Embracing the Unexpected (13 page)

Jace immediately let go of Parker’s hand and took a step
back. He had a stunned look on his face, one Parker had never seen before. Jace
was the strong one. He was the one who always took control and knew exactly how
to calm Parker and make him feel wanted and accepted. Parker realized he’d hurt
Jace by threatening to leave him. Parker was doing exactly what Tyler had done
all those years ago.

“Jace, I—” Parker stammered over his words. He was shocked
by his own actions. He didn’t mean it.

“No.” Jace held up his hand. “We’re done.”

“What?” Parker was stunned. Did Jace mean the conversation
was done or were
they
done? He couldn’t have meant that.

“I think you should leave now,” Jace said. “It’s for the
best.”

“No, let me explain.”

He just wanted him to understand Tyler was there for
something other than what he said. Parker sniffed out liars for a living. It
was his job to figure out if clients were being honest, and something was
definitely off with Tyler.

“I think you’ve said enough.”

Jace turned and walked out of the kitchen. Parker wanted to
go after him, but he stood frozen, not sure what to do. He dropped down on the
kitchen floor and pulled his knees into his chest. His heart literally ached.
He knew this was bad. He’d never seen that look in Jace’s eyes before. It was
as if Parker had slapped him, and he wouldn't be able to forget that horrid
look. There was no emotion behind his eyes when he told Parker to leave. He
completely shut him out when he walked away. This was worse than the day he’d
barged in on Jace’s session with Ava.

He stayed on the floor for about ten minutes, trying to
decide what to do. Jace had asked him to leave, and Parker knew he meant it. He
pulled himself up, wiped the tears from his cheeks, and steadied himself
against the counter. He took a few deep breaths as he walked down the foyer. He
stopped and looked up toward the staircase for a few minutes before holding
back a sob and walking out of Jace Cross’s life.

* * * *

“You did what?” Ava screamed.

She couldn’t believe her friend’s stupidity. He always found
a way to sabotage his own happiness, but she thought this time would be
different. She’d hoped he’d figure out that he was meant to be with Jace.

“Ava,” Parker said. “Please calm down and stop yelling. I
have a headache.”

“You should have a headache, you idiot.” She continued to
scream. “How could you have just left?”

“He told me to.”

“He didn’t mean it. He wanted you to go upstairs and
apologize to him.” She plopped down on Parker’s bed. “Don’t you know anything
about relationships?”

“Apparently not,” Parker said. “I just wanted to help him.”

“By not trusting him?”

“It wasn’t about trust,” Parker said. “Tyler hurt him
before, and I didn’t want him to have the opportunity to do it again.”

“Jace is a big boy,” Ava said. “And he’s pretty smart too.
Maybe he needs to do this to get some closure, so he can fully move on with
you.”

“Closure? I think you’re spending too much time with Jace.
You’re starting to sound like him.”

“I’m serious.”

Parker collapsed onto his bed and placed his hands over his
face. “Ava, I really fucked up.” He sighed. “You should’ve seen his face. It’s
bad.”

Ava crawled up and snuggled into Parker’s chest. “He loves
you,” she said. “Give him tonight to calm down and then call him in the
morning. Tell him you trust him.”

“Okay.” He nodded.

“Parker?” Ava whispered.

“Yeah, beautiful?”

“Can I sleep in here with you tonight?” Ava knew her friend
needed her and for the first time in a long time, she could be there for him
the way he’d always been for her.

“Please,” he whispered as he reached up and turned out the
lamp.

* * * *

Parker decided to bite the bullet and call Jace the next
morning. The only problem was he’d gotten his voicemail on his cell and home
phone, and the answering service for his office line. It was Saturday morning
and Jace usually left time open in his schedule for patients who needed to
speak with him. It was still early, and Parker hoped to catch him before he
left to meet Tyler.

He had no choice but to leave a message on his cell.

“Jace…I was an idiot, there’s no other way to explain my
behavior. I know how much your career means to you, and I won’t stand in your
way. I know you’re going to do what you want to do, but I wanted to let you
know this isn’t a trust issue. I trust you with my life and my heart, so please
meet with Tyler and know I’m not upset about it. I just wanted you to know
that. And I’m really sorry about last night. Call me, okay?”

