Needing You #2 - Wanting Him (11 page)

It takes two seconds for Declan to spit his beer out all over the table.

“Man, what the fuck?” Parker yells.

“Shit, sorry,”
he stutters as he grabs some napkins to wipe up his mess.

Rowan waves hi, but doesn’t even
glance in Declan’s direction.

“Here have a shot,” Tuck says as he hands her the tray with full shots.

She grabs it and downs it, then grabs another and downs it.

“You alright?” Harp asks
, confused.

“Yep,” she says as she takes a seat beside me.

“How do you know him?” I whisper to her.

“Who?” she asks
, acting dumb.

“Declan.”

“I don’t.”

“I call bullshit,” I continue to whisper.

“Not here.”

“Tuesday then.”

Fine,” she says looking anything but happy with the conversation.

I grab my cell phone to make sure Nora didn’t text me, only to see she did.

I read her text quick, which says she left to go sleep over at Avery’s.  Hell, she left right after I came into work.  How did I not check my phone earlier?

“Something wrong?” Rowan asks.

“No, Nora’s just spending the night at a friend’s house.”

“See, you can stay.  Oh this is going to get interesting,” Harp says a little too excitedly.

“No it’s not,” I declare.

“What am I missing?” Rowan asks.

“Parker wants her, she wants him, they are destined to be together,” she says in a sing song voice.

Rowan just looks at me and smiles.

“No we aren’t.  He cheated on me, I broke up with him. Don’t listen to her.”

“You still want him though?”
Rowan asks confused.

“Ugh, unfortunately yes. I know
, I know, I’m stupid.”

“No you’re not.  He’s
fucking gorgeous,” Rowan says with a serious face.

“
Ladies, you do know we can hear your conversation right?” Tucker pipes up.

I’m not sure whose face gets redder.  The guys were hooting and hollering
and I never thought they would hear what we were discussing.

We each grab another shot and down it quickly.  Hoping to wipe the embarrassment away.

A little after 4:00 a.m., we all decide to head home.

“You know you can’t drive right?” Tuck
states.

“I know,” I say looking at the ground, “Can you drop me off?”

“I’ll take you,” Parker says.

I look at him, not believing him. I can’t help but stare at his sexiness.  Damn
, how I miss him.

“You were drinking too,” I reply.

“I stopped a while ago.  I’m fine.”

“Alright, well I got these two,” Tuck says pointing to Harp and Rowan who are laughing hysterically at who knows what.

“Let’s go,” Parker says as he allows me to lead the way out the door.

I walk outside
realizing how late it already is.

When I
sway a little to the right, Parker’s right there to steady me and help me to his car.  I get in and watch him as he walks around the front and slides into the driver seat.

“Thanks,” I tell him when he’s in the driving seat.

“Sure thing.”

He
drives the short distance to my house and parks, turning off his car.

“Come on beautiful, let me help you,” he says as he gets out and walks over to help me.

We make it up the stairs, taking longer than necessary, but I couldn’t help how good it felt for his hands to be around me.  Yes they only rested on my hips, but his touches are freaking electrifying.

“Do you want to come in?”

“Sure,” he says with a smile.

“Have a seat,” I tell him as I plop on the couch.

“Can we talk?” he asks as he sits down beside me.

Great…too close for comfort.

“What do you want to talk about?”

“Us.”

“There is no us.”

“But there can be.”

I sit straight up, stare him in the face, “How?  How can there be?  You cheated on me. You’re having a freaking baby.  Tell me how can there possibly be an us?” I say bitterly.

“I love you.  You can’t tell me you don’t feel anything for me.  Hell
, I can see it when you look at me.”

“You’re right I do and eventually it will go away.”

“No it won’t,” he declares.

I roll my eyes, “Yes it will.”

“No it won’t because I won’t let it,” he says and before I can fully register what’s happening his lips are on mine, kissing me with every fiber of his being.

I can’t help but be consumed by his kisses.

“Baby.I.Love.You,” he says in between kisses.

“Don’t stop,” I moan as he trails kisses down my body.

It takes him two seconds to pick me up and carry me back to my bedroom while kissing me incessantly.

Things happen so fast and before I know it
, he’s thrusting inside of me, pulling all sorts of noises from me.

“Harder Park,” I pant wanting more.

“Fuck,” he says as he pounds into me, driving me into oblivion with him following right behind.

“God you’re incredible,” he says
, as he kisses my lips before pulling me tightly into his side.

