Needing You #2 - Wanting Him

Wanting Him

Copyright © 2014
by T. Renee Fike.

All Rights Reserved.

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means without prior written permission from the author.  This is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’ imagination or are used fictitiously.  Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Cover Illustration by: Cover to Cover Design

Acknowledgements

I want to take the time to thank my mom again for your help and suggestions!  Thank you for supporting me in my new goals.  I also want to thank my friends because of you
r continuous support through this new journey.

Prologue

Why do some people get to live life nice and easy, while others struggle just to make ends meet?  Why can some get a free ride while others do whatever means necessary to survive?  Life’s not easy and hasn’t been for me or my sister for the past few years.  We may not have much, but I work damn hard to make sure my sister is taken care of and there’s a roof over our heads.

Rumors, distance,
and people tend to make things in life dramatic when they don’t need to be.  Who do I believe?  Do I trust you enough to not break my heart?  Do I trust you to be who you say you are?  Or do I believe the gossipers or the vicious tabloids?

Who truly has my back?  Who can I really trust?  Will everyone let me do
wn or will they be who they say they are?  Actions always speak louder than words, so I guess eventually I’ll see your true colors.

Chapter One

Watching my relatively new boyfriend leave on a tour bus to travel across the country isn’t easy.  He’s the one good thing that’s happened to me in a really long time and without him here, things suck.

I’ve
going back to my boring, old, crappy life now.  My life consists of bartending at nights, college during the day, taking care of my sister, and taking care of the bills, not much fun for a twenty year old.  Why can’t I have a normal twenty year old life?  You know, college, parties, boyfriends, best friends, movies, the running around, the simple things.

Parker
has been a great outlet for me.  Seeing him and being around him makes me feel special and I really do deserve more than what I have right now.  I know I should be thankful for what I have and I am, I just wish I could live like a normal college kid.

“Hey Nat, do you want to han
g out with us today?” Harp asks, knocking me out of my thoughts.

“Maybe another time, I have some things I need to tak
e care of today,” I say lying, as I pay my check at the pizza shop.

Harper’s been through her own fair amount of hell, she doesn’t need to
worry about me.

“Oh
, okay, well maybe another time,” she says, looking hopeful.

I know I should hang out with her more, especially outside of work, because she’s a good friend and person. 
I’m a private person, and I like to keep things to myself.  I hate the look I get of sadness or pity when I tell people my life.

“Sure, another time,” I say with a
small smile.  I say my farewells to her and Tucker, her boyfriend, and head towards my car.

The drive home is short, but it has me continuously thinking about my life and what
I want out of it.

Parker
is living his dream, he’s traveling around the country doing what he does best, music, and man he is amazing to watch on stage.  It doesn’t hurt that he’s absolutely gorgeous too.

Parker thou
gh, he makes things different.  Plus, he’s a great guy.

Just thinking about him makes me happy an
d sad at the same time.  Enough.

I pull into the driveway of my apartment and head inside.

“What’s wrong with you?” Nora, my younger sister asks as I plop down on the couch.

“Just dropped Parker off,” I say
, not having to say anything more.  She’s met him; she knows how I feel about him.

“I would have gone with you,” she says sitting on the couch beside me.

“I know and thank you,” I tell her sweetly, “What do you want to do today?”

“Be lazy,” she says with a laugh.

“When aren’t you lazy?”

“Hey now, I have dinner in the crock pot, and I figured we could watch movies or I may read a book.  Do you work tonight?” she asks curiously.

“No, I took off, knowing that Parker was leaving, I don’t want to be at work,” I tell her truthfully.

“So we can veg out and watch movies tonight,” she says excitedly.

“Sure can, but no mopey movies,” I tell her.

“No problem, action packed it is,” she says smiling.

My sister looks like a younger version of me, long blonde hair, and petite body with blue eyes.  Where I’m 5’8” she’s 5’3.”  It’s almost scary on how much we look alike. Thankfully, we were lucky to inherit our features from our mom.