He threw his phone down on the sofa and paced the room. He hoped
Jace called him back, and soon.

Jace sat at his desk on Sunday afternoon, trying to review
patient files, but he couldn’t concentrate. His thoughts keep wandering back to
the blow-up he and Parker had in the kitchen on Friday night.

Jace had felt a lump forming in his throat when Parker asked
him not to meet with Tyler. He’d put himself out there for this man. Jace told
Parker things he never thought he’d share with anyone else. He practically told
him he wanted to raise a family with him, so how could Parker think he’d just
walk away from everything they’d shared? Why couldn’t Parker just trust him?

He’d stormed out of the kitchen because he was about to lose
it, and he didn’t want to break down in front of Parker. Jace had done everything
he could to assure Parker and show him how much he wanted him. He couldn’t
believe Parker had so little faith in him. He’d completely misjudged him. Or,
so he’d thought.

He’d had a miserable weekend. He knew he needed to make
things right with Parker, but he needed time to sort it all out. This was the
person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with and he’d made such a big
mistake by not listening to him about Tyler.

Jace listened to Parker’s message and the four others he’d
left throughout the weekend. Each one got progressively more anxious, but Jace
needed some time. He felt like such a moron. Parker had been right about Tyler…

* * * *

As soon as Jace inquired about Tyler at the front desk of
his hotel and they told him Tyler had requested he meet him in his room he had
a bad feeling. But he brushed it off. He refused to believe that he was here
for anything other than to consult on a case. Jace knew it had to be important
for Tyler to show up here after six years. Their breakup hadn’t been easy for
either of them, but he was in a good place with Parker and he wanted to put the
ugliness of the past behind him. He saw no reason why he couldn’t help out an
old friend.

Jace quickly knocked on the thick, steel door. Tyler greeted
him with a huge smile.

“Hey,” he said.

Jace noticed his hair was damp and he smelled like Irish
Spring soap. He remembered Tyler had always used that soap. His shirt was still
unbuttoned and his belt wasn’t done. He’d clearly just gotten out of the
shower.

“Come in,” Tyler said. “I’m sorry, I’m running late.”

“What else is new?” Jace laughed as he stepped inside and
glanced around the spacious suite.

“There’s coffee on the tray and the files are on the table,”
Tyler said. “I’ll be a minute.”

“Okay,” Jace said. “I was thinking maybe we could meet
downstairs at the coffee shop.”

“Everything’s already out here and I ordered breakfast,”
Tyler shouted from the bedroom. “It’ll be easier to work here.”

Parker wasn’t going to like this at all. Even though they
were having a disagreement, Jace still felt like he was betraying Parker since
he’d told him he wouldn’t meet Tyler in his room. Jace hoped he and Parker
could work this out. They needed a cooling down period.

Jace looked over the files while Tyler finished getting
dressed. It didn’t seem like a very complicated case, so he was a little
surprised he’d seek his help at all.
Jace hoped Parker
wasn’t right about Tyler, but he already had a strange feeling.

“I ordered blueberry pancakes.” Tyler smiled.

“You remembered.”

“How could I forget? You ate them every morning when we were
in med school.” Tyler sat down next to Jace at the table. “Do you remember that
little diner by our first apartment?”

Jace nodded.

“Jeanette.” Tyler laughed. “She’d have our order in before
we even sat down.”

“Yeah, she was a really good waitress.”

“And very accepting of us,” Tyler reminded him. “Not
everyone was.”

“No, but that was a long time ago,” Jace said as he flipped
through the papers. He hadn’t come here for a trip down memory lane.

“So, is it serious?” Tyler asked.

“Your case?”

“Don’t be smart,” Tyler said. “You know I’m talking about
sex on legs.”

“Parker?” Jace laughed.

“Have you been together long?”

“A little over two months,” Jace said. “And yes, it’s pretty
serious.”

“How serious can it be? Two months? That’s not a very long
time.”

“A lot can happen in two months,” Jace said as he remembered
just how much he’d shared with Parker in that short time. “What is it you need
me to do with this?” He waved the file in front of him. “It’s not that
difficult a case.”

