Needing You (22 page)

“No way, you can’t say the same thing back, you have to be creative,” he says laughing and holding the succulent treat just out of my reach.

“Ugh fine, I can honestly tell you that I have never felt so comfortable with someone of the opposite sex, so thank you,” I state still holding my hand out for my strawberry.

“Well I’m glad you’re comfortable with me, now you may enjoy your treat,” he says as he holds the berry to my lips. Oh, so he’s going to feed me too, how exciting!  My stomach starts doing little flips as I take a bite out of the juicy berry.  Clearly, my mind is going elsewhere right now on what we could be doing with these berries.  Not that I would, but the thought does cross my mind.

“Another?” he asks.

“Absolutely,” I say then opening my mouth for another one.

“You have to say something first, you know the rules,” he says laughing again.

“Go ahead,” I tell him.

“I went first last time, now it’s your turn,” he says with a devilish smirk.

“Tuck you’re my best friend,” I say a bit shyly. He starts laughing hysterically. “What? Stop laughing, that’s not funny,” I shout at him.

“Harp, I’m like one of your only friends. Not that I’m complaining, but I think it’s pretty obvious that I’m your best friend,” he says with a smug smile.

“Well damn it Tuck, what do you want me to say?” I ask embarrassed.

“Why don’t you tell me what you think of me?” he asks all sexy in a way that only Tuck can.

I can feel my face redden in an instant and I try to look away, but Tuck takes my chin in his hand and turns so my face is facing his. “You don’t have to be embarrassed and I didn’t mean to laugh about the best friend comment. I am honored to be your best friend,” he says staring into my eyes.

“What do you want to know? You already know you’re gorgeous; any girl would kill to be in my shoes and hang out with you like I get to.  I love hanging out with you.”
You make my days better especially waking up with you wrapped around me. I want to say, but don’t.

“So you like sleeping wrapped in my arms huh?” he says all sexy, as hotness that he is with the biggest shit eating grin.

“Oh shit, I said that out loud?” I say quietly as my face burns beet red.

He laughs, “I love having you wake up in my arms, so the feeling’s mutual,” he says as he feeds me another strawberry.

We spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying each other’s company.  I snap a bunch of pictures of us and the scenery all around us.  It’s just relaxing and peaceful and I couldn’t have asked for a better day. I needed this! Nothing could spoil the smile that is plastered on my face today!

When we pull back up to the parking lot in front of my dorm we get out and start to head towards my building when someone yells for me.

“Alaney Mae Harper, what the hell are you doing?” the voice yells.

“Oh shit,” I know that voice.

“I’m speaking to you young lady, you better answer me,” the voice says angrier now.

“Harp, everything okay? Why is that woman calling you Alaney?” Tuck asks looking at me worriedly. I slowly turn toward the woman speaking to me, shocked that she found me in the first place.

“Hi mom,” I nervously say and see Tucker look at me surprised.

“Where the hell have you been? You just pick up and disappear without telling me or your father and you change your damn name? What has gotten into you?” she’s yelling at me. That’s when I see my father walking up behind her.

“Laney, you will get your stuff and get your ass in the car now,” my dad demands. I glance at Tucker and see his face go a shade paler knowing he’s worried especially because of the way my parents are speaking to me, in public no less. Which is rather surprising since image is everything to them.

“I’m here for school. I’m not going anywhere,” I spit back. 

“You listen to me missy, you will not embarrass your father or I again. Now get in the damn car,” my mom says angrily.

“Hi, I’m Tucker, Alaney’s friend.  Why don’t we go inside and talk about things without an audience,” Tuck says nervously to my parents.

“So, this is what you ran away from home for, to become a slut,” my father states.  I stand there with my mouth wide open, still not believing my parents are in front of my face. 

Tucker sees me and speaks up before I get the chance. “Do not speak to her that way. She is not a slut and you have no right to talk to her like that,” Tucker spits back at my father. 

I can see the anger boiling within my dad, his face is getting red and he looks like he wants to punch Tuck. He won’t because the size of Tuck shows he could stand his own and kick my dad’s ass.

“Laney, we are not going to pay for you to attend school way across the country. You need to come back home with us and we will discuss your options,” my mother states in a calmer tone now.

