Parker sat behind her desk and remembered last night. She tried to tell herself that she was only releasing stress but her heart told her different. She had ignored the message that was on her answering machine when she got home. She let the phone ring this morning as she got ready for work. She also tried to ignore the ringing phone on her desk when Broots entered her office.
"Are you going to get that?" Broots asked as he listen to the fifth ring.
"It's the wrong number." She answered looking up at the computer tech.
"How do you know?" He reached for the phone.
Parker grabbed his hand. "Because I do."
Broots jumped back next to the chair. After a couple more rings the phone stopped. Parker stared up at him. "What do you want?" Her voice was cold.
"Oh, I forgot. This came for you. I think it is from Jarod." He handed her the small package.
Parker took the package and opened it. When she opened the lid she saw a note that read...'You forgot these when you left in such a hurry last night.' She pulled the white tissue paper back and saw her black panties. She quickly shut the box and slipped in her brief case before the tech could see what it was.
Was it a clue?" Broots asked as he watch her try to hide the box.
"No!" She spat. Her eyes narrowed, giving him the clue she wanted to be left alone.
"I guess I better go." He hurried out.
******
Parker entered her house and saw the red light flashing on the answering machine. She walked past it as she put her things down. She changed into her bed clothes. As she started back toward the kitchen to fix herself a drink she saw the light again. She chose to ignore it. She came out of the kitchen with a glass in one hand. She downed the hard liquor in the glass. She placed the glass next to the answering machine as she hit the play button. She listened to Jarod's voice. Then she hit the erase button and went to bed.
She tossed and turned before deciding on staring up at the ceiling. She heard a noise and went for her gun but instead she found a hand.
"Jarod." She said. She raised up and turned on the lamp next to the bed. "What do you want?" Her eyes were cold.
"I want to know why you won't answer my calls." He held her gun in his hand.
"Give me my gun!" Her voice was stern.
"I want an answer!" He shouted.
"I can't give you one." She turned her head to void looking into those sad brown eyes.
"Look at me."
She kept her head toward the wall.
"I said, look at me!" He raised his voice.
Her head turned but her eyes didn't make contact. He sat down next to her. "What was I a play toy for the night?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"I don't know."
He grabbed her face, forcing her to look him in the eyes. "Two can play that game." Jarod pulled his jacket off and sat it over the chair by the bed.
"Jarod..."
"What?" His eyes were full of pain. He unloaded her gun and placed the clip on the vanity table.
"Nothing." She watched him take his shirt off and unbutton his jeans. He walked back to the bed. "You have every right to be angry."
"Angry!? Who said I am angry? Hurt maybe but angry?" He ran her gun down her chest. "I thought.."
"Jarod, it would never work."
"I know but you could have at least slept next to me or answered my calls. Why did you leave in such a hurry?"
"I was afraid."
"Oh what?"
"This." She took his face into her hands and kissed him.
Jarod broke loose from her grip. He could see the young girl he knew so long ago. He laid the gun down and turned the lamp off. Parker pulled him down into the bed.
******
Parker rolled over to discover she was alone. She jumped up and grabbed a robe. She knew he was gone, after all, she deserved what she got for doing the same to him. She entered the kitchen to find him sitting at the table. He was fully dressed and sitting there.
"Jarod?"
He raised his head up and looked at her. "I couldn't do it. I wanted to show you how it felt but I couldn't do it."
Parker sat down next to him. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt you I was only thinking of myself." She took his hand into hers.
"I know." He stood up. "I have to go."
"Can't you..."
"No. You were right. It will never work." He walked over to the door.
"Jarod." She stopped him.
"Good bye, Miss Parker." He turned the door knob.
"Jarod, wait." She shut the door and got between him and the door.
"Please let me go."
She hugged his neck. "No regrets." She whispered in his ear.
He gave her a kiss. He opened the door and walked out. Parker shut the door behind him and watched him leave. She slid down the door and sobbed. She couldn't believe he just walked out. She never expected it from him but her on the other hand she knew she could do it. She just didn't expect it to hurt that much.
She picked herself up off the floor and went to big bay window in her bedroom. She sat there, hoping he would come back but knowing he was gone.
The End!