“We can’t keep doing this,” I try to say with a straight face.

“Yes we can.”

“No Parker we can’t.  I love you, I always will but we need
…”

He cuts me off.
“Not tonight, please, just for tonight let me hold you.”

“Tonight,” I repeat wanting nothing more than for him to hold me forever, even though that’s no longer my reality.

I fall blissfully asleep in his arms.

The next morning comes and I wake up wrapped in Parker’s arms. 
Mmm, how I’ve missed this.

“Morning beautiful,” he says with a smile.

“Morning,” I say snuggling into his side even more; “Let’s just stay like this forever.”

“Sounds good,” he says with a chuckle.

“Let’s go back to sleep.”

“It’s already going on 1 p.m. Nat,” he says with a laugh.

“Shit, seriously?” I ask as I bolt upright in bed, “Nora will be home soon.”

“Okay, I wanted to stop in and see her anyway,” he says with that sexy dimpled smile.

“Fine.  I’m taking a quick shower.”

“Want some company?”

“No,” I say as I get out of bed and head towards the bathroom.

“Why not?”

“Nora will be here any minute.”

“We can make it a quick shower,” he says laughing.

“No,” I say as I shut the bathroom door.

I get showered and dressed and come into the living room to Parker talking to Nora on the couch.

She’s laughing along with whatever he just said and I hate to see how much my sister misses him.  I know I miss him, but it’s not fair to her.  She really looked up to him.

“Hey,” I say as I enter the living room.

“Hey,” they say in unison then continue on with their conversation like I was never here.

I head to the kitchen to make some lunch before going back into the living room.

I set the plate of sandwiches down on the coffee table and both take theirs and continue talking, so I sit on the couch to see what the hell I’m missing.

After listening to their conversation for the next hour of all about Parker’s touring to Nora’s school issues and boy dilemma’s
, I feel left out and slightly bored.

“Sorry,” he says to Nora, “I
gotta head out, we leave in about an hour and I gotta make a few stops while I’m here.”

“No worries.  Keep in touch,” she says as she stands and gives him a hug.

“I’ll walk you out,” I tell him as I stand and follow him out the door down to his car.

“Nat, about last night”

“No, last night can’t happen again Parker.  We are over.  Last night was a goodbye,” I tell him sadly.

I can tell by the look on his f
ace he doesn’t like my response.

“Shit. Fine, last night won’t happen again. Thank you though.”

“For what?” I ask confused.

“Letting me stay last night.”

“Oh yeah, no problem.”

“I
gotta go,” he says as he opens his car door.

“Good luck on your tour Parker,” I tell him as he gives a small smile, gets in his car and drives away.

I spend the rest of the day doing homework, laundry, and hanging out with Nora, anything to not think about the sexy tattooed green eyed man.

Chapter
Eleven

The next two months pass by without incident.  I’m working, school, and watching Nora.  Life is just grand.  I haven’t heard a word from Parker since our goodbye at my house
, though my sister has.  She gets called at least once a week and I can’t help but feel envious.

I know I shouldn’t
, she’s sixteen now, but for Heaven’s sake she gets to talk to the one man I want to talk to.

There came a few times where I was slightly buzzed and almost texted him, but I refrained myself.  I can’t give in.  He hurt me.  He’s having a baby because he cheated on me.

I need to get over him and move the hell on.

Heading into work,
I park and head inside, past the already waiting line outside.  I say hey to Davie and head inside to an already crowded bar.

Harper’s behind the bar, serving already.  I quickly punch in and then help her at the bar.

“Thank you,” she says looking relieved to see me.

I just smile at her and then help the next waiting customer.

A few minutes later, we seem to get even busier.

“Who the hell is playing tonight?” I ask confused.  I didn’t see who was on the calendar for today.

Harp just stares at me, looking dumbstruck.

“What?”

“Umm..How do you not know?”

“I didn’t check the calendar.  Why…who is it?”

“King Dread,” is all she says.

“How, they are on tour?” I spat out.

“They are on a short break and we were short for this weekend, so the guys told Eddie they’d play.”

I nod my head and then continue to serve waiting customers.

It’s only eight and King Dread isn’t starting until 9:30 p.m.  I don’t see the band and I’m thankful.  I’m not ready to see him yet.

After serving drink after drink
, it’s almost time for the band to start.  I still haven’t seen any of the guys.

“Are they here?” I ask
, as the crowd starts to chant King Dread.

