Parker Sibling Series Box Set

by Leigh Ann Lunsford

  I don’t notice Brielle and Colby walking into the room, but they approach both of us from different angles and take the girls from us. As soon as they are out of our arms, Tyler grabs me, none too gently, and hauls my ass down to the basement. I know this isn’t going to be pretty. I provoked him, I know that. I am just unsure of why I did it. Now I have the wrath of Tyler staring me in the face, a laid back Mitch upstairs laughing at this scene, and a nosy meddling family who I am sure is salivating to get the story on this. Fuck me!

  Once we reach the rec room in the basement, I start again. “Tyler, there is no need to get pissy. I am simply stating the facts and events for you. I told you I was pregnant. You told me to ‘fix it.’ You didn’t want children. Then you accused me of doing this on purpose to force your hand, and you also informed me that you would not be forced. There would be no ‘sticking it to the man’ for you. I told you that was not what I wanted, and you told me to go fuck myself. When you walked out of my door over ten months ago I told you there was no coming back from this and to make damn sure this was what your final choice would be. By the silence that followed and the slam of my door, I understood your decision. You have broken my heart over and over, and it stopped that day. From that day forward, every decision I made was for those two babies upstairs, not for me. I will be damned if you think you are going to come in here and decide all your past decisions and behavior don’t matter. Those decisions of yours have put you in the predicament you are in now, and that is alone . . . no me and no children. And you are certainly not welcome in my home or life ever again.”

  I can’t breathe after that rant. He is still standing there trying to process everything I just spewed at him. Damn, that felt good. He has dictated every thought, and decision I have made for so long, but no more. When he drops his head into his hands, I am surprised by the twinge of pain in my chest. I thought all my feelings for him were dead, just like our relationship. Seeing him in pain does something to me, and I don’t like it. Shit! Damn new mommy hormones. I will not succumb to them. I can stay strong. He lifts his head, and seeing the unshed tears in his eyes makes my heart skip a beat, and I can’t catch my breath.

  Before I do or say anything else I may regret, I flee the room. As I am on the stairs going back to get my girls, I hear him whisper, “I still love you.” No. He can’t still love me. Love doesn’t hurt like he hurt me. If it does, you are supposed to soothe it and heal it. He walked away from me twice, and neither time did he consider what he was doing to me. If this is his idea of love, I don’t want it.

  Chapter 2

  Tyler

  I can’t believe she lied to me. I called her three fucking weeks after making one of the worst decisions of my life. After that paternity scare a few years ago and lying to Addy, I thought I didn’t deserve kids. When that bitch from college, who I slept with after Addy and I broke up, claimed she was pregnant, I freaked and hid it from Addison. It turned out she lied or didn’t know who fathered her kid, but it wasn’t me. Kids scared the shit out of me, not to mention the fact that I was no role model. I mean, maybe I was the kind that you would find on a poster of, “what not to do,” but definitely not a good role model. When I called her, she told me, “there was no baby to worry about anymore.” I wanted to come home and comfort her, and I wanted our life back. She told me the night I left that she would never forgive me, and she meant what she said. She had told me before I walked out that there was no coming back, and she was serious. I decided to abide by her wishes and not fuck up her life anymore.

  Little did I know that there was a baby. Not just one, but apparently two little babies. They were beautiful, and I had been cheated out of a lot of time with them. Well, not cheated necessarily, but I cheated myself out of that time. I am a sad sack of shit who has nobody to blame but myself, but that will stop now. I may be a complete fuck up but there is no way in hell that guy, Mitch, will raise my girls. He is not their daddy. I am their dad, and I don’t give a crap if he has a badge or not. I will whoop his ass all over this town if he doesn’t step the fuck away. I would still not know about my babies if Cambree hadn’t texted me last night with a photo of them and a caption that said, “Who’s your Daddy?” That girl is a hot ass mess, but I am so grateful for her. I looked at that photo and knew with everything in me that they were mine . . . mine and Addison’s. I drove as fast I could to get here. Unfortunately, I happened to arrive in the middle of Riley’s first birthday, and I am sure Brielle was ready to kill me. Nothing has changed.

