Chapter 60 61

Chapter 60 61
LARA PARKER.
Turns out he was here to call Caleb over, not staying for long.
The said man threw us, or rather me, in particular a pleading look, as if my word could help him get out of whatever plans the Captain of his team had for him, but whatever instinct that told me I could got swallowed down my throat when my eyes found Killian’s again.
And for the first time since meeting the man, I felt intimidated, like I had done something wrong.
He did not say anything or even look at me in a way that would make me feel so, I guess it was just his vibe at the moment that told me to keep my pleading words to myself and use it to save myself rather than Caleb.
So, I threw the younger man an apologetic look. He would have to get out of this one on his own, I am indeed throwing him under the bus. He had no choice but to drag his heavy feet and follow Killian, and the said man before he left, made his way over to me.
My heart stilled behind my ribcage once he was close, but much to my surprise, all he did was take a hold of the side of my neck and pressed his lips on my forehead for a quick kiss. Then, wordlessly, he turned around and left, his steps and moves measured.
I could swear everyone in the room, myself included, let out a sigh of relief once he was gone. The change of air with him around is evident to me for the first time.
“What was that about?” I mumbled to myself, but somehow, they all heard though none responded.
Only Alice offered me a small smile, before turning to focus on her task as did the others. I turned my head to the side, my gaze finding Tessa’s, and I parted my lips to say something—anything to smooth over the sudden awkwardness but she too flashed me a small, barely noticeable smile that silently screamed she could not be of much help either.
I sighed, my shoulders slumping as I looked away, trying to shake off what had just happened and the sudden change with everyone. Luckily, the awkwardness and the tensed air did not last for long. After a short while, light conversations started and just like that, it was brushed off though I did nit fail to notice that none of them brought Killian up again.
Which I am grateful for, and at the same time could not help but be slightly worried though still not understanding why their reaction is so. But none treated me any differently from before, and Tessa and I kept them company as they baked, though I am certain I had said more words than Tessa ever did.
After the baking was done, we all headed out for some skating. Apparently there was a place nearby where they usually skate during the winter, and they led the way which turned out to be deep in the forest before the place came to view. True to Killian’s earlier words in the morning, I was glad I had paid heed to his words and put on warmer clothes before going out because it was freezing and snowing still. Even so, I found myself shivering as we made our way towards the skating site.
Killian took off his scarf and wrapped it over me, and action that had my insides fluttering as I flashed him a smile which I got a small one in return. He had not brought up anything that had happened in the kitchen either and had not treated me as cold as he did at that very moment. If anything, he was acting the same as usual as if the man from the kitchen was merely an imagination of mine.
Skating turned out to be fun, or as fun as sitting by the side and watching them get all competitive about it gets. Alice and Aalia turned out to be good at it as well so she joined the guys while Tessa, Hannah and I called it outs.
I do not have a single sports bone in my body and no amount of coaxing from killian got me agreeing to join. I was much better staying by the side and watching them go about it.
“One day, Parker.” Killian promised with a smirk, a hand pointed in my direction as he skated back, “one day I will get you on the ice with me.”
I could only huff out a chuckle as I waved him off. “Dream on, Wilde.”
He grinned, his attention yawing back to Nick who called him for a game, and the two went all competitive against each other.
A voice from beside me gained my attention. “You two are so good together,” Tessa mused in a small voice, and when I glanced at her, she had a small, almost longing smile on her face but her gaze was not on me, or Killian. Rather, it was on the man playing with him.
A smile tugged the corner of my lips, taking the chance to stir up a topic that has been on my mind for hours now. “You and Nick look good together as well.” I said back in a knowing tone. “Though it seems you are still getting to know each other?”
If Hannah could hear our conversation, she did not say anything. Instead she busied herself with taking pictures of her man on the ice on her phone, probably assuming the conversation is a thing between the two of us.
My words had her cheeks tinting red, turning her head so her eyes found mine. “Is it that obvious?”
“Clear as day.”
She looked down, her shoulders slumping. “My goodness, things are not supposed to be like this.” She mumbled, almost to herself. “things are just too complicated.”
“Aren’t we all in some sort of complicated relationships?” My words had her tilting her head up to look at me in question, and I knew it was going to take a bit more to get her to open up to me, so I decided to be a bit honest with her as well. “I got with Killian less than five minutes after breaking up with my boyfriend of years, and here I am now, merely a few days afterwards spending the holidays with him. Is that not complicated enough?”
Her lips curled into a genuine smile. “Sounds more interesting than intriguing if you ask me.” Her words sounded genuine. “I will take that kind of relationship to how ours is right now.”
I have honestly never been one to try and get along with people I do not know, making friends is not my forte—Mariah has been my only friend for years. And yet suddenly, over the course of a few hours, I have made a handful of friends.
I could not help it though, I just feel drawn to them in ways I could not explain. Especially with Tessa. Maybe it was because she helped me at the club the other day, but deep down, something feels more than that. Like it is an instinct, and my gut feeling tells me she is a good person.
But I also know when not to push people when they do not want to open up, so I did not push her.
“Well, if you ever do need someone to speak to…” I started, my words as genuine as my smile. “…I can lend you a listening ear.”
“I will.” She promised with a nod. “Thank you, Lara.”
“You are most welcomed.”