“Yeah, they were in the back.  Now that they are well-known they stayed in the back so the crazy bitches couldn’t attack them,” she says with a laugh.

“Oh, that makes sense,” I say oddly.

“You alright?” she asks looking cautiously at me.

“Yeah,” I tell her.

The crowd starts getting louder and louder when the guys take the stage.  At this point no one is at the
bar; everyone is glued to watching what’s happening on stage.

Parker starts talking, thanks everyone for coming, telling everyone how great it feels to be home, even though it’s only for a few days.

He looks even sexier, if that’s freaking possible.  I just stare at him in awe.

“You do realize you look like you could drool at any
moment?” Harp says with a laugh, as she’s holding a napkin towards me.

“I was not,” I snap
quickly, though I know I was.

“I get it, he looks even hotter,” she says agreeing with my first assumption.

“How is that possible?” I ask hopelessly.

“No freaking idea.  You know he misses you right?” she says catching me off guard.

“No, we aren’t having this conversation,” I say, hoping to end the conversation before it begins.

“Nat, we are having this conversation,” she says with a glare, “He would do anything to get you back.”

“He cheated and has a kid on the way,” I snap, “So what, I’m supposed to look the other way?” I ask angrily.

“No you aren’t.  But he doesn’t even remember sleeping with her.  Don’t you find that odd?  Parker would never willing
ly cheat on you,” she says, looking sympathetic.

“Wheth
er he meant to or not, he did,” I remind her.

“
I think you should talk to him.”

“
Can you please just let it go?” I ask hopeful.

“Fine, but I know you’re not over him,” she says looking intently at me.

“No shit.  I will probably always want him, but wanting him and having him are two different things,” I say feeling defeated.

“If it’s meant to be
, you guys will figure it out,” Harp says with a smile.

“That’s just it, it’s wasn’t meant to be.”

Harp doesn’t get a chance to say anything else, because a customer comes up to the bar and I head in their direction.  I need a distraction away from that conversation.

After handing the drinks out, I watch as Parker moves swiftly across the small stage.  The crowd is singing along song after song, but nothing compares to Parker’s voice when he sings.

Watching him on stage is only making me realize how much I miss him.  Unfortunately, sometimes love isn’t always enough.

The band takes a short break and while they are on their break the bar is slammed.  We are serving drink after drink and I feel like the night is never going to end.

I can’t decide if I want the guys back on stage so we get a break or if I want to keep serving customers, so I don’t have to see or hear Parker’s voice.

Thankfully, the guys are back on stage and the
bar starts to die down.

“Holy hell,
their breaks cause the bar to become insane,” Harp says, as she leans on the bar.

“Hell yeah
, they do,” I say as I follow suit.

“Thank God tips are kicking ass,” she says looking relieved.

“Yeah, they are amazing tonight,” I say with a smile.

“I hope they don’t take anymore breaks
though,” Harp says looking worried.

“Shit, that was only a ten minute one, they get a fifteen minute one coming up around midnight,” I state frustrated.

“You’ve got to be shitting me,” Harp says looking irritated.

“Nope, so be ready for another round of bei
ng slammed,” I say with a laugh.

“At least they didn’t do that damn drinking song,” she says with a hesitant laugh.

“The night’s not over yet.  I’m sure it’s on their list,” I say with a laugh.  The look on Harp’s face is priceless.

“No, no, you need to tell them not to play it.  I can’t take two more crazy rounds of drunken idiot
s,” she says with a serious look.

“I’m not telling them shit,” I state matter of fact.

“Fine, I’m just being bitchy,” she says looking flustered.

“No worries, less than two hours to go,” I remind her.

“Hey Natalie,” Cameron says from across the bar, ending Harp and I’s conversation.

“Hey Cameron.”

“So, I’ve given you some time.  Have you thought about hanging out with me?”

“She’ll do it,” Harp chimes in. I can’t help but give her an evil glare.
  First she’s telling me to go back with Parker, now she’s saying yes to Cameron.  What the hell?

“I’d actually like to hear it from her, but thanks,” he says kindly.

“I guess, we can hang out as friends,” I reiterate his words from before.

“No expectations, I promise,” he says with a sexy smirk.

“Okay.”

“Can I have your phone number?” he asks.

We exchange numbers quickly before I have to get back to serving waiting customers.

Just then the band announces their full break and will be back in fifteen to twenty minutes.

“Harp, did you take your break yet?” I ask between serving customers.

“Shit, no, we don’t have time,” she says quickly.

