This Time Around (Maybe)

by Fernando, Chantal

  “Okay,” I say, sighing and looking over at Scott who has his eyes on me, a frown marring his expression. Great, he probably thinks Ryan’s controlling me and I’m some weak woman who lets him walk all over me. I stock up the fridge, and tidy everything up as much as I can. I’m collecting empty bottles from one of the tables when Scott walks up to me and pulls something off my back.

  “What’s that?” I ask, looking at the piece of paper in his hand. He raises an eyebrow and hands it over to me. The paper reads, ‘property of Ryan’ and he’s stuck it onto my back with a piece of sticky tape, like one would a ‘kick me’ sign. I scrunch the paper up, not knowing whether to laugh or yell. I catch Ryan’s gaze and he gives me a boyish grin and a wink. I shake my head at him, and throw the ball of paper, aiming for his head. He ducks, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

  “I’m heading out,” Scott says from next to me. I turn to him, and give him a chaste kiss on his cheek.

  “Nice seeing you, Scott. I’ll message you about catching up, okay?”

  He smiles and nods, waving once before leaving with his friends. I pick up another empty beer bottle and walk towards the recycling bin, putting them in. Everyone in the bar starts to clear out, and I for one am grateful.

  “What time do we close?” I ask him as I approach.

  “In about ten minutes. Are you okay?” he asks, taking me into his arms. “You look tired.”

  I hide my face into his chest. “I’m fine. A little hungry.”

  “Better go feed my woman then… hmmm,” he rumbles, squeezing me tighter. “I’ll quickly close up and then we can go and get something.”

  “What do you want me to do?” I ask, looking around.

  “The place is sparkling; you’ve done enough. Why don’t you sit down and I’ll make you a drink?” he says, lifting me in his arms. He gropes my ass a little before placing me down on the seat.

  “Perve!” I tease, sticking my tongue out.

  He stares at my tongue. “Don’t give me any ideas.”

  “Like I’d need to!” Let’s just say Ryan can be very… creative.

  “True,” he says, smirking.

  “And no thanks on the drink. I’ll grab something when we head out.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah, I’m not really thirsty. I’m sure I will be later though,” I say, my tone making an innocent sentence sound extremely dirty.

  His lips curve into a panty-dropping smile, and I watch as he goes about his business, closing up and emptying the cash register. About fifteen minutes passes before he walks back over and lifts me off the stool.

  “Let’s go feed my girl.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Taiya

  The next morning, I don’t know why the fuck Sarah is standing by my car, but it’s taking everything in me to not jump into my car and run her over. I don’t know what went wrong along the way with our friendship, but as far as I’m concerned, she can go to hell. I know I’m a good person. I’ve never screwed anyone over or betrayed anyone. I’m as loyal as they come, and I deserve a friend that is more than a trifling whore with a thing for my husband.

  “What do you want?” I snap, looking for my keys in my oversized handbag.

  She purses her lips. “Can’t an old friend say hello?”

  I laugh without humour. “Cut the shit. What do you want? To convince me Ryan slept with you? Because we all know that’s bullshit.”

  “You don’t know shit, Taiya,” Sarah says angrily, her cheeks going red.

  “I know that you can go get fucked,” I tell her, finally finding my keys, pulling them out and pressing the button to open the car door.

  “Fine, we never slept together. I’ll admit it. I lied. But I kissed Ryan more than once. Maybe you should ask him about that?” she sneers, a look of hate appearing on her face.

  “What the fuck did I ever do to you?”

  She shrugs. “Everything came so easy to you. You deserved to be taken down a notch.”

  “It’s not high school anymore, Sarah. Grow the fuck up and move on with your life.” With that, I get into my car and drive off.

  Her words run through my mind on the way home. Could she have been telling the truth? Ryan told me he hadn’t seen her again. However, I suppose I’d be stupid to blindly believe everything a man tells me. I push Sarah out of my mind and turn up the volume on the radio. John Legend’s ‘All of Me’ plays and I sing along with the music. I drive to the supermarket to pick up a few things for the house, and then head straight home. Ryan said we can start fixing up the studio next week, and I can’t wait. I still can’t believe he did this for me, such a huge gesture. It’s like all of a sudden, everything is going perfectly in my life and I’m not going to let anyone walk in and ruin it for me. Ryan and I deserve our happily ever after.

