Share the Road (Challenge Book 2)

by D. Blake

  Kelly sent out a group text message to everyone letting them know the place and time they would meet for their first camp. She had managed to get several wealthy sponsors in the D.C. area that wanted to see the camp become a success. They were happy to give back to their community, and Kelly was happy to teach the kids to become team players and think for themselves. She accepted the first 25 kids, thinking that was all they could handle from the start. If the camp was a success, she could get more help the following year and potentially provide camp for more kids.

  On Sunday, Taryn and Vanessa spent the day doing a 60 mile ride on the Eastern Shore. Jodie had contacted them and they readily agreed, excited about the prospect of further exploring the bike trails of Maryland. Returning from their ride tired and mellow, Vanessa suggested Taryn shower while she put the leftovers in the oven. Taryn was quick, returning to the kitchen just fifteen minutes later to help Vanessa. Vanessa smiled, pulling her into her arms and giving her a chaste kiss. “Dinner will just take a few more minutes in the oven. We’re having lasagna; I hope you don’t mind. It just needs to be heated.”

  “Delicious,” Taryn said with a bit of innuendo.

  “Why don’t you get yourself a drink while I shower? I’ll just be a few minutes,” Vanessa said smiling.

  After Vanessa left the room, Taryn smiled and did as she was told. She grabbed the glasses from the cabinet, pouring two glasses of water and two glasses of wine.

  Vanessa returned to the kitchen to find the table set and food already on their plates. “Thank you. Geez, I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.”

  “I am too. Let’s dig in,” Taryn said, taking a sip of her wine while she watched Vanessa shovel a large piece of lasagna into her mouth.

  “Oh, this is so good. It’s just as good as last night.”

  Taryn reached across to wipe some sauce from Vanessa’s upper lip and licked it from her finger. They talked very little during dinner, both in comfortable silence after a long day of activities. When their plates were cleared away, Taryn suggested bed and Vanessa readily agreed.

  Cuddling into one another, as soon as their bodies hit the bed, both fell asleep within minutes of contact.

  ****

  Monday night Taryn arrived to Vanessa’s at 6:00 p.m. to find her dressed in snug fitting jeans and a t-shirt. “You look good.”

  “I hope you don’t mind. Since we aren’t going out, I decided causal was best. Of course, it also has a little to do with me not doing laundry in days.”

  Taryn laughed and nodded her head. She was dressed in a thigh length white and orange print dress that flowed around her curves just right. “I like,” Taryn said, running her hands down Vanessa’s strong arms.

  “I missed you today… a lot,” Vanessa said with desire in her eyes.

  “Hmm. Tell me all about it,” Taryn replied, feeling instantly turned on by the sight of Vanessa in a tight t-shirt.

  Vanessa pulled her into the apartment, then backed her to the couch until Taryn was forced to fall down. She kissed Taryn’s cheek and chin, then crested her lips across her collar bone, as she knelt between Taryn’s legs.

  Taryn sucked in a breath as Vanessa gripped her thighs and very slowly ran her thumbs under Taryn’s dress, sliding it upwards until Taryn lifted her hips from the couch.

  “You are so incredibly sexy,” Vanessa murmured as she kissed Taryn’s leg, ultimately reaching her sexy lace underwear. Taryn watched the entire show, wetness saturating her underwear and the anticipation causing her heart to speed.

  Vanessa hooked her fingers in Taryn’s underwear to pull them down, but Taryn stopped her. “Where is Victoria?” she asked, smiling at the fact that they had both easily gotten so carried away.

  Vanessa looked up into her sparkling hazel eyes with a grin. “She’s in Florida, called away on a case to testify. She’ll probably be gone for a couple of weeks.”

  Taryn nodded and laughed when Vanessa tickled her sides. “Lift woman. I have to have you, here and now.” Taryn let out a breath as Vanessa pulled her panties down her legs, scraping her short nails along her path.

  Without warning, Vanessa tugged her to the edge of the cushion and buried her face and tongue in Taryn’s wetness, not wasting any more time with foreplay.

