Needing You #2 - Wanting Him Page 5

  “Fill me in Harp,” I tell her.

  “He’s being a sneaky son of a bitch, I can’t take it,” she says frustrated.

  “Is this about the same thing when he went to see his sister for the weekend?” I ask confused.

  “Yup,” is all she says.

  “So let me get this right…he goes to see his sister, but doesn’t really text or call, comes back a few days later, acts like nothing happened, wouldn’t tell you anything, and now you’re pissed off?” I ask hoping not to piss her off, but this has been going on for almost a month now.

  “NO! He’s not coming with us this weekend either because something’s come up, but yet again, I have no idea what. I can’t take the secrecy,” she says looking upset and pissed.

  “Did you tell him that?”

  “Yes, but do you think he opened his damn mouth…Nope,” she says angrily.

  “What’s his excuse for not coming this weekend?”

  “He’s going to help a friend out this weekend. Probably some slut bag,” she says heatedly.

  “Do you think he’s cheating on you?” I ask in a whisper.

  “Who knows, maybe I should just end it with him,” she says with a solemn look.

  “You love him, whatever it is he’ll come around,” I say being hopeful.

  “It’s been a month already. He’s not coming around, instead he’s pushing me away,” she says looking tearful.

  “Harp, don’t give up on him yet.”

  “We’ll see,” she says.

  Our conversation ends because patrons start filling the bar in need of drinks. I definitely need to figure out what the hell is going on with Tucker and fast.

  Three hours go by before I get a chance to talk to Harp again.

  “So listen…I think I got a plan,” I tell her quickly.

  “A plan for what?” she says looking confused.

  “Let’s follow Tuck, see what he’s hiding,” I say with an evil-genius look.

  “Like stalk him?” she says worriedly.

  “Don’t say it like that. Do you want to know what’s going on or not?”

  “I don’t know anymore,” she says looking defeated.

  Just then Tuck comes up to the bar. I didn’t realize he was even here.

  “Hey babe,” he says smiling to her.

  She gives him a fake smile and a small wave and walks to the end of the bar to serve a customer.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Tuck asks me.

  “Like you should have to ask,” I deadpan.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” he says, looking confused and irritated.

  “You’re the problem Tuck. Whatever you are keeping from her is hurting her. What the hell are you doing?” I snap.

  “I’m not doing anything,” he says frustrated.

  “Seriously? Do you take her for an idiot? You’ve been acting weird for a fucking month now and won’t tell her what’s going on. What do you expect her to think?”

  “Shit, look Nat I’m not doing anything crazy I swear,” he says looking innocent.

  “I’m not the one you need to tell that to. Your girlfriend needs to know what’s going on. As hard as you fought her to open up to you and now you’re closed off and sneaking around, how could you do that to her?” I ask bitterly.

  “It’s not what you think, I swear. I’m not doing anything stupid,” he states.

  “Are you cheating on her?” I come right out and ask.

  “What? No. Why would you ask me that? I love her.”

  “Then you need to make sure she knows that.”

  “She thinks I’m cheating on her?” he asks looking defeated now.

  “Yeah she does and she’s not taking it too well,” I say, being honest with him.

  “Nat, I swear to you I’m not cheating on her. I’ll talk to her. Can I have a drink please?” he asks as he takes a seat at the bar.

  “Yeah,” I say as I head off to make him a rum and coke.

  I want to ask Tuck what he is hiding, but it’s not my place. Hopefully he’s honest with Harper tonight.

  As I hand him his drink I ask, “So why aren’t you coming this weekend?”

  “I got to help a friend out this weekend. Tell Park I said hey though,” he says looking at me.

  “You’re skipping out on a weekend with your girlfriend to help a friend out?” I ask not believing a word he’s saying.

  “Yes,” is all he says.

  “That’s a load of shit,” I state.

  He looks at me, not believing I just called him out. “Nat, mind your own business,” he says bitterly.

  “I will when you stop acting like a douchebag of a boyfriend. Keep going the way you are and you won’t have to worry about anyone but yourself,” I state angrily.

  “What the fuck’s that supposed to mean?” he asks harshly.

  “You keep pushing Harp away, she’s going to leave,” I say, while staring at him shaking my head. I don’t even give him time to say anything else. I walk to the opposite end of the bar and help a customer that just walked up.

  The rest of the evening is busy so I don’t get a chance to talk to Harper. I did see she was relieved when Tuck went to sit with some of his friends at their normal table. I hope whatever he’s hiding is worth it, because it may cost him Harper.

  After restocking the coolers, I get my things to head out.

  “Night Harp,” I say with a small smile.

  “Goodnight,” she says with a knowing look as she walks out with Tuck.

  Thankfully, the rest of the week goes by without any issues and I’m loading up my car before heading over to pick up Harper.

  “Hey, you ready?” I ask Harper as she comes out of her dorm building with her bag.

  “Hell yes,” she says excitedly.

  I throw her bag in the car and we load in, heading for our destination.

  “I need to ask, how are you and Tucker?”

  “Ugh, don’t ask,” she says slightly frustrated.

  “Too late, already did, what’s up?”

