It was damn depressing.
“You need to get out more,” Ty huffed, the veins in his neck popping as he pressed the barbell up and down.
I shook my head as I spotted him. “What makes you think that? I get out plenty.” It wasn’t as if I sat at home every night by myself. When I wasn’t working, which right now seemed like all the time, I went out with Nate or occasionally Mia.
Or I tried to spend some nights in with my mom. Jared and Jeremy tried to do the same thing so she wasn’t alone very often, but I could tell it was aggravating her. Apparently, she didn’t need her sons babysitting her, as she put it. I guess I could understand that, but we were all afraid that she was going to have a meltdown, and we wanted to be there for her. She seemed to be holding herself together pretty well, though.
“That’s not what I meant.” Ty sat up, wiping the sweat from his forehead, and I bent down to hand him his water bottle. He took a big gulp, setting the bottle on the floor before swinging his legs around. “I mean, you need to start dating again.”
“Not happening.” I shook my head back and forth as he stood up, and then I took his spot on the bench. “I’m done with girls.”
“See, your problem is that you were going after girls. Girls who were immature. You need a woman.” I couldn’t help but think that was a dig at Della and though it was somewhat true, I felt like punching Ty for implying it.
Sure, Della wasn’t exactly easy when it came to certain things, but she wasn’t immature. Ty had just seen her on a really off night, and was making his judgments from that alone. Whatever. Not like I cared what he thought about Della anyway. She wasn’t a part of my life anymore.
“Oh, really?” I smirked before picking up the barbell. “And do you know any women that could handle Justin Parker?”
Ty snorted loudly. “First of all, don’t talk about yourself in third person, it makes you sound like a jackass. Second, I do. Feel like going on a double date with me and the wife on Friday night?”
I groaned and I wasn’t sure if it was from lifting weights or the idea of an actual blind date. I had never been on one of those in my life, because really, I never needed to. I didn’t have a problem finding willing participants.
“C’mon, man. Blaire is great. She and my wife have been friends for years. She’s gorgeous, even though I would never let Emily hear that. She has a great job; she works as a lawyer downtown at one of those big fancy firms. She’s what you need. Someone with a good head on her shoulders, and won’t bring a shit ton of drama into your life.”
I shrugged one shoulder as I sat up. “I don’t know. What if we don’t hit it off? Is that gonna make things awkward between us? And a lawyer? Are you saying I’d be going out with a cougar?”
“What the fuck ever.” Ty elbowed me in the stomach as I stood up and we began walking toward the locker room. “No, it wouldn’t make things awkward. That is unless you don’t show up on Friday since I already told her you would.”
“What?” I snapped, and Ty just smirked back at me. Asshole. And if I canceled, it would make me look like the douchebag. I liked working with Ty, but sometimes he was just a tiny bit demanding.
“And she’s only a couple of years older than you. I don’t think that would make her a cougar, unless you’re into that, then sure, if that’s how you want to think.”
I didn’t really want to date. I think Della had ruined me, or something. But maybe, just maybe, it would help get me out of the slump I felt like I was in. At least it would manage to take my mind off of things for a while.
“I’M NOT GOING in there, Mia.”
She faced me, batting her eyelashes, her mouth turning down into a frown. “Oh, come on. Don’t be such a pansy-ass. It’ll just be for one sec, promise.”
I gripped the steering wheel, giving her another sideways glance, wondering how I ended up going out with her today in the first place. She had been all flirty, more than usual, really. She called last night to ask if I wanted to have lunch and shoot some pool. I agreed after she begged me for a few minutes. It wasn’t like I didn’t enjoy hanging out with her. She was a fun girl to be around, and always managed to make things interesting.
But then she started leaning over the pool table while we were playing, wiggling her ass in my face in those tight pants of hers that looked painted on, and then pretending like she didn’t know how to play just so I would touch her. Yeah, I didn’t let that happen. I didn’t want to give her the wrong idea.
Especially since I met Blaire.
