Unpredictable

by Shantel Tessier

“You guys getting serious?” Slade asks him.

  He snorts. “No. We fuck. That’s it.” It hurts to hear how believable that sounds.

  “Sounds like more than that to me. Hell, it looks like more than that to me.”

  “You must need glasses. The bitch is fucking crazy. And those are the best kind to fuck.” His words hurt. Even though his words are true, it doesn’t mean they don’t hurt. He was the one who chased me. He was the one who offered himself up to me. Any person would take that offer—to feel wanted. Especially someone who feels so alone at times. I was stupid to believe it could be more. That a guy like Parker could be honest.

  I feel my anger rising. Crazy? He thinks I’m crazy. I’ll show him crazy.

  I spin around and look over at the bar. I need a guy. Anyone. My eyes scan the bar looking for anyone who I think looks attractive, and my eyes land on a guy sitting at the bar. He has a pair of skinny jeans on that I probably couldn’t even get one leg into. He has one of those beanie looking things on that makes me think it’s cold outside if I didn’t know better. He’s not attractive, by any means, but he’s the best I can come up with on such short notice.

  I take a deep breath and make my way over to him. I lean over the bar next to him and grab his shirt. Before I can give any more thought about this, I pull his face into mine. I place my lips on him and he freezes. He pulls away quickly and looks at me wide-eyed. It only takes seconds before a smile grows on his lips and he places his lips back on mine.

  I part my lips and allow his tongue to slide into mine. I can’t help but think of the way Parker kisses me—his hands in my hair. His lips are hungry as they devour mine. This guy tastes of beer and cigarettes, and I refrain from cringing.

  I start to pull away—this is wrong. This is too crazy for me. Why am I being a whore? Because Parker hurt me. Plain and simple.

  Before I can end it, I’m yanked backward. As I open my eyes, I see Parker’s fist connect with the poor bastard’s jaw. He falls off his barstool—knocked out cold.

  “Parker?” I squeal as I go down to check on the guy, but he wraps his fingers around my upper arm and drags me out of the bar. Shame and anger wash over me.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  PARKER

  “What the fuck…?” I demand. “Just what the hell were you doing?” I yell as I let go of her once we walk through the exit of the bar.

  “Quit being a little bitch, Parker,” she spits out as she stomps down the darkened sidewalk.

  “What does that mean?” I just knocked a guy out cold, and she calls me a little bitch?

  “It means you have a dick, so act like it,” she yells over her shoulder, and I let out a long breath—losing my patience at her cryptic words.

  I run after her and grab her arm. I spin her around and look down at her with hard eyes. “What the fuck is wrong? Why are you mad at me? You’re the one who just had your tongue down some guy’s throat,” I growl. I left her alone for two minutes, and when I turn around, she’s making out with some random guy at the bar. Of course, I was gonna knock the shit out of him.

  “Why do you care?” she yells as she pokes a finger in my chest harshly. “I’m just a crazy bitch who you like to fuck. But that is the best kind, right?”

  Motherfucker! She heard me. She overheard me talking to Slade about her. When he asked me what was going on between us, I lied. I had to. I can’t let anyone see that she’s turning me into a fucking pussy.

  “Kat…” I growl through gritted teeth, pissed off that we are having this conversation.

  She throws her hand up in my face. “Don’t bother. I’ve had about all your bullshit I can take.” She goes to turn around, but I stop her once again.

  “Stop trying to leave,” I snap. “What bullshit?” I demand. I’ve never told her anything that wasn’t the truth. Do I keep my feelings for her to myself? Yes! But I don’t tell her lies.

  Her light brown eyes narrow as they look up into mine. She’s giving me a go to hell look, but she doesn’t understand what that look does to me. How it drive me crazy.

  “I don’t belong to you, Parker.” She finally speaks. “I can kiss or fuck anyone that I want.”

  This time when she spins around and gives me her back, I allow her to walk away—her high heels clicking against the concrete.

  My heart pounds in my chest, and I fist my hands down by my side and plant my feet to the sidewalk. So fucking angry with myself. So fucking angry with her. She’s right! She doesn’t belong to me.

