Needing You #2 - Wanting Him (18 page)

“Oh yeah, you get so
me nutzo’s too. I’ve seen them.”

It’s good to see my sister laughing with Parker, especially after the night she’s had.  She needs a good distraction and it seems like Parker is fulfilling that role perfectly.

We spend the next two and a half hours talking about any and everything.  I can tell Nora’s tired because she’s lying on the couch with her head on the pillow on Parker’s thigh.

A few minutes later Nora is fast asleep on Parker’s leg.  I grab a blanket to cover her up.  If she can get a few hours of peaceful sleep
, I’ll be grateful.

“Sorry,” I tell him as I cover her up with a blanket.

“What are you apologizing for?” he asks confused.

“She’s sleeping on your leg,” I say
, as I point to his thigh.

“That’s fine,” he says as he softly rubs her back while she asleep.  It’s such a sweet gesture that pulls at my heart strings yet again.

“How are you holding up?  The truth please,” he says.

“I guess I’m doing okay.  I wish I could take her pain and nightmares that she’ll have for months to
go away,” I admit.

“I’m here if you need anything.  You know that right,” he says piercing me with his gorgeous green eyes.

“Thanks Parker.”

“So what’s your plan for tomorrow?”

“Well, I took pictures with my camera, so we’re going to go to the police to file a report.  I want her to press charges.  Park, he could have…,” I stop trying to control the tears that slip down my cheeks for realizing what could have happened to my sixteen year old sister tonight.

“Hey,” he says as he magically appears beside me, “He didn’t.  That’s what matters.  He didn’t get to take that from her,” he tells me as he sits beside me on the love seat pulling me onto his lap comforting me.

“I wasn’t here,” I cry feeling like I could have prevented this from happening to her.

“Nat stop, it’s not your fault, just like it’s not Nora’s fault.”

“But I should have been here.  I should have told her she couldn’t hang out with Liz.  I could have stopped this from happening.  Instead….instead now she’s going to have nightmare after fucking nightmare because of my selfishness,” I admit through more tears.

Parker starts to rock me back and forth. “Babe you are the least selfish person I know. I can guarantee that Nora would never blame you, just as you should never blame yourself.  She’s alright, that’s what you need to hold on to.  She’s strong just like you.  She will be alright, I promise you,” he says sweetly.

I don’t say anything, just allow Parker to rock me and comfort me.

The next morning, rather hours later, I wake up to a cell phone ringing non-stop.

“Someone answer that,” Nora mumbles through her sleep dazed state.

“Shit, that’s me,” Parker says as he quickly moves to get his phone.

All I can hear is his side of the conversation, but it sounds like they know who the guy is.

A few minutes later he hangs up and comes back to resume his spot on the love seat beside me.

“What did you find out?” I ask anxiously.

He hesitates before responding, “We got his name and where he lives.”

“What else?  You’re hiding something.”

“Shit,” he says shaking his head then finally making eye contact with me, “Apparently this wasn’t his first attempt.”

“I figured that,” I say truthfully.

“No Nat, his parents are pretty prestigious people, he seems to always get out of the charges.”

“Not this time.  I don’t care if I kill him myself,” I deadpan.

“Babe
, you can’t do that.  You need to be here for her,” he says as he nods in Nora’s direction.

“I know and I will be, but I will make that asshole pay.”

He starts to laugh, “Such a feisty one.  Don’t worry about it, I’ll handle it.”

“No Parker, this isn’t your problem.  Shit, we have you missing a show when you shouldn’t even be here.”

“Hey,” he says as he lifts my chin so I have no choice but to stare at his gorgeous face, “I said I’d take care of it.  Trust me.  I would do anything for her and you.  I will make sure that son of a bitch pays.”

“You can’t do anything to mess with your career.  No Parker, I can’t let you do something stupid,” knowing damn well h
e would go in and bust that kid’s face in, so would the rest of his band.

“I won’t touch
him; well no, I will have at least one swing.  Don’t worry Nat; I’ll make sure my hands are clean.”

“Maybe we should just let the cops handle it,” I tell him.

“Go to the cops today, but we’re just gonna pay him a little visit.  Don’t worry, we won’t do anything stupid.”

“Yeah sure.”

“Can you two shut up?  I’m trying to sleep,” Nora complains.

We both start to laugh.  “Sorry sleeping beauty, you may now get your rest,” I assure her.

I stand up and head to the kitchen to start making some tea.  I need something to help wake me up.

It’s already going on 10:00 a.m.  I’ll let her sleep a little more before getting her up to head to the police station.

“Do you want me to come along to the police station?” Parker asks from behind me in the kitchen.

“You don’t have to do that. 
You should get the guys and head back to your tour.”

“That’s not what I asked you,” he says with his piercing green eyes.

“I’ll tell you what, ask Nora that question.  It’s her who has to go through this shit at the station, if she wants you there then come.  If not, then head back to your tour.”

“You
’ve got a deal,” he says with a devilish smile.

“Do you want any coffee or tea?”

“Tea works.”

I nod my head and turn back around to grab two cups out of the cupboard while I wait for the water to boil on the stove.

“You taking off work this weekend?” Parker asks me out of nowhere.

“Yeah, I need to call Eddie to let him know.”

“I’ll handle it,” he says.

“No Parker
, you won’t.  You have your own stuff to deal with; you don’t need to try to take care of mine.  I can handle it,” I snap.