  When I walked out that night, I thought life couldn’t get worse. Then the next morning rolled around, and I was met with Brielle. Marriage and kids has not calmed that girl down at all. Addison didn’t tell her she was pregnant but did spill the beans on the lies and mistakes I had made. I let her give me a piece of her mind because everything she was telling me was true. Almost. When I called myself a dildo, she said sweetly, “Oh no Tyler, that is like you are saying you are good enough to get somebody off. You just leave them hanging.” That was some bullshit. I always made sure Addison was satisfied in bed.

  After composing myself for a few more moments, I made my way upstairs. Addison was packing Cheyenne and Shiloh up, and thankfully Mitch was not around. Colby and Brielle were trying to help and get to the bottom of this mess. They had sent their kids outside with Dustin and Cambree, and when I walked in they just stared at me. Brielle starts in first. “Dude, what in the fuck? You leave my sister pregnant and heartbroken and never mention anything? I don’t know who I am more pissed at. Addison, you have lied to me for a year, and Tyler you just left. Both of ya’ll are assholes.” Colby wraps his arm around her trying to calm her ass down, but that is a waste of time.

  Addison responds first, “Well sister dear. This is my fucking life and not your concern. You think I wanted to broadcast that my fucktard fiancé left me after eight damn years because I was pregnant, and he wanted me to get rid of it? Nope, not the happily ever after I was promised. So excuse me for trying to pick up the pieces of my shattered heart and life and doing what I thought was best.” Wow, that shut Brielle up.

  She looks at Addison apologetically and says, “I am sorry, Addy. I am just shocked as hell and mad at douchelord over there. I always support your decisions and love you. Go home and take care of my nieces. We will work all this out in the morning.”

  Am I not even in the room? Addison hugs Brielle and tells her, “There is nothing to figure out B. Mitch has known all along about the paternity but has still stepped in and been there for me. He uprooted his whole life to move here with me and help out. Nothing changes because sperm-donor-times-two came back in the picture. I love you and will talk to ya’ll tomorrow. Give Riley and CJ a big hug and kiss from Aunt Addy.”

  She goes to pick up both kids and their bags, and I step in front of her. “Addison, this does change everything. I don’t give a fuck if Mitch moved from outer space. Those are not his girls, and I am not going anywhere. I may have been a dick, but that doesn’t change the fact you lied to me. So, take tonight to come up with a solution that has me in the equation. I am not going anywhere and if you try and fight me about this, make no mistake I will fight back. I will be by tomorrow, and please have your boy toy gone.”

  I don’t wait for a response before I go out back and try to calm down. How the hell does she think this changes nothing? Yes, I screwed up. I get that, but she isn’t innocent in this clusterfuck either. Those Parker siblings will drive a damn saint to sin. Damn.

  Colby finds me out on the deck and hands me a beer. “This is some screwed up shit,” he states.

  “I still see we are using the S vocabulary well,” I chuckle at him. “Yeah, it is messed up. I swear, Colby, I didn’t know about my kids. That pisses me off.”

  “Man, you left. You told her you didn’t want kids. You moved out of state after telling her to get rid of the pregnancy. I am not saying she doesn’t have some blame, but most of this lays on you, Ty. You told me over and over you didn’t want kids
. You walked out on her in college, lied to her for a solid year, and when she found out she forgave you. Then you pull shit like you did and abandon her when she tells you she is pregnant.” Damn he isn’t holding back at all.

  “I know Colby. I was wrong in a lot of ways. But she was wrong when she told me there was no baby for me to worry about. She is dead-ass wrong if she thinks that guy will raise my flesh and blood. No way in hell. This is my family, and I will fight for it with my last breath.”

