Juggernaut

by K. S. Adkins

  “Oh, God,” I whisper urgently. “Van, wait…”

  Turning to me and pulling me out of my seat, Van links our fingers and announces, “My mother knew that for two years I had wished the woman I secretly loved might one day love me back.” With both of us facing his parents, Van extends my hand, showing them my ring. With the most beautiful smile I have ever seen, he looks at his dad and says, “All my life I searched for a way to be content, but never finding it. It wasn’t cases, awards, or money, Dad. It was her.”

  Squeezing his hand, I regulated my breathing so I wouldn’t pass out.

  “Thanks to your wish, mine came true, too. Mom, Dad, Taylor said yes.”

  All at once, cheers rang out, his parents flew from their chairs embracing us, and my eyes were misty.

  “I knew it,” Mrs. Church cries out.

  “A daughter,” Mr. Church says stroking my cheek with love in his red eyes.

  “My wife-to-be,” Van says so sincerely I couldn’t wait any longer.

  “Van,” I say pulling him to me.

  “I love you, Taylor,” he says wiping his own eyes.

  I opened my mouth, eager to tell him I feel the same, when I hear, “You cannot marry a stripper!”

  Gasps echoed throughout the room, and I freeze where I stand. Turns out, I hadn’t just underestimated my enemy, but also ruined a beautiful moment. Props to Satan for striking true.

  “Get her out of here!” Van demands, but even Taylor trying to drag her away bore no fruit. The bitch has dug her stilettos in and isn’t moving. Not without me losing my deposit anyway.

  “Whitney Ellen Noble,” his mom scolds. “How dare you!”

  “This is what happens when parents don’t spank their kids,” his father growls. “Bram,” he orders. “It’s never too late to start.”

  Her parents looked like they are about to puke, but the bitch is not done. “She may not be a stripper now, but she was! I told you she looked like a hooker, Evander! She took her clothes off for money! Throwing high-end parties doesn’t change that! She’s a disgrace to the Church name! Everyone knows you can’t make a hooker a housewife!”

  When her parents made a play for her, she dodges them to approach us, and before I can even blink, Whitney throws her glass of red wine all over me. Covered from face to stomach, I look up at Van, who’s wearing a mask of shock and disgust on his face. And right then and there, the biggest part of me dies. The part that believed in happy endings. That believed in us.

  “Ask her!” Whitney screams.

  “Is it true?” he whispers.

  “Does it matter?” I whisper back.

  “See! She’s not denying it!” Whitney continues.

  “Enough!” he yells, slamming the mic down. Though, it doesn’t matter, considering it was on when he asked about my past. Now everyone here has found out just as he did.

  As for me, I am so humiliated at the timing, I started to cry.

  Removing myself from the stage, I ignored his parents begging me to stay and ran straight toward the exit. Just as I am pushing the door open, the fucking bitch cuts me off while both of her parents fight to keep hold of her.

  “I told him you’re not one of us,” she laughs in victory. “The Church family will not stand for their heir to marry a juggerslut. Oh, yes, now everyone knows what you really are.”

  In that moment, I reach my fucking limit. Clenching my fists, I get in her face and force a smile. “You want to play with the juggernaut, Whitney? All you had to do was ask.”

  “Taylor,” Taylor tries. “Come here, babe.”

  “Do you know what a juggernaut is, Whitney?” I ask, pushing her into the wall while ignoring my surroundings. Props to her parents who moved out of blast range. Clearly, they understand the definition and value their own safety. “I am what you’d call a huge, powerful, and overwhelming force.”

  “You have the huge part right,” she laughs loud.

  “When I pick up speed there is no stopping me. I will destroy everything in my path. And right now, that’s you.”

  “You can’t hurt me,” she sneers. “Your friends can’t hurt me either. I’m untouchable.”

  And then it happens. And when it did, I’m certain I squawked like a harpy before I went in for the kill.

  Now, I will say being pulled off of my fake fiancé’s ex by his own father is a low point for me. When I don’t see Van close by, I attempt to go around Mr. Church, but he isn’t having it. And for a pothead, he’s a lot stronger than he looks. Escorting me outside, I don’t put up a fight since the parking lot is my end goal. Once I clear the building, he looks me over and asks if I was all right.

