“I could drive it,” Topaz said then quickly caught the gaff. “Never mind. Why don’t you just have Baldy load it up on the flatbed and bring it out, that way they can put his shower chair in the cab of his truck.”
“That’s why we all need Ol’ Ladies, they’re smarter than us.” Red stood, stripping off his gloves and then turned to Topaz. “It’s simple wound care, give it a few hours. When you can let it air out. Later, I want a full debrief from you two on what happened.”
“K,” Topaz said with a nod as she gathered a few items of clothes, including Onyx’s. “I’m gonna wash what we have and get some food for us.”
When she left, Red turned to him. “She really yours?”
“Yeah, God help me, I think I love that woman.”
“Fuck man, we’re gonna be a sorry group of bikers, all loved up.”
“And having babies,” he said running his hand over his face.
“It wasn’t just when you got home, was it?” Red asked.
Onyx shook his head.
“I wouldn’t worry too much.”
Onyx stared at him. “Is that your nice way of saying—”
“I’m not saying anything,” Red said as he stepped out of the room, but stood in the doorway. “Doctor- patient… you know the drill.”
Onyx nodded. “She is a good woman though, isn’t she?” It wasn’t really a question, more a statement of a fact.
“They don’t tend to stay here if they aren’t.”
14
Topaz woke up and stretched. She hadn’t been this sore in a long time. For two days and even two more glorious nights, she and Onyx had made love so many times, she lost count. Learning how the sleeve worked on his leg once she determined he had enough of a scab to make it safe to reapply it. The limited movement was painful to watch because he felt like less, but in her eyes, every move he made showed his strength.
Wanted or not, she had to go back to work today, just as a manager not dancing. Dances were for Onyx now and others once their relationship was one fully. Right now, they were discovering each other both in and out of bed. He preferred listening to music, over watching movies or TV. She’d grown up in a town closer to Turnabout Creek than LA, so they shared mutual stories from school finding more similarities than differences. Getting up, she quickly picked out a pair of jeans, t-shirt with the restaurant’s logo on it and a pair of socks. She got dressed then left her room.
Walking into the large dining room of the clubhouse, she decided to skip breakfast and all the questions to a quiet morning at her job. Getting into her car, she made the trip into town toward the restaurant. She remembered the night Onyx and she had been taken it was bittersweet.
If it hadn’t been for that fateful day, would they have a relationship at all? Or would they still be at odds, her fear trumping any chance at love? She was pleased how well they were getting along. The sex was excellent and when she fell into his eyes, the world went away. A future so simple with a path laid forth like petals from a rose. And then she’d close her eyes and the nightmares would start and she didn’t know if she could let the past go?
Inside the restaurant, several girls were already at work. They were using the stage to practice their routines. Zoe, Tempest, and Free. They stopped doing their dances, slid off the stage and rushed to her.
“Topaz what happened?” Free asked pulling her into a big hug. “I thought I’d get to ask Onyx, but he’s been staying with you? Are you sure you’re safe?”
“Onyx and I were taken by those limp dicks at ACT UP. A couple of men tied us up and stuffed us in a cabin where we escaped and now were home. That’s it.” Topaz took a step back.
“That’s serious. What aren’t you telling us?” Free grasped her hand.
Topaz didn’t want to tell anymore to these girls. She was tired of thinking about it and had avoided anyone she could while getting food at the clubhouse. Giving excuses like she wanted it hot when she got it upstairs, so she needed to move on. Onyx was the one that got the brunt of what happened to them. He should be the one to tell them if he wanted his business known. At some point, she might be called to church to explain her side, but what did she know that he didn’t? Very little. Besides, she spent most of in the fetal position trying to block out the cries for help.
“I really just want to get to work. Why don’t you all go and practice and do what you’re good at.” She walked to the office leaving the girls standing and staring after her.
Sitting down behind the desk, she tried to concentrate on anything, but what happened to them. Leaning back, she thought back to when she last dreamed of anything past the next moment. To Byron and dreaming.
“You can get a degree in hopscotch for all I care,” Byron said as she filled out the paperwork for the University of Arkansas. His fingers weaving with her left hand so her right was free to keep writing. “Because three years, four max I declare for the draft and we’re set for life.”
“Hmmm,” Sarah mused, the end of her pen bouncing on cheek. “Hopscotch huh? How about biochemistry.”
“Really?” He smiled and his face lit up the way it did when she amused him. “Gonna be a doctor?”
“No, but they don’t have hopscotch as a major,” she teased as her finger trailed down the list of programs. “What about hospitality management? Then I can be the hostess with the mostess.”
“You’ll be able to hire people, but sure go for that,” he said uncurling from her and picking up his football. “After freshman