  *****

  I can tell something has upset Xander by the way he’s brooding, but I don’t know if it’s my place or not to ask him. I’m at the bar, waiting for Ryan to finish work. I turn and watch Xander, who is sitting all alone at the farthest table. After he slams his phone down on the table, I slide into the seat opposite him.

  “Is everything okay?” I ask softly, my gaze dropping to the tattoos covering his neck. His whole neck is now pretty much covered. I never thought I would have found that attractive, but on him, it looks hot. He also seems a lot older than his age. I know he’s a few years younger than me. He’s definitely an old soul; I can tell that by looking into his eyes. Xander is an enigma, that’s for sure. Something tells me there is more to him than his tough exterior.

  He sucks in his lips and eyes me warily. “Not really.”

  Okaaaaay then. “If you want to talk, I’m a good listener.”

  Silence. He picks up his beer and takes a sip, tilting his head back. The silence gets a little awkward, and I’m just about to stand and leave when he finally speaks.

  “I like Sephie,” is all he says, looking down at the table.

  I frown. “So that’s a good thing, right?”

  He pauses, then leans back in his chair. “It was.”

  “And now it isn’t?” I ask, trying to read between the lines of his vague comment.

  He stares at me with his hazel eyes, and I shift in my seat, a little unnerved by being pinned by his steady gaze. “Ryan’s a lucky man, you know.”

  My eyes widen. That’s not what I expected him to say at all. “Thank you.”

  His lip twitches, before he slowly nods his head. “Summer really likes you.”

  I smile. “I really like her too. By the way, don’t think I didn’t notice the subject change.”

  Xander chuckles, and it’s a deep husky sound. “I know. Bottom line is Seph and I aren’t going to work out.”

  “Why?” I ask nosily, probably overstepping my bounds. I can’t help but be curious. They only met recently, so I don’t know what it could be that already has them pulling away.

  His gaze darkens, and I instantly regret asking, not that he answers me anyway. Instead, Ryan, who walks up to the table and tells me we can leave if I’m ready, saves him. I stand up, stop at Xander, lean down and give him a kiss on the cheek. Then I take Ryan’s hand and leave to go home.

  *****

  “Who are you again?” Isis asks me, standing at the door with her arms crossed.

  I wince. “I know I haven’t been here and I’m sorry. I’m the worst roomie ever. I know.”

  “Why don’t you just move in with him? I won’t be upset. You’re hardly here anyway. Oh, hey, maybe Sephie will move in,” Isis says.

  I sigh. “I know. I think that’s probably a good idea.”

  “We can still see each other. It’s still in the same building,” she says, obviously noting my sad expression.

  I nod twice. “Yeah, you’re right.” I walk into the living room and flop down onto the couch. “How’s everything anyway?”

  She sits down next to me. “Work, uni, you know how it goes. All work and no play.”

  I
raise an eyebrow at her.

  “Okay, well, some play.” We both burst out laughing.

  “Tag?”

  She pouts. “Uninterested apparently.”

  I change the subject. “You want to go out for dinner tonight? Just us?” I ask her. I miss Isis, and I feel bad that I haven’t spent much time with her.

  Her pale eyes light up. “Sounds good. And I know just the place. We should see a movie too.”

  “Sounds good. I’m going to go start packing up my room,” I tell her, standing up and walking to my room. I open the door and stare at all my stuff. No time like the present. I start pulling out my clothes, imagining the look on Ryan’s face when I tell him I’m officially moving in.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Ryan

  Taiya tells me to come to her apartment. The door is unlocked, causing me to frown at the thought of anyone who could just walk in. I call out Taiya’s name, walking into her room to find her standing there, smiling at me.

