Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

TRAVIS

I paced back and forth across Jasper's living room, my heart racing like I'd just sprinted up twenty flights of stairs. What the hell was wrong with me? I never got nervous about going out, but this wasn't just some random hookup, this was a date—with Parker.

"Dude, you're gonna wear a hole in the floor," Jasper said from his spot on the couch. "Relax."

I shot him a glare. "Easy for you to say. You've got Maks. You don't have to worry about first dates anymore."

Akio chuckled. "Never thought I'd see the day Travis Brooks was a nervous wreck over a guy."

"I'm not a nervous wreck," I protested weakly, even as I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans for the millionth time.

"Sure, and I'm straight," Jasper quipped. I flipped him off, but there was no real heat behind it.

Garrett's face appeared on Akio's phone screen as the FaceTime connected. "How's our boy doing?" he asked with a grin.

"Oh, you know, totally chill," Akio said dryly. "Not freaking out at all."

I groaned and collapsed onto the chair across from them. "I hate all of you."

"No you don't," Jasper said. "You love us. And we love you, which is why we're here to help you not fuck this up."

"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence," I muttered.

"Travis." Garrett's voice was gentle. "We've never seen you like this over anyone before. It's a good thing. Parker must be really special."

I felt my cheeks heat. "He is," I admitted softly. Just thinking about Parker made my stomach do flips. His gorgeous body, that crooked smile, the way he bit his lip when he was concentrating.

"Earth to Travis!" Akio's voice snapped me out of my Parker-induced daze.

"Sorry," I mumbled.

"Don't apologize," Garrett said. "It's adorable. Our little Casanova is growing up." I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling. As much as they teased me, I knew my friends were genuinely happy for me.

"Alright, enough mush," Jasper declared. "We need a game plan. First things first—outfit."

Akio's eyes lit up. "Ooh, yes! I'll take you shopping. We'll find the perfect first date look."

I groaned. "Do we have to? Can't I just wear jeans and a nice shirt?"

"Absolutely not. You're not hitting the clubs," Akio said firmly. "This is a special occasion. You need to go all out."

"Fine," I grumbled, knowing it was useless to argue. Akio had impeccable taste, so there was no doubt I'd be in good hands.

"Great, that's settled," Jasper said. "Now, where are you taking him?"

I hesitated. "I—hadn't really thought about it yet," I admitted sheepishly.

Garrett and Jasper exchanged a look. "Leave it to us," Garrett said. "We'll come up with the perfect romantic spot."

"Nothing too cheesy," I warned.

Jasper snorted. "Please. Have you met us? We've got this."

As they started tossing out ideas, I felt a mix of excitement and terror swirling in my gut. This was really happening. I was going on a real, honest-to-God date with Parker. The guy I hadn't been able to stop thinking about for months.

"You okay?" Akio asked softly, noticing my faraway look.

I took a deep breath. "Yeah. Just—what if I mess this up? I've never done the relationship thing before. What if I'm terrible at it?"

He squeezed my shoulder. "You won't be. Just be yourself. That's the beauty of starting out as friends first, Parker already knows you and likes you for who you are."

"But what if?—"

"No what ifs," Jasper interrupted. "You've got this, Trav. And we've got your back every step of the way."

I looked around at my friends—my family—and felt a wave of gratitude wash over me. "Thanks, guys. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Crash and burn, probably," Garrett teased.

I laughed, some of the tension finally easing from my shoulders. Whatever happened with Parker, I knew I'd always have these guys in my corner. And somehow, that made everything seem a little less scary.

I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, fidgeting with the collar of my crisp blue button-down shirt. My usually confident demeanor had vanished, replaced by a bundle of nerves I barely recognized.

"Get it together, Brooks," I muttered, running a hand through my carefully styled hair. My heart was racing, palms sweaty as I checked my watch for the hundredth time. 6:55. Five minutes until I was supposed to pick up Parker. From my own guest room. God, this was weird.

I took a deep breath, trying to channel some of my usual swagger. It was just Parker, right? The same guy I'd been hanging out with since he moved here. The same guy whose laugh made my stomach do backflips and whose smile—Nope. Not helping.

With trembling hands, I grabbed the bouquet of flowers from the counter. Roses felt too cliché, so I'd gone with a mix of colorful wildflowers I hoped he would like.

"You can do this," I told my reflection. "It's just a date. No big deal." But it was a big deal because it was Parker. And for the first time in my life, I actually cared about not screwing things up.

At exactly seven o'clock, I found myself standing outside the guest room door, shifting my weight from foot to foot. I raised my hand to knock, then hesitated. Should I have texted first? Was knocking too formal? Before I could spiral further, I forced myself to rap my knuckles against the wood. Three quick taps.

The door swung open, and suddenly there was Parker, looking absolutely gorgeous in dark jeans and a forest green sweater that made his eyes pop. My breath caught in my throat.

"Hey," he said softly, a warm smile spreading across his face.

"Hi," I managed, thrusting the flowers forward like an awkward teenager. "These are for you."

Parker's eyes widened in surprise as he took the bouquet. "Travis, they're beautiful. Thank you."

I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling heat creep up my cheeks. "Is it too cheesy? Garrett told me I should bring flowers, but he's a romance author, so he's always a little over the top when it comes to this stuff."