I watch my sister get off the couch and hear her check the food in the crock pot.  My phone chimes, and I see a message from Parker already.

Parker- “Miss you already.”

I can’t help but feel giddy. I quickly type a response, “I miss you too, and you aren’t even out of the state yet.”

I get a quick response, “When we play close to home, you’re coming, and you can bring Nora, so you don’t have an excuse.”

“I’l
l be there, you can count on it. You’re about to become famous,” I text him.

“I wouldn’t go th
at far, I’m just Parker, remember that.”

“Oh trust me, I could
n’t forget you if I tried,” I text back, feeling my face flush a nice pink shade.

“I left that much o
f an imprint huh?  Good to know.  Just wait until you see me again.”

“Oh yeah, what do you have in store?” I type feeling brave.

“You and I locked in a room for 48 hours, you screaming my name, endless times.”

Now
, my face is bright red and I have no idea what to even text back.  He has me all excited and who knows when I get to see him again.

“I’m counting down the days, and I will definitely be holding you to that promise.”

“You can hold me to anything babe.  You should have come on tour with me,” he texts surprising me.

“You know that’s not an option, Nora’s here, school, and work.  You bet
ter give me updates on how your shows go,” I say, trying to change the subject.

“I know, it sucks.  Don’t miss me too much.”

“I’ll try hard not to.  I have lots to keep me busy.” I respond back.

“Better not be any guys to keep you busy, only
me, got it?”

"No w
orries caveman; I only want you.”

“Keep it that way
.  Alright I gotta go, the guys are giving me shit.  I’ll call when we get to the first stop.”

“Ok, have fun,
” I respond before setting my phone down.

The rest of the day and evening are spent hanging out with my sister, watching action packed movies, and eating until we can’t move.

We finally head to bed around 1 a.m., no sooner do I hit the pillow, my phone chimes.

“Hey babe, not sure if you’re awake, wanted to let you know we’re at our first stop.”

I type out a quick message, “Glad you made it. You’ll kick ass like always.”

“Sweet dreams beautiful,” comes back to me.

“Sweet dreams Park,” I hit send and then hope to dream of the sexy green eyed man with tattoos.

Parker is every girls dream come true.  He’s tall
, around 6’4,” has dark brown hair with dark sexy green eyes, and both of his arms are covered in sleeves of tattoos, and don’t even get me started on his dimples.  The man is a walking sexual fantasy.  Girls want him and guys want to be him.

And right now
...He’s Mine.

Now don’t get me wrong, I know girls are throwing themselves at him, they have before I met him over
two years ago.  We started dating a few months ago and the relationship is new.

Can we even survive a music tour?  Who knows, but I sure know I want to try.

I’m not one of those jealous type girls.  I’ve seen Harper, and she has some jealousy in her.  She probably won’t admit it, but she does, I’ve seen it with Tuck.

Can we make it?  New couple starting out basically in a long distance relationship, at least for the next
eight months…the odds are against us.  I need to be realistic, but damn, I can only hope how good we are together can continue.

Hopefully temptation doesn’t take over for Parker, though I can understand if it does.  Ugh, it sucks being me.

Chapter Two

(Two Months Later)

“What are your plans tonight Nor?” I ask my sister.

“I’m spending the
night at Liz’s house,” she says.

“What time do you need to be at Liz’s house?” I ask checking the time.  It’s only 3:42 p.m.  I don’t have to be at work for another four hours.

“I’m planning on going over around 6, do you mind dropping me off?  If not, her mom said she’d come pick me up,” she asks.

“I can drop you off.  No parties and no boys,” I say reminding her of the rules.

“I know, I know,” she whines.

We hang out for a few hours before I take her to Liz’s house and then come home to relax before my shift at PowerTrips.

As I’m resting on the couch reading a good book, my phone chimes.

