15. The Unwanted
1061 Words
There's an anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach after leaving Tucker's house. My trip home is over quicker than I wish as I park my car in the driveway, taking note of the motorcycles parked nearby. Maybe now isn't the time to talk with Dad after all.
Over the short amount of time with my father, I have come to learn of the motorcycle club he is affiliated with and what they stand for. The few members I've had the opportunity to meet seem nice enough - treating me with the utmost respect and decency. I don't want to display my damaged goods to them before it's absolutely necessary, so I tiptoe around the house to the back door and down to my tiny apartment.
I shut the open door to the kitchen upstairs and lock it, stripping out of my clothes and into pajamas. A knock at the door startles me.
"Yes?" I answer.
"Got a call in the kitchen, darlin'."
Just my luck.
Thankful I put on pants, I unlock and open the door. I climb the stairs to the kitchen and nab the phone from its place on the granite countertop.
"Hello?" I greet, putting the device to my ear.
"Aurora...are you there? Can you hear me?"
My blood drains. How in the world did he get this number?
"Owen?" The surprise in my voice is evident. I calm myself and ask him, "Why are you calling me?"
He sighs in exasperation. "I spent the whole day thinking about what you said before I gained the courage to call you. I know I treated you...so bad, Aurora and I can't change it or make you forgive me when I know I don't deserve it. I do, however, want you to know how sorry I am and if you ever need anything from me, I'll be there. No matter what," he exclaims in a rush.
Where do I even begin with this debacle? I mean, as much as I'd like to keep calm and carry on as if nothing happened, it won't work. The world, unfortunately, does not and shall never work that way, as much as we would all prefer it to. Sometimes the people we desire in our lives are not the people we need most to be there and support our decisions.
I should also take it slow with building a friendship with Owen; just to be respectful towards Tucker and whatever it is we're concocting here. Mental note: talk with Tucker.
Back to the situation at hand.
I loosen my ironclad grip on the counter, feeling my nervousness dissipate. "I forgive you, Owen," I begin. "However, I think we shouldn't force a friendship or make any promises. I care about you, but I have to think through this before I decide to go further. I'm sorry if you don't agree with that."
"You know, acknowledging when someone speaks to you would be helpful every now and then," I bark, beginning to lose my patience when he begins his game of ignoring me for the second time.
He releases a throaty chuckle in response and confides, "I see my indiscretions didn't break your backbone. I always loved your attitude," he sighs. "You know where to find me."
The conversation is over just like that.
I return the phone back to its place on the counter and turn to the table, grabbing a slice of pizza out of the takeout box sitting between my dad and a club member, Zip.
"There's beer in the fridge if you want it, darlin'," Dad says.
I wrinkle my nose. "Thanks, but I had some earlier. How about wine?"
He smiles. "Bottom drawer of the fridge. We'll talk tomorrow if you want."
I say goodnight to Dad and the guys before I resign downstairs.
The next morning, I manage to arrive at work on time after swallowing some Excedrin and a scolding hot shower. As I pull in, I notice Tabitha's car is not parked in its marked space. The door to the front office is also locked, much to my surprise. There is no evidence of a note on the door or anyone inside, so I head back to my car.
About ten minutes later, Tucker and another man pull up and Tucker steps out. He comes around to the driver side of my car and I roll my window down, curious as to what he has to say. When he leans down to look at me, I finally notice the livid expression plastered on his face.
"What are you doing here?" He asks, his tone almost strange.
I blink. "I'm here to work. That's what I was hired to do," I respond, my patience wearing thin.
Why is he questioning me?
He shakes his head at me as if I were a small child. "No," he counters slowly. "You're supposed to be at home like Tabitha is. We got a job outta town for a while. It was short notice. You're off until we need you."
I raise an eyebrow. "And why wasn't I told about this?"
"That's my fault. Won't happen again," he suddenly growls.
I flinch from the sudden harshness in his voice. "Are you okay?"
"Peachy," he mutters, his eyes cast to the ground. "You know, I'm not one to sugarcoat anything, so I'm just going to come out with it."
Uh oh.
He raises his head, a look in his eye that I have yet to see. "I don't share, Aurora. Whatever was happening between us is done."
"What?" I release a breath. "What happened to the guy I was with last night? Why the sudden change of heart?"
"What should it matter?" He retorts. "You got a man back in Florida. You don't need me."
I open my mouth to correct him and he cuts me off. "The bottom line is, when I hear around town you're engaged to someone else, there's a problem between you and I. I'm sure there's a man out there who wouldn't care, but I don't do sloppy seconds."
Instead of wasting my time on him another moment, I start my car and put it in reverse, causing Tucker to step away abruptly. I peel out of the parking space and onto the road, dust, and gravel trailing behind me.
I could care less about what people say, but Tucker talking to me like I'm some cheap w***e has me seeing red. He didn't even ask me if these rumors were true. Oh no, he just assumed I was playing him.
I guess happiness doesn't last long anywhere.
- Writer
