Chapter 5 Love In This Club - Zane
Tara was everything she was the last time I saw her and then some. Due to the enhanced definition of her coke bottle physique, I could only assume she had birthed at least one child.
Initially when I accepted the offer to play overseas ball, I wanted her to leave North Brooke Port and come with me.
She was already in a relationship with Jason although they were on a break because he was cheating on her with just about everyone, when I stepped to her.
Tara and I shared a special connection that had much more substance than what the two of them could’ve ever shared, and I felt like she should have known it.
I thought the connection was enough for her to take me up on my offer, but the moment she turned me down, I knew I was wrong.
Looking back on things, it was selfish of me to express my feelings to her and ask her to leave the country with me in the same breath. Though the kiss led to intimacy, when it was all said and done, she let me know she couldn’t uproot her life for me.
“So, this is really your club?” Tara questioned as she stepped into my office, almost like she hadn’t believed me when I told her on the club floor.
“Yes, why is that so surprising?”
“Trust me, I’m not saying it to say I can’t believe you’re capable of owning a business because you’ve always been smart, Zane. However, I didn’t know you had any ties here with the exception of your family.”
“Yes. I have a few businesses around town because I believe in giving back to the community who made me into the man I am. I’ve always wanted to create opportunities for employment in the place I grew up in,” I stated.
“For me, making a name for myself was more than about living the good life. It was about being in a position to help others elevate and have chances they wouldn’t have normally had.
But enough about me,” I concluded, attempting to minimize the effect her look of approval was giving me.
“I’m more interested in your relationship status. ”
“Why the sudden interest?” Tara asked with her eyebrow piqued to match my curiosity.
“We both know there’s nothing sudden about my interest in you, Tarana.”
“How long have you been back?”
“A few weeks,” I answered, refusing to let her continue to detour the conversation. “How long have you not been wearing a wedding ring?”
“Let’s see,” she started, wearing a look of reflection on her flawless chocolate face. “I caught Jason in his office having sex with his secretary turned wife over two years ago. That was the day I stopped wearing my wedding ring.”
“I’m sorry you had to deal with that.”
“It’s all a part of life,” she attempted to reason, downplaying the situation, but I could still see the hurt in her eyes.
The hurt led me to believe she still cared about him, and while a part of me was hurt by the revelation, I had to realize how much history existed between the two of them. It would be abnormal for her not to be hurt by catching her ex-husband in an entanglement with one of his colleagues.
“I can’t lie to you. It’s been difficult, but I’m adjusting… We all are… My kids and I,” she clarified just as I prepared myself to ask who we consisted of.
“You’re a mother. Wow.”
“Yes, I am, and they are the best thing to come from the time I spent married to him.”
“How many do you have?”
“I have two children. A teenage boy and a preteen girl to be specific. Jaedan and Raegan.” From the smile on her face, I knew she genuinely enjoyed being a mother, and I wasn’t at all surprised because Tara had always been a naturally nursing, caring, and empathetic woman—all of which were good traits and the making of a great mother.
“What about you? I know you’ve had a few overseas rendezvous, and I’m sure you’ve blessed a lucky lady with your seed.”
“Believe it or not, I’m still living the life of a bachelor, no lady and no children.”
“Why?”
“ Why ?” I repeated as if I hadn’t heard her question correctly only because I wasn’t expecting her to ask.
Normally when I told women I didn’t have any ties, they simply nodded and continued with the conversation. Tara had always been different, so I shouldn’t have expected a typical conversation from her.
“I’ve always been so focused on my career, and regrettably, a woman and a family didn’t fit into life for me back then.”
“Back then? Are things different now?”
“I would like to think so,” I noted. “At this point in my life, I want someone to give my love and my legacy to. So yes, things are different now. Prayerfully, coming back to North Brooke Port proves to be the fresh start I’ve been looking for.”
“I hope you get everything your heart desires and then some, Zane.”
“What does your heart desire, Tarana?”
“Honestly?”
“Yes, honestly.”
“The only thing I’m looking for these days is myself,” she confessed, taking me completely by surprise, but in a good way.
It was good to know that after a decade had passed, she still felt as if she could be transparent and vulnerable with me.
“I never thought I would be single Tara at this point in my life, and I definitely didn’t think I’d be working through the struggles of co-parenting with my ex-husband.
Up until two years ago, my entire adult life was rooted in being a wife and a mother, and these days I’m finding it hard to know what to do with myself when I’m not in mommy mode. ”
“I have some time I can give to help you figure it out.”
“Are you flirting with me, Zane Simmons?”
“Yes, Tarana Raymond,” I agreed, acknowledging her maiden name, although I was sure she was still more than likely carrying his name because of time and their shared children. “I can’t say I know what you’re going through, because I don’t, but I can be here for you whenever, wherever, and however.”
Noticing how hard she swallowed after my comment let me know she picked up on exactly what my offer consisted of. Although I wanted her to be well aware of my interest in her, I didn’t want to scare her away by being too forceful.
“We should get together some time, outside of the club scene of course.”
“I’m glad you said that because I am out of my element. The only reason I came out is because of Eva.”
“Is Eva still the life of the party?” I asked, momentarily thinking back to a much simpler time when we were high schoolers without a care in the world, going to all the parties we could get into and living it up.
“No, believe it or not. Her sons mellowed her out. She has two boys, but you better believe when she doesn’t have them, she is very much still the life of the party.”
“She sounds like Zeke.”
“I know you saw how cozy the two of them were,” she recalled with a knowing look.
“Yes, I did see the two of them all over each other. Zeke has had a crush on her since high school, so their encounter is long overdue,” I reasoned. “Enough about them though. I’m more interested in when you’re going to carve out some time for us to properly catch up with each other.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Tell me when you’re free. Let me worry about the details. The only thing I need you to do is to get dressed and look as breathtakingly stunning as you do tonight.”
“My kids are with Jason for the weekend,” she stated with suggestive eyes.
“Tomorrow night, be ready at seven. Put your number and address in my phone, and I’ll call you when I’m getting ready to come scoop you up. How does that sound?” I asked, taking sight of the ever-present, wide smile on her gorgeous face.
“That sounds absolutely perfect to me.”
“I was hoping you would say that,” I stated, reaching for her hand. “We can finish catching up then. For now, let’s rejoin the celebration before they come searching for us.”
Following me out of my office, we walked back out to the main area of the club and then back up to VIP. For the rest of the night, we celebrated O’Dell’s birthday in true Club Déjà Vu fashion.