I see a message from Harper. “Hey, how
ya holding up?”

I type a message back, “
Good, thanks for checking.”

“No problem, if you need anything let me know.”

“Thanks, I will,” I respond.

“Ok, see
ya tonight,” she responds back. I figured she was working tonight, she usually does.

Harper works weekends, whereas I work a few days during the week and on weekends.  It’s not cheap renti
ng an apartment for two people and making sure all the bills are paid.

I’m fortunate for grants and scholarships for school, even though I started a year later than kids my age.  I’m working towards my degree and supporting my sister and me.

Thank goodness Eddie looks out for me and is generous with hours during the week.  If he wasn’t, I don’t know what I would be doing.

Actually, I do.
I would have to drop out of college to get a full time job to support us; thankfully, I don’t have to do that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I get to the bar around 7:30 p.m. and head inside.  I say hey to Davie, the bouncer, as I make my way in.  It’s not crowded yet, but there’s a band tonight so I’m sure it will get packed.

I toss my bag in the back and then head out to the first floor bar and see Marcus serving drinks.

“You up here or on the second floor bar tonight?”

“I’m up here with you and Harper,” he says.

I just nod my head and then look in the coolers to stock before it gets crazy in here.

I say hey to Eddie
, as I make my way to the cooler to grab some cases.  I stock and refill the liquors that are running low.

“Hey Nat,” Harper smiles as she comes behind the bar.

“Hey Harp, no Tucker tonight?” I ask surprised.

“Not tonight, he’s spending
a few days with his sister,” she says surprising me.  We haven’t really talked too much about our personal lives lately.

I know Tuck had a falling out with his family and the only one he’s close to is his sister.  I also know she’s close to falling off the wagon.  At lea
st, that’s what Parker told me.

“Is everything alright?” I ask.

“Yeah, as far as I know,” she says with a shrug.

“Good
.”

“
If you want to hang out after work, let me know,” she says with a smile.

“What?” I ask curiously.

“What, what?” she says still smiling.

“What’s with the smile?  And you do realize we get off work at 2 a.m. right?” I ask surprised that she wants to hang out after work.

“I know, but I’m always wired when I get off work.  Figured if you were too, we could hang out,” she says like it’s no big deal, which it’s not.

“You know, that sounds like a good idea.  Do you want to hang out at my house?” I ask.

“Sure,” she says with a smile plastered on her face.

“
Why are you smiling like that?”

“I never get to do the whole girls thing, I’m excited,” she says honestly.

“Harp, you hang out with Rowan all the time.”

“It’s
different; she’s my roommate.”

I understand hearing Harper’s past and what her parent’s put her through, she became closed off from everyone.  She lost friends, ignored people, and wanted nothing to do with anyone.  So asking to hang out with me has
probably been a big step for her and she’s come a long way from when she first moved here.

I remember seeing all the hoops Tuck had to go through to even get her to talk to him.  It probably didn’t help that I told her she shoul
d stay away from him because he was bad news.

He was though.  He used girls, not that they cared, but every girl thought they could be the one to tame his wild and crazy ass and they couldn’t.  So instead, they would cry and sulk and blah, blah, blah.

Unfortunately, I had a friend who tried to tame him, it didn’t work and I saw how it left her.  She was miserable, could barely get out of bed.  Pathetic, I know.  Especially for a guy who you knew damn well didn’t want you for anything other than a quick lay.

Some girls will never learn.

Then you have Harp, she didn’t want anything from anyone.  I’m not even too sure how they met, but whatever it was, was enough to pull Tucker in.  He’s been after her ever since.  I’ve never seen him with a girl the way he is with Harp.

They are a cute couple and get along great.  I hope they always have good times to come; they both deserve to be happy.

“It will be fun, my sister’s spending the night at a friend’s house, so you can stay over too if you want,” I tell her.