  “Just what I want to hear assmunch.” Damn, Brielle snuck in on this conversation. She continues, “I don’t agree with any of what you did, but my sister never stopped loving you. I don’t know if love is enough in this case. There are a lot of trust issues and hurt to work through. You have an uphill climb. My nieces deserve their daddy, and I know without a doubt, Tyler, that you mean what you say. I am not okay about how you treated my sister, and I don’t forgive you. But I am not naïve enough to think this is about my wants. You want your girls, all three of them, and I will support you within reason. If you hurt my sister or those babies . . . I. Will. Bury. You. You feel me?”

  I just nod at her. Brielle still scares me, but she also knows her sister better than anyone. It doesn’t hurt that she is married to my cousin and values family. I grin at her and ask her, “What is your plan, oh masterful mind?”

  She chuckles at me. “Oh sorry, sweet cheeks. I will support you, but all the planning and work are on you. Suck it up buttercup, and get to work.” She skips over to Colby, kisses him, and goes to play with their kids.

  Colby stares after her and says, “Get your game face on and man the fuck up. This is your life you are fighting for.” That is a no shitter.

  Chapter 3

  January 2015

  Addison

  I was walking up the stairs in Brielle’s house to see what Tyler and Colby had been up to all morning. After Brielle’s stunt of painting the nursery in her team colors, Colby had barely contained himself, and he and Tyler had left. I walked in the room and overheard a conversation I wasn’t supposed to. That damn envelope I found from a DNA laboratory just came back to bite Tyler in the ass. He had told me he didn’t know anything about it; he had grabbed it out of the trash. I called bullshit on that, and this conversation just proved my intuition was right.

  I cleared my throat to let them know I was right there and heard every word that Tyler had been lying to me about. Sometimes I wonder if this relationship is worth it at all. Why did he lie to me? Colby excuses himself from the room, and Tyler won’t meet my gaze. I just tell him, “My house. Now.” As I turn to walk out, I hear his deep sigh and his footsteps following me. Good damn thing.

  We reach my house with no conversation between us and take our seats in the living room. He opens his mouth and spills his guts.

  “Addison, I know you heard a lot back there, but let me explain it all. You know when we broke up in college, I was devastated. Yes, I know it was my idea, and I take all the blame. We worked through all that and never told each other what happened in that year. I never wanted to know if you had been with anyone else, and once again that decision came back and bit me in the ass. Right before you left for Daytona, I got a call from a girl named Amy. She was the only girl I was with in that break, and I don’t even remember it because I was so drunk.”

  He stops talking, and I am grateful. I think I may be sick. We never discussed our year apart because I did not want to feel like this. Granted, I wasn’t innocent, but I had nothing to feel guilty about because he initiated this break up, not me. I didn’t want it at all, and my heart was shredded. I remember that time like it was yesterday and wondered why it had happened. When we both graduated and moved home, we agreed we still loved each other and moved forward from there. This boy was my best friend and I thought, the best part of me. He broke my heart in September 2010, and when my grandparents died in March 2011, he helped mend it with his friendship and support. Now I felt he was doing it all over again. This merry-go-round he keeps me on is getting old.

  He starts talking again, and I want to plug my ears. I don’t know if I can handle any more vile words from his mouth.

  “She told me she was pregnant, and the kid was mine. I wasn’t certain of anything because I don’t remember. She offered to get a paternity test, and I agreed. I did not tell you because I wanted to know the results before I hurt you again. Turns out she was lying, and the kid wasn’t mine. The relief I felt was eye opening. I was thankful because I didn’t have to tell you and hurt you anymore. There was more. I was secretly thrilled I wasn’t going to be a father. It hit me then that I didn’t want kids . . . ever.”

  I think I just stopped breathing. Great, he wasn’t going to be some slut’s payday, but now he is telling me he doesn’t want kids . . . with me. He needs to shut the fuck up. I don’t know how to react to that. I know he is waiting on me to respond to him, but I can’t. I don’t know how to answer him. This is not okay with me. I get up and walk out of the room. Before I get to the top of the stairs I tell him, “Get out. Leave your keys on the counter, and don’t come back. I could have forgiven you for not telling me at first, although I will never understand why you made that decision. I can’t forgive you for lying to me for almost a year. I asked you over and over, and time after time you lied. You lied to my face. Now, you tell me after almost seven years, you had an epiphany that you don’t want kids. Well, I do Tyler. That is a deal breaker.”

