Nine Crimes Chapter Sixteen
Hearing shouting coming from downstairs, I wake up with a jolt and jump even more when something hard falls. Raising my eyebrow, I get out of bed and slip on a pair of jeans before heading downstairs.
When I get downstairs, I am greeted by Taylor in the kitchen, a skillet standing just mere inches from his feet and he is glaring at Natalie, though his glare soon turns to me when she leaves the room. "Fucking bastard," he spits out as I reach where he is standing.
"What?" I ask confused why he is calling me a bastard right now. What could I have done to set him off? "Why are you calling me a bastard?"
Taylor keeps glaring at me and I back away from him, scared that he may kill me at this rate. "You are fucking my wife," he says and I feel my heart stop at his words.
I shake my head, maybe if I deny it he will believe me, "I'm not fucking Natalie," I squeak out as I lock eyes with him. "What makes you think I am fucking Natalie?"
"How about the fact that she went to sleep in your bed last night," Taylor states and I look away from him. "She tried to tell me she woke up in the wrong bed but I know you wouldn't let her sleep in your bed Zac," he frowns as he shakes his head. "You wouldn't, you would have felt her and woke up."
He had a point and I knew it. I would have woken up and made Natalie go to her own bed under any other circumstances, but what had happened last night wasn't any other circumstances. Natalie and I had fucked around like we always do and then she had came into my bedroom, which I was still confused about.
"I guess it was one of those nights where I was sleeping really deep Tay," I lie. It's the best thing I know to do. "We aren't messing around behind your back, I promise. I wouldn't do that to you," I smile, trying to hopefully cover up the nervousness that I feel. "Please trust me."
Taylor sighs and runs a hand through his hair, "I...fuck, I do," he admits as he walks to the table and sits down. "But it just looked so suspicious, seeing you laying there with your arm around her waist. Holding her like I do."
I frown as I watch him, hating that I didn't just kick Natalie out of bed. But damn it, I love her and I love spending any moment I can with her, even if my brother gets hurt in the process. "If she gets drunk again and comes to my room I promise I will kick her out."
"You better," he laughs as he looks at the skillet laying on the floor. "Or I will throw that at you like Natalie did me."
I laugh at that and raise my eyebrows, "What did you say to get that thrown at you?"
Taylor blushes as he looks back at me, "I called her a slut who didn't care that she was ripping my heart out," he shrugs. "I know I had no right to because basically I'm the slut ripping her heart out."
I nod my head in agreement, not liking the reminder that Taylor's actions hurt Natalie. It's another reminder that she is his wife and that she will never be mine.
"I should go apologize," Taylor says to me as he stands from the chair and leaves the kitchen, the skillet still lying in the floor.
After he leaves, I sit at the table for a bit, but eventually decide to stand up. Picking up the skillet, I put it back where I know Natalie keeps it and then I go upstairs. I figure I might as well start looking for my own place today. Being here with Natalie and Taylor is obviously causing problems with them and I feel like it's just going to be torture for me to have to watch Natalie with Taylor. I can't watch the woman I love with the man she loves.
I dress quickly and leave the room. Going down the stairs, I stop when I find Taylor and Natalie making out on the couch and I roll my eyes. "I'm going out," I yell feeling satisfied when I see them break apart from each other.
Going to my truck, I get in and drive off, heading downtown to check out the apartment building that Kate and I used to live in. We had lived there up until Shepherd was four months old. I'm pretty sure I could manage living in one of those apartments again if I had too.
As if thinking of Kate was some premonition, I hear my cell phone blare out her ring tone and I groan but reach down for where it lays in the cup holder. Hitting talk, I put it to my ear. "Hello?" I ask already not looking forward to what she has to say to me.
"Zac," Kate's voice fills my ears and I hate the way it sounds like she is smiling. "I was wondering if you could come by. There are some things I wanted to talk about. I..I felt we needed to talk about."
I groan inwardly, knowing if I did it outwardly Kate would probably start an argument. An argument I know will probably happen anyway if I go over to the house and see her. "Sure," I agree against my better judgment. "I'm already out looking for apartments anyway. Give me time to stop at one and I should be on my way over there."
I hear Kate sigh, "Okay, I will keep the door unlocked," she tells me before the phone goes dead. I reckon she isn't too happy that I want to stop at one of the apartments before going to our house, or well my old house.
After going by the apartment and checking out one of the places they had available, I left with a application in my hand, putting it in the glove compartment before starting my car and driving back to my old neighborhood. I was reluctant to see Kate though. I wasn't sure what she wanted to talk about nor did I even want to know, but I figure turning her down would have probably been a bad idea.
Getting to the house, I park in the driveway and get out of my truck, heading to the porch where I find Kate has opened the door and is standing in the doorway, arms crossed over her chest.
"You mad?" I ask as I push in beside her, not caring if that makes her worse than she already seems to be with me.
I hear Kate shut the door, "I just wish you could have waited to go by any apartments. I was going to ask you to move back in."
I feel my eyes widen at her words, "Really?" I ask as I shake my head. "You want me to move back in after calmly kicking me out?" I laugh as I shake my head. Has Kate lost her ever loving mind? Is she going crazy?