“Umm, Nat, I’ll need to spend the night unless you feel like driving me home,” she says reminding me she
still doesn’t own a car.

“Oh shit, right, forget I said that,” I say with a smile.

The bar starts to get busy and our conversation is cut short.  We both start taking orders and serving thirsty customers.

At 10:00 p.m.
, the band heads onto the stage.  They are called Twisted Mafia.  I’m not even sure what to think.  I glance at Harper who is staring at me with a “holy shit” look.  I just laugh and continue serving drinks.  But damn if a few of the guys in the band aren’t hot.

We get a quick break once the band star
ts, because the crowds listen to see how good they are.

I’ve been working at
PowerTrip’s for a little over two years and I love my job.  The money’s great too.  I get to see a bunch of bands play, meet some interesting people, and everyone I work with is cool.

A few hours later I inform Harp,
“I’m going to take a quick break,” I head towards the back to head outside for some fresh air.

“I’ll take mine when you come back in,” Harp says as I’m walking away.

“Okay,” I holler back.

I walk outside and the air feels
amazing against my sweat soaked skin.

I look at my phone and see I have a text from Parker.  It brings an instant smile to my face.  I open my message, “Hey beautiful, hope work
’s going well.  I figured I’d message you now before we go in for sound check.  If it’s not too late when we get done, I’ll call you.  Miss you.”

I look at the time stamp and he sent it about 40 minutes ago.  Knowing he won’t get my message until later, I decide to
send him one anyway. “Hey Park, I hope you have an amazing show tonight.  Harp’s coming over after work to hang out, but call me, I miss you,” and then I hit send. 

I enjoy the rest of my
break and on the way back in I run into the guys of Twisted Mafia.  They must be taking a quick break.

“Hi,” a few of the guys say.  They are even hotter up close.

“Hi, great show. You guys sound awesome,” I tell them as I start to head towards the door.

“Do I know you?” one guy asks.

“I don’t think so.”

“Oh well I’m Cameron, it’s nice to meet you,” he says as he holds his hand out for me to shake.

I shake it, “I’m Natalie.  I need to get back to work.  Good luck on your next set,” I say as I make my way back inside to serve waiting customers.

Ten minutes later the guys are back on stage and the
crowd is going wild for them.  They really are a good band and easy on the eyes.

Seeing the band, makes me think of Parker and the guys and how they are off on tour, playing for crowds much bigger than the bar crowds.  I can’t help but smile and be excited for him.

“What are you smiling about?” Harp asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Parker and the guys,” I say truthfully.

“You got it bad,” she says with a sympathetic look.

“Maybe,” I say with a smile.

“No maybe about it Nat, he has you hooked and it hasn’t been that long,” she says all serious.

“What?  We aren’t that serious,” I
state.

“Do you talk or text daily?” she says calling me out.

“Yeah, so, what’s your point?”

“You’re addicted to Parker and he’s the same with you,” she says with a big shit eating grin.

“Oh stop, we like each other and we’re going to see how it goes, that’s all,” I say with an innocent look. 

I know how I feel about him, but I can’t be sure if he feels the same way or not.  He can have any freaking w
oman he wants.  I’m talking ANY WOMAN. 

So for now
, he wants me and that’s good enough for me.  I will take any part of Parker I can get my hands on.  Trust me…I’ve had my hands on him a lot.

The rest of the night goes by quickly and before I know it, Harper and I are headed outside.  We say our
goodnights to the crew and head out.

“I’m parked over here,” I tell her
, pointing in the direction of my car.

“Tips were great tonight.  I think we should have that band back again,” Harp says surprising me.

“I agree. Are you and Tucker alright?” I ask curiously.

“Yeah, we’re fine,” she says
softly, looking anywhere but at me.

“You’re not getting out of it that easy.  Obviously, something’s going on.”

Harp lets out a deep breath, making me realize something is going on between the two of them.  How did I miss the signs for this?  Oh yeah, I have my own problems right now.