I should’ve gone to a hotel. A smart person would have thought of that. Not me because I’m an idiot, apparently.
When I got to my parents’ home, my dad wasn’t there. My mother’s car was in the driveway, but when I went inside she must have already been asleep because the house was quiet. I showered and crashed, sleeping over twelve hours. That’s unheard of from me. I’m always awake by seven no matter how many hours of sleep I get a night.
I dressed, well I pulled on a pair of yoga pants and put a bra on under the t-shirt I slept in and then came down the stairs only to be greeted by my mother’s wrath. She was hosting lunch. In attendance was her best friend, Judy Reed. The nasty woman matches my mother in every way from believing her shit doesn’t stink to if a wife is employed then it must mean they’re poor.
After my mother got over the shock of me being there, she reluctantly introduced me to her other two lady friends. One of them being Preston’s mother. Great. Afterwards she took me out of earshot and made it clear that loungewear was not appropriate attire for the middle of the day on a Thursday afternoon. She followed that up by asking me if my father knew I defiled my body with a disgusting tattoo. She noticed the one on my hip. The sleeve of my t-shirt covered the rose so she didn’t see that one.
I should probably not mention the next one I’m think about getting Shawn to ink on me. Something tells me it wouldn’t go over well with her.
That all took place yesterday, less than twenty-four hours ago.
Last night was even worse. My parents threw a dinner party, and wouldn’t you know it, Preston showed up alongside his parents too. Talk about an awkward dinner. Being the one with zero in common with anyone at the table, minus blood, was uncomfortable. I usually have my brother to distract me and talk to at these things. Not anymore.
I did learn though that Preston is now a junior lawyer at my dad’s law firm. He also has aspirations of becoming a partner within a few years.
Yippee ki-yay for him.
When I tried to excuse myself with the excuse of needing to pack because I’d be leaving for Georgia this morning, my mother plastered on the biggest fakest smile I’ve ever seen. Then she thought it would be the greatest idea if Preston took today off and came with me so he and I would have a better chance to get to know one another.
I looked to my dad thinking he might intervene because what father logically wants a man to go away with his daughter for the weekend when she isn’t married to that man? He said nothing. I don’t even think he heard a word of the conversation during the whole dinner. It was like he was off in la-la-land.
Preston made it known that he’d love to come with me and by the time they left it was set in stone that he was going and I never breathed a word. I didn’t agree to this. I didn’t want this, yet here I am, I’m sitting in the passenger seat of his Mercedes-Benz. I guess he got rid of the douchey Corvette.
We are five minutes away from Pam and Bill’s second home in Georgia. I’m silently flipping my own shit, in fear that Shawn is going to flip his shit when I walk in with Preston. Shawn hasn’t called or sent me a text since I left Mac’s the other night. For all I know, he’s moved on and doesn’t give a rat’s behind about what we did or didn’t have. It was sex, but why couldn’t it have been more? I’m such a girl.
“Take the next right.” I close my eReader and shove it down in my purse.
“No worries, the GPS will get us there.” He points toward the center dashboard of his car. His voice annoys me so in lieu of starting a conversation, I lean my back against the back of the seat and close my eyes. I read the whole six hours of the drive and now I wouldn’t mind taking a nap.
I feel the car come to stop so I open my eyes. We are here.
Finally.
Grabbing my purse, I exit the car, and then grab my large tote bag from his trunk when Preston pops the lock.
There are at least ten vehicles here. Shawn and Mason are friends with a lot of the locals from the town. When we come here, the house is always full of people a lot like it is back home on the weekends.
Walking through the front door, I head straight to the bedrooms in the back to drop my stuff off. Since Shawn’s parents aren’t here, he’ll most likely take the Master Bedroom. He usually does unless Shane beats him to it. Since Preston is here, that will free up a bunk for him to sleep in.
Walking in, the rooms are already junked up. I see Mase and Matt already have their crap everywhere. Shawn’s stuff isn’t in here, which confirms my guess that he took his parents’ bedroom. I toss my bag and purse on my bed then gesture to the other bottom bunk behind me.
