Page 11 of Vex

“Taja, you only have a semester left, and you’ll get your degree. You’ve worked too hard to stop when you’re this close,” Tessie adds.

“You’ve always wanted to be a nurse. You can’t stop now, Taja. You’ve earned the right to finish your classes and get a good job doing what you want,” Suki comments.

“Waiting a semester isn’t going to change that for me. I’ll finish and get a job in the nursing field eventually. In the meantime, Freddy offered me a full-time job at Dreams. The pay, benefits and tips are way better. We’ll be able to keep Rooster at bay if I’m working there.”

“I’m so sorry all of this is happening to you two. You’ve been through so much already and now this. I should have been here for you when your mom passed,” Suki tells us quietly.

“Your sister’s wedding had been planned for months, Suki. You couldn’t just not show for it. You were the maid of honor, and she was depending on you. We get that. My covering for you at Dreams might be the one thing that saves us now.”

-*- -*- -*- -*-

“Glad you took the job, Taja. If you have any questions or problems, let me or Vex know right away. Want to tell me how you got that shiner?” Freddy asks carefully.

“Thank you, Freddy. I appreciate you offering it to me. The black eye? Uh, it’s no big deal. Walked into a door is all. When can I start?”

“You start tomorrow night. Same shift you were working before. You and Suki will be covering the bar together. We usually have two bartenders on duty, so it’ll be nice to be back to that now that we have you onboard. If that door decides to get in your way again, let me know. I’ll have a chat with it,” Freddy states with a stern look.

I know he’s not buying what I laid out there, but there’s no way I can explain Rooster. It’s easier not even trying to.

“Thanks again, Freddy. I gave my notice to Zero, but they told me not to bother coming in again, so I’m available full time now.”

“We’ll keep you busy. Let’s go get your uniforms and you can go enjoy your day off.”

Chapter 6

Vex

Taja: Start full time tomorrow night

Vex: That’s good. You’ll like it at Dreams

Taja: See you then

Vex: See ya

That makes my day a little brighter than it should. Why Taja? I’ve no idea why she’s different to me than every other female, but she seems to be, at least for now. With my past history of hit-it and quit-it though, that could change if I get her naked once. Time will tell, but for now, I’m going to enjoy the chase. Yes, I told myself I wouldn’t hook up with anyone else that I work with, but one more can’t hurt. Can it?

Walking through the clubhouse, I see Axel and Pooh hanging out at the bar, so I take a stool next to Pooh. Both are club brothers, Axel the VP, and two of my best friends.

“Beer, please,” I tell Toes who’s working the bar today.

“What’s up, Brother Vex?” Axel asks as my beer is set in front of me.

“Not much. Same shit, different day,” I reply before taking a healthy swallow of my beer.

“We were just talking about the women from New Horizons that have been taking self-defense classes at the gym. Anytime you’re bored, come teach a class. It’s been busy as fuck there lately,” Pooh informs me.

“I can do that. Happy to help out. How’s their classes going anyway?” I respond.

“Really well. They take them seriously and really want to learn. Axel and I are hoping to get to see one of them lay their abusive ex out. That’d make great entertainment.”

“Fuck yeah, it would. Love to lay a few of them out myself,” I reply.

“Meow.”

Axel and Pooh start laughing while I bend and pick up Duffy, setting him on the bar before me. Damn cat finds me every time I surface from my room.

“What is it with you and that chubby bastard?” Axel asks.

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