  “Hey beautiful,” I say, looking around her room in confusion. It is empty. “What’s going on?” I ask her, my brows scrunching. Is she moving?

  “Surprise,” she says, closing the space between us and throwing her arms over my shoulders. “I’m all yours.”

  My eyes widen as I realise what she’s telling me. “You’re moving in with me? Officially?”

  “Yep,” she says, making me the happiest man on the planet. She starts kissing me and making little moaning noises that go straight to my cock. I look around, finding no surface I can make love to her on besides the floor and the wall. She jumps up and wraps her legs around me, pushing her body against mine.

  The wall it is.

  We make love for the last time ever in her apartment.

  *****

  I don’t think words can express my happiness that Taiya finally moved in. I grin to myself, as I get on my bike to go for a ride. I haven’t done this in ages, ride just for the sake of it, to enjoy the freedom. Two hours later, I end up at the gym. I see Reid standing there, looking a mixture of bored and agitated, an older man standing next to him talking animatedly. I quickly head to the change room and remove my shoes, jeans and T-shirt, sliding on some sweats instead and leaving my chest bare. When I walk back towards the octagon, Reid spots me but his expression doesn’t change.

  “What’s going on?” I ask him as I approach.

  The other man, who looks to be in his forties but in good shape, replies, “He’s a good fighter.”

  My eyes flit back to Reid. “I know he is. Who are you?”

  “MMA scout,” Reid replies, not looking happy about it.

  The scout takes a step closer. “I have an eye for talent. Trust me, you could be the best.”

  “I don’t fight anymore,” Reid replies, stepping away from the man and walking to pick up his water bottle.

  “Yeah and what a fucking waste,” the scout mutters under his breath.

  “I don’t think that’s any of your business,” I snap, losing my composure. “If my brother wants to contact you, he will.”

  “If you don’t fight anymore, what are you doing here? Still practising every day. Don’t you dare try and tell me you don’t love it, because the proof is right here,” he calls out to Reid, his arms motioning around the gym. With that, walks off and exits the gym. Reid shrugs his shoulders in a ‘what the fuck can you do’ kind of way. I shake my head at him, and start shaking my limbs and bouncing on my toes, needing to warm up. I want to ask Reid what’s going on in that head of his, but I don’t for two reasons. One, he will talk to me when he wants to, and two, if he says he wants to fight and Summer tries to ask me about it… yeah I’d rather stay out of that.

  “Come on, bro, I’ll go easy on you,” I say, trying to lighten up his mood.

  He gives me a crooked smile, so like my own. “Let’s see what you got.”

  *****

  “That’s everything unpacked,” I say, unable to contain my smile. I pick up the last few boxes and put them in a stack in the corner of the living room. “There’s no escaping now.”

  Taiya laughs, taking her mug and putting it into the sink. “It feels right.”

  “I’m glad you think so,” I say, walking up and taking her in my arms. “Do you want to go out for dinner?”

  “Yeah, then maybe we could go and see how Isis is handling her first shift at the bar,” she says. Isis wanted a job, and I could always use some extra help. I don’t really need to work as much as I do, but I like being productive and keeping busy. It’s basically family and friends that work there, so we end up laughing as much as we do work.

  “Okay.”

  “Did you ever think we would be like this again?” she asks, her stunning green eyes looking up at me. I feel a pang in my chest, like I do every time she looks at me.

  “Together?”

  She nods. “Yeah. Back together, stronger than ever.”

  I pull her into me. “I dreamed about it, but I wasn’t sure it would ever happen.” And that thought was what drove me into casual sex. I wanted the connection, but knew there was never going to be anyone that I’d love as much as I love Taiya. I realise now what an idiot I was. I should have fought harder instead of feeling sorry for myself and letting my pride get in the way. However, if I had to go through all of that again to be here now, in this moment, then I’d do it.

  She sighs softly, burying her face into my chest, almost like she would crawl inside me if she could. She grips her fingers into the material of my T-shirt, pulling down a little. “We have dinner with my mum tomorrow.”