“You can take that one.” Turning around, I look at Preston who’s eyeing the twin size bed. He doesn’t look thrilled. Oh freakin’ well. Maybe he shouldn’t have invited himself to come. I fake a smile and walk out.
Making my way down the hall, I continue through the living room until I reach the kitchen. Its midafternoon and I could use a beer so I go straight toward the refrigerator and take out a Corona. After searching for limes, I pop the cap and push a slice inside the bottle.
Tipping it back, I take a swallow as my eyes close to savor the crisp taste.
“About time you—” Mason stops mid-sentence. I reluctantly reopen my eyes to look at Mason. He’s peering over my shoulder. When I glance in that direction I see Preston coming toward us. I look at my beer then back at him remembering he’s a wine guy.
“We probably should have stopped by a liquor store. Sorry.” I hold up my beer. “I didn’t really think about that. My roommate’s mom might have some wine in a cabinet over there.” I point toward the cabinet above the stove that houses most of the liquor Bill keeps. I guess if Pam had wine it’d be there.
“I tell you what, I’ll live a little this weekend and have what you’re having.”
“Okay, they’re in the fridge.” I turn toward Mason. He grabs me by the elbow and pulls me out of earshot.
“What the fuck is he doing here? Shawn is going to flip the fuck out, Taralynn. What the hell were you thinking?” He swipes my beer from my hand and takes a swallow. “Jeez.” Mason shakes his head from side to side then takes another sip.
“Shawn’s not going to flip out.” He’s totally going to flip his lid.
“Why is he here?” Mason’s eyes glance in Preston’s direction before landing back on mine. “You didn’t like the guy when you went out with him last year. Are you trying to make Shawn jealous?”
“I’m not trying to do anything to Shawn. He’s here just because.” Because I don’t have the guts to stand up to my mother or to tell her where she can shove it that’s the real reason why.
Don’t lie to yourself, Taralynn. You know you’re hoping Shawn gets jealous.
Well, yeah, of course I am, but the likelihood of that is slim.
“When do we eat?” I’m hungry and I’m tired of this conversation.
“He was dropping the legs when I walked inside to get a beer.”
“Can I have my beer back, now?” He gives me a look before turning around and walking off. I huff and get another beer.
“Legs?” Preston questions.
“Crab legs.” I’ve been looking forward to them for weeks. The sound of the back door opens followed by Shawn’s deep voice.
“Foods on the table.” I look in his direction. He’s staring back at me, and then his eyes slide toward Preston. Shawn’s expression changes as anger flashes in front of me when his eyes land back on mine. He’s pissed. Walking fully inside, he kicks the door closed with his shoe. He stalks forward. “A word.” Taking my wrist into his hand he pulls me and I have no choice, but to follow. It’s either that or land on my face.
Shawn drags me into the bathroom before I can jerk my hand free of his. I doubt I would have managed getting loose from his death grip. The last time I ended up alone with him in a bathroom was the start of how I got into a mess with him in the first place. Now that I’ve had him, well sort of since I didn’t really have him, I don’t n
eed to be alone with him. I know what he’s packing and I know just how it feels when he uses that beautiful man junk in his pants.
“Couldn’t you have said whatever it is you need to say outside the bathroom?” I cross my arms, cock my head to the side, and pin him with a stare, that says, I’m annoyed. Not because I am. No, it’s so I don’t reach out and touch him. My hands need to stay to myself. Why does he have to be so freakin’ good looking?
He takes a step in my direction, making him only inches away from my body. His hand slides smoothly over the material of my yoga pants where the band is seated at my hip until he reaches skin.
Son of a freakin’ biscuit. Apparently he has no qualms about touching me. My eyes widen when in reality they want to close and savor his warm touch. I push him away. If I don’t, I’ll cave.