  I will not chase after her! I chant to myself.

  I’m Parker O’Hare. I don’t allow a woman to control my emotions, and I sure as hell don’t chase a bitch down. You’ve done nothing but chase her, you jackass.

  I spin around to storm off to my truck but come to a stop when I see Slade standing there staring at me. “Are you going to go after her?” he asks, looking over my shoulder to see if he can see her.

  “Why would I?” I ask with a careless shrug. “She was nothing but a fuck.” I dig my shaking hand into my back pocket and pull out my cell. “I’ve got more where that came from.” My voice shakes revealing my anger.

  He lowers his eyes to the ground and shakes his head before he looks back up at me. “We both know that’s not true.”

  I square my shoulders and walk right past him as I open up my contacts in my phone. She was also right about another thing. I have a dick, and tonight, I’m gonna use it.

  *****

  I storm into my house and slam the front door. “Whoa,” Tate says standing from the couch. “What’s wrong?”

  I point at Missy as she sits on the couch looking at me wide-eyed. “Your friend is driving me fucking nuts,” I all but yell.

  “Who?” She looks from me to Tate.

  “Katherine.”

  Tate falls down on the couch and rolls his eyes. “Still letting her get to you?” He laughs. “We are only having the one wedding. Not like you’re gonna have to see her again.” Tate places his feet up on the coffee table.

  “We’ve been fucking,” I announce throwing my arms out to my side.

  “Holy fuck!” Tate says as he places a fist over his mouth with laughter. “Since when?”

  “Parker,” Missy says standing from the couch. “Don’t play your games with Kat.” She shakes her head. “She is my friend and she has too much going on to put up with you.”

  “Put up with me?” I ask breathlessly. “Put up with me?” I let out a dark laugh. “I’m the one who is trying to be with her. She is the one who is playing games. You think I want in her pants?” I question. “I’ve already been in her fucking pants. Several times.”

  “Parker,” Tate says my name in warning.

  I look down at my phone as it rings. I pussied out. I didn’t call a chick. I called Mason to see if he wanted to go to a strip club with me. He’s just calling me back.

  “Hello?” I snap.

  “You called?” He sounds like he’s in bed.

  “Yes. Wanna go out and look at some tits and ass?” I ask, and Missy rolls her eyes at me.

  “Yeah,” he says slowly as if he has to think about it. “Sounds good.” I rattle off a club and tell him to meet me there.

  “You’re gonna fuck it up,” Tate says looking up at me.

  I turn and head for the door. “I’m gonna be fucking something,” I call over my shoulder.

  An hour later, I’ve had three beers and a scotch on the rocks. I haven’t had any lap dances, but a few girls have come to sit on my lap. As soon as they sat down, I pushed them away, though. I’m just not in the mood now.

  I watch as a redhead walks up onto the stage dressed as a sexy kitten when I feel my phone vibrate on the table. I look down to read it.

  Mom: Can’t wait to see you at your father’s re-election party tomorrow night. Your father said you’re bringing a date. Can‘t wait to meet her. Love you.

  “FUCK,” I hiss. I forgot all about that party with my parents tomorrow night. Now what in the hell am I gonna d
o? I scroll to Kat’s name in my contacts and stare at it for a few seconds. I finally press call as I walk outside of the club and listen for it to ring. It rings twice and then goes to voicemail. Shit! She pressed the ‘fuck you’ button on me. I dial it again. This time it only rings once.

  I grind my teeth as I walk over to my truck. I don’t even bother going back inside. “Where are you going?” Mason yells from the entrance behind me.

  “I’ll call you later,” I call out as I jump up into my truck.

  What am I gonna say to Kat? I’m sorry? I’m a dick? I felt like I was cornered, and that’s why I made up all that bullshit? I mean, this girl is under my skin, and it’s annoying. I have called her twice and both times she pressed ignore. And now I’m heading over to her house like a whipped little pussy boyfriend. After I just left a strip club. Fuck, this is not gonna go my way. What do I plan on doing? Walk up to her door and demand that she open it? Do I ask her to come to the party once again tomorrow? Or do I just say ‘Hey, bitch. Don’t forget we have plans tomorrow’ and then just turn around and leave? Fuck if I know.

