Chapter 1
Talia
I was sitting on my couch painting my toenails, and at the same time, I was talking to Harlee.
“Granger! Don’t hit your brother.” Harlee snapped, and I snorted.
Then to me she said, “It’s not funny.”
I snickered, “I know who they got that from.”
Her immediate response was, “Yeah, my husband.”
I snorted, “Nope. You. Who was it that threw a wrench at Dominik’s head?”
She was silent.
Uh huh.
She came back with, “Whatever.”
Then she said, “I have a question.”
I had just finished putting the first coat on and said, “Shoot.”
“What’s been up Dom’s ass lately?” She asked.
I allowed the hurt of hearing her being allowed to say his nickname, but not me, flow through me, and then out of me.
I shrugged my shoulders, “Why are you asking me?”
“You're close to him.” She said.
I snorted, “Harls, I’m closer to a Gorilla than I am to Dominik.”
She snickered.
I had discovered the website Fahlo. You received a bracelet in different color beads, along with a QR code on a postcard. Once you scan the code through the Fahlo app, you can track the animal. The proceeds all go to a non-profit organization.
They help protect endangered species, as well as help conserve their natural habitats.
I was tracking a gorilla, a hammerhead, and a lioness.
Then I heard two screeches.
“Shit. I gotta go. The boys were playing, and they ran right into Lola and Hattie.” I snickered as the call ended.
I looked up at my television and got back into the series I had been watching on Max. It was called The Pitt , and it was super cool.
Then I painted the second coat.
And looked up just in time to see rats jump from the body of a deceased homeless man.
No, thank you.
My phone pinged with a text.
Big Foot – You still mad at me?
I glared down at my phone.
Was he serious?
Was I still mad at him?
Remember the scene at Milagros?
Where he said, loudly, that they wouldn’t want to accept any money from me because of my nighttime activities? The same reason that Harlee had picked up a wrench and thrown it at Dominik’s head?
Well, this time, he took it another step further.
I had been at Mom and Dad’s with my laptop because I was trying to get this new client who lives in the United Kingdom, and she only had one spot available to talk to me.
He had come up behind me, smirked at the screen, and said, “Don’t give this one photos that you don’t want her using as her inspiration late at night.”
She had gaped, looked at me, then ended the call.
I had lost her as a client.
A client I had needed to get the promotion I wanted.
I had whirled on him and then looked at Mom, who had been snickering, and asked, “Seriously?”
She snickered again, “That was funny.”
I gaped, “Why do you take his side over mine?”
She sighed, “Talia, not this again.”
“I was talking to a client I needed to get my promotion at work. I would have made partner,” I growled.
She stopped snickering.
Then her face paled, “Talia.... I...”
I narrowed my gaze at Dominik and said, “I’m done.”
Then I closed my laptop, grabbed my bag, and walked out of the house.
My dad called my name, and I stopped.
He came up to me, wrapped his arms around me, and kissed my head. “She feels bad that he doesn’t have anyone left.”
I nodded, “I get that. And why I let almost all of it slide when she does it. But when it’s important to me... why doesn’t she stick up for me?”
He sighed, then he said, “I’ll talk to her.”
I shook my head, “Don’t worry about it. It won’t change.”
Me – You're not serious.
Big Foot – I was teasing you, Talia. It’s what we do.
Me – Have I ever interrupted you when you were talking to a customer?
Big Foot – No.
Me – Exactly. No.
Me – I have too much respect for you to do that.
Me – Don’t talk to me for a while.
Big Foot – I’ll try.
And you know what else... he’s never once mentioned the words, I’m sorry , to me. Everyone else? Yes. To me? No.
Then I thought about that day, and I didn’t know why.
I didn’t know why my mind went back to that day.
I was seven.
“If I don’t find myself a man, I’m going to be Ouiser when I grow up,” I said to my best friend in the whole wide world, Harlee.
Harlee giggled, “I’ll be like Truvy. The apple of the entire show.”
I snorted, “No, you’ll be like Charlie.”
Charlie was the main female lead in her favorite movie, Top Gun.
She nodded, “True.”
Just then, Carter, Garrick, Ethan, Alec, and Dominik entered the living room. Dominik was home for a visit.
They looked at what we were watching, but Dominik just moved further in and sat on the floor in front of me.
Carter winced, “This again?”
I nodded, “It’s my day. Check the calendar.”
The calendar was hanging up in the living room. And when you had five kids, things needed to be on a schedule. Our mom had made it because we had fought constantly.
Carter looked at the schedule and then sighed, “She’s right. It’s her day to control the television.”
Garrick sighed, then nodded and moved to the floor beside Dominik.
They had just shown the carnival scene when I heard Garrick whisper, “Why didn’t you complain about this movie?”
Dominik chuckled, “Can’t tell how many times I’ve watched it with Ma. It’s her favorite.”
I grinned. It was my favorite too.
Then I settled in to watch it.
Just then, Mama came into the room, saw the screen, and smiled.
I leaned forward and asked Dominik, “Want to invite your Mom?”
He tilted his head back and winked at me, “Nah. She’s at bingo night.”
And no, I didn’t miss the way his amber-flecked eyes softened.
When was the last time I caught that from Dominik?
I came out of that memory and smiled wistfully.
Dang, but I missed Mrs. Davis.
I still drive by her house once a week to see the family who had bought it after Dominik had sold it.
He had said that it was too hard to be in there without her.
I sighed as my phone pinged.
Austin – Dinner at Milagros tomorrow night?
I sighed again.
Why? Why, oh why had I agreed to that?
I know.... for my work wife.
She wasn’t my wife, but she was an awesome person.
I scrolled to her text thread and texted her.
Me – Don’t ever dare me about a date with anyone ever again.
Arielle – Jesus, I was hoping he would have gotten the hint after our date.
Me – What did he do? You wouldn’t tell me.
Me – Told me you didn’t want to ruin my date.
Arielle – *sigh* He ordered for me. Ordered me a salad with light dressing and water.
Me – Why didn’t you tell me?
Me – He did the same thing for me.
Arielle – Darn. Okay, don’t worry about the two-date dare thing.
Me – *laughing* I’ve never backed down from a dare. I’m not stopping now.
I clicked out of our messages, then texted Austin back.
Me – Sounds good. When?
Austin – Seven?
Me – I’ll meet you there.
Austin – Sounds good. See you then.
***
After the worst date in history, I closed the door to my apartment, walked in, and froze.
“Umm. What are you doing here?” I asked Dominik.
He smirked, “I’m hungry. What are you cooking for supper?”
I shook my head, “I already ate.”
I kicked my heels off and then sighed in bliss.
I loved heels and what they did for my behind. But man, did my feet hate them.
He gaped, “You already ate?”
I nodded.
He sighed. “Damnit.”
Then he nodded and walked out of my apartment after closing the door.
“Well, hey, bye, fuck you too,” I murmured to the empty apartment.
I shook my head and then commenced with my daily ritual the moment I was home and wasn’t going anywhere.
I reached underneath my shirt, unclasped my bra, wove my arms through the sleeves, taking off one strap, and then repeating the process with the other.
It didn’t matter how small or big your boobs were.
Underwire was a bitch, and it sucked monkey balls at the same time.
However, it was a necessity.
Then, not even five minutes later, my door was opened, and he strode back in.
Then he stopped and locked his eyes with mine, “You still pissed at me?”
I sighed, “You're lucky. I went on a date, and he topped your assholery.”
For some reason, a tick started in his jaw... what was that about?
Before I could answer, he moved.