"it was just a kiss, stop being weird. it didn't mean anything!" i give myself a pep talk before i walk out. just a meaningless kiss.

i try to casually walk down the steps but miss the last step and almost fall. "brianna are you okay?" my mom peeps over the counter to look at me. i hear noah laugh and i just act like nothing happened. "i'm fine." i say casually and walk towards the living room where noah and parker were watching tv.

as soon as i sit on the couch, parker gets up and comes over to me. don't be weird. don't be weird. he sits all the way on the other side of the couch so we're somewhat far away from each other but makes it known that he wants to sit by me.

honestly, i just don't want my family to scare him away. noah somehow reads my mind because he looks at me then at parker then back to me again. he smirks and i already know what he's about to do.

"so parker... what brings you to our home?" noah asks sounding stupid. "just hanging with bri." parker says and i can feel his eyes on me. "just hanging?" noah says and i look at my mother. i beg her for help with my eyes but she just shrugs and smiles.

"you and natalie make out already?" i interrupt the conversation. the oven dings and i mock the sound. i jump up from the couch and i go over to the kitchen. "why aren't you helping me?" i whisper to my mother. "you needed help?" she acts dumb. "you're not helping." i cross my arms and lean on the counter.

"noah is going to scare him off." i pout. "no he isn't, if he was scared he wouldn't of stayed." my mom winks and i relax a little. right. "either way, you both are horrible." i grab forks and napkins then walk to the dining room table. "it smells like lasagna." parker comes into my view.

"that's because it is." noah grabs the stuff from my hands and starts setting the table. "i was going to do that." i say. "you were taking too long."

i back away from the table and i accidentally make eye contact with parker. he smiles. that damn smile. "can we talk real quick?" i say to him and grab his hand. "okay," i drag him outside to my backyard.

"what did you want to talk about?" he says with a smirk looking devious as hell. "why did you say yes to dinner?" i ask. "why not?" he said and i think of something to say. "do you not want me to be here?" parkers tone changes, i think i offended him.

i do want you to be here. "i do." i actually confess. a smile spreads across his face. "can you forget about the kiss?" i say in hopes of things being less awkward. forget about kissing the only guy i've wanted? no way i could forget that. "what kiss? this one?" parker holds the side of my face and pulls me into another kiss.

ohhhhhh.

butterflies swarm in my stomach as we kiss. he lets go and i'm standing there completely dazed and confused. "forget that kiss? got it." he walks back inside.

my insides are doing somersaults and i'm still recovering.

what the hell is happening? did i suddenly wake up lucky? did the universe finally decide that i'm deserving of good things like parker fucking grey kissing me twice in one day?

completely flushed, i come back inside to see dinner on the table. lasagna, salad, and garlic bread.

the food gods have answered my prayers. or maybe mom actually listened when i told her i wanted lasagna for dinner this morning. "wow mom this looks great." i sit in my seat and stare at my plate. "yeah yeah let's just eat it." she says making us all laugh. i take a bite immediately. "this is heaven." i say quietly and i dance while i take another bite.

parker sat across from me. "you're literally the only person i know that dances when they eat food." he says then takes a bite. "i love food." i dance more.

"it's cute." he says and i stop dancing right away. please, no flirting in front of these two. "so how was everyone's day?" i hurry to change the subject... again. "i went to this really pretty girls house and now i'm eating with her family. i'd say it was a good day." parker says making my mouth drop. fuck, he's so smooth. i look at my mom then at my brother. "you are quite the charmer parker." the way my mom looks at me makes me want to cover my face and hide. oh my god.

"my day was amazing." noah said turning the attention onto him. "how so?" my mom questioned like she was actually interested. "soccer practice was easy and i ran into this girl i used to talk to." he says and i smirk. now it's my turn to embarrass him.

"who is this girl?" my mom asks. "mom come on now, i'm not telling you." noah said with his mouth full. he's actually disgusting. "he's talking about natalie." i smile at him. "natalie?" my mom stops eating. parker just looks at the three of us, very amused. "shut up idiot no i wasn't." noah gets defensive. "awe, noah and natalie. that's so cute." my mother and i both agree. "whatever."

❀

after dinner, parker and i volunteered to clean up the table while my brother and mom went to go do whatever. "you really didn't have to help, you're the guest." i say as he hands me a plate to put in the dishwasher. "it's okay, i wanted to." he hands me another one. i hold my hand out for another one but he holds it instead. "there's no more." i get nervous looking at our hands so i take my hand back. "i should go." he says. "i'll walk you out."

when we go outside he stops at the porch. "thanks for a very interesting day." parkers hair was curly again. "you're welcome, today was really interesting for me to." i scratch my head. "your family is really cool." he said and i laugh. "they're annoying."

"that's a good thing though." he says. "i guess."

there's that silence again. "where's your dad?" parker asks. i almost forgot to text him. "he's on a business trip thing. it's been a few months." i explain trying not to get sad. i really miss him.

"fuck i'm sorry, i hope he comes back soon." parker lends me a hopeful smile. "don't be, it's whatever. see you tomorrow." i wave as he walks down the front steps. "see you tomorrow."