin from her and wiping his face. He smiled at her. “I never like hurting anyone’s feelings.”

“At least you were honest with her,” Parker said, still trying to figure out why he didn’t even flinch or utter a sound when he’d been doused in hot coffee! “I should go check on her.”

“Why?” Lucien asked. Parker turned around to look at him. She crossed her arms over her chest.

“She’s my best friend,” she reminded him. “If her feelings are hurt, I should be there for her.”

“I don’t get it,” Lucien said. He sighed, standing up and leaving the coffee shop. Parker looked at Damien, who was examining the stain on his shirt.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked. “That was scalding coffee.”

“It wasn’t as hot as it seemed,” Damien said. Parker knew that was a lie! She’d had the coffee drip right on her! The spot on her hand was still red.

“I’m really sorry that Lissa did that,” Parker said. Damien chuckled, tossing the soiled napkins aside.

“You’re not responsible for Lissa’s actions,” Damien said. “I’m the one that hurt her feelings.”

“Still, I feel guilty,” Parker said. “I mean, you offered me friendship last night, and now…well, I’d be betraying her if I stayed friends with you.” Damien’s brows creased together.

“You really think that?” he asked. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t be friends with her, I just have no romantic interest in her. Do you not want to be friends?” Parker shook her head. She reached out and touched Damien’s arm, something she’d never been bold enough to do with anyone before.

His skin was ice cold!

“I want to be friends,” she said.

“Good,” Damien said with a contagious smile that had butterflies fluttering in Parker’s stomach.