“Okay,” is all he says.

“You two suck, you know that?” Nora says as she gets up and heads toward the bathroom.

A few minutes later she joins us in the living room.

“I’m going to let you two talk while I get a shower,” I tell them as I stand and head toward the bathroom.

This way it will give Parker time to talk to Nora without her looking at me to see what I think.  This is her decision whether she wants him to go to the police station or not.

After I get showered and dressed, I head out to the living room, hearing Nora laughing hysterically.

I haven’t heard her laugh like that in a really long time.  Knowing Parker is the one who’s making her laugh makes my heart
flutter.

“So, what’s the consensus?” I ask, as I enter the living room.

“Parker’s coming with us,” Nora says.  I look over to Parker who’s smiling happily.

“Okay, well why don’t you go get ready and we can head out.”

Nora heads to her bedroom to change.

“Do you want to use the shower or bathroom or anything?” I ask feeling a little awkward.

“Yeah, do you mind if I grab a quick
shower?”

“No
, not at all.  You know where all the stuff is.”

“Yeah, let me just go grab some clothes out of the car,” he says as he heads out the front door.

He comes in a few minutes later and heads to the bathroom to shower.

Should I be thinking about Parker naked in my shower?  No,
absolutely not.  Am I….Hell Yes!

All sexy and muscular, the water running down over his sexy tattoos and perfect…

“You alright?” Nora asks, pulling me out of my dreamworld.

“Oh yeah, sorry
, just lost in thought,” I lie.

“Sure.”

“How do you feel today?” I ask her.

“Like shit.  I look like a train wreck, which
is exactly how my body feels.”

“
I didn’t mean it like that Nora.”

“I know.  I’m just grouchy.  I can’t believe I put myself in a situation like that.  I’m not stupid
, I just messed up.”

“
No, you trusted someone you shouldn’t have.  There’s a difference.  No more Liz.  I will be calling to speak to her mother; you better believe I will have words with her.”

“She doesn’t care.  Why do you think Liz is the way she is?  It’s a freaking cry for help.  I felt sorry for her because she’s known as a slut a
t school and because of that, she doesn’t have many friends. But I learned she will only try to bring everyone else around her down.”

“Wow, look at you talking years ahead of yourself,” I say smiling.

“I do want to punch her in the face though,” she says all serious.

“Not in school and not on school grounds, anywhere
away from that go for it.  If she were 18, I’d kick the shit out of her.”

Nora starts to laugh, “I can’t believe you’re telling me
it is okay to fight, and usually you say the complete opposite.”

“Well it’s not every day that
a stupid twit puts my little sister in danger.  She deserves what she gets.”

“But she doesn’t.  She needs help,” Nora says solemnly.

“For Liz to get help, she has to want to change.  Based on what she said to you, she doesn’t want to change and until she does, there’s nothing anyone can do for her.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“I’ll be out in a minute,” Parker yells from down the hall.

“Okay,” I holler back.

Nora sighs.

“What’s that for?” I ask surprised.

“Don’t you miss him?”

“Of course, but we’re on different paths.  You know this.”

“I know, I just wish things were different.”

I start to laugh, “
Do you have a crush on Parker?”

“Umm
, duh.  What red blooded girl wouldn’t?”

“Oh my gosh.  That’s just wrong.  I dated him Nora,” I snap.

“Yeah and you let him get away.  Stupid stupid girl,” she says shaking her head.

“Hey now.  Watch how you talk to me,” I say defending myself.

“I’m kidding.  I know why you left because he messed up, but he’s as close to perfect as they come.”

“If he was, then he wouldn’t be having a baby to someone else,” I remind her.

“You’re right. Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.  We’re friends and we will continue to be friends.”

“It’s not the same,” she says.

“I know, but it’s all I can do
,” I admit.

Luckily, our conversation is cut off because Parker walks into the living room.  He’s looking hot
, like sex on a freaking stick hot.

“Don’t drool,” Nora whispers in my ear.

“Oh stop,” I say as I start to laugh.  I stand up and walk to the kitchen trying to hide the redness that’s creeping up on my face.

“Everything alright?” Parker asks
, confused.

“Yeah, we were just having a moment,” Nora tells him.

“I’m ready, let’s go.”

We head out the door to head to the police station.  Parker insists on driving
, so we load into his car and he gets us there in no time.

We park
and head inside.  I can feel Nora shaking beside me.   I thread my arm with hers, causing her to look at me. “You’re not alone.  We’re doing this together.”

“Thanks,” she says with a half-smile.

“Go ahead and take a seat, I’ll go talk to the Sergeant,” Parker tells us.

We do as he says and take
a seat.

“Why the Sergeant, why not just a regular officer?” she asks nervously.

“I’m guessing he probably knows him.  Relax,” I tell her, putting my hand on her knee to stop if from shaking.

“I just want to forget about it and move on.”

“You will.  This is the first step.”

A few minutes later Parker comes out and escorts us to a room with no windows.  We meet with the Sergeant, whose name is Rodney.  He basically asks Nora to take him step by step through her night
, explaining what happened.

She does and she has to stop a few times due to crying
, but other than that she does great.  I couldn’t be more proud of her.

Rodney takes notes the entire time Nora’s talking.  When she’s done
, she asks a few questions and then he has her complete her statement and sign it.

We leave the police station about
two hours later.