"I can't believe you didn't tell me. Why wouldn't you tell me?" My moms voice came over the phone.

I pulled the sheet over my shoulders to offer some decency. Florencio kept me very occupied. I slept for a little before waking up and wanting to...again. And again. I felt his fingers go up my spine, grab the sheet and rip it off me.

"Stop it!" I hushed. I went to the end of the bed to get away from him.

"Who are you talking to—God damnit, Parker! You're so lucky that he's the reason you're safe. What did I say about him in my house?"

"Mom," I almost yelled. "Can you calm down? I'm safe. I wasn't here."

"That doesn't mean you can—"

I pinched the bridge of my nose and interrupted her. "Did you say yes?"

"I—what? Oh, yes. Of course I said yes. Argh! Don't change the subject."

I shivered due to being naked. "Well, aren't you happy? I'm okay and so is the house." I had scrubbed her headboard, cleaned her clothes, and changed her sheets. The house looked just like it did before the break in.

"Yes I'm happy. It's just hard to be excited when my house was broken into."

I sighed. "Please find a way to get over it. We'll be okay."

"Fine. But never, never keep anything from me like that again. I shouldn't have had to hear that news from my fiancé."

"Noted."

"God. Just stay safe and aware. For my sake," she pleaded and hung up.

Florencio got up and sat behind me. His stubbled jaw rubbed my shoulder and goosebumps appeared on my skin.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded. "Yeah. She took the news better than I thought she would." Yes, she freaked, but I was expecting her to crawl through the phone and tackle me.

"Parker..."

I looked over my shoulder at him. "What is it?" He kept looking so I turned to face him. "Tell me. Come on." I sighed. "If you're not going to say anything stop staring at me."

He smiled tiredly and looked away. "Okay."

"Are you hungry?" I asked, getting on my knees and hugging him from behind.

The corner of his mouth lifted. "You don't want to know."

I blushed. "Oh." I was still kinda sore, but I found I'd do anything Florencio wanted to do. He put me in a good mood. "Do you have to leave soon?"

He would check his phone occasionally and I was happy he kept putting it off and paid attention to me.

All the dirty things he said to me, did to me, I wanted more and more.

-

Moms return flight was late now instead of early, but I was tired nonetheless. I was yawning when she got in the car.

"Welcome back," I greeted, popping my elbows.

She made a face. "Don't do that."

Rolling my eyes, I started to drive out of the packed airport.

"How was Oregon?" I asked, making conversation. It was mainly just to keep me awake.

"It was great," she replied, giving me nothing.

"Uh, did you talk about any wedding stuff?"

Her smile was small. "Yeah, we did. He doesn't have much family and neither do we. Plus, we're old, so probably within the next two months we should be married." She laughed lightly. "It's quite thrilling."

I let out a breath. "Wow. That's amazing." I wasn't ready, but I guess it didn't matter. "Where will the wedding be?"

"Up there, so you'll need to come with me. I think I want to wear a blue dress? Something not white. I want you in white though."

"Okay," I agreed because it was easier to, although I wasn't too comfortable with it.

"Also, I suppose you could invite Florencio if you wanted to," she added quietly.

My eyes widened. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." She cleared her throat. "Also, were you guys safe? Please tell me you were responsible enough to do that."

I flushed. "Yes. Always."

"Oh, great!" She fell back into her seat. "There's an always."

Her tone wasn't jokingly and I felt the need to defend our relationship. "Mom...I love him."

"Parker, jesus, please don't—"

"I'm just saying it was with someone I love, not that it matters, and I was happy about it." We didn't talk the rest of the drive.

-

"You're going to a party?" I mused over the phone. "This weekend?" It was late and I called Florencio

wanting company. I hadn't seen him in a few days.

A heavy sigh. "Sam came up with the idea."

"Are you sure I can't come?" I tired to persuade him.

"Yes, honey. There's drugs, alcohol, and shit people you don't need to be around." His voice was full of heat and I was taken back.

"T-then why are you going?" I didn't want to go, but might not have been opposed to if he asked.

"Because this is what I'm made for. You don't deserve to see these people and what they do. No, they don't deserve your innocence, kindness."

