I lay on the floor and stared up at my ceiling. I had text Parker over an hour ago with no response. I felt a little needy, but I couldn’t stand it. I picked up my cell phone and dialed his number.
As more rings passed, the more anxious I felt. Parker always answered my text or calls. Typically, he was the one reaching out first. I didn’t know why but something about him not answering caused a knot to form in my stomach.
I thought about going to his house, but then I talked myself out of it. I didn’t want to seem like a desperate, needy girlfriend. But was I even his girlfriend?
We hadn’t even told my brother. I had no idea how we would tell him because I was pretty positive on what his reaction would be. But I didn’t care.
Parker was mine whether anyone else liked it or not.
I stood from the floor and tightened my ponytail. I needed to see him. It felt crazy not to see or talk to him after everything we shared last night.
When I pulled up to his house, I shook my head in disbelief. Madison’s car was parked in his driveway. I trusted Parker, I really did, but that nagging feeling from before pulled tighter.
I parked my car behind Madison’s and made my way to the front door. As I raised my hand to knock on the door, I saw him. Sitting across from her. Staring at her. She stood from the couch and moved next to him. Her leg touching his. Her hand reaching out for his much bigger one. When their hands connected and she laid them against her stomach, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. All the air was sucked out of me along with every piece of happiness he had given me over the last few weeks.
I pressed my back against the door to hold myself up. What was he doing? Why was she here?
Tears formed in my eyes, but I prayed that I could keep it together at least until I got to my car.
I didn’t know how long I stood there trying to get myself together. But when the door opened behind my back, I completely lost any composure that I had managed to gain.
The door closed quickly after it opened. I took a deep breath and looked up at Madison who was standing in front of me with her arms crossed.
“What are you doing here, Olivia?” Her voice was snarky and matched her face.
“I should be asking you the same.” I stood from the step, refusing to look up to her.
“Olivia, I like you. I really do.”
I rolled my eyes, and she continued.
“I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“Then why are you with my boyfriend?” I pointed toward the house, and I could see the pity in her eyes.
“Boyfriend? That’s funny. He didn’t mention that and trust me, we’ve talked a lot while the two of you were doing whatever it is that you’ve been doing.”
“I don’t trust you, Madison.” I pushed past her. No idea where I was going.
“Then would you like to feel?” I turned my eyes back to her and stared at her hands wrapped around her flat stomach. “It hasn’t been kicking yet, but I can still feel our baby in there.”
I jolted backward as if I had been kicked. I couldn’t wrap my brain around what she was saying. I couldn’t believe her.
I looked from her to the window, praying that Parker would come outside and tell me this wasn’t true, but the door never opened.
“I’m still early,” Madison continued to talk. “Only a couple of weeks.”
My eyes flew back to hers, and I mentally did the calculations. She had to be further along than that because he had been with me. She covered her mouth with her hand and inhaled sharply. “Oh shit. You didn’t know that we were still sleeping together while you all were hanging out.”
I wanted to put my fist through her face, but I couldn’t punch a pregnant girl no matter how badly I wanted to.
I didn’t say another word to her. I didn’t knock on Parker’s door and demand that he explain himself. Instead, I ran. I ran straight to my car and flew out of his driveway all while Madison watched me. The tears poured from my eyes and clouded my vision as I made my way down the street.
My phone rang from the seat beside me and when I saw Parker’s name light up the screen, I cried harder. I didn’t answer. I couldn’t talk to him.
Instead, I went home, buried myself in my blankets, and prayed that this day was nothing more than a cruel damn joke.
P A R K E R
Present
She was driving me fucking crazy. When I saw her standing there with Neil, I thought I was going to lose my shit on him. Neil was a good guy. I had known him for a few years, and we had actually become pretty good friends.
The thought of Livy talking to him, laughing at the stupid shit he was saying, it made me feel like I was coming out of my skin.
I watched her dance on the empty dance floor with my best friend, and when I saw him turn the scowl that I had put on her face into a smile, I felt insanely jealous.
It wasn’t right, I knew that, but it didn’t change anything.
I spent the night tossing and turning in my bed while Brandon snored in his. It wasn’t thoughts of my fiancée that was constantly clouding my vision and making it impossible to have a clear thought. It was a girl that I should have forgotten about years ago.
I tried to focus my thoughts on Emily, but no matter how hard I tried, I kept coming back to Livy. It was always fucking Livy.
I got up out of bed and pulled on a pair of sweats. If I couldn’t sleep, I could at least go work out some of my built-up aggression. I made my way to the gym, passing by the indoor pool, and I caught a glimpse of her swimming laps.
I quietly made my way through the door; the only sound in the room was the splash of water as she glided through it. I took a seat in one of the pool chairs, and I watched her.
She finally came up for air, pushing her wet hair out of her face, and I watched as the rivets of water made their way down her body.
“Couldn’t sleep?”
She jumped at the sound of my voice. Her hand flying to her chest. “You scared the shit out of me.”
“Sorry.” I chuckled. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
She twirled her long hair in her hand, wringing out the pool water. “What are you doing down here?”
“The same as you, I suppose. Couldn’t sleep.”
She nodded her head in understanding and ran her hand through the water causing ripples in the otherwise calm pool.
“I’m sorry about earlier.”
She looked up at me in surprise.
“I shouldn’t have been a dick about you and Neil.”
She searched my face, looking to see if I was being honest I suppose.
“You were being a dick.”
“I know.” I ran my hand through my hair.
“Why?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Our voices were barely a whisper, out of fear that we’d wake our memories.
“I don’t get you, Parker.” She climbed out of the pool and sat down next to me. “What do you want from me?”
“I don’t know.” I traced a drop of water with my finger until it disappeared at the crook of her elbow.
Her breathing was rushed, the loud inhale and exhale echoing off the walls and matching mine.