  I continued up to my room, but I heard him shut the front door. He better have left his keys because I don’t want to see his ass ever again. If I keep telling myself that, maybe I will believe it. I want to escape my life right about now. Taking off like Brielle did last year sounds perfect right about now. I know I can’t though, because she is pregnant and just got married less than six months ago. Right now I just want my granddad’s arms and my grandmother’s words. That combination fixed everything for me.

  When Tyler broke up with me in college, it was their comfort that got me through it. Throw in a little of Brielle’s sass, and I survived. My granddad was mad at the situation but never at Tyler. He just shook his head and held me. He told me time and time again that “the fool would come to his senses.” My grandmother would tell me, “until boys become men, their decisions hurt the people around them. I think he is doing this out of some sense of loyalty to you, Addison. It will all work out.” Her gentle words and my grandfather’s soft touch always eased the pain. I would give up anything at this point to have that comfort now.

  February 2015

  Almost a month has passed since I told Tyler to get out of my house. Valentine’s Day is approaching, and it can fuck off this year. Brielle and Colby know what happened, and Brielle being herself, has made Tyler’s life hell. In turn, it has turned Colby into a mess worrying about her stress level and their little bun in the oven. If it weren’t my own life that was causing this drama, it would be laughable.

  Tyler has called and texted everyday, multiple times. I ignore every single one of them. I am nobody’s doormat, and he has proven to me, yet again, he has the power to destroy me. I think Colby is giving him tips on how to win me over because today’s text message had a song attached to it. It was K-Ci & JoJo’s “One Last Time.” He doesn’t realize music is Brielle’s thing. I feel the beat to dance, and she feels the lyrics to create emotions. I have to admit this song is getting to me though. But again, how many more chances do I give him? I decide to not think about it and meet my sisters for a pedicure.

  Brielle agreed to go out with me tonight, despite many objections from Colby. Since she is knocked up, she can be designated driver, and I can get all liquored up. This night is looking better and better. I picked up a new outfit while we were out and almost felt normal. After a few glasses of wine before Brielle and Colby picked me up, I was feeling no pain. We were just heading to our bar. It would be low key, and I could let loose.

  I should have guessed that asshole would be here. I can’t even trust my own sister. S
he notices when I realize he is here and tells me, “He is sorry. Listen to him. Addy, he is scared and so confused, but one thing he knows is how much he loves you.” I just roll my eyes at her and snicker. She is full of good intentions now, but she used to be hell on wheels, take no prisoners. I miss that girl right now.

  I walk up to him and say, “Get it over with. You have about ten minutes of my time to waste.” I throw in an aggravated eye roll and check my watch for added measure. Damn, Brielle has rubbed off on me. I used to be the sweet sister.

  He starts, “I am sorry. It seems like that is all I say to you lately. I love you, Little Bit.” Ah hell, he went there. He knows Little Bit gets me every single time. Not this time though. I will fight the emotions tonight. He continues on, “Maybe I was rushing to judgment about no kids. I am not sure. I know I was relieved about her not being the mother of my children, but I just don’t know how I feel about it. I am confused, but I know without a doubt that I love you. Maybe we could table this conversation about kids until we are there. No matter what happens, it will always be you.”

  I don’t know if it is smart to put off such a big topic. I tell him, “Tyler, I told you no kids is a deal breaker. I am not giving you an ultimatum because I want your decision to be yours. I want kids, and if you don’t, we need to continue on our separate ways. I love you with all that I am, but I won’t sacrifice my dreams for anyone. Not even you. I want a family and kids with the man I love. I may never find anyone else, but I know it will break us if I stay with you knowing you don’t want kids.” He stares at me for a few moments without speaking. It isn’t that I just want kids, it means the world to me. When my grandparents died, Brielle and I were left to raise our younger siblings, Cambree and Dustin. It has been the most meaningful thing I have ever done, and I want to make a difference in my own child’s life. I want to be what our parents weren’t to us.