  “Never better.”

  “You throw one hell of a party and uppercut,” he smiles proudly.

  “Sir,” I say, reaching for my phone to request an Uber. “I really need to go.”

  “Because of her?” he rolls his eyes. “That kind of stunt isn’t uncommon. Hell, it’s expected.”

  Sliding my phone to active, I see a dozen calls and texts from Scott, but can’t focus because Mr. Church is all up in my shit. “Fine party,” he muses.

  “A real banger,” I agree.

  “Evander has discussed the prenup with you, I assume?”

  Come again? Wow, and you think you know your fake fiancé. But it didn’t matter now, so I mumble, “Yes, no issues there. What’s his is his and all that.”

  “And what about him taking over the firm?”

  What’s this now? Battling the hurt, I offer, “He’s earned it, right?”

  “I may be in the business of lying, but I don’t like liars, Taylor.”

  “Mr. Church, spell it out for me, okay? Do it, so I can go.”

  “Churchs have never mixed money with marriage and never will—nasty business. Prenuptial agreements are hideous and Carol won’t let me retire if I plan to spend all my free time growing pot. Which I would because I have several strains in mind I want to test. Clearly, that’s out, which means Evander isn’t getting the firm anytime soon. Not that he wants it. He doesn’t. Most days I wonder why he went into law at all. Now that I’ve explained why I was lying to you, explain why you’re lying to me.”

  “Ask Van,” I say trying to move past him. Glancing at my phone, I see the words India and baby and begin to sweat.

  “Do you love my son, Taylor?”

  “Unfortunately for the Church name, I love him with all I’ve got.”

  “Then why are you leaving?”

  “A friend needs me.”

  “My son needs you.”

  “No, he doesn’t,” I whisper while I order my pick up. “He needed a wake-up call. Looks like he got it.”

  With that, I leave Mr. Church in the lot, and it killed me to do it.

  Between Whitney’s parents apologizing, her driver taking her to the hospital to possibly reset her jaw, and my mother begging me to find Taylor, it took my father coming in to tell me, she’s gone. In all my life, I’ve never seen him despondent. So, I ask him if he knows where she went.

  All he said is a friend needed her.

  Yes, well, I fucking need her, too.

  Luckily my parents bring the party back around and have no issues with me leaving to find her. When my call goes straight to voicemail, I dial Scott, but he makes it clear now isn’t a good time.

  Ready to demand he let me see her, he explains India has an emergency and needs Taylor, which means I had to wait.

  Standing out in the lot unsure what the fuck to do, the last person I want to see was he-Taylor.

  Uncaring I am a time bomb, he approaches. “Hell of a party, Van.”

  “My name is Evander,” I threaten.

  “I’m not the enemy but an ally,” he says lighting a cigarette. “I’m not here to rile you, but look out for her. Her being Taylor. When that nutbag reached out to me, she had all sorts of crazy ideas, and you two needed my help. Granted, it blew up in my face, but I did try. You know, for her.”

  “She had more ideas than rui
ning my parents party and our engagement?”

  “Evander,” he says exhaling. “That bitch has been busy.”

  And I’m ready to drive to the hospital to break her legs when he shares details. He’s right. The bitch has been busy, and her evil eye hasn’t just been on Taylor.

  “Anyway,” he says, hitting his smoke. “Taylor loves you, it’ll work out. Always does, right?”

  “She hasn’t said the words,” I blurt.

  Confused he asks, “So?”

  “So?”

  “So, a woman like her doesn’t tell you, she shows you. Jesus, I thought you were stupid smart.”

  “That’s not humanly possible,” I grunt at the idiot.

  “Yeah, genius, it is.”

  “Your point?”

  “My point is, your woman gave your mom the party of a fucking lifetime. She did this for you. Don’t think I don’t see how you look at her. Fuck knows it drove me nuts the way she looked at you, too. Not once did she ever look at me like that, and I’m better looking than you. Pulled out every stop with that woman and always came up short. You know her, how proud she is. Imagine being her right now.”

