Chapter Twenty-Nine
Master
EVERYONE LOVES TALEAH at the clubhouse. We spent all of last weekend there and she really got in good with everyone.
Most of the guys gained their respect for her because of her interaction with the Feral Girl.
She established herself as someone who demands respect from someone lower than her in the club hierarchy with her words and one hit.
Taleah didn’t get into a fight and drag the situation out longer than necessary.
She tried to walk away from the girl and not escalate the situation.
The Feral Girl followed Taleah and put her hands on her more than once.
After that my girl helped out wherever she was needed and talked to everyone in the clubhouse.
To her, it doesn’t matter if it was a Prospect, Feral Girl, or club member.
She gave every single person respect and remained true to herself.
The kids love her because she got right down on the floor to play with them and never once made them feel as if they weren’t the most important people in her circle while they had her attention.
Annistyn is eager for her to come back to hang out.
TJ’s parents are still in jail. Their lawyer is trying to get them out on bail, but the judge refused to give it.
After everything their son did, he wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice.
I went to court that morning so I could look his parents in the eyes as they were told they wouldn’t be released on bail.
TJ’s dad was pissed as hell and I know it’s just a matter of time before he makes a move against Taleah.
He’s definitely the kind of asshole who will do whatever he can in revenge for any slight against him.
It’s just a matter of time before everything goes down.
I’ll be right at her side when it does and protect my girl. They won’t ever get close to her again.
This weekend, Taleah and I are staying at her house again.
A massive party is going on at the clubhouse and neither one of us wants to be there for it.
I’ve been to more than enough parties since Feral Dragons was started and the only girl I want to spend time with is Taleah.
Elara told me a few days ago that Taleah hasn’t really been to parties since she lost her brother.
Birthday parties for family and friends are different because there’s not typically any drinking and she’s not reminded of that night.
She explained it to Cali and Annistyn who completely understand her reasons for not wanting to show up knowing there will be a party.
They were going to show up just so she’d be more comfortable and I know it’s the only reason she shared what happened in our past. Taleah is definitely letting the two of them in easier than I’ve ever seen her get close to other people.
“Rex, you might want to stay here or find something else to do for a while. I have to leave,” Taleah says walking into the bedroom as I finish getting dressed for the day.
“Somethin’ happen at Fantasy Realm?” I ask her, turning and pulling her into my arms.
“No. I haven’t been to Bhodi’s grave in a while.
I need to go there today,” she says, avoiding my gaze because she knows I haven’t been there since his funeral.
“I’m the only one who goes there now. Mom and Dad still aren’t able to visit the cemetery and I can’t stand to have him there with no visitors.
I know you haven’t been back there and I won’t force you to do anything you’re not ready for. ”
That was the last thing I was expecting her to tell me.
I know she goes to the cemetery on a regular basis to visit her brother, but I didn’t know her parents haven’t been back since his funeral.
I won’t allow her to go on her own. Not today when she’s been through so much shit over the last few weeks.
“I’ll go with you, Doll,” I finally tell her as she looks up at me with wide eyes.
“You don’t have to, Rex. Going to the cemetery isn’t for everyone and I understand that. You’re not ready to go there and I refuse to be the one to force your hand,” she says as I look down at her and pull her closer because this is one of the many reasons I love her so much.
Taleah will do everything in her power to make those she loves comfortable and won’t ever push them to do things before they’re ready.
She’ll be your biggest cheerleader and support system while also understanding if you’re not ready to do something.
This is a big step for me and she won’t make me do it if I’m not ready.
“I want to go. We’ve both made promises to move forward with our lives and deal with things that have been holdin’ us back.
The guilt I feel for not bein’ there the night he lost his life is somethin’ I need to start dealin’ with.
That starts by goin’ with you today,” I tell her as she pulls back a little and looks at me.
“Rex, you can’t even say Bhodi’s name. It's always my brother or your best friend. That tells me all I need to know about how ready you are. I can do this on my own. I’ve been doing it alone for eight years now,” she says, bringing up the one thing I hoped she hadn’t noticed.
“I know I can’t, Doll. It hurts too much to say his name.
If I’m bein’ honest, I don’t even think it if I can help it.
In eight years, I think I’ve said his name just a handful of times and it almost broke me every single time.
It’s time I start livin’ in the present and start livin’ in his memory instead of keepin’ him locked up in the past,” I tell her as she wraps her arms tighter around me.
“Okay. You can stay at the Jeep if you want. You don’t have to walk up to his grave with me,” she says, leaving the bedroom as I get a few minutes for myself because I don’t honestly know if I’m ready to go to the cemetery, but I know this is something I have to do.
After taking several deep breaths, I make sure I have all of my stuff and leave the room.
Taleah is in the kitchen grabbing a bottle of water.
There’s a fresh bouquet of flowers on the counter she picks up and makes her way toward me.
The two of us leave the house and I make sure the door is locked after setting the alarm so no one can get in the house without me knowing about it.
She walks to her car and I join her to open the door for her.
Taleah won’t ever open her own door if I’m with her.
I grew up watching my dad open every single door for my mom and others and it stuck.
My sister and Taleah never opened their own door when I was with them.
Taleah hands me her keys before I close her door and I jog around the front of her Jeep to get in the driver’s seat.
My girl actually loves driving but she knows if I’m with her, I drive.
She used to fight me, but soon realized I’m more stubborn than she is.
Getting in, I start the engine while adjusting the seat.
Every single time I smash my knees against the steering wheel because Taleah is so much shorter than I am.
It’s a lesson I’ve never learned and she laughs each time she sees me. Today is no different.
When I’m finally comfortable in the driver’s seat, I pull out of her driveway and leave the house.
We ride to the cemetery in silence. There isn’t even music playing.
Taleah shut it off as soon as I started her Jeep.
I pull up and find the parking lot empty.
Today is a gorgeous day and I thought there would be others here.
Instead, it will only be the two of us. I think this is better because I’m not letting her go to the grave on her own.
We get out of the Jeep and I follow her slow steps to the tree he’s buried next to.
Taleah already has tears running down her face as we finally reach her brother’s final resting place.
I watch as she cleans off his headstone before removing a few pieces of debris from the ground.
She carefully sets the flowers down in front of his headstone and stands back up again.
“Do you want to have a minute alone with him?” she asks me, her voice breaking as she wraps her arms around her body while keeping her eyes pointed down at the stone with a picture of her brother.
“Yeah. Um, I think I would,” I say, my own voice choked off with emotion as she leans in to press her lips against my cheek before leaving me alone.
Kneeling down, I rest a hand on the cold stone with my best friend’s name.
“I don’t know what the hell I’m doin’ here, Bhodi,” I begin, making myself say his name because he deserves it.
“I’ve been a shitty friend for the last eight years and left you alone.
I never once came to see you after the day you were buried.
There was always an excuse ready to be told to anyone who asked me.
I was too busy. I was only home on leave for a short period of time.
Or I didn’t come home at all. Bhodi, I fucked up and I’m the reason you lost your life.
If I had been at the party that night, you would have never gotten in the fight.
I would have been beatin’ the fuck out of the dipshit instead.
Maybe I would have been the one to hit my head and drown in that pool. I don’t know.