“Don’t.” That one word is all I can muster. I’m weak, but I have to pretend I’m not. It’s his fault I’m this way. He provokes feelings inside me that I wish weren’t there. Life would be much easier. Why, oh why did I have to fall in love with the unattainable? Does God hate me? My own mother does so maybe he does too.
“I haven’t touched you in two days. I want to touch you, Tara.” Oh, too effin bad. We don’t always get what we want. I never do so why should I give him what he wants only when other people aren’t around?
“What about this,” I point between us. “Did you not understand would not happen again? You can go back to banging every whore that crosses your path and I’ll go back to—” I stop not knowing what to say. Pining over him probably. “Go back to doing whatever it was I did before I started sleeping with you. Are we done?”
“No we aren’t done.” His words bite into me making me step back. “What were you doing before you started fucking me? The asshole out there?” He nods his head at the door. He’s talking about Preston. As if. “Why is he here? Why did you bring him here?”
Is he mad? Gee, I just don’t give a crap.
“Leave him out of this.” I don’t answer any of his questions. I need out of this small space. Angry Shawn may be a turn on. I’m so messed up in the head.
“No,” he barks. “Why is he here?”
His persistence causes a huff from my mouth to escape. I stare at him.
“Answer me this, where have you been since you left Mac’s the other night. Sam said you didn’t show up for class yesterday.”
“Why are you talking to Samantha?” My eyebrows draw inward toward my eyes and I place my hands on my hips. He raises his own eyebrows as if to say he isn’t answering my question if I’m not going to answer his. I breathe out, making it loud. “I went to my parents.”
“Samantha was at the house when I got home from work.” He doesn’t get home until after ten, sometimes even eleven. Why was she there? “What’s he doing here, Tara?”
“The evil queen, okay.” God. What does he want from me? I’m not with Preston. If he knows me at all, he knows that much. He continues to stare. Then he crosses his own arms across his chest. “My mother invited him along with me. I didn’t ask him to come.”
“So why did he end up here? Why didn’t you tell him to fuck off?”
“Because it was easier than dealing with the crap she would have thrown at me had I not let him come with me.” Hell, she was already threatening to kick me out of my own family. That’s probably going to happen in a few short months anyhow so why should I push for it to happen sooner?
“I’m not buying that shit.” His facial expression is hard.
“Oh, so now I’m a liar.” Well wasn’t that a foot in the mouth. Apparently he thinks the same thing because an eyebrow rises again. “I don’t care what you believe.” Keep the lies coming Taralynn.
“I think you brought him to piss me off.” That may have been half the reason, but I’ll never admit to it.
“Again, I don’t care what you believe. It doesn’t matter now does it? You’ll have another woman to get you off before nightfall. That is if you don’t already.”
I turn, open the door and walk out. No way do I want to see or hear him confirm my fears.
“Hey, Shawn.” Kammy’s voice filters into my ears. I look up as she walks my way.
It’s nightfall. The sun buried down toward the West a few hours ago, but I still have my sunglasses sitting on the brim of my noise. Obviously not because it’s bright out. With them on, I can watch a certain blonde without her knowing I’m looking.
Right now, Tara is lying across from me, stretched out on a lounger. She’s reading from her eReader. She’s been at it since before the sun went down. Pretty much since we finished eating and got a fire pit started. It’s March, so the air is still too chilly for just hanging-out, outdoors.
Tara’s eyes glance up when she hears Kammy call my name. She succeeded in making me jealous today when she showed up with that douche prick lawyer that she went on a date with months ago. She wants to claim her mother forced her into bringing him with her, but I don’t believe for a second that she didn’t agree because she has something to prove to me.
Two can play at this game, baby.
“Kams!” I exclaim. “Hey, doll, how’s it going?” She stops next to the lounge chair I’m laid back on. I haven’t taken my eyes off of Tara even though it appears I’m looking up at Kammy. It just so happens I might have fooled around with her last summer. And by fooled around, I mean fucked. If I so happen to make Tara as jealous as she’s had me all day, then so fucking be it. She deserves it.