"What do you think I'd do there?" I wasn't going to do drugs, it kinda hurt he thought I would.

"It just takes one try, one person to fuck it up. I don't want you like them."

"Okay," I said softly. Florencio knew more than me. His distrust in me was irritating, but with his adoptive and biological mom, I saw where he was coming from. "Will you come see me after? Or the next day?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Maybe," he teased. Silence for a few seconds. "Honey, I miss you."

"I miss you," I said quietly, curling into my sheets. "I—I wish you were here. I like sleeping with you."

He laughed. "Sleeping with me?"

Flushing, I replied, "don't make me feel embarrassed."

-

I didn't wake up until 12 pm that day. Walking into the living room, my mom perked up.

"Finally, you're up." She was staring down critically at her phone while sitting on the couch. "Yellow and red roses in the bouquet or hydrangeas?"

"Um, hydrangeas?" I replied groggily, still waking up. "This is moving fast, do I need to start looking for a dress?"

"No." She switched tabs on her phone. "I'm going to order this for you." She turned her phone to me. It was a simple white dress. It would reach past my feet, the long sleeves were lace, sweetheart neckline.

"Oh, it's very pretty."

She sighed, annoyed. "What? What's wrong with this?"

I shrugged. "I like it, but why aren't you in white? I'll look like a jerk."

"Would it make you feel better if I told everyone I wanted you in white?"

"No."

She placed her phone down and looked me in the eyes. "Parker, I've done relationships. I love Felix, but I only want to get married for our commit to each other to be on paper. I don't want to wear white because my joy, purity, naiveness for marriage just isn't there. Do you understand me?"

My heart hurt. I hated that my dad took away something as special as marriage from her.

"Yeah, I understand. I'll wear whatever you want, okay?" I could push back all of our differences for one day of her happiness.

"Great. Now get away. I don't like talking like this." She looked back at her phone, doing more wedding research.

-

"What if Peter proposed to me?"

"I'm sorry, you're getting married too?" My heart pounded, waiting for her answer.

Gina frowned, placing the shirt back on the rack. "No, but what if he did?"

"Would I be the maid of honor?"

"Of course."

"I'm feeling supportive then," I joked. We were so young but if she wanted to... sure. Gina was mature, put effort into what she wanted. Maybe she could tackle marriage. With those thoughts, I mindlessly flicked through clothes.

I wasn't a fan of shopping, but Gina liked it so I did it. Shopping also got me out of helping with wedding planning.

"I wanna marry Peter so bad," she complained, stomping her feet. "I just want to live together and have kids—"

"Holy crap you're pregnant."

"No!" She nearly screamed. "I'd be happy if I was but Peter wouldn't be."

"Why?" There was obvious reasons, but didn't Peter see a future with Gina?

"He's so focused on work and school, as he should, but it's making me impatient. He thinks I have my hand down his pants constantly because I want sex." She laughed. "Well, that's true, but I'm trying to tell him— hey! one of these times better get me pregnant."

"You'd be a good mom," I complimented.

"I know!" She punched my shoulder. "You too."

"No," I chuckled. "I can't even process me being pregnant. What if I'm like my mom?" Took a deep breath. "I can't."

"I think you need to realize you don't need your mom's approval and that you won't be like her." Gina flipped her red hair over her shoulder, like if she hadn't just said that. "All the clothes in here suck."

The cashier shot Gina a dirty look. Gina then grabbed my hand and forced me to walk around the mall for another hour.

-

"Come over," Florencio told me Wednesday night. I hadn't seen him since last weekend.

"I... no my mom wants me to help her pick a menu for the wedding. She got engaged not even a week ago, this is a lot."

"Why is she rushing?"

"She says she's not excited for a party, but I know she is. It's what she wants."

"You know what I want?" He murmured.

My spine straightened and I peeked out of the kitchen to see my mom still on the phone with Felix in the living room. "What?" I answered lowly.

"You, here in my bed. I'll come and get you, honey."

"I-I said no. She's asking me for help and I feel like if I leave I'll ruin her good attitude." How backwards was that? My mom possibly wanting me around.

