Chapter 7 Meeting

Parker's pov

"Were you up late, dear? You look absolutely awful," 

Celeste remarks as we step out of the heavy wooden doors of the church into the crisp morning air. Her brown eyes sweep over my face, taking in the chaotic mess of my hair, which I had hastily washed last night after returning from burning that man's corpse, falling asleep with it still soaking wet before waking up late and running a flat brush through it. I hadn't even found the time to do any makeup. 

"Gee, thanks so much for pointing that out," I mumble.

She frowns. "I'm so sorry, sweetie, I just meant that you really don't look well at all. Are you coming down with something?" 

I wave away her flimsy apology. "I know exactly what you meant, Celeste, and no, I'm not sick.”

I had considered playing the sick card this morning and now I know I could have pulled it off.

"Did you at least enjoy the service today? I've always thought Pastor Donald gives such inspiring sermons." 

I'm sure he is absolutely fantastic.

I merely nod my head in silent agreement while praying this mindless chitchat comes to a swift end before I lose my mind. 

"I spoke to your father earlier this morning, and he mentioned that he won't be returning home until sometime next week.”

Good for him.

"Where is he this time anyway?" I ask.

"He's over in Vancouver trying to close a massive deal," she explains excitedly, her eyes sparkling with an idolizing devotion that makes my stomach turn because she is so nauseatingly in love with him. "He told me he wants us all to have a nice family dinner when he gets back."

Kill me now, I almost groan out aloud. I open my mouth to manufacture an excuse to decline the invitation, but every single hair on the back of my neck suddenly stands as I hear the voice from my nightmare.

"Hello, Celeste."

Celeste looks over her shoulder, a smile spreading over her face. "Hello, Zane! What a pleasant surprise."

Shit! shit! shit! My heart starts to race as she confirms it’s indeed him.

"Have you met my stepdaughter yet?" Celeste asks, stepping closer to me and starts to fluff my messy hair, causing me to swat her hands away. 

Is this crazy woman seriously trying to set me up with a murderer?

"I haven't had the pleasure," he replies, letting out a deep chuckle.

Celeste grabs my shoulders and spins me around to face him, causing me to almost stumble over my black pumps. 

"Zane, this is Parker. Parker, this is Zane Radcliffe. He happens to be a senior at your new school as well."

I lift my eyes to look up at the man who had pinned me to the ground hours ago. The psychopath who had sliced my forearm open with a knife and tried to frame me for a murder I didn't commit, and my mouth goes bone dry. 

He is standing there smiling down at me, his perfectly full lips pulled back to showcase a set of flawless, pearly teeth set against a straight nose, high cheekbones, and a razor-sharp square jawline. His thick, black hair is styled to perfection, making the reality that he is devastatingly handsome feel like an understatement. A pair of dark sunglasses covers his eyes, but I can feel his eyes sliding down my body the same way his hands had last night.

"It's very nice to meet you," he says smoothly, reaching out to grasp my left hand in his.  

He then bends his head down and presses kisses against my knuckles. I yank my hand out of his grip as if his touch burned my skin, which only causes his smile to widen.

"Parker! " Celeste snaps, turning to him with an apologetic expression. "I’m so sorry, Zane, she isn't feeling quite like herself today—you know how it is, being brand new in town and trying to adjust."

"I completely understand," Zane says, as he continues to smile down at me. 

I swallow. What is his game here? Is he here to teach me a lesson for what I did? To show me nobody messes with Zane? I might not know him that well but I know that already from last night 

“How is Lily?” 

He pulls his eyes away from me at the mention of the name. “Lily is fine. Thanks for asking.”

“You should bring her over and we can all go swimming,” Celeste says. “I know how much she loves the water.”

He laughs and nods. “Absolutely.” Then his eyes moved back to me. “How does that sound, Parker?” 

He says my name like he wants to drown me, so no thank you. He throws me another sinister smile like he enjoys the effects he is having on me. 

“Well, we should get going. Nice to see you Zane,” Celeste says. 

“Actually, I was wondering if Parker would love to go for lunch. A bunch of us seniors—” 

“No.” I say immediately but Celeste says something else at the same time 

“That would be great.” I glare at her but she just leans over and kisses my cheeks. “You crazy kids have fun.” 

She walks away leaving me with a murderer and immediately the smile on Zane's face drops like he was wearing a mask. His jaw tightens and his chest bows out ready for a fight. 

I take a nervous step back as my heart pounds. “Ho-how did you find me?