  “Sounds good.” I love Rita. She’s a great woman and raised two amazing girls. “Have you spoken to Claire recently?” I ask, referring to Taiya’s sister.

  “Yeah, we had a video chat the other day. She said she will try and come to visit us at the end of the year.” Claire moved overseas just after Taiya and I got married. “I hope she does.”

  “Maybe we could go and see her if she can’t make it?” I say.

  She lifts her head from my chest to look me in the eye. “Really?”

  “Sure. Reid’s here to manage the bar, so why not. We could go anywhere you wanted to go.” I want to take her everywhere, spoil the shit out of her. I’ve always wanted to take her to the Maldive Islands, which I know is where she wanted to go on our honeymoon, but we couldn’t afford it back then. Now, I can give her everything she deserves and more.

  Taiya Rose Knox will never want for anything.

  *****

  I watch as Isis serves a group of guys, making sure they don’t overstep any boundaries or try anything. Her first shift seems to be going well, and she has Tag and Jade showing her the ropes. Taiya sits on my lap and takes a sip of my bottle of water. I kiss her on her delicate neck, making her giggle as she puts the bottle back on the table.

  “Did you enjoy your dinner?” I ask her.

  She raises her eyebrow. “I practically inhaled yours and mine.”

  I hide my grin into her neck, not bothering to try and deny it. I love the fact that Taiya doesn’t try and starve herself, rather she eats healthily, and now and again lets herself indulge. I don’t mind what size she is, but I know that as a dancer, she needs to be fit and strong, even though she doesn’t dance professionally.

  “Did you ask Sephie if she wanted to move into the apartment with Isis?” she asks, frowning. I know that she worries about Isis being able to pay the rent without her living there to share the bills.

  “I rang her but she didn’t answer. I’ll try again tomorrow,” I tell her, pulling her up on my lap. I hope my sister does move in, then she will be closer so I can keep an eye on her. And see her more often, of course.

  “Okay, I hope she says yes.”

  “Me too. You want to head home?” I ask her, getting a little excited with her sitting on my lap.

  “Yeah, I’ll just go and say bye to Isis,” she says, getting up and walking to the bar. I’m not going to deny it, my eyes are glued to her ass the entire
time.

  “Hi,” purrs a vaguely familiar voice, interrupting my view of the greatest ass of all time.

  I look up into the face of someone I’d prefer to never see again. “What are you doing here, Sarah?”

  She puts on a fake sad face. Fuck, how was Taiya ever friends with this girl? “I wanted to apologise to Taiya.”

  “Why bother? She isn’t going to be friends with you again, you should just leave her alone,” I say, standing up and turning my head to look for Taiya. I see her standing in front of the bar, leaning over it to talk to Isis.

  “Scared that I’m here, are you?” she asks, pushing her chest out. “Or maybe it’s Taiya that feels threatened about you being in my company?”

  “Why would I be? We only kissed, and Taiya knows about it. I’m a little more nervous about her,” I say pointing to a woman that I’d slept with before. She waves at me and I cringe, but give a slight wave back. Sarah apparently takes offence to something I said, because an evil sneer appears on her what could be pretty face.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” Taiya says, as she walks up and stands at my side. “Are you stalking me now?”

  Wait, what?

  “You wish. I just wanted to talk to you for a second,” Sarah says, an almost vulnerable look flashing on her face before she masks it. I think Taiya notices it too, because she tilts her head slightly and says, “You have five minutes.”

  I’m about to object when Taiya bends and gives me a possessive kiss. “Five minutes,” she repeats, “I’ll just be out the front.”

  Not liking the idea of my woman standing outside, I shake my head no. “Use my office.” Taiya nods and heads to the office, Sarah following behind her. What the fuck is going on here? This is like, the kiss that never ends. A kiss! Okay, maybe she took her top off too, but fuck. I don’t know why she is still in our lives and I wish that she would just leave us alone. Instead of sitting around and doing nothing, I decide to help out at the bar until they are done.

  And then I want to know what the hell Sarah would possibly have to talk to Taiya about.