Yeah, it had only been about a week since the double date that I had been dreading, but we really hit it off. Ty wasn’t lying when he told me how gorgeous she was. She had long silky brown hair that hung past her shoulders, emerald green eyes that were warm and sparkled whenever she talked, as if her eyes were always laughing about something. She was petite, barely reaching my shoulders with heels on, and I could probably wrap my arms around her waist twice if I tried. She was smart, too, but not one of those people that tried to make you feel like an idiot with all of their knowledge. We had been out one other time by ourselves since the blind date, just meeting up for lunch during the work week, but we already set up another date for next weekend.
Blaire was refreshing.
“Justin, just run in with me. I promise Della isn’t home.” She pointed to the driveway, and I nodded, seeing that Della’s car wasn’t there.
“Fine,” I huffed loudly before slowly releasing my seat belt. “And then I’m dropping you off at your friend’s house, right?”
I wasn’t about to let her drive after we were done playing pool. She finished off a pitcher of beer by herself, and after seeing her sway on her feet a few times, I figured I would take her home.
“Yeah, I just need to grab a few things,” she said to me over her shoulder, pulling out a set of keys from her purse.
I followed her into the house, feeling uncomfortable that I was walking into the place where Della lived. I tried not to imagine her here with Nash. I tried not to think about her bedroom, and the bed that she slept in, probably naked, and what I wouldn’t give just to see her.
“What are you doing here?” Mia snapped, and I looked up, my eyes locking with Della’s, whose mouth was hanging open in shock, her blue eyes wide as she stared at me.
I think mine did the same exact thing as soon as I saw her, sitting on the couch in their living room. Nash stood behind her, his eyes narrowed in my direction as Mia placed one hand on her hip, obviously pissed.
I started to wonder why exactly Mia tried so hard to get me inside because she really didn’t appear happy about Della being there, so I knew it wasn’t some kind of set up. At least not a set up for me to run into Della. A set up for Mia to try to rape me, possibly.
“What are you doing here?” Della asked, directing her question toward me as I shoved my hands in my pockets, trying like hell to control the anger that was bubbling up at catching the two of them together. It wasn’t something that I liked to think about, much less see. Nash had what I wanted and would never get, and it pissed me the hell off. I wonder if he knew what his pregnant girlfriend had been up to recently, though. Maybe then he wouldn’t be looking so protective of her right now.
“What are you doing here, is the real question?” Mia spat out, stomping one heeled foot on the weathered wooden floor. “Your car’s not in the driveway. You’re supposed to be gone.”
“Well, I sort of live here, last time I checked. And I rode over with Nash. He’s parked on the street. Not that I need to explain myself to you or anything,” Della responded, the snappy attitude that I loved about her seeping through as she returned Mia’s glare.
“Whatever,” Mia huffed. “Let’s just get out of here, Justin.” She latched onto my elbow, yanking me toward the front door, but my head snapped back when I heard a nasally voice coming from the hallway.
“Ugh, Nash. I’m ready to go. My feet are killing me and I need to take a nap.” I’d only met her a few times, but I quick
ly recognized the dark-haired girl rubbing a hand over her large belly, reaching out the other one to Nash who laced his fingers with hers. Mariah. The two of them had broken up as far as I knew, but it sure didn’t seem that way anymore. Things were starting to make sense as I watched the two of them together. Yeah, Nash was going to be a dad, but it wasn’t Della who was having a baby. Thank God. I felt like doing a fucking cartwheel across the living room at the realization.
I looked at Della who was still staring at me, millions of questions in her eyes, but her lips were closed tightly. She was obviously pissed. Probably for lots of different reasons, and I felt like a complete asshole. I did all of that shit because I thought she was with Nash. And she wasn’t.
