Kelligrabbed a tissue and started wiping at her eyes. “Iwant to believe you,Val.Ido.AndItotally believe in the concept.Aboutother people.I’mjust… not sure thatIbelieve it deep down.Aboutme.”
“Allright.I’mgoing to list off all the embarrassing things that have happened aroundParker, just on this trip alone.Now, you might have to help me ifIdon’t remember all of the ones you told me.Butin my defense, the list islong.”
Kellilaughed through her tears and swatted her friend with the back of her hand.Thenshe blew her nose.
“Thewater landing in your lap on the plane, making it look like you didn’t make it to the bathroom in time.Droolingall over him when you accidentally fell asleep on him.Takingyour poor row neighbor’s luggage, flinging a mushroom into his water, tripping with the cookies while caroling, singing the wrong verse while caroling, twisting your ankle at dinner—”
“Okay, stop!Youdon’t need to name them all—Ithink we’ve established that lots of embarrassing things happened.”Herface was flaming hot all over again.
“Buthe still kept falling for you, through it all.”
Kelliclosed her eyes.Hehad.Nomatter how many embarrassing things happened, he still kept wanting to be with her.Rightup until the end, when he ended things with no real explanation. “Val?” she said, her voice quivering. “Hewas so upset about my dad.”
“Kelli.”Valeriapaused untilKellimet her eyes. “It’sbecause he’s in love with you and doesn’t want anyone to hurt you.”
Shestudied her friend’s eyes, trying to figure out if what she was saying felt true. “Idon’t know if he’s in love with me.Hebroke up with me,Val.That’snot what ‘in love’ people do.”
“Sometimes‘in love’ people get a little scared.”
Kelliflinched back in surprise. “Why?Thatmakes no sense.”
“WhenRhettandIbroke up, part of the reason was because he was scared and a little insecure.Ididn’t find out that part until after we got married and he told me.”Valeriashrugged. “MaybeParkerworries that he’s not good enough.”
Kellishook her head. “He’sperfect.Thatcan’t be it.”
Valeriachuckled. “Howmuch do you want to bet that he feels the same way about you?”
Kelli’shead was pounding and her sinuses ached, so it was a little more difficult to think, leaving her feeling slightly bewildered. “Webroke up,Val.Hebroke up.Doyou really think there could still be a chance for us?”
Valeriagot off the bed and walked back around toKelli’sside. “Sweetie,Ithink you’re two amazing people who are perfect for each other, and soon you’ll both figure that out.”
Kellistudied her friend for a long moment and then grabbed a tissue just in time to block a gigantic sneeze. “Sowhat doIdo?”Hernose was stuffier from the sneeze and the words didn’t come out quite right.
“Getbetter.Rightnow, getting better is your only job.”
Valeriacrouched by the sacks she had set on the floor. “Now,Idon’t know if you’ve noticed the passage of time as you’ve been dwelling here in your cave of broken hearts and mammoth colds, but it’s officiallyNewYear’sEve, andI,” she said, pulling items out of her bags, “brought decorations!”
Twenty-Two
Parker
WhenParkerfinally pulled himself out of bed, he went downstairs to the mansion’s kitchen to try to find something for breakfast.Hedidn’t want to leave the place to go find food—there was so much festiveness going on at the resort, and he felt anything but festive.
Addisonwas sitting at the island counter on a barstool, reading on her phone and eating an apple.Sheglanced up as he walked in. “Hey,Parker.”
“Morning.”
Shesat her phone down. “Parker.It’sbeen three days, and you’re still looking like you belong in a movie about an apocalypse.”
Helet out a single huff of a humorless laugh. “It’snot a movie.”Heturned his back to her, looking on the rear counter for any more fruit.
“Imight have been a little jealous ofKelliwhen we first got here.”
Parkerturned around at the mention ofKelli’sname.
Sheshrugged. “ButI’vegotten to know her, and the truth is, she’s a pretty cool person.”
“Iknow.”
