The Burn Of Ice

thirty three

        TO TARA

        I don't even know where to begin

        My name isn't Polly, it's Parker, and I'm not an undercover fed. I'm sorry I lied. I had some bad people after me, and I was trying to hide. Our friendship was real, though. I miss you so much.

        I can't say too much, but maybe one day we can meet up in person if you'll forgive me. I had to ditch my old phone, but I'll give you my new number, and we can talk when you're ready. There's no rush. I know it's a lot to take in, especially what I'm going to tell you next

        God, I'm so sorry for this

        I can't tell you why I was there, but I saw Henry with another woman at the Dark Stallion. They were close. Close as in touching her in a way which wasn't friendly. You deserve so much better. I wish I were there to hug you. You're strong. You can get through this

        Please reach out to me. I need a friend

       Love, Parker aka Polly

—

        Weeks have passed since Parker sent the letter. She didn't receive a response. The text messages on her new phone remained empty.

        After leaving New York behind, along with everyone she cared about, Parker travelled nonstop for days, eventually finding herself in a run-down motel in Kansas. She'd yet to move on or commit to staying. Parker didn't think any place would be quite as homey as that apartment she shared with Tom.

        "Hey," Parker said as she headed to the front desk. "I wanna pay for another week."

        "Sure thing, hun." The blonde smacking gum tapped away at her computer. "Name?"

        "Wren Audrey Jamerson." It still felt foreign. At least when she went by Polly, the name had been familiar.

        "Found ya. Card or cash?"

        "Cash." Parker paid for the room, thanked her, and was about to leave when the lady called out, stopping her.

        "Think someone came by here not too long ago, looking for you." She didn't look at Parker. Instead, she went back to reading her magazine.

        "Me?" Parker questioned, brows furrowed.

        "Yeah, hun. Wanted to know if a girl was staying here with black hair, usually seen in jeans and a crop top. Might not be you, but if you've got something you're running from, you might want to keep one eye over your shoulder."

        "They're probably looking for someone else." Parker's mind ran a mile a minute. Was it Tom? Had he changed his mind? Had he missed her so much he couldn't bare to go another day without seeing her?

        Maybe he'd felt it. The longing. The hole in her heart where he'd carved himself into her. And right next to him, there was Viktor. She was unsure how she went from zero love interests to two of them, but they were there nonetheless, with plenty of room for them both.

        Her feet took her back to her motel room. She'd just finished drinking coffee in a small cafe in town and stopped off at the reception to extend her stay. Parker hoped she could catch him. If he went through all this effort to get there, there was no way he was leaving without seeing her first.

        Parker strode across the parking lot to the second floor. Her room was the one on the very far end. With a shaky hand, she took her key and unlocked the door, pushing it open.