Needing You #2 - Wanting Him (10 page)

“Shit.  I’ll think about it,” I say nervously.

“Good and when you’re ready let me know, I have a great guy for you,” she says way too happily.

“You’ve been planning this for too long haven’t you?” I say calling her out.

“Maybe.  Don’t get me wrong, I thought you and Parker were great, but I don’t approve of what he did to you.  You deserve to be happy, even if it’s with someone else,” she says with a smile.

“Thanks Harp,” I tell her as I see waiting customers, “Back to work,” I tell her as I head towards them.

The band starts at 10:00 p.m. and they are okay.  Nothing to write home about, but they are at least decent.  The crowd was strong to start, but it’s slowly thinning out.

It’s almost 1:00 a.m., so the band’s done soon, which is good
, because I’m ready to close up and head home.

We start restocking the coo
lers as soon as the band is done.  There are a few stragglers still drinking, but majority has left. 

Once last call is announced, I wait patiently so we can leave.

“Have you given any more thought to what we talked about earlier?” Harp asks, as she comes up beside me.

“No,” I answer her truthfully.

“Okay, well just think about it.”

“I will.”

Thankfully, the night is over and we are closed.  I waste no time saying goodnight and heading outside to my car.  I just want to go home and relax, forgetting all about band members.

Chapter
Ten

Friday
is the same thing; hang out at the house with Nora until I drop her off at her friend’s house for the night.  Then I head into work.  The Hellions are playing tonight.  Talk about some hard core punk rock.  It’s a good distraction though.

I get into work a few minutes before 8:00 p.m.  I say hey to everyone as I make my way behind the bar.  Marcus is already serving customers and looking semi-busy. 

I put my purse away and clock in to begin my shift. 

A little while later, Harper shows up looking happy.

“What’s going on?” I ask right away.

“
Nothing,” she says with a look.

“You’re up to something?” I say calling her out.

“Who? Me?  Never,” she says with a devious laugh.

“And here I thought it was something good with you and Tuck,” I state with a laugh.

“We’re good, really good actually,” she says with a huge smile.

“
I’m glad to hear it.  So now, what are you hiding?” I tell her truthfully.

“Parker’s coming home soon.”

“What? Why?” I ask confused.

“Taking a little break,” she says still smiling.

“No Harp, don’t get your hopes up.”

“Oh come on…you know you miss him.”

“Missing him and being with him are two totally different things.”

“You’re right.  So hang out and see how things go.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Too late, he’s coming in here tomorrow.”

I feel my shoulders fall.  Great.  Just want I need…a Parker distraction.

After waiting on customer after customer I can finally take a breather.

“Hey Natalie, how are you?”

“I’m good Cameron, how about you?” I say making conversation.

“Good.  I wanted to ask you something, when you get a minute.”

“Go ahead and ask me now.”

“I was wondering if you would like to hang out sometime?” he asks kindly.

“Oh…umm,” I start to say.

“Just as friends, that way we can get to know each other,” he says quickly.

“Can I think about it?” I ask nervously.  Don’t get me wrong, Cameron’s a good looking guy, I’m just not sure I’m ready to date.

“Sure.  You aren’t still in a relationship are you?”

“No.”

“I didn’t think so.  I thought I heard he was having a kid or something,” he says surprising me.

“Yeah, something like that.”

“Think about it.  I’m not a bad guy Natalie,” he says with a smile as he stands.

“I’ll let you know,” I say as he nods and heads toward a group of guys.

The rest of the night goes by smoothly, thankfully.  Once it’s time to go, I’m out of there.

I get home in record time, then shower and head to bed.

Saturday morning is spent sleeping in and being lazy until Nora’s destruction of something makes me climb out of bed.

“What on Earth are you doing?” I holler
, as I come out of my bedroom.

“Sorry, I dropped a pan,” she says apologetically.

“It’s alright.  Are you planning on staying here tonight or going to a friend’s house?” I ask as I head towards the kitchen.

