I think what Candice Montgomery told me before she closed the door in my face was Parker went to a better environment. I couldn’t really wrap my mind around that. How is there any place better than home? But it was Coach who let me know that Parker would finish her senior year in boarding school. Eventually, I let him talk me into letting it go, and I came to believe that maybe there was a better place for Parker. It just hurt to accept I wasn’t enough to make things better and that maybe, by pulling away, I made it worse for her.

I read bodies for a living. Parker’s tells me she’s anxious, uncomfortable. It’s a stark difference from the hug we shared downstairs. “I take it you don’t really plan on telling me about any of the time you were gone.”

“It’s kind of a long story.”

“Yeah, well, it’s officially offseason.” I pocket my hands. “I’ve got loads of time, but not for excuses.”

“It’s not an excuse, Fitz. It’s⁠—”

“It’s complicated, right?”

She looks away once more.

“Why did you get my attention tonight?” I ask. “You could’ve said nothing and worked that whole party—” I pause, realizing I haven’t quite addressed the obvious elephant that’s sitting in the White House hundreds of miles away. “Why are you working in a club anyway?”

“There’s nothing wrong with waitressing.”

My hands flee my pockets and I hold them up in defense. “I didn’t say there was. It’s just⁠—”

“My dad is president. You don’t think he should have a daughter who serves drinks in a nightclub to a bunch of rowdy football players.”

“I don’t care about your dad. I care about you, and if you told me . . .”

I can’t say what I really want to. I can’t say it even though she’s standing in front of me in a pair of hot pants with my jersey tied in a knot to show them off. What I want to say is I don’t want you working in a nightclub because I can’t stand the thought of her being drooled over by a bunch of douchebags who might go so far as to even touch her.

I can’t say that though. For one, it makes me sound like some sort of overprotective, controlling asshole. And because I have no right. Parker isn’t my girl. She never has been.

That doesn’t mean I can’t look out for her like I always did until she wasn’t around for me to do that anymore.

“Parker, if you need anything⁠—”

“I don’t.”

I huff out a frustrated breath because Parker is as stubborn as ever. “I knew you were going to say⁠—"