  “Fuck yes,” Taryn breathed out as she gripped the cushions tight, causing her knuckles to turn white and her legs to shake. Vanessa licked from Taryn’s center to her clit, torturing her before sucking her clit into her mouth and flicking her tongue over the hard nub with an intensity that caused Taryn to hold her breath.

  Just seconds later Taryn was screaming out Vanessa’s name, as her orgasm seized her body. Vanessa held tightly to her legs when Taryn thrust her hips from the couch. She watched her beautiful lover whose eyes were closed tight, her head thrown back against the couch. Beautiful, Vanessa thought.

  Finally, Taryn’s body slumped back onto the couch and her fingers released their grip from the edge of the couch. Vanessa kissed her thighs, then moved up to her chest, between her breasts, finally pressing her lips to Taryn’s hungry mouth. “You’re so fucking sexy, I couldn’t help myself.”

  “You need to give me a minute to recover,” Taryn replied with a dazed expression. Vanessa laughed and kissed Taryn with such softness that it barely registered on Taryn’s lips. The words “I love you” almost slipped from Taryn’s mouth, but she bit her bottom lip instead.

  ****

  In between work, classes and basketball, Taryn and Vanessa were spending every possible minute together during the past month. After getting past a weekend long sex-fest, both began to settle into the relationship, content and extremely happy. They stayed with one another every night, but somehow managed to keep their hands off one another long enough to help Kelly with basketball, as well as hang out with friends.

  However, on Friday October 2nd everything changed. While Taryn was in a meeting with Summer and Emma, her cell phone in her office was going off with messages from Vanessa. When she returned to her office, she was upset that she had missed her call, hitting voicemail without thinking, just wanting to hear her voice before calling her back.

  Instantly, Taryn could tell that Vanessa was distraught, her voice wavered and then she finally spoke into the phone. “Victoria has been shot. They aren’t sure if she’s going to make it.” She paused for a moment, catching her breath between sobs. “I’m heading to Florida now,” she cried out before the message was cut off.

  “Oh my God,” Taryn said so loudly that it caused Eddie to peek his head into her office.

  “What is it sweetie? What’s wrong?” Eddie stood by her side waiting for Taryn to give him some details.

  “It’s Victoria, Vanessa’s sister has been shot and they don’t know if she’s gonna make it.” Taryn was obviously in shock from the message, not knowing what to do.

  “Oh my,” Eddie said taking her into his arms. “Let’s get you a ticket so that you can go be with her.”

  “I don’t know where she is. She’s already on a plane and she didn’t tell me where she’s heading,” Taryn said in a panic. She stared at the wall and tried to concentrate, to think about whether or not Vanessa had told her where Victoria was located for her trial.

  “Hey, calm down. It won’t do her any good to get in a panic. Let’s go talk to Summer and see what we can figure out.”

  Taryn nodded her head and followed Eddie to the open door of Summer’s office. “Summer,” Eddie said pulling Taryn behind him. “We have a problem.”

  Summer jumped up from her chair and was at Taryn’s side within seconds. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

  “It’s Victoria, she’s been shot and they’re not sure if she’s going to make it.”

  “Shit…. where’s Vanessa, you need to be with her.”

  “She’s already in the air. I missed her message telling me what happened. Oh my God Summer, she’ll be crushed if Victoria doesn’t make it. Victoria is all she has.”

  “Family, you mean,
because of course she has you. You need to be with her. Go home and pack, and I’ll book you a flight out.”

  “Wait, I don’t even know where she is or what hospital she’s at.” Taryn was getting frantic, and Summer took her hands and held them tight.

  “Let me call Myla. Maybe she’s reported in to work and I can get some more information.” Summer gave Taryn a tight lipped smile and turned back to her desk. She called Myla and was informed that Vanessa was in Tampa, at the General Hospital. Unfortunately, that was all of the information that Myla had to give.

  “Just give me a minute and we can figure something out. Myla and I want to go with you. She’s going to book the three of us tickets for tonight. We’re going to pick up Myla and then I’ll drop you by your place to get some clothes.” The last thing Summer wanted was Taryn driving herself.

  “Thank you,” Taryn mumbled.

