Parker's POV. Leaving off from chapter 18.

My phone ringing loudly in my ear woke me up. I rolled over and looked at my clock. 11 pm. I only slept an hour.

I answered my phone, knowing who it was.

"Parker," Florencio's voice came through. "Open the door. Please."

I yawned loudly. "No. I'm too tired to get up."

He was about to say something but I cut him off. "Are you gonna touch me? Kiss me?" I felt invincible in my room with Florencio outside.

I heard him laugh. I pressed my phone closer to my ear, trying to catch more of it. "I'm tired. I just want to sleep."

"So do I," I replied.

"With you."

Heat rushed to my face. "Don't say that," I hushed into the phone.

He yawned. "You're all I can think about..." He yawned again. "Honey—"

"Is there another car outside?" I asked him. I needed to know if my mom was home yet. I sat up slowly.

"No. Are you gonna open the door now?" He asked bluntly.

I contemplated my options. "Do you just want to sleep?" I wanted him here with me. I was crazy. I was sure of it.

He sighed. "That's all I want." I ignored my burning face and hung up the phone, conflicted.

I got up. I was so stupid. But I wanted to kiss him, touch him. I was being overpowered by my emotions.

I was at the front door now. I took a deep breath and opened the door. Florencio stood there, his face was pale and his eye bags were prominent. I felt something build upside me. Excitement, I realized. His exhausted green eyes dragged up to mine. His freckles looked too present on his face. His skin should be tanned, hiding them.

His lips pulled into a smile. "Hi, honey."

Where were you? Why don't you tell me anything? Why do you make me so confused all the time? I had these question, and more, in mind but they all disappeared when Florencio grabbed me. He wanted a hug and I let him. He was so cold. His arms squeezed me tight. His cold nose pressed to my warm neck, making me shiver. My arms stayed limp by my side. I slowly put my arms up and ran my fingers through his hair. He groaned softly and pressed into me.

"Did you brush your teeth?" I asked quietly. Why are you taking care of him?

He nodded. "Yes." He was slowly putting more and more of his weight on me.

I was slowly starting to fall over too from my lack of sleep. I pulled Florencio to my room. I laid down on my bed and Florencio followed after me. He left his sweater and jeans on, only taking off his shoes.

He pressed his face against my chest, using me as a pillow. His leg went over mine and I felt like I was being crushed. I sighed, content. I enjoyed his weight on me. My eyelids kept falling closed, begging for sleep, but I stayed up long after him, watching his breathing become even and the color slowly come back to his face.

-

I woke up and Florencio's face was still pressed against my chest. His warm breath fanned me, making me sensitive. I pushed him off me and got up. He woke up immediately.

"Parker," his voice was surprising soft. "Come here."

No. I felt too good with you tonight. I'm not supposed to feel that way with you. My body was betraying my mind and I hated it. "I was just with you," I whispered, trying to be quiet. I don't know if my mom was here or if she left for work, but I didn't want to alert her by being loud.

"Bummer, isn't it?" His eyes held mischievous ief that I wanted to explore. I inched closer to the bed and had meant to pull away, but Florencio grabbed my wrist and pulled me on top of him.

"Shouldn't you be leaving?" I snapped. Then go missing for a few weeks and not call me.

He pushed my legs out so I straddled him. "I'm not busy." He smiled tiredly. "Are you?"

I nodded. My legs tightened around him unintentionally. "Y-yes. I need to see if my mom is here, I need to drink coffee. A lot of it."

Florencio grinned and touched my legs gently, traveling his hands higher. "Make me some breakfast while you're at it?"

A laugh escaped out of me. "What? You're really funny, honey," I said teasingly. I ignored his body shaking under me when he laughed softly. "You need to go. I'm busy today. If you're here, you'll just distract me," I told him honestly, frowning.

He sat up, leaning against the headboard. He gripped my waist and pulled me incredibly closer to him. I blushed furiously. "What are you doing today, honey?" His cheerful mood surprised me.

I bit my lip to suppress my smile. I shook my head. "I need to do laundry..." he pinched my sides, unconvinced. I yelped and jerked. "I also n-need to practice my Spanish." I wasn't planning on doing that, but maybe I should start. No, why would I do that?

"Tell me something. I'l correct you." He looked like he was laughing at me.

"No... I don't want to now." I didn't want him to make fun of me for my obvious bad Spanish.

He leaned in closer and pulled my bottom lip down, exposing my bottom teeth. I felt vulnerable under his intense stare. I fidgeted on top of him. He closed his eyes for a second and then opened them. He released my lip and I didn't want to pull back.

"Estás bien?" I asked him unsurely, trying to recall the two years of Spanish I did in high school.

He looked at me oddly before nodding. "Eso no estuvo mal." He spoke fast and expertly.

"You don't speak Spanish a lot," I observed. It was a few times he spoke Spanish around me and in those times it was more Spanglish.

He shrugged. "It wasn't my first language. I'm more comfortable speaking in English."

"Your parents never taught you?" The question slipped. I hadn't meant to ask about his family. After me and Sams conversation, he obviously didn't like talking about that.

I cringed when his eyes narrowed. "No. They ar—were white," he said finally. "They didn't need to know, I guess," he murmured. His eyes looked sad and my chest felt heavy, knowing I put that sadness there. He recovered quickly. "I'm Hispanic, though." He gently grabbed my leg and pushed me off of him. I stared at him curiously as he put his shoes back on. "Come on, honey. I have errands to run." His mood had dropped.

I was still terribly curious about his family tree, but I let it go for now.

I crossed my arms. "I don't need to come with you."

He stared at me. It was a look that burned into my skin. "Stop looking at me." My voice cracked.

He blinked. Then turned around and went to open my door.

I ran to him and shut my door. "My mom might be here." I left Florencio in my room and walked into the kitchen. My mom was on her phone, drinking coffee.

"Good morning," she greeted me, not glancing up.

"You too," I replied. She was dressed in her work clothes. A grey pantsuit and heels. Her brown hair was styled in a bun.

She noticed me staring and put her mug in the sink. "I'm going now. I'll see you later?" She grabbed her purse off the counter and walked hastily to the front door. I followed clumsily behind her.

She was about to open the door when she said, "unless you're out later, of course." Her tone told me she was annoyed.

What? "Excuse me?" I asked bleakly, too afraid to use any force in my voice.

She turned to look at me. "You've been out. With a boy. A lot, Parker." She looked displeased.

I felt my chest become tight. "Would that be a problem?"

"No, but, I'm afraid he's not good for you." Her voice didn't hold much love.

"You've never met him," I stated quietly. Oh god, was I defending Florencio? The man who dealt with drugs and who had kissed me until my lips felt bruised?

"Yes, but, you've never had a boyfriend and you don't know—"

"What I'm doing?" I finished for her. I couldn't believe we were having this conversation. "You've never cared about me like this before, why now?" I sounded bitter.

The room felt like it was getting smaller. Sweat formed on my upper lip.

She laughed. "Parker, if you get hurt, it'll be ongoing. It just won't end."

My eyes started to burn, pathetic.

She opened the door. "Also, I'd appreciate if strangers weren't in my house."

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