“No, I’ve got this. I’ll meet you in a few.” I kissed the soft skin of her forehead, inhaling sanity and relief that she was escaping. She didn’t deserve the fight I knew was coming. She gave me a reassuring smile and squeezed my hands as she took off after Jagger.
A few moments later, the door shut and the house was ours for the yelling. My stare wavered between Parker and Dad, unsure of who I wanted to start with.
“Girlfriend?” Parker threw the first volley.
“Yes, Parker. I have a girlfriend. She’s Sam, and I’m happy for the first time in years. Is that so awful? Are you so against me being happy?”
Her mouth opened and closed. “But Grace—”
“What about Grace?” I shouted. “I loved Grace. A part of me will probably always love Grace, but she’s not coming back, Parker, and she wouldn’t want me to spend my life in that hospital room with her body when her soul is already gone. If I can finally accept that, you can, too.”
“That’s not true!” she fired back. “She’s imp—”
“Enough.” Dad didn’t have to yell. “Parker, Gray has been through enough. He deserves to be happy. He deserves to be loved. I’m pretty sure that staying faithful to Grace for the last five years earns him sainthood. You do not get to encroach on his character, or the character of that lovely young woman because you have some idealistic fantasy in your head.”
Holy shit, it was nice to see my dad again.
“Dad,” Parker pleaded, and my head drifted to the side.
“Why is this so important to you, Parker?” I asked, struggling to keep level.
She blinked back tears, and my heart sank. “It’s always been you two, you know? Growing up, getting through school. Grayson and Grace. You two made me believe in the idea of soul mates and…love. And then that night happened…”
Grace’s screams, the impact, the utter horror seeing her underwater when I came to—it all flooded me. I closed my eyes and took a shaky breath. Sam. I held on to her green eyes, the feel of her in my arms, the way she set me on fire and filled me with peace all at the same time. Then I opened my eyes.
“It was tragic, losing Grace. But, do you want me to die with her?”
She looked away. “No.”
“Then you have to let me live. And Sam, whether or not you like her, makes me feel more alive than I ever have. I love you, Parker. I do. But I can’t let you sabotage the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
“So you’re not coming tonight?”
“Give it up, Parker, and go wait for me in the car,” Dad instructed.
She hugged me, and I held onto her for a second longer than normal. “Don’t give up on Grace. Be happy, be with Sam, but don’t give up.”
“I won’t ever give up on Grace, and I’ll still be here when I’m needed.” She nodded and headed for the door. “Parker.”
“Yeah?”
“I won’t give up on you, either. No matter what.”
She nodded and shut the door behind her.
“I’m not going to be as easy to get rid of,” Dad started in.
“Yes, you are. You have absolutely no right to mess around with my career. None, Dad. I have earned everything I’ve accomplished, and proven myself. I’m a damn good pilot.”
“You can’t do this. I won’t allow it.”
“I’m not five anymore.”
“You are still my son!” he shouted. “God, Grayson. I love you. Is that so hard to understand? I want you safe, and you’re intent on killing yourself.”
“Is that what you think? That I want to die?”
“Whether or not you want to, you’re going to. If you can’t respect your own limits, how can you respect that helicopter?” He crossed his arms.
The set of his jaw, the flex of his arms as he held himself in check—he was me. I was him. And there was no winning this argument. “We’re going to have to agree to disagree. I’m currently the top pilot in my class, which isn’t exactly a small feat. You can choose to trust me for once in my life, or you cannot. I didn’t tell you for a reason. You will not convince me to hand in my wings before I even get them.”