“Better now that I’ve made it and you’re here.” Kammy’s folks and mine are a lot alike. Her parents are even friends with mine. Her family also loves trail riding on four-wheelers and side-by-sides. Whereas we stick to coming to Georgia to have fun, her family takes vacations all over the United States searching for new trails to ride.
Sitting my beer down on the table, I free up my hand to run up her leg starting from her calf going up behind her thigh. Tara’s eyes follow the movements of my hand. That’s it baby, let that green eyed monster take over.
Kammy bends, sitting on the edge of my chair. That’s when Tara swallows hard followed by her mouth opening so she can suck in a gasp of air. Her face pains, making my guts tighten. Shit. I didn’t think this through. I didn’t mean to hurt her. I wanted to piss her off. Make her as mad as I am.
She snaps her eReader closed then looks away before jumping up and leaving the yard where all of us are laying or sitting in lawn chairs around the fire.
Kammy leans down, but I don’t register her until she slides her hand up my chest and whispers for only me to hear. “Can’t we have some fun together tonight? I’ve missed your cock.” My eyes snap up to hers where she is smiling down at me. Damn it.
I grab her around the shoulders and push gently, making her move backwards and I lean up.
“Sorry, Kam.” I shake my head. “Not going to happen.” Her smile falls. “I’m seeing someone.” Her lips turn into a frown. It can’t be helped and I don’t care either. If this is what it’s going to take to get Tara back in my arms, then it’s what I’ll have to do. Fuck the consequences because I want her far too much to let her go now.
“You don’t have to lie to me, Shawn. If you don’t want to fuck me, just say so.” She stands, turns, and stalks off before I’m able to say anything else.
I do the same, heading in the opposite direction. Tara is walking up the steps. She doesn’t enter the house from the back door. Instead she walks around the wrap-around style porch toward the front.
I jog to catch up with her.
When I round the side of the house, she stops just before rounding toward the front as if something caught her attention.
“Tara, wait.” I call out to her, but she throw up her hand as if she wants me to be quiet. I don’t say anything else and she doesn’t move as I near her. When I’m standing behind her, I place my palm over her hip. It’s not skin-to-skin contact but it’ll do until I convince her to give us another chance.
With my other hand I pull
her hair away from the side of her face, pushing the strands to the other side so I can see her face. She looks a bit shocked, or surprised, but sad too. It’s then I hear a voice close by and look in the direction her eyes are focused on.
Preston is sitting on the steps on the front side of the house. He’s talking on his cell phone. I pull Tara an inch closer into my body as I listen to what she’s listening to him say.
“Dude, what about she’s Jacob Evans’s daughter did you not understand? She doesn’t have to be my type for me to fuck her or even marry her. She is exactly what I need to make partner sooner. I don’t want to wait years. I want it now. Do you think, if I marry his daughter, that he’s going to allow his son-in-law to remain a junior lawyer? Hell no.” He pauses. I assume to listen to whomever he’s talking to. “She has a pretty face. All she needs is a personal trainer to tackle that ass and she’d make the perfect little housewife. I mean, have you seen the rack on her?” After a second, he laughs. My hand tightens around Tara. That motherfucker is about to get the shit beat of him.
When he ends his call, he stands. That’s when I release Tara to go do just that, but it’s as if she knows what I’m about to do so she throws her arm out in front of my path. I could easy push through her, but I don’t. Preston walks into the house without realizing anyone overheard him.
Tara turns to face me. When she looks up, a tear rolls down her face. I want to murder him for hurting her this way. Tara’s always been a little too self-conscious in regards to her body. She has no reason to. I don’t get why she is, but she is. Probably has something to do with the evil bitch she calls a mother.
“Is that all you see, too? A chunky girl with a pretty face and big boobs?” Her voice cracks.
“You want to know what I see, baby?” She lowered her face toward the ground, but I lift her chin back up, forcing her eyes to look into mine, I say, “I’ll show you. Then, tomorrow, I’ll make that pathetic little bitch of a man wish he never laid eyes on you.” On what’s mine.
More Than Lies Page 28