Kate walks over to me and I see a frown on her face, "I miss you," she tells me as she reaches out and touches my face. "We..we could work on things and I'd call things off with Taylor. I want my husband back. I still love you."
Going silent at her confession of loving me, I run a hand through my hair. I don't love her but maybe being back with her wouldn't be so bad. I mean it would get me away from having to see Natalie and Taylor and knowing that Natalie will never be fine. It may even help me fall out of love with Natalie. Maybe I could love Kate again. Maybe if we did work on things I could love her like I love my brother's wife.
"I will think about it," I sigh as I chew on my lip. "I need some time. I'm still trying to process you and Taylor."
Kate nods but doesn't try to beg me to not think about it, "There was one more thing. I have a DNA test scheduled for Monday. Taylor is going to give his DNA for them to test the baby with. When I get the results I will let you know. I hope if it's your baby, you won't have to think about moving back in," she smiles as she rubs her stomach. She is showing more and it's hard for me to even believe she is now five months.
"Okay," I smile as I reach over and put a hand on her stomach. "Is..is the baby kicking yet?" I ask as I look down at her stomach again. It's bad but a part of me isn't sure if I want it to be mine or not. I mean I have grown attached to it and I was worried when I though she was going to lose it on Shepherd's birthday, but it's another thing that would make me tied to her.
She nods again, "Yeah, it always thinks that kicking me more at bed time is the best," she laughs as she puts her hand over mine. "I have a feeling it's going to be your baby," she says with confidence in her voice.
I force a smile at her words and move my hand, "I should go," I shrug. "I have a few more apartments to look at."
Kate moves out of my way and I walk past her and to the door not even offering her a goodbye when I reach it. Instead I just open the door and walk off the porch.
Getting in my truck, I see my phone lit up and informing me of a new voicemail. Picking it up, I hit to listen to it and am greeted by Bethany's voice.
"Hey Zac, I hope you don't mind but I may have stole your number before leaving you the other day. I would have stayed longer but Natalie came barging into the room while I was getting dressed and death glared me. I figured it would be best if I left. I was just wondering though if maybe we could meet up tomorrow? My plans have changed on moving back to Kentucky and I'm going to be staying in Tulsa. Just call me back. I left my number in your cell phone."
After listening to her voicemail I look through my contacts, finding her name. Firing off a text I tell her I'd love to meet up tomorrow. Bethany may be the one thing right now that does make sense to me. She is just an easy fuck and she is the closest thing I can get to Natalie who is taken.
Putting my cell phone down, I start my truck and drive away to finish looking at apartments.
Hearing shouting coming from downstairs, I wake up with a jolt and jump even more when something hard falls. Raising my eyebrow, I get out of bed and slip on a pair of jeans before heading downstairs.
When I get downstairs, I am greeted by Taylor in the kitchen, a skillet standing just mere inches from his feet and he is glaring at Natalie, though his glare soon turns to me when she leaves the room. "Fucking bastard," he spits out as I reach where he is standing.
"What?" I ask confused why he is calling me a bastard right now. What could I have done to set him off? "Why are you calling me a bastard?"
Taylor keeps glaring at me and I back away from him, scared that he may kill me at this rate. "You are fucking my wife," he says and I feel my heart stop at his words.
I shake my head, maybe if I deny it he will believe me, "I'm not fucking Natalie," I squeak out as I lock eyes with him. "What makes you think I am fucking Natalie?"
"How about the fact that she went to sleep in your bed last night," Taylor states and I look away from him. "She tried to tell me she woke up in the wrong bed but I know you wouldn't let her sleep in your bed Zac," he frowns as he shakes his head. "You wouldn't, you would have felt her and woke up."
He had a point and I knew it. I would have woken up and made Natalie go to her own bed under any other circumstances, but what had happened last night wasn't any other circumstances. Natalie and I had fucked around like we always do and then she had came into my bedroom, which I was still confused about.
"I guess it was one of those nights where I was sleeping really deep Tay," I lie. It's the best thing I know to do. "We aren't messing around behind your back, I promise. I wouldn't do that to you," I smile, trying to hopefully cover up the nervousness that I feel. "Please trust me."
Taylor sighs and runs a hand through his hair, "I...fuck, I do," he admits as he walks to the table and sits down. "But it just looked so suspicious, seeing you laying there with your arm around her waist. Holding her like I do."
I frown as I watch him, hating that I didn't just kick Natalie out of bed. But damn it, I love her and I love spending any moment I can with her, even if my brother gets hurt in the process. "If she gets drunk again and comes to my room I promise I will kick her out."
"You better," he laughs as he looks at the skillet laying on the floor. "Or I will throw that at you like Natalie did me."
I laugh at that and raise my eyebrows, "What did you say to get that thrown at you?"
Taylor blushes as he looks back at me, "I called her a slut who didn't care that she was ripping my heart out," he shrugs. "I know I had no right to because basically I'm the slut ripping her heart out."
I nod my head in agreement, not liking the reminder that Taylor's actions hurt Natalie. It's another reminder that she is his wife and that she will never be mine.