  “Fuck.”

  “You know where I went wrong?”

  “Enlighten me.”

  “I wanted to change her.”

  “Why would you do something fucking dumb like that?”

  “I thought if I harnessed her chaos, got her to focus it on me, she’d realize she loved me.”

  “You don’t harness a woman like Taylor,” I chastise him. “You back her up, protect her, and enjoy the fucking ride.”

  “Which is why she dumped me and fell in love with you, jackhole.”

  “Did you know she was a stripper?”

  “No, but it explains how she can move when she—never mind.”

  “I don’t know what she ever saw in you.”

  “Honestly? Me either.”

  And with that, I usher him back inside for a drink. Where one lead to four and the next thing I know, I have an entire bottle in my hand. Credit to Taylor for being a good sport because I can’t even stand myself right now.

  “I love that she can carry on a conversation with just her hands,” I slur.

  “Uh huh.”

  “I love karaoke with her, too.”

  “She can sing?”

  “Not even a little,” I manage to smile. “But my heart doesn’t know that.”

  “The juggernaut doesn’t bother you, ey?”

  Facing him I blurt, “Taylor’s wildness makes me primal.”

  “And here’s where we cut you off.”

  “She doesn’t even hate you,” I groan. “I do, of course.”

  “Of course.”

  “She doesn’t fake her orgasms with me either,” I gloat. “She told me herself I’m the orgasm master. She keeps count.”

  “Wait,” he says crestfallen. “She told you she faked it with me?”

  Taking another swig, I ponder destroying him but find I can’t do it. So, I do the next best thing. I play the vague angle. “She didn’t name you specifically,” I shrug. “I’m just assuming based on the timing of her dumping you.”

  “I’d like to say I can see why she loves you, but right now? I’ve got nothing.”

  “How come?”

  “You’re kind of an asshole, Church.”

  “This is true,” I agree with a smile. “She loved that about me, too.”

  “Son,” dad says, taking my booze. Dad. I liked Dad. “Let’s get you home.”

  “Not without Taylor. I can’t sleep without my cock inside –”

  “Tonight,” he sighs. “You’ll have to try.”

  “Taylor,” I say, grabbing his arm. “Wanna crash at my parents’ with me?”

  “That’s a hard no,” he says, moving away.

  “Taylor,” I say again. “I lied. She did fake it with you.”

  And with that, I let dad drag me to the car.

  Lying in bed with India in my arms, I weep with my friend.

  I know I’m crying for many reasons, but I choose to focus on what she needs.

  Comfort. Love. Solidarity.

  When the tears no longer fall, Hillary and Sugar climb in with Scott handing us drinks.

  On a Saturday night in October The Shit is in shambles.

  India shares how she lost the baby while Scott holds her hand.

  My friend is in physical and emotional pain, leaving me helpless. I can’t fix this. Time would. Love would.

  Though India nor Scott would be alone in their hurt.

  Hillary is curled into our left side, Sugar took up space behind me, and India is in my arms, resting her head on my chest.

  The four of us simply need the closeness. Yes, we drive each other nuts, but that’s what sisters do. Even at our worst, I wouldn’t trade this, ever. Next to falling for Van, sisterhood is the biggest love I’d ever know.

  And that love is a gift.

  Hillary is the first to break the silence. “I signed the papers this morning. You bitches were right. I was his wife and even if I sucked at it, I’m better than a sidepiece. Whoever this rich bitch is he’s banging, she can have him.”

  “Rich bitch?” I ask confused.

  “Some society slut,” she shrugs. “He stopped by to pick up the papers tonight while she was at some fancy anniversary party.”

  Oh, sweet lord of fuck me in the ass…

  “Um,” India begins but bites her lip.

  “Yeah, well, I was outed at work today and slapped with a harassment complaint,” Sugar adds.

  “Outed? Harassment?” I manage to ask through the shock. “What’s this now?”

