With my glass of wine, I lock the front door and lay on the couch, turning on the television. It’s only 2:30 p.m. and it feels like its midnight.
After about forty minutes, I hear my sister laughing. Shit, I forgot to take her cell phone.
I walk back to her room and open the door.
“What?” she snaps.
“You’re grounded,” I remind her.
“So?” she says mouthing back.
“Give me your cell phone,” I tell her as I walk to her nightstand and grab her tablet.
“I hate you sometimes,” she says as she slaps her phone into my hand.
“I don’t care. I love you and I’ll do what I need to do in order to protect you,” I tell her as I walk back out to the couch. I turn her phone and tablet off and resume watching the lifetime movie that’s on, along with drinking my wine.
About an hour later, I hear my cell phone go off, alerting me of a message. Shit! I forgot to text Parker.
I open the phone to in fact see a text from him. “Hey babe, I haven’t heard from you…are you home?”
I type a response, “Yes, sorry had an issue with Nora, forgot to text,” and hit send.
A few seconds later my phone starts ringing.
“Hey babe,” I say as I answer Parker’s call.
“What did she do now?” he asks in a worried tone.
“I came home to find her in her bedroom with a nineteen year old boy, both were trying to throw clothes on,” I tell him unhappily.
“Fuck. Do you know the guy? I’ll kill him,” he says angrily.
“No, I don’t and no you won’t. Its fine now, I got here just in time,” I tell him thankful.
“What the hell does he want with a fifteen year old? Sick fuck,” he says harshly.
“Obviously she lied. He couldn’t seem to get out of here quick enough when I told him. She’s grounded now.”
“How’s that going to work Nat? You work, go to school, you can’t be there constantly to uphold the grounding,” he says, reminding me of my life.
“I’ll figure something out. I don’t know what’s gotten into her, but I’m starting to think that Liz is a bad influence.”
“Just be careful. You don’t want Nora to do something stupid,” he says sweetly.
“She almost did today,” I state, frustrated.
“If there’s anything I can do, let me know babe,” he says kindly.
“Thanks Park, I’ll be alright. You guys still driving or did you hit Utah?”
“We have about another hour until we’re in Utah. The guys are playing video games,” he says calmly.
“Ahh, my baby doesn’t want to play video games?” I say with a laugh.
“Haha so funny, I played a game earlier and I’m up next,” he says with a slight laugh.
Just then I hear one of the guys yell to tell him he’s up.
“Sounds like you’re up,” I state.
“Yeah, but if you need me I can skip it,” he says sweetly.
“No, that’s okay. Go play with the guys. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Alright, well if you need me, call me. Love you Nat.”
“I love you too,” I say before ending the call.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thankfully, the next six months goes by smoothly. My sister is behaving herself, which makes me breathe a sigh of relief. Work and school are keeping me busy.
Harper, Rowan and I haven’t had a chance to spy on Tucker because he hasn’t left since we’ve gotten back. It’s hard to follow someone who doesn’t go anywhere but to school and work. But when he does, we’ll be ready.
Not seeing Parker for months sucks, but I’m getting used to it. I have to. I make sure to avoid all tabloids though. They are getting really crazy; at least that’s what I’ve been told.
Parker has been nothing but a content boyfriend. We talk or text every day and I trust him.
It’s Friday night and I need to be at work at 8:00 p.m. Nora is spending the night at her friend, Lori’s house. I spoke to her mom, and she’s stricter than me, so I feel pretty safe with Nora being there.
I head into work and say hi to Davie, as he lets me past the waiting crowd.
Harper’s already behind the bar serving patrons and I see Marcus nearby too. Twisted Mafia is back and they seem to really be making an impression. The place is already packed.
“Hey Harp,” I say as I throw my purse under the bar in one of the locked cupboards.
“Hey,” she says looking scattered.
I see the waiting line and jump right in serving customers. The band doesn’t start until 9:00 p.m. and the crowd is already chanting their name and its only 8:15 p.m. This is going to be a long night.
“Holy shit, I’m exhausted,” Harp says, as she wipes sweat from her forehead an hour later.
“I know right,” I say through a laugh, “This crowd is crazy.”
“I didn’t realize they were so popular. Last time there wasn’t nearly this many people here,” Harp states.
“I guess word got around and now everyone’s coming out to see them,” I say laughing.
“Only thing good about this are the damn tips,” she says taking a drink of water.
“Hell yes. Tips are great tonight,” I say with a smile.
“Have you talked to Parker today?” she asks nervously.
“Yeah, before I came in. Why?” I ask curiously.
“No reason,” she says quickly while looking away.
“Harp spill,” I demand.
“Nothing,” she says again.
“You look like your hiding something, tell me,” I state frustrated.
“Alright, but don’t be mad at me,” she says looking intently at me.
“I won’t,” I state.
“Well, I overheard Tucker on the phone with him. They’re talking a lot lately. I’m not exactly sure what happened, I just know that I heard Tuck tell him that he has to tell you the truth if he wants to continue a relationship with you,” she says solemnly.
“What did he do?” I ask nervously.
