Page 23 of Vex

I grin at him before going on our tour.

After returning home with Tessie, speaking with Suki at length, I finally get a moment to myself. I’m ready for work and I’m trying to gear myself up to have to face Vex tonight. I blast music louder than usual on the drive to Dreams. No way am I going to let him know how hurt I am over the money he left. Offended, yes. He’ll hear about that. Hurt, though, is for only me to know.

I arrive at the same time as Suki and we walk in together. I don’t look for Vex, I just get to work. It’s busier than hell today in here and the music is blaring. Suki has tossed a few searching looks my direction, but I pretend not to see them. I remind myself to smile more to stop any suspicions she may have.

Several hours into my shift and I still haven’t seen Vex. Since we always work the same hours, I’m starting to feel like I’m being avoided. Maybe he’s worried I’ll be all clingy and weird now. He couldn’t be more wrong. I may want to be clingy and claim that man as mine, but I don’t even allow myself to entertain that thought. I knew what was what before I ever lost my clothes with him. No going back on that now. But even though I dreaded having to put on an act in front of him today, I’m feeling this odd ache that he’s so done with me that he doesn’t even want to see me at work. I’m pretty sure I’ve lost my damn mind.

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

Things have been odd to say the least for the last few days. Vex still hasn’t shown up for work. I wanted to get the satisfaction of seeing his face when I shoved his fifty at him, but now I’m so over it. I placed his money, along with an additional fifty dollars, into an envelope with a note and tossed it into his locker at work. He has a padlock hanging from his locker that’s unlocked, so I used that to secure his locker. I wouldn’t have bothered but after seeing how many bras, thongs and panties were tossed in there, I thought I’d better so nobody could find my note to him. Then I immediately washed my hands. Twice.

On my days off, I decide to clean the house like it’s never been cleaned before. When my mind is stressed, my body has energy to burn. Tessie’s avoiding me and my cleaning binge now that I gave the okay for her to work at the garage. She nearly strangled me when I broke the news to her, and she hasn’t stopped smiling since. Today was her first full day, and I drove her there this morning. She packed a lunch, donned her oldest jeans and t-shirt and off we went.

I prayed to every god I’ve ever heard of that we wouldn’t run into Vex there, and someone was listening. I followed Tessie in and approached the counter to speak with Petey and Trigger before I left her in their care. I went back in to remind them of their promise to keep her safe, but I almost lost my will when I saw the smiles they had for her. And then Trigger held up a pair of coveralls with a patch with Tessie’s name on it. She squealed, they grinned bigger and my speech about safety faltered.

“Put your lunch in the breakroom and get these on. We have work to get to, girl,” Trigger gruffly says to her.

Tessie sprints through the door to the back, and I turn to the men. Squaring my shoulders, I get ready to lecture two bikers.

“Here it comes, Trig. Pay up,” Petey crows.

“She hasn’t uttered a damn word yet, Petey!” sputters Trigger.

“Okay, we’ll play this out. What’s up, Taja?” Petey grins at me.

“Uh, well, I just wanted to remind you two about Tessie and your promise that she’ll be safe here,” I mumble.

“Hah! Put it in my hand, you short bastard!” Petey shouts while holding his open hand in Trigger’s direction.

“Jesus H. Christ, Petey! Now I know why Axel’s such a pain in the ass!” Trigger huffs out while slapping a wad of cash into Petey’s waiting hand.

“Do I want to know what’s going on?” I ask.

“I told Trigger you’d show today, worried about Tessie being here. He said he made himself clear about that and you’d be fine,” Petey explains with a grin while counting his money.

“Sorry, Trigger. You did make yourself clear, but I’m a worrier. She’s all I have left in this world, and she’s everything to me. I hope I didn’t offend you,” I reply softly.

“Not offended in the least. Glad she has someone like you in her life. Family’s important. I’ll have my eye on her at all times and so will Petey. When the rat bastard’s done counting my money, that is,” Trigger answers with a grin while holding a piece of paper out to me.

I take it and relax when I see several phone numbers, including Trigger’s and Petey’s.

“Thank you. I’ll get out of here and let you guys get to work,” I say grinning back at them. I get a finger wave from Trigger and a chin lift from Petey.

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

With Tessie out for the day, Suki comes over and we work on the plans for her sweet 16 birthday party. It’s a surprise, one I’m hoping she’ll love, and we have lots to do yet.

“How’s things going with Rooster?” Suki asks while multi-tasking like a champ. She’s painting her fingernails, surfing online for a new outfit and eating the largest cookie I’ve ever seen. I’m serious. It’s the size of her head.

“Okay, I guess. He gets his money and I get a Rooster-free life. Win-win.”

“Everything else okay with you? You’ve seemed off for a few days now,” Suki questions while shooting a look my direction.

I carefully blank my face and nod.

“Things are fine. I’ve just been worried about Tessie working at the garage. I haven’t said anything to her, but I’m not sure how Rooster’s going to take the news. I’m praying he doesn’t decide he wants some of her paycheck too.”

“We really should come up with a plan to have that man offed,” Suki tosses out casually.

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