"I won't see you over the weekend or maybe next week."

"Why?" I pouted.

"I'll probably have to leave for a few days— you won't miss me. Won't even notice I'm gone."

"Yes I will," I countered. "Where are you going? What will you be doing?"

"I'm playing with you, Parker."

Huffing I muttered, "not funny."

"Are you sure you can't come over? I can be at my house in an hour," He said, steering the conversation. "I'll even go to yours, you'll just need to be quiet."

"Quiet?" I mused. "Why would I need to be quiet?"

"My honey is a screamer, no?"

My face turned crimson. "Oh, I, um..." Shifting on my feet, I crossed my ankles and tried to ignore the growing pressure I felt inside.

"Tell me what you're thinking about," he said softly.

"I-I'm in my kitchen!" I gasped. "Florencio, I can't—" I rambled on about manners and having the common decency before Florencio grew bored and hung up on me. Staring at the phone, I wish I would've just laughed it off and said something else.

"Parker," my mom called.

I walked into the living room and sat next to her. "Yes?"

"Salmon and steak?" She asked. "Does that sound good?" Knowing that the wedding would be catered by and in Felix's restaurant, I knew it was going to be good.

"Sure."

"You don't sound sure."

"Maybe I'm not."

She glared at me. "Look, I know this may be annoying for you, but please cooperate with me."

"I am," I said, confused. "What do you want from me?"

She cleared her throat almost aggressively. "To be my maid of honor."

I think I stopped breathing.

"Don't look at me like that," she snapped, pinching me.

"Ah!" I pulled my arm to my chest. "I just don't know what to say. Me? Really?"

"You don't have to say yes."

I didn't want to, really. "Of course I'll do it. I was just shocked."

"Oh, great." She awkwardly gave me a side hug. My hand barely brushed her shoulder before she got up. "I'm gonna call Felix, confirm the menu."

I texted Gina immediately what happened.

Maybe she's starting to like you.

Over and over I read her text message.

With a wedding meant new beginnings? Was she trying to mend what was broken? I didn't think I could forget our problems like she has, or is trying to. I would suck it up though. She wanted to be nice, I could play along. I didn't have much hope for her new attitude to last after the wedding though.

I rubbed my temples, aggravated. I couldn't do this. I would be nice tomorrow, now I just wanted to leave. I picked up my phone.

"Bored?" Florencio answered.

"No, sorry," I stammered. I didn't only want him because I was bored. Did he think that?

"Parker," he laughed quietly. "It's okay."

"Alright," I said lamely. "Um, could I still come over? I miss you."

"Well now I'm busy."

I didn't respond.

He sighed. "If you do, would you be good for me?"

My eyebrows scrunched up. Good? Wasn't I always... "Yes, what do you mean?"

"Max and David will be there. Do you remember them, honey?"

"Mmh."

"Be good for me and don't talk to them."

"Why?" I asked, annoyance creeping in my voice. "Florencio what do you think I'm going to do?"

"It's not you. Never. I don't trust them around you. I know you've talked to Max, but not when David is there. Please respect my choice on this."

Taking a deep breath, I responded. "Fine. I'll be "good." God, what am I, a dog?"

I could hear the grin in his voice. "You wanna be?"

Blushing furiously, I hung up.

When Florencio was outside my house two hours later, mom wasn't pleased.

"Come back in one piece," She muttered.

My hand tightened on my overnight bag. "Yeah, okay. Bye." I quickly walked to Florencio's car and when I saw his face, my heart lurched.

He grabbed my bag, threw it in the back seat, grasped my jaw and kissed me. My hands frantically grabbed the front of his sweatshirt so he couldn't move.

"Hi," I murmured against his mouth. He bit my lip harshly and I pulled back, hurt.

"Hi, honey," he replied, a cheeky smile on his face.

At his house, he ushered me to his room. I heard voices of other men, but Florencio wasn't having any of it, practically slamming the door.

"I'm hungry," I pouted. "You can't keep me in here."

"I'll bring you food," He told me, biting his lip to keep from laughing. "And you have the whole second floor to roam. I think I have a new laptop somewhere. You can play around with that."

