Page 5 of Vex

“Like I said, fuck him.”

With that said, I turn and walk quickly to the door of the club. Just before I reach the door, it’s opened and out steps Vex. His eyes do a once over of me and then shoot over my head in the direction of Popeye. They narrow to slits, and I duck around his broad body and bolt through the door.

I don’t get much of a reprieve before Vex is sitting back at the bar and staring a hole in the side of my head. I avoid eye contact and keep my hands busy making drinks and chatting up customers. I know he’s going to ask about Popeye, and I know he’ll do that the first chance he gets. MCs don’t like other MCs on their turf without permission. He didn’t see us speaking together, but I’m sure he read my face well enough to know I was trying to put space between myself and Popeye.

After a few minutes of avoiding Vex, I amble his direction with a beer and place it in front of him. Might as well get this over with.

“That guy giving you trouble?” Vex immediately asks.

“No. He made an approach, and I walked off,” I hedge my answer.

“Your face didn’t read that it was that simple, Taja. You looked pissed. Very pissed.”

“I didn’t like having my break interrupted by a guy looking for an easy lay,” I somewhat lie.

“He was wearing a cut. You notice what club he’s from?” Vex persists.

“No. I didn’t waste the time looking for anything but the door to the club.”

“You see him around again, let me know. Yeah?”

“Yeah Vex, I will,” I outright lie and then move down the bar to escape more questions.

I secretly watch Vex watching me for the rest of my shift. A person can be dead on their feet, wallowing in grief and not feeling themselves in the least and still notice Vex. He’s impossible not to notice. The man is beautiful from head to toe. Tall, at least 6’3”, lean muscle with his broad shoulders being wider than his hips. Perfect, blinding white smile. Eyes so light brown they’re almost gold in color and long, thick black lashes. Black as night hair that hangs half-way down his back. It’s not straight. It’s not curly. It’s got a touch of wild in it in all the best ways possible. Vex often carelessly brushes it straight back over his broad, tanned forehead and that action has drawn my eye to his hands more than once. Long, strong fingers, blunt nails and they’re simply beautiful. They’re man’s hands that can probably turn a wrench like nobody’s business, but they should be strumming a guitar or gliding along a soft thigh. I’m sure they’ve glided along a lot of thighs, and all the attention he receives from the females here indicates I’m not the only one who finds him hotter than Hades. He’s so out of my league, though.

Having spent most of my years taking care of a sick mom and a little sister, I’ve never had the opportunity to be a kid or a teenager. I’ve never dated or a had a boyfriend. I’ve never deliberately made the choice to save my V-card for someone special. I’ve just never had a guy in my life that I cared enough about to give it up to. So, yes, here I am a virgin at the ripe old age of twenty-two. And I don’t care in the least because my mom and sister needed me, and I loved being there for them.

Looking at Vex now, I realize I’ve led a very narrow life. I studied hard at school, got good grades, worked whatever job I could to make extra money for the family and took care of them the best I could. And while my world has been small, it’s been filled with love. I wouldn’t change a thing except Mom being sick for so long and then leaving us. Sick or not, she was the best mom ever. She was mine and Tessie’s world and she’s leaving a huge hole in our lives. But she taught us to be strong, independent women, and that’s what we’ll be. We have each other, and we’ll survive losing her because she wanted that for us.

At closing time, I finish wiping down the bar, toss the dishrag into the bin and grab my purse. On my way to the door, I glance around for Vex but don’t see him. It’s just as well. I don’t need the complication of having a man-whore in my life, even for one night. I’m smart enough to recognize the fact that I’m letting grief cloud my judgement. I want, and need, comfort but that shouldn’t include a man like Vex. I need to get my tired mind and body home to my sister, take her pulse on how she’s coping and spend time with her. A moment of comfort in someone’s arms will not fill the hole in my heart. Having a moment to not be strong, to let go and just feel my emotions would be cathartic but wouldn’t fix anything long-term. And Vex? Yeah, he’s hot and all that, but I doubt he does comfort. Straightening my spine, I walk out the door then stop to take a look around the almost deserted parking lot.

“He’s not out here, Taja,” says a deep voice behind me.

I squeak out an embarrassingly girlie sound as I jump sideways and whirl toward the voice. Heart racing, I shoot a death glare at Vex. He grins while explaining further.

“I came out a few minutes earlier to make sure the coast was clear. You know, from the guy you said you didn’t know. No sign of him. I’ll walk you to your car, though, just to be safe.”

“You took a year off my life, Vex,” I grumble as I start toward my car with Vex at my side.

“Sorry about that. You’re pretty jumpy for someone who simply walked away from a guy approaching you. Sure you don’t know who he is and what he wanted?”

“Just your average creep, I’m guessing,” I say while unlocking my car door and avoiding eye contact.

“Okay, Taja. We’ll go with that theory for now. See you tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Vex. See you tomorrow.”

I keep my eyes moving on the drive home. I’m watching my mirrors, hoping against hope, to not see Popeye following me. I don’t think I can deal with anymore tonight. I need to check on Tessie and I need peace. I make the drive without incident and collapse on the couch when I make it through the house door.

“Long night?” questions Tessie from her side of the couch.

“Yeah, it was. How you doing, honey?” I ask as I look at her beautiful, but exhausted, face.

“Are we going to be okay, Taj?” Tessie asks so quietly I have to strain to hear her words.

I pull myself up to sitting upright and turn to face Tessie. I note the concern on her face. She’s worried and that guts me.

“Yeah, Tess, we’re going to be okay. It’s not going to be easy, but we’ll get to where we need to be. Mom raised us right and we’ll honor her memory by being the women she wanted us to be. We’ll make mistakes, and we’ll regret them, but we’ll figure things out together,” I answer her just as quietly, but I do it firmly. No room for doubt because we have no choice but to figure things out.

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