As we continue riding down a highway, Taleah points out an exit with hotels and food. I pull off and we ride through the town until she points to a fried chicken place. Pulling over, I park my bike along the curb and we both get off. Taleah stretches out her body as I keep a hand on her arm. Her legs are definitely shaking and she’s stumbled a few times. I’ve caught her eachtime and asked if she wanted to head home, but Taleah refuses. She’s having the best time on the bike and I know she won’t give it up for any reason.
We head inside the restaurant and are greeted by a waitress. She leads us to a booth as Taleah removes her backpack while carrying her helmet. Her gloves are still on as we slide across from one another. When she’s settled, I watch as she removes her gloves and sets them on the top of her helmet. I remove mine and take off my riding jacket while we’re inside. They have the air conditioning on and it feels amazing on my skin. Taleah unzips her jacket but doesn’t remove it since she’s wearing a tank top and no bra. I don’t blame her because I’ll rip out the eyes of any fucker dumb enough to look in her direction. I’d rather not go to jail today.
“Are you havin’ fun, Doll?” I ask her after the waitress leaves with our orders.
“I’m having the best time. Thank you, Rex. You’re making this weekend the best one I’ve had in eight years,” she responds as I grab her hand and hold it in the middle of the table.
“I’m glad to hear it. It’s nice havin’ you on my bike. I’m sorry I waited so long to make it happen,” I say honestly while staring at my girl.
“It’s okay, Rex. I understand why you didn’t take me for rides back then. I already told you that. Let’s leave the past where it belongs and move forward,” she says, squeezing my hand in her small one.
“Okay. Doll, I love you so fuckin’ much. I’ve missed you and will take every single day you choose to have me in your life,” I say as the waitress brings over our drinks and an appetizer of mozzarella sticks. Taleah loves them and I knew she’d order them the second I saw them on the menu.
“I love you too, Rex. There’s never been anyone else in my heart but you. I’m done holding back and I want you to be mine again. Debbie says there’s no point in wasting time when I already know the outcome. For eight years I’ve wanted you to be mine. Even when I thought the worst from that party. Now that I know and understand the truth, there’s really no point in playing games. We’re adults and too old for that shit,” she says before biting into a mozzarella stick and pulling it away from her mouth. She loves the cheese pull and always sees how long she can make it. I just watch on with an indulgent smile on my face.
“What do you want for dessert after we leave here?” I ask her knowing my girl loves her sweets and the ice cream we enjoyed earlier won’t be enough for her today.
“I saw a bakery down the street. I’d like to stop in there and see what they have,” she answers me immediately as our waitress comes back with our food.
I ordered fried chicken with coleslaw and potato salad. Taleah got a grilled chicken sandwich with fries and a vegetable medley. It smells amazing as we both dig into our plates, sharing bites with one another. Taleah finishes most of her plate as we talk and laugh before she pushes it away. I eat all of mine and finish her plate before I pay the bill and leave a tip. Sliding my jacket back on, the two of us leave the restaurant and I lace our fingers together as we walk down the street and do some more window shopping.
“I’m so full,” Taleah complains with a smile on her face.
“Good. The food was delicious. Do you want to ride some more or stay here tonight?” I ask her as she points out a few things in the window we’re currently standing in front of.
“I’d like to stay here. Look, the beach is right there and this town is so adorable. I want to come back here again when wecan actually shop. These stores have really good things in them but we can’t bring it back with us on the bike,” she answers as we move to the next store. “We can get our room, change into something else, and then enjoy the beach for a while if you’re okay with it.”
“I’m up for whatever you want to do,” I respond as Taleah starts laughing. “What’s so funny?”
“When I packed the bag earlier, I might have included our bathing suits and I had no idea we’d be anywhere near a beach,” she tells me as I start laughing with her.
Taleah points out a hotel and we reserve a room on the first floor. While Taleah changes into her bathing suit, I go back to get my bike and park it at the hotel. It doesn’t take me long to change into my swim trunks and add a tank top before sliding on a pair of my flip flops she found in my bag. I don’t wear them often and that’s why they were at the bottom of the bag. Today, I’m glad she found them. Taleah wears her own flip flops and a see-through dress over the top of her bikini. I’m gonna get arrested because she’s sexy as hell and I know someone is gonna be a dumbass thinking they actually have a chance with her.
