Chapter Sixteen #2
“Are you ready to go home?” Viper asks me as Rex remains mainly silent tonight.
“I am, but I’m not. I like that I’ll be on my own and can continue working on myself without a ton of people surrounding me.
At the same time, I’ve never been alone before.
I’ve always had someone with me. At home it was always my family or my brother there.
When I moved to college, I had a roommate in the dorm.
Then TJ lived with me when I bought my house.
This will be the first time I don’t have to share my space with anyone else.
Everything I do will be for me and about me,” I answer him as everyone pays attention to my response.
“I get it. It might be hard going from having people around you at all times to being completely alone. If you need anything, call and we’ll do what we can,” Roger says with a bright smile as he stands and walks over to grab the cake.
“We’ll have our dessert so you can head out.
One of the guys can help you load your car so you’re not struggling with anything. ”
“Sounds perfect,” I respond as Roger sets the cake down and cuts us all a piece. Annistyn nibbles at her piece after leaving some of her dinner on the plate she cleared away. I wonder what’s going on with her, but won’t voice my questions with so many other people here.
We all eat the delicious cake before Rex gets up and removes my plate and his.
He then goes into my room and grabs my things to take outside.
Annistyn leaves the kitchen with a large bag and lets me know it’s dinner and dessert to take home with me.
I get hugs from Ivy and her while the guys remain standoffish and simply tell me goodbye.
I leave them all behind and use the side door to make my way out to my car.
Rex is standing by my door and opens it as I get closer to him.
“Gonna miss seein’ ya here, Doll,” he says as he takes the walker from me and folds it before sliding it in the backseat.
“If you need anythin’ at your parents’ house, call me and I’ll make sure you have it.
There will be a Prospect there for safety because we still don’t know if the asshole will do anythin’. ”
“I’ll call Elara if I need anything, Master.
I’m sure you’re a busy man and don’t need to waste your time with me.
When I’m ready to have that conversation, I’ll let you know,” I tell him, sliding in my seat the best I can but leaving my door open because I don’t want to hurt Rex if he tries to keep the door open.
“I’m not goin’ anywhere, Taleah. Thought you’d realize that by now.
Somethin’ happened to me that day I found you on the floor in your store.
I fuckin’ shattered and the pieces can only be put back together again by you.
Yeah, I know we have a lot of shit to work through, Doll, but we’ll get there.
I’m not askin’ for you to forgive me right this second.
I know I broke you that night. Knew that’s what was gonna happen the second I made that decision.
But, what you saw isn’t what really happened.
So, I’ll wait until you’re ready to meet with me.
Just let me help if you need it,” he says, his voice taking on a pleading tone I haven’t heard from him before.
Rex has always had a confidence in him and he doesn’t ever second guess himself. Every decision he makes is with precision and he’s thought through all of the possible outcomes there may be. It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with him so long ago.
I don’t respond to him as I close the door and start my car.
Rex backs up enough I won’t hurt him or run him over and I leave the ranch.
The trip through town is quiet because I leave the radio off for the first time and simply sit with my own thoughts.
When I pull into my parents’ driveway, I shut the engine off and look at the house I called home for most of my life.
It’s completely dark inside with the barest hint of daylight remaining.
I get out and grab my walker and the duffle bag, attempting to get inside with everything so I don’t have to come back out later when I feel stronger.
Using my keys, I enter the house and turn on the light in the hallway.
It’s bright enough so I can head into my childhood bedroom.
Before heading down the hall, I reset the alarm so I’ll be alerted to anyone trying to get in the house while I’m here alone.
Setting the duffle bag down on the chair inside my door, I head for bed and don’t bother changing out of my clothes.
All I do is remove my shoes before climbing in under the blankets.
Tears fall silently from my eyes because I fully understand how Roger feels about losing family and friends from the ranch.
The silence in the house is deafening as I listen to each and every sound but not jumping in fear like I did weeks ago after TJ attacked me.
I’m not about to turn the two lights off either.
While I might not be afraid of TJ breaking into the house because I know he’s in jail, it doesn’t mean I’m not afraid of being here alone.
Tomorrow is a new day and I can try turning out the lights then.
When I’ve had some time to adjust to being home and start to put a routine in place I can live with.
For now, it’s okay if I have to leave a few lights on, set a security alarm for extra precaution, and remaining vigilant when I’m away from my house or shop.
I didn’t even see the Prospect Rex was talking about so I’m not sure if someone is here already or not.
Maybe Rex was lying and no one will show up.
Right now, all I care about is getting some sleep and letting my body heal.
Tomorrow I can ask a million questions I need answers to.