His smile grew even wider. "It's perfect. I can't believe you asked your friends for advice. That's—really sweet."

"Yeah, well." I shrugged, trying to play it cool despite the warmth blooming in my chest at his words. "I wanted to make sure I did this right."

As I followed him down to the kitchen to put the flowers in water, I couldn't help but admire the way his jeans hugged his ass. When he caught me staring, a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. "You know, we could always stay in if you'd rather?—"

The heated implication in his voice sent a jolt of electricity through me. For a split second, I was tempted. But no. I had a plan, dammit. "No way," I said firmly, even as my body screamed in protest. "I told you I wanted to do this right, and that's exactly what I plan on doing."

Parker's expression softened, a mix of admiration and something deeper flickering in his eyes. "Alright then, Mr. Brooks. Lead the way."

As we headed out, I sent up a silent prayer that I wouldn't completely blow this. Because for the first time in my life, I had found someone worth taking a real chance on. And I was determined not to let him slip away.

I led Parker out of the condo, my hand resting gently on the small of his back as we made our way to my car. I marveled over the fact that I was allowed to touch him that way now. The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of autumn leaves and possibility. As we drove, I couldn't help but steal glances at Parker, marveling at how breathtaking he was.

"So, where are we headed?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

I grinned, feeling a surge of confidence. "It's a surprise. But I think you'll like it."

We pulled up to a secluded spot along the Chicago Riverwalk. I'd arranged for a private candlelit dinner on one of the docked boats. As we stepped onto the gently rocking vessel, I watched Parker's eyes widen in awe.

"Travis, this is—incredible," he whispered, taking in the twinkling lights reflecting off the water.

My heart swelled. "I wanted it to be special."

Over dinner, our conversation flowed as effortlessly as it always did and with each passing moment, I felt myself falling deeper. This wasn't like our casual hangouts at work or grabbing beers after a long day. This was different. Electric. Real. This night was important—hopefully, the start of something new.

"You know," Parker said, his eyes soft in the candlelight, "I've never met anyone quite like you, Travis."

I swallowed hard, vulnerability creeping in. "Is that a good thing?"

He reached across the table, his fingers intertwining with mine. "It's the best thing."

As the night wore on, I found myself wishing it would never end. For the first time in my life, I wasn't thinking about the next conquest or the easiest way to get someone into bed. I was thinking about a future—movie nights, lazy weekends, building something special together. It terrified and thrilled me in equal measure.

Later, as we drove back home, our arms brushed against each other on the armrest. Without thinking, I reached for his hand, lacing my fingers through his. Parker looked up at me, a soft smile playing on his lips, and I knew I was done for. Whatever happened, this man already owned me.

At his door, I hesitated. "Did you have a good time?" I asked, hating how unsure I sounded.

His smile widened. "I had a wonderful time. I can't remember the last time I felt like such a priority to anyone. You promised to make me feel special, and you certainly did."

Relief and joy coursed through me. "Good," I murmured. "That's good."

I leaned in, intending a gentle goodnight kiss. But the moment our lips met, something ignited between us. Parker's hands tangled in my hair as I pressed him against the door, our bodies molding together. As things heated up, hands wandering, exploring, I suddenly pulled back, gasping for air.

"I've always heard you're not supposed to put out on the first date," I panted, every instinct screaming at me to keep going.

His expression darkened with desire. "Well," he said, voice husky, "that's too bad. Because I do."

I couldn't hold back any longer. With a groan, I captured his lips again, more urgently this time. My hands roamed his body, relishing the firm muscles beneath his shirt. Parker fumbled with the door handle, and we stumbled into the guest room, a tangle of limbs and heated breaths. "God, you're gorgeous," I murmured against his neck, trailing kisses along his jaw.

His fingers deftly unbuttoned my shirt. "You're not so bad yourself," he quipped, but his voice was breathless.

We fell onto the bed, a mess of wandering hands and discarded clothing. I paused, hovering over his body as I drank in the sight of him. His eyes were dark with desire, his breathing labored, his lips swollen from our kisses. A part of me couldn't believe this was happening.

"You sure about this?" I asked, giving him one last chance to back out.

Parker's response was to pull me down for another searing kiss. "I've never been more sure of anything," he whispered against my lips.

My heart soared. I kissed my way down his chest, reveling in the small gasps and moans I elicited. When I reached the waistband of his pants, I looked up, seeking permission. He nodded, lifting his hips to help me shimmy his pants and underwear down his legs and off. I tossed them onto the floor then quickly shed my own. The sight of Parker, flushed and wanting beneath me, nearly undid me. I'd had plenty of hookups before, but this—this felt different. Important. It felt like more.

"Travis," he begged, reaching for me. "Please." I didn't need to be asked twice. Settling between his legs, I took us both in hand, stroking slowly. The sensation was incredible, and judging by his sharp intake of breath, he felt the same.

"Oh god," he moaned, his hips bucking up into my hand.

I set a steady rhythm, watching his face contort with pleasure. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. As our breathing quickened and his moans grew louder, I knew we were both close.

"Travis, I'm gonna?—"

"Me too," I gasped. "Together."

With a few more strokes, we tumbled over the edge, crying out each other's names. I collapsed on top of him, both of us panting heavily. As we lay there, coming down from our high, a thought struck me. This wasn't just sex. This was the beginning of something. And for once in my life, that didn't scare me at all.