“Staying in.”

“Okay, but no visitors and especially no boys,” I remind her.

“I won’t.  Don’t worry.  I’m not hanging out with Liz anymore,” she says matter of fact.

“What
?  Does Liz have to do with anything?” I ask confused.

“She
gets into a lot of trouble or it follows her, I’m not sure,” she says with a shrug.

“Okay, did you guys have a falling out or something?”

“Or something…she’s just not who I want to hang out with anymore.”

“
Good for you,” I tell her with a smile.

“What time do you
gotta be at work?”

“Eight tonight,” I tell her with a
frustrated sign.

“What’s wrong?”

“Parker’s coming into town.”

“Seriously?  Can I see him?” she asks excitedly.

“I don’t know.  Text him.  Maybe he will come here and hang out with you and be gone before I get home.”

“Okay,” she says excitedly.

“Ugh, why can’t I get over him?” I ask myself as I plop onto the couch.

“Because you still want him,” my sister says from behind me.

“Shit.  I wasn’t really looking for an answer,” I snap.

“It’s true.  He’s the first guy
, in practically forever, that you gave a chance to.  You will always want him, you do know that right?” she states with a serious look.

“No, I won’t always want him,” I state louder than intended.

“Yes you will.  You love him, you always will.  Eventually, you’ll move on, but a part of you will always love and want him,” she says, sounding years wiser than she is.

“When did you become such a pro at love and people’s feelings?” I ask curiously.

“I’m not, I just see things,” she says with a blush.

“No, t
hat was some wise words you just spoke.  Where did they come from?”

“Nat…I saw you with Park.  I know he messed up with cheating, but I also know he loved you, probably still does,” she says looking closely at me.

“No, you don’t cheat on the one you love,” I snap at her.

“Stop.  Parker messed up for whatever reason, I don’t know, but I do know he’s not dad.  He’s nothing like him.  You can’t put all men who cheat in the same category as dad was,” she says with angry eyes.

“I’m not comparing Parker to dad, but then again if the shoe fits,” I point out.

“No, not if the shoe fits.  He is nothing like dad.  You are in love with him, are you sure you should give up on him?” she asks cautiously.

“Nor, he’s having a baby with someone else,” I say bitterly.

“WHAT?” she shrieks.

“Oh yeah, that time he supposedly cheated on me once, got a girl knocked up.  So, tell me Oh Wise One…what am I to do with that?” I ask in a mocking tone.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asks apologetically.

“There’s no point.  What’s done is done.  Parker is a part of my past now.  I’m sorry if you thought he would be here with us forever, but that’s just not the reality of it anymore,” I say, letting my sister down.  She looked up to him in the short time she was around him.

“It’s going to be alright,” she says as she comes and wraps her arm around my shoulders.

“Yeah, it will be.  We are all each other has, we need to stick together Nor,” I remind her.

“I know and we will,” she says with a smile.

I give my sister a hug, thankful that I at least have her in my life.

Before I know it, it’s time to head into work.  I say goodbye to her and head in
, hoping to not run into Parker.

Po
werTrips isn’t busy, at least according to the parking lot when I pull in.  I make my way inside, clock in and get to work.  There are quite a few customers, but nothing too crazy.

“You know he’s here right?” Harper says out of nowhere.

“What?  When the heck did you get here?” I ask, not seeing her when I clocked in.

“I’ve been here.  The guys are all here and Tuck came in to hang out with them for a little while.”

“Oh.”

“You know he’s going to talk to you right?”

“No.”

“Yes, he is.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

“He’s not giving up that easy.”

“It’s done.  He needs to focus on his soon to be family.  Not me,” I tell her as I start to restock some of the coolers.

“You can’t ignore him forever.  You’re meant to be with him.”

“I don’t believe in fairytales.”

“I didn’t before, but now I’m not so sure.”

“How’s Tuck doing?”