"Now I'm I.T?"

"Parker..." he trailed off. "I'm sorry. I feel like shit telling you to stay up here. Just, please."

I nodded. You did this to yourself, girl. "Okay. When will you be done? I'll get lonely."

His eyes gleamed. "You'll find something to do with yourself."

"Myself?"

"Yes," he reeled me in and shoved his hands in my back pockets. He smiled and pulled out the five dollar bill that was in there. "Thanks for the tip."

After Florencio left, I showered, dressed in his clothes. I didn't need to but it was something. I went into the hallway to try and eavesdrop, but all I heard was quiet murmurs in Spanish. Eventually I did find that laptop. It was in a study room. I laid on my stomach and typed baking bread into the youtube search bar. I was watching the woman kneed the bread so intensely, I practically screamed when I saw something out of the corner of my eye.

I looked up and saw Max's friendly face.

"Oh," I breathed. "Hi. I'm sorry, you scared me."

He smiled and sat next to me, crisscrossed. "Baking?"

I laughed. "No, just bored." My smile dropped when I remembered I wasn't supposed to be talking to him.

Well he did come to me...

"Something wrong?" He asked, a crease forming between his eyebrows.

I bit my lip, trying to figure out what to say.

A goofy smile appeared on his face. "If it's about Florencio not wanting us to talk, I know that. I said I had to use the bathroom."

My cheeks were hot. It felt weird he would do that.

"You're funny."

"Not the response I was expecting, but nice."

I shrugged. "Um, do you want to watch this with me?" I didn't want to dismiss him. He was kind and wanted to talk to me, why would I say no?

"Sure."

After a few minutes Max said, "my mom taught me this delicious pan dulce recipe when I was thirteen."

I looked up at him, interested. "Do you still remember?"

"Yeah. It was hard to forget since she hit me with a wooden spoon every time I messed up." The smile on his face clearly brought good memories.

"I'd love to learn," I told him. "I'm not a good cook so practice wouldn't hurt."

"Maybe I could teach you sometime." His blue eyes burned into mine.

"Perhaps," I said playfully, then switched my gaze to the laptop when he didn't look away.

"Parker, what are you doing here?" He asked me suddenly.

I paused the video. "What do you mean?"

"Like, what are you doing here, with Florencio?" His mouth set in a grim line.

"I-I want to be." My voice came out in a whispered. I cleared my throat. "I asked to come. Do you not think I want to be?"

He shrugged, looking away. "It's just, you're a nice girl. I'm confused."

"Being with him is my business, Max."

His eyes widened, having not expected my response.

"Don't get mad at me," he said, trying to pick up our broken conversation.

"I wasn't mad at all. I'm annoyed actually." I sat up on my bottom.

"I'm sorry," he sighed, turning his body away from me. His hands raised in a helpless gesture. "I know it's not my business, you're just not the kind of girl who would be dating Florencio and agree to be apart of this world."

I wasn't. He was right. Taking a deep breath, I placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're not wrong," I grinned. "It's just irritable when someone talks about you personally."

He nodded. "That's true." He got up. "I should get downstairs." He looked at his watch. "Nearly fifteen minutes in the bathroom is concerning."

Before he could even move, Florencio walked in. I held in my gasp. Neither of us heard him and our reaction made it seem like we were doing something bad. His eyes were cold as they switched between me and Max.

I stood up and walked to him, pressing myself to his side. Max was nice, but I did like Florencio's company better.

"We were hanging out," I told him. "Watching baking bread videos."

His looked down at me and his face softened. "Of course." With a almost deathly tone, he told Max something that made me shiver.

Max fumbled with a reply before just deciding to leave. He shot me a nervous smile and I winked.

"Are you done?" I asked him, trying to smooth over the fact I was technically doing something I wasn't supposed to.

"No." The corner of his mouth quirked. "I want to do something with you though. Come on." He held my hand and led me to his bedroom. He locked the door behind us and my breath quickened.

"Mad?"

He sat on his bed. "I'm not."

I smiled. "Okay then." I sat beside him. "What did you want to do?"

His mouth curved wickedly and suddenly I got the idea.

-