  “He’s an asshole. I don’t know how else to put it,” she says on a sigh.

  “Did you talk after work the other night?”

  “Yes, but did he tell me the shit he’s hiding, NO!” she says angrily.

  “What did he tell you then?”

  “Oh you know, Harper I love you, I promise you I’m not cheating, you just need to trust me right now, that kinda bullshit,” she says hastily.

  “That’s it?” I ask confused.

  “Yep, I tried and he kept shutting me down and changing the subject. Something’s going on. I’m thinking your idea of stalking him is sounding better by the minute,” she says staring at me.

  “I never said to stalk him, just follow him,” I say on a laugh.

  “Same thing,” she says like it’s no big deal.

  “We’ll figure out something when we come back,” I tell her.

  “Actually, why don’t we plan something now, so then when we come back we can put our plan into action?” she says with a devious look.

  “Okay, well what do you have in mind?”

  “Follow him, like you said,” she says simply enough.

  “We can’t make it obvious. Does he tell you when he’s going out of town?”

  “Shit, not until last minute when he knows I’m working. Fuck, how are we going to pull this off?” she asks looking solemn.

  “We’ll figure something out, don’t worry. We will get to the bottom of this shit,” I say with a smile.

  “I hope so, because I’m not sure how much more I can put up with,” she says sounding defeated.

  “It honestly could be nothing,” I remind her.

  “Then why wouldn’t he just tell me what was going on?” she says with a serious look.

  “I have no idea,” I answer truthfully.

  “No, I know him, he’s hiding something, and it’s something major.”

  “Maybe, hopefully we can find out soon enough.”


  “I hope so. I need to know what’s going on. I wish if he wanted to break up with me that he would just do it already,” she says sadly.

  “I don’t think it’s that. If that were the case he would have broken up with you. Tuck doesn’t do relationships remember? If he didn’t want one with you he would have been gone by now.”

  “Maybe, who knows anymore,” she says as she turns to stare out the window.

  The next part of the drive is quiet. I can tell Harp’s thinking and I’m not exactly sure what to say, so instead I say nothing and continue to drive.

  “Are you excited for the concert tomorrow?” I ask trying to start a conversation.

  “Hell yes! I need a distraction. Plus it will be great to see the guys,” she says with a smile.

  “Yes it will be,” I agree.

  “So, what’s with you and Parker? Things going well?” she asks out of nowhere.

  “I told you things were going good.”

  “I know what you told me, I want to know if it’s the truth though,” she says staring me down.

  “Actually it is. We are doing really well,” I say smiling at her.

  “How are you holding up with the tabloids?”

  “I don’t even read them anymore,” I say honestly.

  “Seriously? Shit, I read those things daily,” she says surprising me.

  “Why?”

  “Because usually there is some truth to them. I want to make sure that he’s not totally fucking up.”

  “Parker’s a good guy,” I remind her.

  “Oh I know, but even good guys make mistakes,” she says shocking me.

  “Do you think he’s cheating on me?” I ask nervously while I continue to drive.

  “I hope not,” she says softly.

  “Do you think he did?” I ask as I squeeze the steering wheel tighter.

  “Shit Nat, I didn’t mean he was. Your knuckles are turning white.”

  “But do you think he is?” I ask deadpanned.

  “I…I don’t know. I only know Parker a little bit. He seems like a great guy, but I don’t really know him. I only know what Tuck’s told me of him,” she says nervously.

  “And what did Tuck say about him?”

  “Just how he was after he found Tuck with Jenna. After that, he started sleeping around not caring about anything or anyone. But he’s different with you Nat,” she says, trying to sound optimistic.

  “Shit. Am I wasting my time?” I ask more to myself.

  “I don’t think so. You said yourself that you guys are doing really well so you probably are. Don’t give up on him. I’m sure being on the road isn’t easy.”

  “Well being at home isn’t easy either,” I snap back.

  “Nat, shit I didn’t mean it like that,” she says quickly.

  “I know you didn’t. I just don’t know what to think sometimes. What did the latest gossip magazine have to say?” I ask curiously.

  “Nothing,” she says too quickly.

  “Nice try, try again,” I tell her in a serious tone.

  “I’m not sure,” she says more nervously now.

  “Damn it Harp. You just told me you keep up on them, so tell me already,” I snap at her.

  “Shit, fine, but please don’t wreck.”

  “I won’t, now speak,” I demand.

  “It basically said that he’s constantly seen with different women, that his stardom is earning him quite a reputation with the ladies,” she says apprehensively.

  “So it’s saying he’s slutting it around,” I say breaking it down.

  “Yeah, pretty much,” she says sadly.

  “What am I doing?” I ask confused.

  “Being a supportive girlfriend,” she says reminding me.

  “Am I? Do I really think we can make it work after only being together for a few measly months?”

  “You love him,” she says, not needing to remind me.

  “Yeah, unfortunately love isn’t always enough,” I say bitterly.

  “It if helps, from what I’ve learned from Parker is that he’s not the typical guy. He is a good guy, so talk to him before you make any rash decisions.”

  “You’re right. I’ll find out soon enough anyway.”

  “Yes you will. It could all be just rumors, they usually are right?” she asks.

