Page 24 of Vex

I grin because great minds think alike. Rooster will continue to be a pain in our asses for years to come yet though. I’ve wracked my brain trying to think up a way to get him out of our lives and so far I’ve come up short.

“Yeah it’s always fun to dream about, but the reality is, I’m stuck with him,” I say.

We continue to chat while making plans for Tessie’s party. I no more than get the table cleared of the evidence when I hear a vehicle pull in the drive. Glancing out the window, I see the wrecker with Chubs and Tessie in it.

A moment later Tessie comes bounding into the house and hits the kitchen with a full beaming smile in place.

“Have fun today, Tess?” Suki asks.

“Yes! Trigger showed me a bunch of stuff and let me change oil in a couple of cars. Chubs took me on a wrecker call, and then we stopped at Sweet Angel Treats Bakery and I met the Prez’s wife, Ava, and Petey’s wife, Trudy. They’re awesome! They loaded us up with treats, and we pigged out on the way back to the garage. Trigger gave Chubs hell for not saving much for them and it was funny. The guys are great. You don’t have to drive me tomorrow, Taja, because Chubs is going to pick me up on his way,” Tessie responds in almost one breath.

I grin at her and know I made the right decision in letting her work there. She needed this, with Mom’s passing, and I like that she’s finding her way back to being a normal teenager.

“When you do the inviting for my party, can you make sure that Trigger, Chubs and Petey are invited too?” Tessie asks with a sly grin.

“Uh, what party?” Suki questions while trying to look innocent. Epic fail.

“For my 16thbirthday. Not stupid, ladies. No way would Taja let that day pass without a party,” Tessie responds as she walks out of the kitchen.

Nope, she’s not stupid and we’re busted. I get down to the business of adding those names to the invitation list.

Chapter 12

Vex

Pooh, a club member and my closest friend, has shit happening with him and his woman, Pippa. A child’s involved and they’ve needed my help the last few days. I’d always be there for any club member or their women, but that means I had to blow off work. I can only imagine how Taja’s viewing my sudden absence. I hate that she probably thinks I’m avoiding her, but it can’t be helped. I’ve wanted to text her a dozen times and explain, but that might give her the wrong idea too. We had our night and it was spectacular, but that’s all we’re going to have. But I’m having a difficult time keeping her off my mind. Especially now that I suspect I was her first experience.

I was so wrapped up in her the night we were together that I didn’t notice anything off with her. I did note that she seemed unsure of herself, but I put that down to her not having a lot of sexual encounters. I didn’t suspect that she’d had none until I got back to the clubhouse and hit the shower. Blood on my thigh. My stomach dropped and the guilt hit hard.

Every woman’s first sexual encounter should be special, and with someone that’s capable of caring for her. I’m not that man. If I am Taja’s first sexual partner, she got shortchanged and deserves better than I can ever offer her. Why she didn’t tell me, I have no idea. But not knowing ahead of time doesn’t ease the guilt.

I came into work early today, but I only see Marti’s car in the lot. Marti’s a club slut and bartends part-time at Dreams. Likable, nice and a bit dense but she has a good heart. I approach the bar and take a seat. When Marti stops in front of me, I ask, “Why are you working this shift?”

“Taja and I swapped a few shifts. She’s planning a party of some sort and has a date tonight, I think. Or some kind of date night thing. I’m not sure, but she’s covered for me before, so I wanted to help her out,” Marti informs me before setting a beer down and walking off.

I immediately squash down the rush of anger at hearing Taja has a date. Nope, don’t care. Not one bit.Fuck thatI think as I swallow down a large portion of my beer. Leaving the bar, and my beer behind, I head to the break room where our lockers are located. I find mine locked and that too sets off my anger. I don’t know if I even have a fucking key for it since I can’t remember the last time I used the lock.

I check my keychain and don’t find a padlock key. I storm across the hall into the dancers dressing room and rummage around the makeup tables until I find a nail file and bobby pins. I ignore the whistles and the flashing of skin. Stomping back to the break room, I attempt to pick the lock. It’s a no-go. There’s never been a lock I couldn’t pick. What the fuck? Temper rising, I lose my patience and punch the locker a few times, leaving dents behind. Running both hands over my head and through my hair, I stand staring at that fucking locker. I can’t even remember now why I wanted it open. But now that I’m pissed off, it’s going to get opened, one way or another.

I stride down the hall to the office and push through the door. Freddy looks up from his desk and I see his eyes widen. I’m guessing I look as angry as I feel. I walk to the large toolbox in the corner, open it and pull out some bolt cutters. Without a word to Freddy, I head back out and down the hall to the break room. Bolt cutters are amazing tools. One hard squeeze on them and the lock breaks. Tossing the bolt cutters down, I rip the lock off and hurl that across the room, leaving a large dent in the drywall. I rip open my locker and stand there still not knowing why I wanted into it so bad. Guess I just didn’t like being locked out.

“Everything alright, Vex?” Freddy asks from the doorway.

I glance his direction and notice he’s not alone. Standing beside him is Pooh. With a shit-eating grin in place because he must want an ass whooping today.

“Every fucking thing’s just fucking fine,” I spit while enunciating each word slowly and clearly. Freddy’s eyebrows shoot upward while Pooh’s grin gets wider.

“Either you’re on the rag, or you’ve finally been told no by a female,” Pooh states.

“Fuck you, Pooh. What’re you doing here anyway?”

“Dropping off paychecks and watching you lose your shit. Be glad it’s me and Freddy and not Axel that’s here. He’d harass your ass until you spilled why you’re having a temper tantrum,” Pooh says calmly. He’s not bothered in the least by my glowering face. Fucker has more guts than brains apparently.

I watch Freddy turn and walk off. Pooh steps inside the room and closes the door behind him. His face loses the grin as he approaches me.

“You ready to talk yet?” he asks quietly.

Pooh and I are close. He’s more than just a club brother to me. He’s as close as a real brother. But I still very seldom share about myself with even him.

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