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Her fluency was new, at least to me. As she walked the asshole off the stage to waiting security, it really struck me right in the gut that she’d learned an entire language while we’d been apart. Tali had literally rewired her brain, learned to think and process information differently in my absence.
What I felt for her, what I was beginning to feel for her…it wasn’t only based on our past and who we used to be. No, I looked at this powerful woman who strode across the stage like she owned it, who got rid of unwanted reporters with a smile on her face, and my heart started pounding in my chest. Not for a memory, not for our shared history, but for a living, breathing woman.
Hector chuckled. “I knew boss lady would eat that guy for breakfast and convince him he’d ordered it.”
My eyes never left Tali. “She does have a way, doesn’t she?”
He slapped me on the back. “Yep. Guess the show’s over. Too bad she didn’t dig those heels into that guy’s foot. I’d have paid to see that.”
Yeah, I probably would have too.
Hector wandered away to finish getting set up while Tali returned to stand by Nick again, checking in with him.
“Thanks, Tali. Don’t know what I’d do without you,” Nick said.
She scoffed. “You’d be talking to an annoying reporter without boundaries. Or at least cursing him out and earning yourself a nice Italian headline.”
Nick nodded, setting his guitar in his stand. “Ah, that’s right. That was pretty much my life before you.”
“You’ve gotten yourself into plenty of trouble since I started managing you, Nicky.”
He spread his arms as he slowly backed away, giving her a shit-eating grin. “You know you love it.”
She laughed. “Go drink your tea!”
When he was gone, she took out her phone, swiping the screen and quickly typing with her thumbs. I took out my phone too, and used her phone number for the first time since I stole it.
Me:Can we talk?
Her head jerked in my direction. We were maybe ten feet apart, but she made no move to speak to me. Instead, she typed on her phone.
Tali:No, I think I’m good.
Me:I’m not good. I want to talk to you.
Her eyes met mine after she read my message, and she shook her head.
Tali:I’m busy, Jude.
Me:Me too. Later? After the show? Give me five minutes.
Tali:I’ll think about it.
Me:Her husband and sleeping son were waiting in the car.
She turned away, shoulders tight and raised.
Tali:I’m not sure that matters. I’ll text later if I’m up for talking.
She strode away from me, disappearing behind the curtains without another glance.
I wasn’t evena little surprised Tali left the venue without a word. I hadn’t really expected her to want to talk. I had no leg to stand on, no wiggle room in whatever we were doing.
This wasn’t the end. At least not for me. We were working, in the middle of a tour, and I wasn’t going to harass her or anything, but I also wasn’t letting this go.
I let go too easily before.
I let go of far too many things. Let shit slide because it was easier that way.