“Justin.” Mia tugged on my arm once again and I wasn’t sure what to do. I didn’t think it was exactly the best time to explain myself to Della. I knew I needed to give her some space to cool off, but in the same instant, I just wanted to scoop her into my arms and forget everything that had happened between us. “Is this the guy you’ve been talking about?” Della asked, finally breaking her silence, and Mia froze, her hand tensing around my upper arm. Della’s eyes darted back and forth between Mia and me. I straightened as she stood up from the couch and took a step closer. I started to think that maybe I should just leave. I could figure out how to get Della alone later. Things were just getting more uncomfortable by the second.
Mia shrugged one shoulder, giving Della a satisfied smile. “Maybe.”
“What exactly have you been saying about me, Mia?” I raised my eyebrows at her, and she at least had the decency to look a little bit guilty. She never mentioned whether she told Della that we were friends. I didn’t really care one way or another, but I had a feeling she was filling Della’s head with a whole lot more than what was actually going on.
“Nothing much,” she answered vaguely and I could tell by the incredulous expression Della shot her that it was a complete lie.
“So, you two are having a baby?” I tipped my head toward Nash, hoping to diffuse a little bit of the tension that was growing between Della and Mia.
Nash’s eyebrows bunched together before he nodded his head at me. “Well, yeah.” Like I was a dumbass for asking or something.
“And the two of you?” I motioned between Della and Nash, watching as Nash shifted on his feet, his shoulders tight with tension.
“And the two of us, what? Are we together? Is that what you told him, Mia?” Della’s lips formed a tight line as she turned on Mia, who was now grinning widely, but didn’t answer her. Mariah snorted loudly, mumbling something under her breath. I knew she wasn’t exactly a fan of Della’s, so all three of them here together was confusing the hell out of me. “No, we aren’t together. We’re just friends. He’s with Mariah, the mother of his child. Is that a good enough explanation for you? I certainly don’t owe you one. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
She was pissed.
I was trying my hardest to bite back the smirk that wanted to escape. She looked sexy as hell when she was mad. Her blue eyes were flaring, and her plump lips were pushed together in a scowl. It reminded me of something she used to do with those lips that I would give anything to feel right about now. Get your head out of the gutter, Justin.
“Good enough, princess.” I emphasized the word and Della glared at me, moving in my direction to place two hands on my shoulders.
“I think it’s time for you to leave.” She pushed me back to the front door and I willingly moved along, liking the way her hands felt against me, and Mia trailing closely behind us.
“All right, all right. I know you can’t resist yourself, but I’m going.”
Della snorted loudly from the threshold, rolling her eyes as I grinned down at her. Once we were both out the door, Della slammed it in our faces and I glared at Mia. “Why exactly did you follow me out here? Did you really think I’m still going to give you a ride?”
“Justin, I didn’t really lie to you. I just never answered your questions. You can’t be mad at me for being vague. You didn’t push for details, so I didn’t offer them up.”
I stalked over to my car, and she continued following me, placing a hand on the passenger door handle. “Mia….” I trailed off when I saw what looked like actual tears glistening in her eyes. I didn’t think that was really possible. I unlocked my door, and then reached over to unlock hers. She slid in quickly, most likely worried that I would change my mind. I probably should have.
The ride to her friend’s house was eerily silent, save for her giving me directions. It was weird because Mia was never quiet. I could tell she was sobering up, even though she had mumbled the address so low I barely heard her. I pulled into the apartment complex’s parking lot, finding a spot right near her friend’s building. I really didn’t feel like being around her anymore. My mind was wandering places, like where Della and I would be, if Mia hadn’t bent the truth.
Mia sighed loudly and I turned toward her. “Are you gonna tell me exactly what happened back there? Why did you tell me that Nash and Della were dating? They clearly aren’t, his pregnant girlfriend was standing right next to him.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Please. There’s something going on there. You can’t be friends with guys, it’s just not possible.”
“Really?” I raised my eyebrows at her. “Aren’t we just friends?”
A hurt look flashed across her face, and she wiped at her eyes with her fingertips. “I was hoping we could be more,” she responded quietly.
“So that’s why you lied? You were trying to keep me away from Della? I thought she was fucking pregnant with Nash’s baby. Do you know what that did to me?” I yelled the last part, and Mia jumped in her seat.
