Craving You (TBX #2) (16 page)

“We need shots. ASAP. Tequila good for you girls?” Savannah questions while standing.

“First round is on me! Let’s do it,” Melanie chirps. I knew I liked this girl. Granted, I like anyone who buys me alcohol, but that’s beside the point.

“Well, come on, let’s get this party started.” At that, Savannah and Melanie make their way to the bar to get the first round of the night.

I take in my surroundings and land on a couple; they look like they’re out on a date. Maybe their first? It looks a little awkward. I’ve never really looked at other couples and regretted never having that feeling.
Regret tastes bitter, I like my life the way it is
. I repeat that mantra.

“So how’s the love life?” Candis questions, and Jamie looks eager for my response.

“Eh, it’s not really a love life, per se. The sex is good.” Jamie coughs at my comment. “Sorry.” I laugh. “How’re things with Tim?”

Her color changes to a slight pale compared to her normal tan completion. “I, uh, ended it with him.”

“What!” Brealynn shrieks, “I thought we talked about this? You were going to give it a go.” Brealynn looks sad. She wants all of us to be as in love as she is. Poor thing.

“It’d never work. You girls know my brothers, come on. It was a nice idea, but let’s face reality.” Yeah, reality sucks. Trust me. That bitch has been in my face for a while now.

“One shot for you, and you…” Savannah deals out the glasses.

Once we all have one in our hands, Hannah says, “Boys are only good for one thing, and half the time they can’t do that right. Here’s to masturbation!” We all down the shot. It burns as it rushes down my throat.

“Don’t worry, we talked to the sexy bartender and he’s sending someone over in five with more shots. You’re welcome,” Melanie beams.

I want to text him. Ugh. Why does life have to be so complicated and why does drunk me have to let her feelings show? The stupid decision it is, I still decide to text him despite my better judgment, clarity shouldn’t have allowed her to get drunk. I’m just sayin’.

Hey.

I’m not saying my judgment is smart. I just want some communication with him. I stare at my phone for what seems like minutes and then put it away.

“Whatcha’ doing?” Brealynn questions with knowing eyes.

“Nothing.” Smooth, Kelsey, real smooth.

“I’m sorry to interrupt. I couldn’t help but take notice of you. Can I buy you a drink?” When I look up, I’m appreciative of the sight in front of me. Not bad on the eyes, buddy. Even if they are bordering on drunk eyes.

“Sure. Vodka would rock my world.” I pull my hair behind my ear and smile up at him.

“Well, damn, I’ll be right back.” He winks and walks off toward the bar.

I don’t have to look beside me; her glare is penetrating my face.

“Kelsey!” Brealynn reprimands.

“What! It’s just a drink.” I don’t say my pride is damaged from not receiving a text back from the one person I care about, I mean, care to talk to.

“Mmmmmhmmmmm,” Candis adds dripping with sarcasm.

“He’s hot. I won’t hold it against you,” Melanie states looking over her shoulder at him.

“I will! You’re in a relationship,” Brealynn says, shocked.

“For fuck’s sake, it’s not a relationship. It’s a fuckship. That’s it. Drop it.” Her mouth drops open at my crassness. It had to be said.

“I’ll leave this here with you, pretty girl. I won’t intrude on what looks like a girls’ night, but here’s my number.” He hands me a piece of paper and my drink. “Have a good night. Hope to hear from you.” Then he walks off.

“Why can’t that ever happen to me? Hot guys just falling at my feet,” Hannah whines.

My phone chimes.

Sweetness. -Parker

That’s all he says, and my heart rate picks up speed. I decide not to text him back right now; I’m too weak.

“You know you’re in love with him, right?” Jamie says, looking all too knowing.

“Wh-what?” I choke on a laugh. “You’re drunk. I don’t fall in love, Jamie. The longest commitment I’ve made is to my cell phone number. Now that I think about it, we have a phoneaversary coming up.”

“Oh, okay, Parker.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“He says the same shit. You two are made for each other. Why can’t you just admit you love him?”

“I’m going to punch you in the face.” Brealynn holds me back from crawling over the table. It was a hollow threat anyway.

“The truth
is
like a punch in the face,” my best friend chimes in. With slow movement, I turn to face her.

“What the hell, Brea! You know this shit is bogus.”

“I don’t know. Jamie is making sense.” Blood rushes through my ears. These bitches are turning on me one by one.

“What makes you think I
love
him?” I spit the word love as vomit fights its way up my throat.

“Look how riled up you’re getting. There are for sure feelings there,” Candis says, endangering her life.