“Make sure to take it as soon as you can,” I remind her.

“Yeah
yeah,” she says and then it’s back to serving drinks.

Eddie heads up on stage and addresses the crowd, thanking them for coming out tonight to support our local band, King Dread.  He’s going on and on about how proud he is.  Thankfully, the bar has died down because everyone is tuned into what Eddie is saying.

“Hey Nat, can we talk for a minute?” Parker asks from the end of the bar.

I turn surprised he’s out here where the crazy masses of women are.  They all seem to be listening intently to Eddie that they didn’t notice Parker slip out of hiding.

“Umm…sure,” I say hesitantly, heading down to the corner at the end of the bar.

“Listen,
how I left isn’t how it want it to be between us,” he starts to say.

“It’s fine.  We need space, we
both need to move forward with our lives,” I tell him truthfully.

“Is that why you were talking to that douchebag?” he says nodding in the direction of an angry looking Cameron.

“That’s none of your business.”

“Don’t get involved with him,” he demands.

“Again, it’s none of your damn business.  If this is what you wanted to say you can save it,” I say as I start to turn away.

“Shit, sorry.  No it’s not. 
How are you doing? How’s Nora?” he says changing topics.

“I’m doing fine. Work, school, and Nora keep me busy. 
She’s doing pretty well,” I answer honestly.

“She’s not giving you any more trouble?” he asks with a worried look.

“No, she stopped hanging out with Liz so things have gotten much better,” I say, thankful for it.

“Good.  I’m glad to hear it.  So we’re playing two town
s over next weekend and I wanted to see if you would come?  Harper, Tuck, and Rowan can come too,” he says quickly.

“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”

“I promise I won’t cross any lines.  I just want to talk to you without an audience,” he says as he nods in the direction in which girls are glaring at us.

“I’ll think about it,” I answer honestly.  I would love to spend time with him
, but I can’t fall back into that stupid naïve girl I was.

“Thanks Nat.  You look great by the way,” he says with a smile.

“You too.  I’m sure you have women eating out of the palm of your hand,” I say with a smile of my own.

“Yeah, but you’re the only one I want,” he says piercing me with those gorgeous green eyes.

“Can we not get into this right now?” I say frustrated.

“Sorry.  I want you to come hang out n
ext weekend, please consider it,” he says sounding hopeful.

“I’ll think about it,” I tell him just as the crowd starts chanting King Dread again, “Sounds like you
’re being called,” I say with a smile.

“Yeah,” he says looking anything but happy, “I guess I need to go.  It was great seeing you,” he says as he starts to turn away.

“It was good seeing you too.  Kick ass up there,” I tell him with a smile.  He flashes me one of his sexy dimpled smiles before heading up on stage.

Damn
, I still want that sexy man.

“Everything alright?” Harp says as she walks past me to hand a customer their drink.

“I don’t know,” I say sighing.

“Well when we get a break you can tell me and I’ll help you out,” she says with a smile.

“Thanks,” is all I say.

Shortly later King Dread sings their drinking song and
the bar is slammed.  We serve shot after shot to get through this mayhem of a night.

I’m beyond exhausted and just want my bed.

The band is almost done which I’m thankful for because it’s almost last call.  I can’t remember a time we were this busy, it’s insane.

About ten minutes later the band is done, the girls are screaming at the band for more, and other people are starting to leave.

“God, can we push these people out the doors already?  I’m ready to go,” Harp says as she leans on the nearby cooler.

“Ha, I wish.  I’
m exhausted,” I tell her as I lean on the cooler by me.

The rest of the patrons are leaving or finishing up their drinks
, so we start to stock.

Fifteen minutes later coolers, straws, cups, and liquors are fully
restocked.

“Great show man,” Tuck says as he heads towards Parker.  I glance their way and see Parker staring at me.

How can one man’s look make me feel flushed and excited at the same time? 

“So, since the boys are talking, let’s chat,” Harp says as she takes a seat at the bar.  I follow suit sitting beside her.

“There’s not much to say,” I say feigning ignorance.

“Please,
I see the way you look at him,” she says with a small laugh.

“So, it doesn’t mean anything.  Nothing’s going to change.”

“Do you want things to change or are you really considering going out with Cameron?”

“I don’t know anymore.”

“Well, you have time to figure it out,” she says just as Tucker and the guys come over to us.

“Did you talk to Harp about next weekend?” Tuck asks me.

“Shit, no sorry,” I say to all the guys.