"I should go apologize," Taylor says to me as he stands from the chair and leaves the kitchen, the skillet still lying in the floor.
After he leaves, I sit at the table for a bit, but eventually decide to stand up. Picking up the skillet, I put it back where I know Natalie keeps it and then I go upstairs. I figure I might as well start looking for my own place today. Being here with Natalie and Taylor is obviously causing problems with them and I feel like it's just going to be torture for me to have to watch Natalie with Taylor. I can't watch the woman I love with the man she loves.
I dress quickly and leave the room. Going down the stairs, I stop when I find Taylor and Natalie making out on the couch and I roll my eyes. "I'm going out," I yell feeling satisfied when I see them break apart from each other.
Going to my truck, I get in and drive off, heading downtown to check out the apartment building that Kate and I used to live in. We had lived there up until Shepherd was four months old. I'm pretty sure I could manage living in one of those apartments again if I had too.
As if thinking of Kate was some premonition, I hear my cell phone blare out her ring tone and I groan but reach down for where it lays in the cup holder. Hitting talk, I put it to my ear. "Hello?" I ask already not looking forward to what she has to say to me.
"Zac," Kate's voice fills my ears and I hate the way it sounds like she is smiling. "I was wondering if you could come by. There are some things I wanted to talk about. I..I felt we needed to talk about."
I groan inwardly, knowing if I did it outwardly Kate would probably start an argument. An argument I know will probably happen anyway if I go over to the house and see her. "Sure," I agree against my better judgment. "I'm already out looking for apartments anyway. Give me time to stop at one and I should be on my way over there."
I hear Kate sigh, "Okay, I will keep the door unlocked," she tells me before the phone goes dead. I reckon she isn't too happy that I want to stop at one of the apartments before going to our house, or well my old house.
After going by the apartment and checking out one of the places they had available, I left with a application in my hand, putting it in the glove compartment before starting my car and driving back to my old neighborhood. I was reluctant to see Kate though. I wasn't sure what she wanted to talk about nor did I even want to know, but I figure turning her down would have probably been a bad idea.
Getting to the house, I park in the driveway and get out of my truck, heading to the porch where I find Kate has opened the door and is standing in the doorway, arms crossed over her chest.
"You mad?" I ask as I push in beside her, not caring if that makes her worse than she already seems to be with me.
I hear Kate shut the door, "I just wish you could have waited to go by any apartments. I was going to ask you to move back in."
I feel my eyes widen at her words, "Really?" I ask as I shake my head. "You want me to move back in after calmly kicking me out?" I laugh as I shake my head. Has Kate lost her ever loving mind? Is she going crazy?
Kate walks over to me and I see a frown on her face, "I miss you," she tells me as she reaches out and touches my face. "We..we could work on things and I'd call things off with Taylor. I want my husband back. I still love you."
Going silent at her confession of loving me, I run a hand through my hair. I don't love her but maybe being back with her wouldn't be so bad. I mean it would get me away from having to see Natalie and Taylor and knowing that Natalie will never be fine. It may even help me fall out of love with Natalie. Maybe I could love Kate again. Maybe if we did work on things I could love her like I love my brother's wife.
"I will think about it," I sigh as I chew on my lip. "I need some time. I'm still trying to process you and Taylor."
Kate nods but doesn't try to beg me to not think about it, "There was one more thing. I have a DNA test scheduled for Monday. Taylor is going to give his DNA for them to test the baby with. When I get the results I will let you know. I hope if it's your baby, you won't have to think about moving back in," she smiles as she rubs her stomach. She is showing more and it's hard for me to even believe she is now five months.
"Okay," I smile as I reach over and put a hand on her stomach. "Is..is the baby kicking yet?" I ask as I look down at her stomach again. It's bad but a part of me isn't sure if I want it to be mine or not. I mean I have grown attached to it and I was worried when I though she was going to lose it on Shepherd's birthday, but it's another thing that would make me tied to her.
She nods again, "Yeah, it always thinks that kicking me more at bed time is the best," she laughs as she puts her hand over mine. "I have a feeling it's going to be your baby," she says with confidence in her voice.
I force a smile at her words and move my hand, "I should go," I shrug. "I have a few more apartments to look at."
Kate moves out of my way and I walk past her and to the door not even offering her a goodbye when I reach it. Instead I just open the door and walk off the porch.
Getting in my truck, I see my phone lit up and informing me of a new voicemail. Picking it up, I hit to listen to it and am greeted by Bethany's voice.
"Hey Zac, I hope you don't mind but I may have stole your number before leaving you the other day. I would have stayed longer but Natalie came barging into the room while I was getting dressed and death glared me. I figured it would be best if I left. I was just wondering though if maybe we could meet up tomorrow? My plans have changed on moving back to Kentucky and I'm going to be staying in Tulsa. Just call me back. I left my number in your cell phone."
After listening to her voicemail I look through my contacts, finding her name. Firing off a text I tell her I'd love to meet up tomorrow. Bethany may be the one thing right now that does make sense to me. She is just an easy fuck and she is the closest thing I can get to Natalie who is taken.
Putting my cell phone down, I start my truck and drive away to finish looking at apartments.