  I pull up to her house and straighten my shirt as I get out of my truck. Quickly, I make my way up to her door and knock on it. I roll back on my heels and place my hands behind my back. After thirty seconds, I knock on it again. After another thirty seconds, I ring the doorbell once. Twice. Three times.

  “What the hell….?” she yells swinging the door open. Her eyes narrow when she sees me and she pulls her robe tighter around herself. “Why are you here?”

  “I tried calling you,” I growl, taking a step toward her.

  “I know. I pressed ignore. Did you not get the hint?” she snaps.

  “Why, you little…”

  “What do you want?” she yells.

  I take a calming breath. “May I come in?”

  “No,” she says, before turning to slam the door in my face.

  I reach out and hit the door with my hand before it can close all the way. It swings open and hits the wall with a bang. She doesn’t even bother turning around to face me as she walks toward the kitchen.

  “What the hell is your problem?” I demand entering the kitchen behind her. “Why are you being such a bitch?”

  She spins around to face me. “What is my problem?” she asks mouth wide open in shock. “My problem is the way you spoke of me to Slade.”

  “That’s how guys talk.” I wave my hand in the air.

  “You’re so full of shit.” Her eyes look me up and down. “And you smell like sex.” She points to the front of the house. “Get your ass out of my house.”

  Fuck! “I can explain that.” Can I? I’m sorry, sweetheart, I just came from a strip club. That’s not gonna go well for me. I cover my balls.

  “I don’t need an explanation of how you fucked someone, Parker. I know how sex works,” she snaps.

  “I didn’t fuck anyone,” I yell. “Yes,” I say throwing my hands out to my side, “I went to a strip club. I went and looked at some tits and ass. Not like you were gonna give it up tonight. Not to me, at least. Maybe the guy in the bar?” That probably wasn’t the best thing to say. But I said it. Can’t take it back now.

  She reaches over and grabs a candle that sits on her kitchen counter. I duck just in time as it passes by my head. “You’re a piece of shit,” she screams as she fists her hands down by her side. “And I never wanna see you again.” She turns around and shoves a set of papers off her kitchen table.

  “Wow,” I say trying not to roll my eyes. “You actually sound serious. Been practicing that?” I ask flatly, as I lean back and place my hands on her counter. I need to take a different approach. Being a dick isn’t going to get me anywhere with her.

  “Serious?” she squeals. “I’m a hundred percent serious, you son of a bitch,” she snaps.

  I stare at her blankly, unaffected by her words, and she lets out a noise that sounds like a growl. I take a second to look around her kitchen to make sure it wasn’t her dog. I don’t put it past her to sic Boner on my ass. She would feed me to him as a chew toy and then dispose of what he doesn’t want. This bitch is that crazy. What can I say? I’ve always had a thing for crazy.

  Once I realize I’m in the clear, I focus my attention back on her. She narrows her eyes on mine as she sees her words are not riling me. But something else starts to awaken as I let my eyes roam over her stiff, yet gorgeous half-naked body. As she was flinging her arms around, her robe has loosened some, allowing me to see her big tits and most of her legs.

  “You don’t mean that.” I take a step closer to her.

  “Don’t you dare, Parker,” she warns throwing her arm up and shoving my chest.

  “Playing hard to get, darling?” My smirk grows.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” she asks in all seriousness, and I lose my cool. I scratch the back of my neck, confused by how to act. I’ve seriously hurt her and that wasn’t my intention at all.

  “What did you want me to say?” I ask desperately. “We’re doing great. We’re in love. We plan on marrying soon?” My voice rises with each sentence. “I offered myself to you, and you haven’t taken it.”

  “Well, you didn’t have a problem telling me how you felt at the nursing home,” she snaps. “You don’t need to fill me full of shit in order for me to spread my legs,” she yells.