  “I don’t know. I never dated anyone semi-famous before,” I state.

  “Semi-famous? He’s blowing up, there’s no semi to him. He’s gorgeous and bitches want him. You are going to be dealing with that for the rest of your life,” she says, shocking me yet again.

  Shit! Can I deal with my boyfriend being famous where women constantly throw themselves at him?

  “Damn it, maybe we aren’t meant to be. I don’t know if I can do this. Maybe we should just head home,” I say, wanting nothing more than to curl up in my bed and cry.

  “No! Don’t you dare turn around. We are going to see Parker and the band and have a good, fun girl’s weekend,” she says in a determined voice.

  “Fine, but I need to find out answers,” I say giving in.

  “Good, I’ll see what I can find out from the other guys,” she says being helpful.

  “Thanks, I appreciate that,” I say.

  “No problem. You’re helping me with Tuck, it’s the least I can do,” she says with a smile.

  “No matter what happens, we are going to have a fun weekend,” I say being hopeful.

  “Hell yes we are!” she says energetically.

  The next few hours consist of us singing out loud to the crazy songs on the radio and talking about work and school. We both skip conversations about Parker and Tuck. We both want to enjoy our weekends, not be brought down by the men in our lives.

  We get to the hotel around 6:00 p.m. We head inside and get checked in. We are sharing a room with double beds since Tuck decided to bail on us.

  The guys play tonight. Parker has tickets waiting for us at the box office. The show doesn’t start until 8:00 p.m., so we have a little time to unwind before heading out.

  “Do you want to grab something to eat before heading to the show?” Harp asks.

  “I’m not hungry,” I answer honestly.

  “Me either, just thought I should ask,” she says with a weak smile.

  We stopped a few times on the drive here and I did eat, but now my stomach is in knots. Is Parker cheating on me? As much as I want to believe he’s not, I can’t be naïve about the possibility.

  Chapter Seven

  After relaxing in the hotel room, we decide to head to the show. We get our passes at the box office and make our way into the arena. The place is already packed by the time we find our spots.

  “Holy shit, it is always this crowded?” Harper asks as she takes in the thousands of people.

  “Yeah, it’s pretty crazy,” I say with a laugh.

  “Wow, they really are making it big time,” she says in awe.

  “Yes they are,” I say with a smile.

  I am excited that they are getting known and making a name for themselves. King Dread is a great band and the guys deserve to go far. I only wish they could have made it big while still staying at home or close to home. I know, I know, not a possibility. A girl can dream though.

  We watch the first band and again, they do a great job.

  “They’re good,” Harp says smiling.

  “Yeah they are.”

  “I’ve never heard of them before,” she says, looking at the guys on stage.

  “They’re new, but they’re alright,” I say honestly.

  They’re a rock band. The crowd loves them, though not as much as they will love King Dread.

  After the short set, the guys are up next.

  Before they even hit the stage the crowd is cheering, King Dread, King Dread, King Dread.

  I look over at Harper who is wide eyed looking around at the screaming fans.

  “Seriously? Holy shit, listen to this crowd,” she says shocked.

  “They are a
fan favorite,” I say on a laugh.

  “No kidding. I didn’t realize they were this famous already,” she says surprised.

  “It didn’t take them long at all,” I state.

  “It doesn’t hurt that they are hot as hell either,” she says stating the obvious.

  No, their looks probably played a part, but their music is great.

  The guys finally make their appearance on stage and start into their first song of the night. The fans start screaming louder and louder. I know my ears are going to be ringing when we leave tonight.

  Harp stares at me with wide eyes, not believing the sight.

  “They’re popular,” I scream over the screaming fans.

  “Holy shit,” she says excitedly.

  I just start to laugh. I knew how big they were, but I saw them at the last arena, whereas Harp hasn’t.

  The guys’ belt out song after song making fans go crazy. I’m not sure they could get any louder because my ears are already ringing.

  Harp and I are singing and jumping up and down, acting like star crazed teenagers, but it’s fun.

  Before we know it, the guys are saying farewell and heading off stage for the opening act to start next.

  “Do you want to stay for the next band,” I ask, turning to look at Harp. She’s wearing the biggest smile I’ve seen on her face in a long time.

  “Hell no, I want to see the guys,” she practically yells. A few of the surrounding fans turn and stare, then look away.

  “Let’s go then,” I say as I grab her arm and lead us toward the side where our backstage passes will let us in the back.

  “Sorry ladies, you can’t go back there,” a huge bodyguard says as he blocks the entrance.

  “But we have these,” Harp pouts as she lifts her backstage pass to show him.

  “Well, I guess it’s your lucky night,” he says with a smile as he moves aside for us to enter. I hear a few women behind us grunting and calling us bitches, but whatever.

  “So now where?” she asks me.

  I start laughing, “I don’t know. I’ve never been here,” I say, while looking around.

  “Oh yeah, I guess this is a different arena, my bad,” she says while looking for one of the guys.

  “Well hello there,” says a male voice, I turn around and see Nate standing there.

  “Hey,” Harper and I say in unison.

  “Looking for Parker?” he asks staring me down.