“He’s been fighting the flu for the past few weeks.”

“Oh, that sucks.  He alright?”

“He’s okay.  Losing some weight because he can’t seem to keep much down
, but he says he’s fine.”

“Do you believe him?” I ask her
, knowing I know something’s wrong.  I just don’t know what.

“Yeah.  I mean he’s been around a lot lately.  Plus it is flu like symptoms.  I did tell him if he doesn’t start getting bett
er he needs to go to the doctor.”

“And what did he say?” I ask curiously.

“That he would go.”

“Oh okay
, well that’s good.”

“Yeah.”

“Who’s playing tonight?” I ask changing the subject.

“Green Spies,” she says with a laugh.

“Who the hell are they?”

“No idea, so it should be interesting.”

Just then a few customers come up and back to work we go.  Before we know it, the bar is pretty crowded and we don’t have time to socialize with one another, which I’m thankful for.

When the band’s on stage for a few songs
, I can’t help but look around at all the people.  Unfortunately, when do I can’t help but look for the one person I shouldn’t be looking for.

He
looks so sexy.  He’s wearing light colored jeans that have a few holes in them, a dark green shirt which only makes his green eyes shine.  I can see his sleeves of tattoos and can’t help but want to kiss and lick them.  His dark brown hair is getting a little longer and oh how I wish I could run my fingers through it.

“See something you like?” Harp says from beside me.

“Ugh. I need to get over him.”

“Why? She asks confused.

“You already know why.”

“No, what I know is that you are a mess without him.  He’s a mess without you.  You two are meant to be together.  Don’t let something stupid mess that up,” she declares.

“Cheating is not something stupid, it’s serious.”

“I’m telling you now, that bitch is lying.  I don’t know how to prove it
, but I will.  Don’t give up on him.”

“I wish she was, but he didn’t seem to think she was,” I say before heading in the direction of an approaching customer.

Thankfully, the night is going by quickly.  I was able to sneak in my break without any company.  Maybe Parker is going to let me alone for the night.

Last call is announced and we start serve any last customers before cleaning up.

“Oh umm Nat…”

“What?”

“You’re staying after the bar’s closed,” she says as a statement not a question.

“What?”

“You heard me.  I told the guys we would stay to hang out, that included you,” she says with a devious smile.

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Nora’s at home.”

“She’s been at home all night.  She’ll be fine.”

“No, I can’t.”

“You can and you will.  You’re hanging out with me, plus Rowan’s stopping by.”

“She’s working isn’t she?”

“Yeah, but she said she’d swing by for the after party.  Eddie already said it’s cool.”

“She’s
twenty-one isn’t she?”

“
Yep, sure is.”

“
Thought so.”

“So you’ll stay….please?” she says with pleading eyes.

“For a little while,” I say giving in.

“Perfect,” she says before heading to the kitchen to get more beer.

Once the bar is completely restocked and the last of the patrons are escorted out, the guys are sitting at their regular table.  Tuck’s sitting beside Parker talking about something.

When we walk up everyone eyes us, but it’s only Parker that I see.  He’s staring at me with those sexy dark green eyes and the smile he’s wearing shows off those perfect dimples.  Damn
, I’m screwed.

“Hey baby, do want to sit on my lap?” Declan asks, earning him a jab in the ribs from Nate and it sounded like a kick in the shin under the table from either Tucker or Park.

“I’m good over here Dec, but thanks,” I say with a smile.

We pull up some chairs and sit around the table.  Eddie comes out with some shots and beers and some wine for me.

Everyone makes small talk and I can’t help how fast my glass of wine and two shots have gone down.

“You better slow down,” Harp whispers to me.

“I’m fine.”

“Okay.”

I continue to drink my second glass of wine while everyone makes small talk.  Thankfully, Rowan gets here about thirty minutes later.  I need someone else to talk to.

“Hey everyone,
you remember my roommate Rowan,” she says to the guys.