  “You’re right,” I ground out. “You seem to do that pretty damn easily,” I yell. “I thought you were gonna spread your legs for the guy at the bar for all of us to watch. But you’re into that kind of shit, aren’t you?”

  “Fuck you, Parker,” she screams.

  “We already did that,” I say with a nod.

  She hangs her head and takes a deep breath before she looks up at me. “I won’t be that bitch for you, Parker.”

  “What?” I demand. She always talks in fucking riddles.

  “I won’t rip myself apart in order for you to feel whole,” she says as she shakes her head quickly. “I won’t stroke your ego to make you feel more like a man.”

  I throw my head back and laugh, mostly because this whole situation is making me delirious. “I’m not the one who needs to feel whole, sweetheart,” I say sweetly.

  She bows her chest as she takes a deep breath. She looks as if she wants to scream something else at me but instead she reaches over to the counter and takes a napkin out of the napkin holder. She walks over to me and shoves it in my chest.

  I let out a breath as I reach for it. “What’s this for?” I demand as she starts to walk away.

  “To wipe all that bullshit off your lips,” she calls over her shoulder.

  “The only one talking bullshit is you,” I say, spinning around and going after her.

  I catch up with her in the living room and spin her around. I grab her shoulders and pull her into me. “I fucked up. I panicked.” I tell her the truth. Since I can’t seem to tell it to anyone else. “How do you think I felt? I laid it all out on the table for you and you left me hanging,” I say through gritted teeth. “What do you want from me?” I demand.

  She straightens her back and lifts her chin. “I want you to prove it.”

  “I will.” That’s one thing about me. Throw me a challenge and I’ll show you just how determined I can be.

  “Fucking other women only proves you’re a piece of shit!” She spits the words at me and then walks past me for the second time.

  “I didn’t fuck anyone,” I remind her once again as I allow her to walk away.

  “Get the fuck out of my house.” She’s right. I just keep fucking up with her.

  I spin around and leave.

  *****

  KATHERINE

  I sit in my father’s room looking through a magazine as he takes his afternoon nap. I’ve been here since I woke up this morning. After what happened to Parker and me last night, I felt this is where I needed to be. I just had this feeling that I should be with him today. I brought him a book to read. The bible. I know, right, you wouldn’t expect m
e to read the bible. But I read it to him. My mom gave him a bible on their wedding day. On the first page, it reads To the man I can call mine. I will love you until the end of time. It makes me sick to even look at. That she filled him with so much hope and so much love, only to take it all away. To leave him feeling empty and alone. I didn’t know it at the time, but he took it well. He never stopped being a father. A provider. I didn’t understand how the world worked at age six but now I know. Now it kills me to watch him say her name. The smile that spreads across his face when he thinks of her. It makes me want to cry at times, but I hold it in. ‘Cause that’s what we do. We stay strong. We don’t break. When I really wanna shake him and say wake up. She left you. She’s not coming back. But that would break his heart, and I hate to see him suffer over her. He’s done it for too long.

  I look down at my phone as I hear it vibrate next to me. “Hello?” I ask, getting up and walking out into the hallway.

  “”I’m sorry,” Parker says for the hundredth time. He’s been calling and texting all day. And to be honest, I’m not really mad at him anymore. I made out with that guy last night in front of his friends, which led to our fight. So what if he went to a strip club? I don’t find anything wrong with that. Call me stupid, but I believe that he didn’t sleep with anyone.

  “It’s okay.”

  He sighs heavily. “No, it’s not. Kat, I want…”

  “Stop,” I say letting out a deep breath. “Just stop, Parker.”

  He’s silent for a few seconds. “Okay. I wanted to remind you that we have that party with my parents tonight,” Parker mumbles and I hate that I smile.

  “I remembered.” I didn’t think he’d want me to go after what I did.

  “Okay.” He sighs. “Just wanted to make sure. I’m not going unless you go with me.”

  “I’ll be there. What time do I need to arrive?” I don’t know why I’m going to be honest. Just to get out of the house?