I was smiling the next day as I parked in our section of the lot at the Haven Arena.Unlike most times in the past when I’d dreaded coming into work, today I was happy.I knew Noah wouldn’t give me his grumpy shit.We were—dare I say it?—friends.
And remembering the look on his face when he stepped in the freshly that Lola had deposited in the play area made me laugh out loud.I was chuckling under my breath as I got out of my car and locked it.He’d been so pissed.Lola might’ve been a tiny Pomeranian mix, but she could poop like a Great Dane.
Which made me think of DJ.It’d felt like they’d made a connection.I was a bit sad that Noah left without a dog, but I understood.He needed to make sure he could commit.
“What the fuck, Alice?”
The voice came out of nowhere, but I’d recognize it anywhere.
Parker.
Shit.
I turned toward the voice, and it took everything inside me not to cower.He had me by almost a foot.
Pretty sure my mom had been a smoker.
The thought came out of nowhere and made me smile slightly.I didn’t even know my mom.Weird, the things your brain comes up with when you’re scared out of your mind.
“You’re smiling?You think it’s funny to get me thrown out of a fucking bar like an asshole?”
I shook my head.“I didn’t get you thrown out.They tossed you because ofyouractions.”
Parker staggered slightly, and I finally took in his bloodshot eyes and scattered appearance.He was drunk.Maybe high, too.
I tossed a look over my shoulder.I could hear vehicles, but there was no one anywhere near our corner of the parking lot.
I was all alone.
Oh god.
“I don’t know why you keep popping up like a bad jack-in-the-box, but I’ve got nothing to say to you.”I walked backward toward the arena as I talked.“We were together, then you dumped me.Years ago.What makes you think we have anything to talk about?”
Parker staggered after me.“Maybe I’ve got a job for you.You ever think of that?”
“I have plenty of jobs, Parker.I work here.I have the band.I volunteer.”Like hell was I going to tell him where—the last thing I needed was him popping up more in my life.“I don’t need another job.But thank you for thinking of me.”
I hoped my overly sweet voice would placate him.
That was way too optimistic of a thought even for Lark, let alone me.
“You don’t understand, Alice.I can’t write.I can’t hear the music.Ever since you left, it just all went away.And I can’t get it back.I need it back.”He raised his voice with every word until he was screaming at me.
I cringed away from him and staggered backward.“I, uh, maybe you should talk to someone?I think there are coaches or therapists or whatever for things like that.Maybe your record label could hook you up.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off of him.
“I had everything!I had the world at my fucking fingertips, and then it all went away.It all disappeared when you disappeared!”Spittle flew from his mouth.“I was a god, and now I’m a fuckingjoke!”
Tires screeched behind me.
I turned.Noah leaped out of an SUV and raced over to us.
Relief swamped me.
I wasn’t alone.
Parker was already backing away with his hands raised.“I don’t want trouble.”