  Summer grabbed her keys and wallet from her desk drawer, then took Taryn’s arm and led her to out to the car.

  ****

  Myla managed to get one way tickets to Tampa for an 8:42 p.m. flight. After checking in, they only had a few minutes to wait for their plane to undergo a change of attendants and pilot. Just two hours and forty minutes later, they were catching a cab to the hospital.

  Summer took charge as they entered the hospital, asking if a Victoria Bischoff had been admitted. The nurse looked her up and down and told her that if she wasn’t family, no one was getting in to see the patient. Summer nodded her head in understanding and asked if her sister Vanessa was in the hospital, they were there to support her and her sister.

  “Just give me a minute,” the nurse responded. She made a call and then shook her head. “You can’t see Victoria, but you can visit with Vanessa for just a couple of minutes. She’ll meet you upstairs at the elevator on the third floor. Wait here and someone will escort you.”

  Myla took Taryn’s hand and lead her over to the chairs by the elevator. The three of them waited just two minutes before two uniformed officers appeared and asked them to follow, with one in front and the other behind. Nervous as she was, Taryn only wanted to see Vanessa to make sure everything was okay.

  As the elevator dinged, the male officer stepped off first, holding up his hand to keep the others from moving. He looked left and right before allowing the women to follow him to a security room where Vanessa was sitting in a chair with her head in her hands. Her face was speckled with red dots and her eyes were puffy and bloodshot from crying.

  “Oh my God sweetie, is she okay?” Taryn said closing the distance between her and Vanessa.

  Vanessa stood from the chair and nodded her head, not saying a word. She held tight to Taryn for minutes before pulling back from her and running her hand across her cheek. “She’s in surgery. She was shot by a family member of the person she was testifying against. That’s the only information they’ve given me.”

  “Holy shit, that’s terrifying. So why the protective custody?”

  “They don’t have the shooter yet. And they think that she may still be in danger.” Vanessa put her hands to her face and thrust them downward in anger. “You shouldn’t be here, you’ll be in danger too if they come to find her.”

  Taryn pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheek. “Can we stay at a hotel and come back to see you tomorrow? I don’t want to leave you until I know that Victoria and you are okay.”

  “She’ll be okay. She was shot in the thigh and it grazed the femoral artery, but an officer on site was able to stop the bleeding. They rushed her to the hospital and straight into surgery. She should be out any minute.” Vanessa squeezed Taryn’s hand and put it to her chest. “I’m okay, I just need to stay here. It really would be best if you didn’t come back.” Vanessa didn’t miss the expression on Taryn’s face change from concern to hurt.

  Taryn nodded her head in understanding. “Will you call me to let me know that she’s okay, and that you’re both safe?” Taryn wanted to plead with her, but kept a straight line on her facial expression.

  “I’ll call when I’m allowed to. They aren’t letting any calls in or out.” Vanessa looked to Summer and Myla to thank them for making the trip as well. “You two are really great for making this trip. And you,” she said looking at Taryn. “I need you to not worry.”

  “Sweetie, we are here for you. I think we’ll stay for a couple of days in the area just in case you need us.” Myla gave her a quick hug and turned to Summer who nodded her head. “We don’t want to leave just yet.”

  “Okay, but I won’t be leaving the hospital,” Vanessa said with conviction.

  “We’ll bring you some extra clothes,” Taryn said not wanting to break the connection.

  “Thank you. I’d appreciate that a lot. You can drop them with the officers. I don’t think they’ll let you up here again. I insisted this time, but it’s for Victoria’s safety.”

  “And yours, right?” Taryn asked.

  “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” Vanessa waved her off. “I need to get back in there. I want to make sure I’m there when the doctors return.”

  It was obvious to all three of them that Vanessa was just barely holding it together. Her voice was wavering and her hands were shaky. “Please let us know as soon as everything has been cleared up,” Myla said with deep concern.

  “I will,” Vanessa said, looking up at the female officer.

  “It’s time for you to go now. Both of them are in good hands.” The officer smiled and indicated that it was time for them to leave.