“I’m not sure, but based on the way Tuck sounded and acted, it doesn’t sound good,” she says truthfully.
“It could be nothing,” I simply say.
“I hope it’s nothing,” she says looking worried.
“Did you ask Tucker about it?” I ask curiously.
“Yeah, but he told me it’s not his place to say anything, that Parker needs to talk to you,” she says, looking sorry.
“Great, now I’m going to worry until I freaking talk to him,” I say bitterly.
“I’m sorry Nat; maybe I shouldn’t have said anything?” she says, looking worried.
“No, I appreciate you telling me. I just wish you knew what it was that he needs to tell me.”
“Sorry,” she says apologizing again.
Just then Tucker walks up the bar.
“Hey babe, hey Nat,” he says looking between the two of us.
“Hey,” Harp says softly.
I say nothing, just look at him.
“You told her didn’t you?” he says calling Harp out.
“I had to, she deserves to know,” Harp snaps back.
“That is Parker’s place to talk to her, not yours,” he says looking frustrated.
“Well I know something’s going on, so why don’t you go ahead and tell me,” I say staring him down.
“I can’t Nat, it’s not my place,” he says, looking sorry.
Shit, this has to be bad.
“Is it bad Tucker?” I ask, hoping for some piece of information, no matter how small it is.
“Shit! Nat, I’m sorry, I can’t tell you anything. You need to talk to Park,” he says looking anywhere but at me.
“Great. Thanks anyways,” I say as I turn and head down the bar to help a customer.
Hopefully, serving customers can get my mind off of whatever Parker needs to tell me. Though I know this is only wishful thinking.
I g
lance down the bar and see Tucker and Harp in a heated discussion, most likely because Harp opened her mouth to me. That’s what friends do though. They watch out for each other.
The next hour passes by quickly, thank goodness for a crowded bar.
Harper keeps giving me apologetic looks. I shake them off, no time to stress; I have no idea what Parker needs to talk to me about.
Around 11:30 p.m., I decide to take my break. The band is still playing and the crowd is watching them, so we’re not as busy at the bar.
“I’m going to take my break,” I tell Harper and Marcus as I make my way towards the side door.
I head outside and enjoy the cool crisp air. I need a break from everything.
I look at my phone thinking I may have a message from Parker, but I don’t. Nope, nothing. I mean he knows I’m working, but still.
I sit down on one of the old crates to rest my feet, then shoot Parker a text.
Me- Hey babe, I miss you.
I wait my entire break, never receiving a response. I want this night to be over; unfortunately I still have a little over two hours left.
“Hey Natalie, how are you?” Cameron from Twisted Mafia says.
“I’m good. You guys on break?”
“Yeah, just a short one.”
“Okay, great set tonight.”
“Thanks. The fans seem to like it.”
“They sure do. You have quite a few fans tonight,” I say with a smile.
“Yeah, it’s nice to see so many people come out to hear us.”
“Well great job. See ya around,” I say as I stand up from the crate I’m sitting on.
“Thanks, hey Natalie, can I ask you something?” Cameron says stopping me.
“Sure, what’s up?”
“I was wondering if you would like to go out with me sometime, dinner or something?”
“I’m sorry, I have a boyfriend,” I respond with a polite smile.
“Oh sorry, I didn’t realize.”
“No worries. Have a good night.”
“You too Natalie,” he says as I turn and head inside.
The bar is crazy busy so I bust my ass serving drinks, which in turn is making the time fly by.
Before I know it, we announce last call and are now restocking the coolers.
“Are you alright?” Harper all but whispers to me.
“I’m fine.”
“No, seriously, are you okay?” she says looking really worried.
“Harp, I have no idea what he’s done. I’m fine,” I tell her again.
“If you need me, you can call me anytime,” she says looking serious.
“Thanks, but I’m sure I’ll be alright,” I say, trying to give her a real smile.
The patrons are all told to leave. We are almost done cleaning up. I can’t wait to get home and crawl into bed, hoping to put this day behind me.
After leaving the bar, I make the short drive home. I’m thankful that Nora’s not home tonight, I need to figure out what the hell is going on with my boyfriend.
I pull into the driveway and am surprised when I see Parker sitting on the steps.
“Hey,” I say as I shut my car door.
“Hey,” he says as he comes down the stairs and hugs me tightly.
“What are you doing here?” I ask surprised. He’s supposed to be on tour.
“We need to talk,” he says all serious.
“Come on,” I say as I head up the stairs toward my apartment. I unlock the door and head inside with Parker in tow.
“Does your manager know you’re here?” I ask before he gets the chance to say anything.
“Yeah, he knows,” he says looking sorrowful.
I take a seat on the couch, “What do you want to talk about?” I ask, hoping to get this conversation over with. Sadly, my stomach is churning. I don’t have a good feeling about this.
“Fuck! Nat…I don’t know how to tell you this,” he says as he runs his hands through his hair, pulling at the strands.
“Tell me what?” I ask nervously.
I watch Parker pace my living room floor a few minutes without saying a word.
“Parker, you’re scaring me, what’s going on?” I ask worriedly.