  “Like I do every day, I tell Lucy she looks pretty. Which, to be honest, she isn’t, but I can tell she has low self-esteem, so I try to help a sister out. Anyway, I no sooner compliment her, I’m being ordered to my boss’ office and brought up on harassment charges. So I quit. You can hire me full-time now, Taylor. You’re welcome.”

  “Your co-workers love you,” I remind her.

  “Obviously, at least one someone doesn’t, and that someone hated me enough to fuck me over.” No, someone hated me enough to hurt my friends. “Do you think it was – ”

  “Van shut those assholes down, Sugar,” I promise her.

  “Right,” she sighs.

  “I was voted off the fundraising board for the children’s hospital foundation,” India whispers.

  “Come-a-what-the-shit?” I demand, barely able to keep from flying off the bed.

  “A vote to remove me had taken place without my knowledge. Apparently, I’m being investigated for skimming.”

  “I’m on it,” Scott adds. “Trust me, it will be handled.”

  “I have to go,” I say trying to move with no luck.

  “Taylor,” India says softly. “I know what you’re thinking.”

  “No, honey,” I assure her. “You have no idea what I’m thinking.”

  “Wait, what’s she thinking?” Hillary asks.

  “Share,” Sugar pouts.

  “Nope,” I say, wiggling out from under the mound, careful of India’s tender stomach. “So, I’ve got a thing,” I say while heading for the door.

  “Could this thing end with time served?” Sugar asks.

  “Mugshots are my favorite,” Hillary smiles.

  “Stay with India,” I order.

  “Fuck you,” Hillary snorts. “The juggernaut is clawing to get out and wherever she goes, we go.”

  “I got a gaggle of lesbians I can call in a pinch,” Sugar offers.

  “I go alone.”

  “Eat a dick,” Sugar rolls her eyes. “I mean, eat one for me, gross.”

  “Dammit! Stay here!”

  “Go with her,” India suggests. “And take photos.”

  “Motherfucking Teresa gets it,” Hillary salutes.

  “The fuck are you so cheery for?” I snap.

  “This is what happy looks like on me.”

  “Well, knock it off, it
’s weird and making me twitchy.”

  “Nope,” she says, smiling wider. “I’m full-timing this shit. I also need a fitting ending to my novel, so I’m going.”

  “Taylor,” India says sitting up. “You never said how the party went.”

  “Sure didn’t,” I agree.

  “Babe, later,” Scott says gently. Because, yeah, obviously he knew.

  “No, now,” she demands. “Holy shit! You should still be at the party. Tell me!”

  “After Van announced our engagement, Whitney informed the crowd he was to marry to an ex-stripper.”

  “That whore!” Hillary roars.

  “Like Van even cares about that,” Sugar snorts.

  “He didn’t know, Sugar,” I offer.

  “Ouch,” she winces.

  “Taylor,” India pleads. “It won’t matter to him.”

  Glancing at Scott, who wouldn’t meet my eyes, I know the truth just as he does. “Well, it should.”

  And with that, the girls follow me out to wait for our ride.

  “Uh, why are we walking to the emergency room?” Hillary asks.

  “Because the bitch responsible for our problems is currently being treated here.”

  “Treated for what?” Sugar asks.

  “Running into my fist.”

  “You juggernauted her ass?” Hillary asks.

  “Sure did. In front of Van, his parents, and all of their closest friends. But she clearly didn’t learn her lesson.” Because the bitch did this prior to the party. What she did at the party was her final act. End scene. Take a bow.

  “We killing her?” Sugar asks. “I’m not wearing the right outfit for that but I can improvise.”

  “You two are going to stand outside the door while I handle this.”

  “Like guards?” Hillary asks.

  “Exactly.”

  “Do we get weapons?” Sugar asks.

  “I’m the weapon,” I say, pushing through the doors. Leaving them in the lobby, I get her room number because I’m her sister and nod for them to follow. Outside her door, I make them promise to wait and not come in.

  “We’re the Shit,” Hillary reminds me.

  “You start some shit, we start some shit,” Sugar defends. “The wolf pack ain’t got nothing on us. And we do this for India, too. Can I just say I can feel her here in spirit?”