“I’m okay. TJ made his choice and no matter what he says, it’s not my fault. Like I told you yesterday, I’m not to blame for his choices. He used me and treated me like shit for years. Rex, looking back now, I know without a doubt I never loved him. In the beginning things with us were okay. He never truly made me happy, but I enjoyed spending time with him if that makes sense. We broke up because I caught him fucking some sorority girl at a party he didn’t know I was going to. I didn’t notice how horrible he was until he blew out his knee in a football game. That’s when he came crawling back to me. Debbie has helped me realize I took him back because he was there. Elara wasn’t on campus with me and my parents were always gone. I didn’t have you in my life any longer. Bhodi wasn’t at my side or a phone call away. I was using TJ to fill a void in my life and nothing more,” I tell him the truth of what I’ve realized over the last several weeks.
“Okay. I don’t have anythin’ goin’ on with work or at the clubhouse today. I’m gonna hang out with you in the store,” he informs me as I smile up at him and meet him for a kiss.
“I’m gonna shower so I can make breakfast. It’s a good thing we washed your clothes last night,” I tell him, sliding out of his arms and leaving him in bed alone.
After taking care of business, I jump in the shower and quickly wash myself. Rex comes in completely naked while I brush my teeth wrapped in a towel. He gets in the shower as I leave him alone to get dressed. Today I plan on riding Bhodi’s bike to work so I dress in a pair of dress pants and a red button-down shirt. I brush my hair and braid it before heading for the kitchen to make us breakfast before we leave for Fantasy Realm.
Rex joins me just as I finish plating our food. He grabs the juice from the refrigerator and pours us each a glass. Togetherwe eat our meal before rinsing off the dishes and placing them in the dishwasher. I won’t run it until I get home from work.
“I’m riding the bike in to work today,” I tell Rex as he slides his boots on.
“You ride in heels?” he questions me as I pick up my bag and make sure I have everything I’ll need for the day.
“No. I’ll put them in my bag once I get to the garage. My riding gear is out there,” I answer him as we leave the house once the alarm is set. Rex uses my keys to lock the door while I walk away from him to the garage.
I open the door and duck under it as he follows behind me.
“How new is your gear, Doll? You’ve replaced what you bought eight years ago, yeah?” he questions me as I remove my heels and slide on a pair of socks before I pull on the pants.
“Yeah. I replace it every year. I know I don’t have to, but it’s just something I’ve always done. If you look on the shelf, you’ll see all of my helmets and in that closet there is all of my old gear. I bought everything I wear now a couple months ago. Bhodi made sure I knew to replace it every few years or if I crashed,” I answer him as I slide the boots on before adding my riding jacket. Grabbing my helmet, I take the keys from Rex’ outstretched hand before making my way over to Bhodi’s bike.
Rex watches as I turn on the engine while securing my helmet before I straddle the bike. He moves out of the way as I walk it outside the garage on my tippy toes, failing to hold in his laughter. When I rev the engine, he moves to his own bike and places the bandana around his face before adding his helmet. I listen as his bike roars to life and my feet vibrate on the ground while I wait for him. Rex backs his bike up next to mine and we leave the house together. This is the first time I’ve ridden next tohim when I was in control of the bike. A few times in the past I’d ride with my brother when the two of them would go out for a ride around town. It feels completely different this time. This is something I love to do and I know Rex feels the same so it makes it feel special to me. I wish we’d been able to do this every day over the last eight years.
Rex hasn’t left Fantasy Realm all day long with the exception of going to pick our lunch up from the diner. He helped me open the store and took a cup of coffee once everything was ready. Rex doesn’t usually drink coffee but we were up later than normal last night. At least I was. Since then, he’s wandered through the store and looked at everything, helped me move a few things around, and kept me company. I didn’t leave the counter area until one of my employees showed up for work. It was actually perfect timing because Elara showed up with the kids. This isn’t the first time they’ve been to my store and they love it because I keep toys here for them and they’ve got a stack of books to read.
As the three of us talk and watch the kids play, I hold Logan in my arms. Rex doesn’t take his gaze off of me as I hold his nephew. I can see the love he feels for me in his eyes. Elara looks between the two of us several times before she finally says something.