“No, you’re right, you’re not paying for my schooling, I am.  I don’t need nor want your money or anything else from you. Now please leave,” I tell them harshly.

My father practically laughs in my face, “You can’t afford to go to school here without our help, don’t be foolish little girl.”  Wow, I really hate the way he speaks to me.

“I assure you I can and I am. You’re not wanted here.  I left for a reason and I won’t be returning home.”  I turn to leave, but unfortunately I don’t make it that far.

“Laney Harper, you will not disgrace this family by your ignorance.  What would your sister say if she saw you right now?” my mother spits out.

RAGE…that’s what I see right now. I turn around so fast ready to spit fire. “Do not talk about Allie like that.  She would be happy I got the hell out of that damn place you call a home,” I yell. Tuck is standing behind me now with his hands on my shoulders. I know he has no idea what to do or say and is just watching this all unfold before his very eyes. But I can feel he wants to protect me, even if it happens to be from my parents right now.

“Excuse me! YOU had everything you could ever want or ask for.  Do not be a self-centered brat.  You better be thankful for everything we did for you and gave you,” my mother yells out.

“Oh yeah, I had a fantastic life especially after Allie died, right?” I scream back.  I’m boiling; I can’t let this happen, not right now, not in front of Tuck.  He cannot find out this way.  I then start to feel the tears filling up in my eyes. I will not cry, I will not cry. I keep telling myself.  Luckily, none escape.

“Don’t you dare talk to us like that young lady.  You run off without so much as a good-bye and think everything’s fine, well it’s not. You will be leaving with us and we will discuss this when we get home. Now, for the last time, get in the damn car,” my father yells.

“ENOUGH,” Tucker yells.  “Laney goes to school here; she’s eighteen and legally an adult. She can make her own choices and by the looks of it, it appears she’s made the right choice.” 

“Don’t you dare patronize us.  We’re her parents and know what is best for her,” my mother yells at Tucker.

“Mom for the last time, I’m not leaving with you. This is my home now. Please leave and do not come back here for me. My decision will never change,” I state and then turn and grab Tuck’s hand and walk towards my dorm.

“We are not done here young lady; get your ass back here right this instant,” my father yells.

“We are done dad, done.”

“We will be back Laney.  Don’t think you can turn your back on us. You will pay for your actions little girl,” my dad spits.

My body shudders and I feel Tuck squeeze my hand and we continue to walk inside my building. I make sure they aren’t following us as we head inside and I lock the door and then check the windows as I see them drive off.  

What the hell just happened? How did my day go from practically perfect to such a mess in the matter of minutes? How did they find me? I never thought they would come here after me. What do they want? So many questions and most I don’t even want the answers to. I just want them to leave and never come back into my life again.

“Harp, are you okay?” Tuck asks while pulling me into a hug.

“I will be. Sorry you had to witness that,” I say into his chest.

“It’s okay Harp, gosh you’re shaking.” Tuck pulls me down into his lap and just holds me.  Eventually, the tears start streaming down my face. I can feel I’m soaking Tuck’s shirt with my tears, but he doesn’t seem to mind.

“I can’t believe they found me and came here after me,” I all but whisper to Tuck. 

“It’s okay; they can’t make you go anywhere. You are a legal adult. I’ll make sure you’re safe Harp. I won’t let anything happen to you,” he says softly as he kisses the top of my head.

“Thank you,” I say as I snuggle closer to him. I just can’t seem to get close enough to him. He makes me feel safe.

Tucker doesn’t ask me anything else about the situation that just occurred with my parents and I couldn’t be more thankful. Eventually, I fall asleep and Tuck carries me back to my bedroom and wakes me so I can change into my pajamas.  “I hated to wake you, but I figured you’d be more comfortable in other clothes,” he says sweetly.

“Yeah I would and I need to brush my teeth anyway.”

I head into the bathroom, relieve myself and brush my teeth and then come into the bedroom to get my jammies.  When Tuck goes into the bathroom, I change and then crawl into bed.  I am beyond tired after today’s events.  I just want to forget everything that happened with my parents and focus on my future.  Why do they have to spoil everything? 