“I just wanted your advice.” Tyler placed his hand on top of
Jace’s and traced small circles over his knuckles. “I figured since I was in
town...”

Jace immediately pulled away from his touch. It felt wrong
because it wasn’t Parker. Tyler closed his eyes and gave him a small smile.

“I miss you,” he said. “It’s been such a long time.”

“Don’t,” Jace said.

“Don’t what? Tell you how much I think about you? How much I
regret leaving?” Tyler said as he took Jace’s hand again.

“No,” Jace said. “It’s too late. Six years is a long time.”

“It’s never too late.” Tyler stood up and then kneeled down
in front of Jace, placing his hands on his thighs. “We can get back what we
had. I’ve tried to move on, but I can’t. No relationship works for me, and I
know it’s because I’m looking for you.”

“Tyler?” Jace looked down at him. “It took me years to get
over you. Parker is my first serious relationship in six years.”

“You haven’t been with him that long,” Tyler pointed out. “I
have an opportunity to take a position at the University of Connecticut. I’d be
willing to come back.”

Jace shook his head. “It’s too late.”

“Stop saying that,” Tyler said as he placed his hand on
Jace’s cheek. “You know how right we were for one another.”

“That was a long time ago.” Jace moved away from Tyler’s
touch. “You can’t just stroll back into my life and expect me to drop
everything. I’ve moved on. I love him.”

“No, you don’t.” Tyler jumped up and paced the room. “You
can’t. Not after everything we shared.”

“I didn’t think it was ever going to be possible.” Jace got
up and placed his hand on Tyler’s shoulder. “I hurt for a long time after you
left. I don’t begrudge you for following your career. We both did what we had
to do, but now I’m in love with Parker and I can’t give up what I have with
him.”

Tyler turned around and pulled Jace toward him, brushing his
lips against his. He gently gripped the hair at the back of Jace’s head and
pressed his lips hard against his mouth. Jace pushed against Tyler’s chest,
indicating for him to stop.

“No.” Jace created some distance between them. “This isn’t
going to happen.” He didn’t have those kinds of feelings for Tyler anymore. He
couldn’t imagine being with anyone but Parker for the rest of his life.

“I don’t believe you,” Tyler said. “I know what we were to
one another.”

“
Were
is the operative word. I’m sorry, Tyler.” Jace
headed toward the door. “I can’t tell you what to do, but don’t take that job
here in Connecticut if you’re doing it because you think there’s a chance for
us. I’m in love with Parker, and that’ll never change.”

“Jace?” Tyler moved toward him. “I shouldn’t have left.”

Jace turned and looked at him. “Yes, you should have. It was
the right thing for both of us at that time. We can’t go back.”

“You won’t change your mind? After everything we were to one
another?”

Jace shook his head. Parker meant so much to him. He even
knew what Tyler wanted, but Jace wouldn’t listen. Instead, he threw him out of
his house. He would never make that mistake again.

“Goodbye, Tyler,” Jace said. “Good luck.”

Jace headed back home and buried himself in his work. He
wanted to call Parker and apologize, but he was too embarrassed about the way
he’d acted the night before. He should never have asked him to leave. Parker made
him promise not to ever make him leave the night they told one another they
loved each other. Jace sent Parker away. He was stupid and immature. But he had
been angry because Parker issued him an ultimatum. He didn’t want Parker to
leave, but he told him to anyway. And now, he was too ashamed to call him and
tell him he’d been right.

* * * *

Monday morning Parker managed to get himself out of bed and
ready for work, but just barely. His head was pounding, his eyes were red, and
he forgot to shave. He could only imagine what his employees thought about his
less than perfect appearance. He couldn’t bring himself to care.

It was a gray, dismal day and that only served to enhance
Parker’s foul mood. He snapped at employees and clients, and even Ava knew to
stay out of his way that morning. She'd picked up her wet towel and loaded her
own dishes into the dishwasher.

He hadn’t heard from Jace since Friday night. He didn’t
return his calls and the only reason Parker didn’t show up at his house was
because he was afraid he’d find Tyler in Jace’s bed. That was something he’d
never be able to stomach. The images that kept running through his head were
enough to do a number on him as it was. He didn’t need to experience it
firsthand.