“Nat you know I love you right?” he says as he comes over and sits beside me staring me straight in the face.
“Yes.”
“Baby, please know what I’m about to say doesn’t change the way I feel about you,” he says worriedly.
“Parker spit it out already,” I say frustrated.
“Shit. Nat, I need you to believe me. You know me, I need you to trust me,” he says looking hopeful at me.
“I do trust you. Now tell me what is going on?”
“A month ago I got drunk with the guys when we went out to a bar. I don’t really remember anything from that night. I remember getting drunk and passing out, but that’s it,” he says nervously.
“Okay.”
“Well, now there’s a girl that’s come forward saying she slept with me that night and she’s pregnant,” he says looking grave.
“So you slept with some girl that you don’t remember sleeping with and now she’s pregnant?” I ask, making sure I heard him correctly.
“Yeah,” he says sadly.
“How do you know she’s not lying?” I ask, looking at him like he’s an idiot.
I watch his face go pale and know immediately he didn’t tell me everything.
“I’m not one hundred percent positive, but she has pictures,” he says through clenched teeth.
“Pictures?” I ask, not understanding.
“They look real,” he says gravely.
“So that’s why you came here to my apartment, to tell me you cheated on me and got a bitch pregnant?” I yell as I stand up, wanting to get away from him.
He reaches for me, but I push his hands away and head to the kitchen. Wine, I need wine and lots of it.
Reality is setting in. Parker cheated on me.
“Baby please, you gotta believe me. I don’t remember any of it,” he says worriedly.
“So that makes it alright? That gives you a free pass?” I snap.
“Shit, no it doesn’t. I need you to know that I would never willingly cheat on you,” he says as he now stands in front of me.
“The fact of the matter is that you did cheat. You cheated and now she’s pregnant!” I yell. I don’t care if I wake my neighbors up right now. I’m hurt. I’m pissed.
“Nat, please, we can fix this, we can make this work,” he pleads.
“I think you should leave,” I say quietly.
“Baby no, let me try to fix this,” he says hopeful.
“You can’t fix this. You slept with someone else while we were together. You can’t undo that. It’s done. You need to leave now,” I say as I take a large gulp of wine. Screw the glass, I need the fucking bottle.
“Please,” he starts to say.
“GET OUT.” I yell. My eyes are full of tears just waiting to break free. I will not cry in front of him. I will not cry in front of him.
“Nat I’m sorry. I love you,” he says in one last attempt.
“If you loved me, you wouldn’t have cheated. You need to go,” I say, as I open the front door for him to leave.
I can see the sadness written all over his face. But how do I overcome someone cheating on me? How can you say you love someone if you cheat? It’s all lies.
Once Parker walks out the door, I slam it shut, locking it. I make it to the couch with my bottle of wine before the tears fall rapidly from my eyes.
I knew it was too good to be true. I had my doubts that we could make it through his touring, I should have listened to my gut. Maybe then my heart wouldn’t be hurting so much right now.
Chapter Nine
I wake up the next morning with the worst headache ever. Guess that’s what I get for finishing almost two bottles of wine. I pop some aspirin and drink some water in hopes that last night really didn’t happen.
I ge
t one look in the mirror to realize that last night did, in fact, happen. Parker cheated on me and now he’s having a kid to someone else, other than me.
It makes me thankful that me missing my pills the weekend I went to see him the first time, didn’t affect me. I got my friend a few weeks later, thank God.
How did my life get so screwed up? I thought I found a guy who was serious about me, but instead he cheats on me.
I don’t care who you are, drinking does not give you a free pass to make mistakes. Whether you know what’s going on or not, you allowed yourself to get into that type of situation and now you have to live with the consequences.
My head is still throbbing, so I lay back down on the couch. I turn on the television trying to block out the past ten hours of my life.
Unfortunately, the tears start back up. I can’t stop crying. I love him and he just broke my heart.
Sometime later I hear my sister coming up the stairs. I don’t even have the energy to hide my red, puffy eyes.
“Hey,” she says, as she walks through the door.
“Hey,” I mumble looking back at the television; looking anywhere but at my sister.
“Who the heck did you have over here last night?” she says surprising me.
“What? No one,” I say back.
“You drank all that wine,” she asks curiously, while eyeing the two empty bottles of wine sitting on the coffee table.
Crap. I didn’t throw the bottles out.
“Umm…yeah I did,” I say, pulling the blanket closer to my face trying to hide it.
“Seriously Nat, what’s going on?” she says as she steps closer to me, “Hell, what happened? Why are you crying?” she says worriedly as she takes a good look at me.
“Parker and I broke up,” I tell her as the tears start to fall again.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. Why didn’t you call me?” she says as she sits down beside me trying to comfort me.
“It happened at 2:30 a.m.” I tell her.
“Why? I thought you guys were doing really well,” she says surprised.
“He cheated on me,” I tell her, letting out the fact that he’s going to be a dad.
“HE WHAT?” she asks sounding angry and confused.
“You heard me.”
Needing You #2 - Wanting Him Page 7