Tucker returns shortly and crawls into bed beside me and pulls me to him and I fall asleep wrapped in Tucker’s arms.

Chapter 23

Waking up wrapped in Tucker’s arms feels amazing!  I feel a sense of peace even though my life is anything but normal.  I don’t want to wake up and face the possibility of running into my parents again. So instead, I snuggle closer to Tuck’s sleeping body.

“Morning beautiful,” he says obviously awake and aware of what I’m doing.

“Morning Tuck, let’s just go back to sleep,” I say as I squeeze myself tighter to his chest.

“Okay,” he says as he kisses the top of my head.  He pulls me even tighter against his body and I can feel his erection but I don’t say anything. I just close my eyes and fall peacefully back to sleep.

A few hours later I wake up feeling my hair being played with.  I look at Tuck and he is twirling my hair around his fingers. Such a boy!

“Good morning,” I say still a bit sleepy.

“Good morning beautiful. You hungry?” he asks.

“Umm yeah, food sounds good right about now.”

“Okay, I’ll go make us something and you can stay here and be lazy,” he says with a sexy smile on his lips. Man, I would like to taste those lips again.  That makes me think of my morning breath and I rush into the bathroom as soon as he heads for the kitchen.  I decide to get a shower because I look like hell. My face is blotchy from my crying last night and I have make-up down my cheeks.  How did I not see this last night?  I shower and then throw on some yoga pants and a tee-shirt and make my way into the kitchen.  “Mmm that smells good.”

“Good it’s about done,” he says smiling at me. I grab us some orange juice and sit at the table and wait for him to join me with our food.

“You made French toast?” I ask shocked.

“Yeah, do you not like French toast?’ he asks quickly.

“Heck yeah, I just haven’t had it in years. It looks and smells delicious.”

“Well eat up,” he says smiling from ear to ear.

He puts the plate in front of me with syrup on the side and we sit and eat in blissful silence. After we eat, I can tell Tuck wants to say something but he hasn’t said anything yet. I can tell by the look on his face he wants to ask something so I just decide to wait it out.

“I could get used to you cooking for me every morning,” I say with a wink!

“I bet you could, but don’t count on it sweetheart,” he says smugly.

“How rude,” I pout.

“I’m teasing, I can cook for you whenever you’d like,” he says sweetly.

“Don’t tell me that because you will be cooking for me every day three times a day, and don’t think I’m kidding,” I say laughing.

He starts laughing, “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I will cook every once in a while for you,” he says while laughing. 

“Sounds good, I will take whatever you cook, whenever you want to cook.” He’s a damn fine cook, if I do say so myself!

“Harp, can I ask you a question?” he says nervously.

“Sure,” I reply knowing this was coming.

“Why did you change your name?” he asks curiously. Wow of all the things he could have asked me, he asked an easy one!

“Well when I left home, I didn’t want my parents to find me but I knew I’d need to be able to remember my name.  Allie always called me Harp when we played sports, so using my last name as my first was easy.  So I just changed my name around, hoping my parents wouldn’t figure it out.  Apparently, I was wrong.  I figured that even if they did figure it out that they wouldn’t come here after me, again I was wrong.”

“Well I think Harper fits you perfectly,” he says with a sexy smirk!

“Thanks, I like it too!” I say smiling back.

We hang out most of the day until I have to go to work. We did leave my dorm for a while and I didn’t see my parents anywhere which I was grateful for, but I had my eyes out for them.  I could tell Tuck did too. 

Work goes fast tonight! Parker’s band, King Dread, is playing so of course the bar is packed. I’m happy for the distraction though. The crowd is a little rowdier tonight and not exactly sure why, but Lou and Davie have to throw a few people out for trying to start a mosh pit and for starting two different fights.  I haven’t seen a fight in here before and I don’t want it to start now.  After that craziness is over, things seem to be back to normal.  Parker is rocking out on stage and the girls all flock to him.  I don’t blame them, his voice is amazing, and he’s not hard on the eyes.  Also, Parker is a pretty great guy.  I hope a nice girl snatches him up soon.  He deserves a good girl! 

“Hey beautiful girl, whatcha thinking?” Tuck speaks, which pulls me out of my daydream.