  ****

  It was two weeks before the gunman was caught. By then Victoria was out of ICU and her recovery had already started. She was still in the hospital, but was going to need months of physical therapy to walk again. Taryn had only heard from Vanessa once – when they caught the gunman and had him in custody. Taryn tried on numerous occasions to get in contact with Vanessa, now that she was allowed to call, but Vanessa had either turned her phone off or just wasn’t answering her calls.

  Taryn, of course, was apprehensive, and even though she knew that Vanessa was with Victoria, helping her get settled, it didn’t do anything to calm her nerves. All sorts of thoughts crossed her mind, from Victoria staying in Florida, permanently, to Vanessa going off the grid and not ever getting in touch with her again. She wished she wasn’t so self-doubting, but Vanessa had done nothing to ease her insecurities.

  Knock, knock, knock! Taryn stood from the couch where she had been sitting for the past three hours, staring at the television that she hadn’t even bothered to turn on. She was still in her clothes from the previous night because she didn’t have the energy to change. Her sleep had been erratic, and she was lucky to get two continuous hours a night.

  “Taryn, let me in,” Summer called from the other side of the door. “If you don’t answer I’m going to break the door down.”

  Taryn shook her head and wondered if Summer was serious. Instead of waiting to find out, she opened the door with a grin. “I’m okay. I promise.”

  “You look okay. Are you still wearing the clothes from yesterday?” Summer asked while shaking her head.

  Taryn looked down at herself and laughed. “Yes, I guess so.”

  “I’m worried about you.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t say you’re sorry, just get out of this funk. Vanessa loves you and she’ll be back when she’s confident Victoria is okay.”

  “I don’t know. She hasn’t answered my calls or made an effort to call me. She’s not in danger anymore, I don’t understand. It’s playing on my insecurities and I can’t take it.” Before Summer could interject, Taryn continued, “We haven’t said I love you and I just know that if Victoria wants to move again, she might move with her. What if she stays in Florida?”

  “Her job is here, and I’m sure that Vanessa wouldn’t just move away.”

  “I don’t know anymore.”

  Summer pulled her into a hug and then shoved her toward her bedroom. “Go shower, we’re goi
ng out.”

  “Do I have to?”

  “Yes, Myla is waiting in the car. I’m going to go get her and we’re going to clean up your apartment while you take a shower. You stink.”

  “I do not,” Taryn said with furrowed eyebrows.

  “Okay, maybe you don’t stink, but you do need to change. Go shower. We’re going out to lunch.”

  Taryn looked at the door and then down the hall towards her bedroom. Summer wasn’t sure what she was going to do, but she had a backup plan to get her out of the apartment. When Taryn turned and left her standing there without a word, she quickly texted Myla to come up because Taryn needed a shower.

  They didn’t have to wait long, Taryn only took ten minutes to shower and get dressed. Her hair was pulled back into a messy bun, and even though she put no effort into her clothes, she still looked good.

  Myla pulled her into a hug and told her that she looked great. “We have plans, let’s get going.”

  “Where are we going?” Taryn asked. She knew she needed to get out of the house and really appreciated their efforts.

  “Do you care?” Summer asked.

  “Not really. Thank you,” she said with a grin.

  “You know she’s going to come back… don’t you?” Myla asked with concern.

  “I guess, but I certainly have my doubts. I understand though. Her sister needs her more than I do.” Taryn nodded her head to herself as if agreeing with the words she had just spoken. She wasn’t sure where she was getting her strength. Maybe she was just maturing, or growing thicker skin. Either way, she still understood.

  They met Kelly, Eddie and Emma at Firefly for dinner, and then managed to talk Taryn into dancing at the club afterwards. When they arrived, there was a line at the door, and Taryn thought about how the last time she had been there, she and Victoria had danced. “Fuck,” she said to no one but herself, though Summer didn’t miss a beat.

  “You okay, what’s wrong?” she asked in a low voice in order not to draw attention.

  “I just remembered that the last time I was here I kissed Victoria. God, I really hope she is okay. I feel horrible that I can’t be down there with Vanessa to give her support. I worry that she’s pushing me away.”