Our last stop of the day before we head back to the hotel is at the bakery Taleah pointed out earlier in the day. It smelled so good when we walked inside and they had everything you could imagine filling their displays and on the menu. We each picked enough to fill a box each so we could mix and match when we were in the hotel room. There’s fudge, donuts, small cakes, cupcakes, and brownies we chose. Taleah has always loved fudge and made her own a million times over the years. We’ve all been her taste testers. She’s made really good flavors and some that were horrible, but we downplayed how bad they were. Well, her brother and I did. My sister told her they sucked ass and to nevermake them again. Now, she can enjoy her favorite peanut butter fudge while we watch a movie and relax for the rest of the day.
We spend a few hours at the beach until the sun starts to dip in the sky. Taleah stepped in the water a few times with me at her side. The waves were brutal a few times and it scared her until I lifted her in my arms and moved us back out of the water. We laid out in the sun and spent our time talking. This is the first time I’ve ever talked so much to a woman in my life. Even when we were together before we never talked like this. It’s refreshing and I love hearing her laugh when I say something stupid or funny. Our time away from Glendale is filled with making memories and moments I’ll live with for the rest of my life. Moments made so much better by the woman at my side.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Taleah
THE WEEKEND GETAWAY Rex and I had last weekend was perfect. I enjoyed being on the back of his bike as we rode with no destination in mind. The small towns we stopped in were beautiful and I definitely want to go back again when we’re not on a bike. I found so many things in the stores we passed by that would look great in my home. Rex already told me he’d go back with me anytime I wanted to. He enjoyed the time away with me and I want to make more memories. Maybe we can rent a house for a week or something and go with Elara and Tim. The kids would love the beach and with three adults who can swim, we don’t have to worry about them in the water. I think we’d all love spending a week together and not having the weight of the world resting on our shoulders as we just lived in the moment. It’s something for us to all talk about. Plus, I really want to go back to that bakery and buy all the sweets we sampled that weekend.
Rex had church when we got back. He came to my house once it was over and told me about their discussion regarding me becoming an ol’ lady. I don’t know if I’m ready to take that step, but there has to be a vote to accept me or not. Right now, no one knows me well enough to vote yes. They want me at the clubhouse to spend time with everyone and I have no problem with that. Rex assured me Cali and Annistyn would definitely be there. Maysen is hit or miss when she shows up to hang out with the girls or Viper. He also warned me about the Feral Girls. They’re the ones Elara warned me about. They stay in the clubhouse for the single men and have no problem fucking outin the open. That won’t ever be me. I have no problem when Rex and I are in my home, but in a clubhouse full of people, no one will ever see me having sex if I can help it. Rex would lose his mind if that happened and the men he considers his club brothers would get their asses beat.
Today, I went to work to put away the new shipment of books that came in and make sure everyone was good. I completed payroll and did a few other things while Rex was doing something with the club. Now, I’ve changed and am heading for the clubhouse. Today I’m riding my bike because myJeepis making a funny noise. I have to talk to Link about bringing it into the garage so he can tell me what’s going on. While I know basic maintenance on bikes, I know nothing about other vehicles. Bhodi couldn’t ever explain anything to me because I was always more interested in bikes. His words seemed to go in one ear and right out the other one. It became one of our many inside jokes. The second Rex realized I wasn’t picking anything up, he didn’t even bother trying to explain anything to me when he’d work on his truck as I watched on.
“Are you heading out for the day?” Sarah asks me as I head for my office to change.
“Yeah. I’m meeting Rex at the clubhouse,” I tell her, my nerves starting to get to me because this will be a first for me and I’m always a little scared of new things.
Entering my office, I close the door so I can change into my riding gear. I packed a tank top and jeans I can wear under it and I’m changing my heels for a pair of boots. I won’t put them on until I arrive at the clubhouse because Rex would yell if I didn’t wear my riding boots. He’s all about safety and making sure I’m protected at all costs when I ride without him. It doesn’t take me long to change out of my work clothes as I fold them and place them in my bag that I’ll leave here until tomorrow. Ihave my phone, keys, and wallet I can hold in the small bag I strap around my leg when I’m riding and don’t want to wear a backpack. As soon as I’m ready to head out, I leave my office and find Rex walking in the back door of the store. He knows the alarm for the door and he just installed a keypad so he doesn’t need a key. We’re the only two who know the pin.
“You ready to go, Doll?” he asks me, a smile on his face as he leans down and kisses me.
“I just have to braid my hair,” I say as we move toward the door.
“I’ll braid your hair for you,” he says as he holds it open for me and I turn to look at him in shock. “I know how to braid hair, Doll. Watched a million videos and I used to braid it for Elara when we were younger. I won’t make you look ridiculous.”