“I know what love looks like, and you had it in your eyes when you were on your phone,” Brealynn states.

“I’m drunk. I love everyone right now! Except you bitches.” Joking, kind of.

“What’s so wrong with love, Kelsey?” Hannah questions. I think about it for a minute.

“Everything,” I say dismissively. “I’m going to the bathroom. When I get back, we need a change of subject or I’m leaving.”

I’m not in love with Parker Taylor, for fuck’s sake!

Parker

“So this girl must have you in knots, Tim.” Taking a pull from my beer, I nod. I know the feeling.

“Yeah. I thought we were goin’ to try to make something out of what we’re doin’. It’s for the best anyway.”

“Yeah.” I sigh. “I know what you mean.” Tim then looks at me shocked.

“Dude, you and Kelsey. Y’all serious?”

“Seriously fucking.”

Tim laughs. “I wouldn’t expect anything less, man. Maybe one day you can find someone to tame your ass. I thought Kelsey would be that someone. She’s a good girl.”

“One of the best.” It’s out of my mouth before I can stop it.

“You love her,” Colt says, nearly choking on his beer.

“You’re fuckin’ insane,” I say, panicked.

“He’s right. I just didn’t have the balls to say it,” Tim adds.

Fuckin’ tools.

“I don’t fuckin’ love her, assholes. I love fucking her. That’s as far as I’d take it.”

“Right. So again, I must ask you. If she met someone tonight and moved on from you, would you care?” Colt questions setting his beer down on the bar.

“Considering I’m inside her every day of the week, yeah, I’d care. It’d suck, but I’d use protection.” I shrug. I’m an asshole and know good and damn well I’d lose my shit if she was with another man.

“Wow. You’re a heartless bastard.” My face turns, shocked to see Tim’s wrapped in anger. “She’s a good girl who’s been through a lot. She deserves better than your sorry ass.”

“Hold the fuck up-”

“No! You hold the fuck up and just admit you love her instead of insulting her.” Tim shakes his head. “This is probably for the best. She deserves someone who can actually admit they love her. Not a coward.”

“I don’t know what you want from me?”

“Nothing, man. Just forget it. Go fuck her senseless and hollow out the person she could be if she were loved by the right man.”

“That’s enough.” Colt finally puts a stop to the insanity.

“Thank fuck.” I down my beer and slam it against the bar.

“Tim’s right, Parker. I’m just tired of listening to your bullshit excuses. You love her and the sooner you admit it, the better off everyone will be.”

“Whatever.” I pull out my phone that’s been vibrating in my pocket.

I’m not wearing any panties. -Kelsey

Fuck. My dick twitches in my jeans.

Some guy just bought me a drink. Do you care? -Kelsey

Maybe I’ll go home with him. – Kelsey

I can’t hear for the roaring in my ears.

Where are you?

If you let that guy touch you …

You’ll what? What if he already has? -Kelsey

Kelsey, don’t fuck with me.

Why, you fuck with me. -Kelsey

You know what this is.

Yeah. We need to stop. –Kelsey

Fuck. She’s right, but I need her one more time. Then I can let her go.

We’ll stop tomorrow. Home. Now.

No. We stop now. Bye, Parker. – Kelsey

My heart shoots up to my throat. Bye? I can’t lose her. I don’t text her back, though.

“Kelsey and I are over. I need a drink.”

“Damn, I didn’t mean for you to toss her aside,” Tim says.

“I didn’t. She tossed me.”

We finally cab it home around one in the morning, and it looks like the girls decided to head home at the same time. A guy gets out of the cab with them, and Colt takes notice. I can hear him growl from beside me. The girls pile out behind him, Kelsey clinging to Brealynn.

The guy leans into Kelsey, and she giggles then waves him off. “See you later!” She sure does move fast.

Colt and I are standing at the door when they stumble up the front steps.

“Who was that, Brealynn?” Colt’s anger is simmering.

“That was Shane.” She says it like we should all know who the fuck Shane is.

“We shared a cab, get over it,” Kelsey slurs, while walking past us into the house.

Seeing her with that guy set me off. Following after her, a light touch on her arm spins her around to face me.

“I’m most certainly not over it.”

“Too. Late.” I can feel the arctic chill encasing over her heart freezing me out. She heads up the stairs and I let her.

Kelsey

Before you get your panties in a twist, nothing happened with Shane last night; he just shared a cab home with us. Maybe I should’ve let something happen, but the thought of letting another man touch me makes me want to vomit. I did what I do best, though; I pushed him and Parker away. Two birds, one stone logic.