“So, what exactly is going on between you two?” she questions us, her gaze bouncing back and forth from where Rex sits next to her and I stand in front of her.
“Whatever is goin’ on between us is up to Taleah. If she wants to put a label on what we are, she can. I know what I want from her, but I also said everythin’ happens at her pace whileshe regains her trust in me,” Rex tells his sister while keeping his eyes locked on me.
“I’m not ready to put a label on us just yet. I enjoy spending time with Rex and I always have. Things changed between the two of us yesterday, but that’s between Rex and me. I’ve learned what I’ll accept from anyone in my life and I won’t sit back and just accept what he chooses to give me this time. Like the fact that he has yet to take me to the clubhouse,” I say, looking at him and arching my brows as he smiles.
“I wondered when you were gonna bring that up. It was longer than I expected,” he says as Elara starts laughing. “I’ll take you there anytime you want. Everyone wants to see you. Especially the ol’ ladies. You already know Annistyn. Then there’s Cali and Maysen is also there a lot. She’s not an ol’ lady yet but is treated like one. You wanna go there after work today, we’ll go.”
“Not today. I don’t have anything more comfortable to change into. When I get home, I probably won’t leave again. I tend to stay inside once I pull in the driveway,” I tell him as Elara continues laughing because she knows my routine.
“If you haven’t gotten to see it yet, you’ll laugh, Rex. She walks in the door and kicks her heels off before picking them up to put back in her closet. Before she hits her bedroom, her bra will be removed. Once she’s changed into her comfy clothes with her hair up in a messy bun, she’ll veg out on the couch with a snack until dinner. If you’re with her, Tally will cook something. If she’s alone, she’ll order takeout. The farthest she’ll walk from the house is the door for a delivery. Tally doesn’t ever leave unless the urge to go for a ride hits. Even then, she tries to push it down,” Elara says, giving away my secrets to her brother as she used to do when we were younger.
“I haven’t seen that routine yet. By the time I get to her house, she’s already changed and relaxin’. I’m surprised she waits to get in the house before kickin’ off her heels,” Rex says, his voice full of laughter as Nadia climbs up in his lap with a book.
“She doesn’t always wait. A couple months ago, she came to my house after work and kicked them off in the driveway as soon as her car was parked. Tally wasn’t even out of the driver’s seat yet. Tim couldn’t stop laughing at her as she tossed a pair of flip flops down and slid them on her feet because we were playing with the kids outside,” Elara says as David walks up and joins them on the couch in the reading nook.
“That sounds more like the girl I remember. How many times did we all have to clean and bandage up your feet because you hated wearing shoes? Your brother carried stuff with him at all times because he knew you’d need it sooner rather than later,” Rex says as we all start laughing and Sarah joins us.
“I hate to interrupt, but there’s an officer here for you, Taleah,” Sarah informs me as I freeze for a minute. I hand Logan over to Elara as Rex moves Nadia from his lap and stands to join me closer to the front of the store where the officer is waiting.
With every step I take closer to the cop, my heart starts to beat rapidly in my chest and my breathing hitches a few times. Rex places his hand on the small of my back when he notices to give me a sense of calm and safety. He’s not going to let anything hurt me if he can help it.
“I’m Taleah Winslow. How can I help you?” I ask the second we’re in front of the officer. It’s a young woman I’ve never seen before. Rex remains at my back and I know he’s standing guard.
“Ma’am, my name is Officer Lopez. I’m here to inform you of an incident that took place yesterday morning. We’re aware you have pending charges against Mr. TJ Bond and a restraining order that recently became no contact. He was found deceased in his cell this morning after the guards changed shifts,” she says as my heart starts to slow down in my chest.
“Oh. I was informed of that yesterday. My man got a call from an officer and relayed the information to me so I wasn’t alone when I learned of his death. Thank you for stopping in to tell me, Officer Lopez. Can you tell me if his parents are in custody?” I ask, already knowing they are, but wanting to hear it confirmed.
“They are. I know there were words against you from Mr. Bond. If you have any issues, don’t hesitate to call. We’ll help you and issue a restraining order if it comes to that point,” Officer Lopez says before turning to leave. “Have a nice day. I’ll be back to shop when I’m not on shift.”
“Thank you,” I tell her again as we watch her leave and Elara joins us.