I felt all sorts of rage that I thought I’d tucked away after losing Della and all of the shit that happened in between. I didn’t know what to do or what to think. Was there a chance, or were things just too fucked up? And just when I thought I was starting to move forward, maybe with Blaire. I didn’t know if I could just forget all about Della, though, and the possibility of what could be.
“I’m sorry, Justin. I just thought…never mind. Just know that I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how much I hurt you. I just figured you and Della were over for good, and there was no going back. At least I tried.” Her voice rose slightly, as if I were supposed to give her a round of applause for her effort or something. I knew Mia had problems, but I didn’t have time to deal with hers. I had enough of my own.
“Just get out, Mia.”
“Justin—”
“Get. Out.” I snapped out the two words, and she huffed loudly, but thankfully opened up her door, slamming it shut so hard, I was surprised the thing didn’t fall off the hinges.
I squealed out of the parking lot, heading toward my house where I could find a little bit of silence before heading into work. I needed time to think, and time to figure out what direction I wanted my life to go in. Things with Blaire were just starting up, but I didn’t know if I could pass up a chance with Della again, no matter the outcome.
I TOOK A deep, calming breath after throwing Justin out of my house, pressing the palms of my hands to my eyes. I couldn’t believe Mia. Well, I take that back. Really, I could. I just didn’t understand why she would do something like that.
It explained a lot.
Justin’s anger toward me at the funeral, him showing up at Shorty’s and putting his little show on for me. I wasn’t justifying his actions, but I could understand them a little bit better. He had probably done it all because he thought I was with Nash. I gave him hope that things with us could possibly happen again, and then he thought I went running back to Nash. If I put myself in his shoes, I would be pissed, too. But why in the hell would he believe anything that came out of Mia’s mouth in the first place? And why were they together? Mia had been talking about a guy in her life non-stop lately, and I now knew that it was Justin she had been going on and on about.
“Della.” Nash’s voice snapped me
out of my thoughts and I tuned back into reality.
“Sorry. I have no idea what just happened.” I gestured with my thumb toward the front door. Nash definitely wasn’t Justin’s biggest fan, but I knew he didn’t like to see me hurting.
“Mia being Mia. I still don’t understand why you let her move in here. She treats you like shit. The Della I know doesn’t let that happen.”
“Trust me, I ask myself that every day.” I rubbed my hand over my forehead, willing the headache away that I felt coming. For now, I was going to push that whole sticky situation to the back of my mind, because I was having such a fun time with Mariah. Don’t get me wrong; she had been nice all day when I met up with them for lunch at Nash’s house. You know that overly nice, like the sickly sweet that just makes you want to puke? Yeah, that one. I could tell Nash’s mom felt exactly the same way about Mariah. I’m sure their living arrangements were highly uncomfortable. I was hoping Mariah would decide not to tag along when Nash offered to drive me back to the house so I could grab a few things to stay the night at my grandparents’, but I don’t think she really wanted the two of us to be alone together.
“Well, I think you should go after him,” Mariah piped up, collapsing onto the couch next to me.
“What?” Nash snapped. “Why the hell should she do that? He’s an asshole that doesn’t deserve Della. She doesn’t need him in her life. Right?”
He turned toward me and I could see Mariah’s face darken as she glared at the back of his head. I knew what she was doing. She wanted to make sure that my attention was away from Nash, so she could have him all to herself. I didn’t know what I needed to do to make it any clearer that I wasn’t interested. She was pregnant with his baby! Well, as far as we knew anyway.
When Nash first broke the news about Mariah being pregnant, I had been suspicious. They didn’t end things on a good note, and even though Nash told me they had a one-time thing after breaking up, I still found it hard to believe that she “accidently” got pregnant. I only saw two different scenarios: either she got pregnant on purpose to trap him, or the baby wasn’t his. I guess only time would tell. I really wasn’t sure which one would be better for Nash.
Twisted Bliss Page 7
