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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 geta 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 year, we can live off campus you know.”
“Before I beg my Nanna to spend this money and send this in, tell me truthfully. You really gonna pick Arkansas?”
“Of course, those other coaches are gonna keep sniffing. The more I get asking, the bigger my draft prospect will be.”
“But that’s years away.”
“And still…” He tossed the football up in the sky then caught it with one hand. “We had to move here because we lost everything in Katrina. At least we had a place to go, but we came as a family. Now you’re part of that family, Sarah.” He straddled the picnic bench she was sitting, her backside pressing to his thigh. “When we ran I thought I was going to die. Watching the water rise with only our feet to carry us.” He brushed back her long hair and leaned in for a gentle kiss. “I prayed for an angel and I was sent you.”
“Angel huh?” she said as she signed the last line of her application.
“I know you don’t want to be far from your Nanna. That’s why I have no problem staying here. Razorbacks are ready for me as a quarterback.”
Everything wassimple in his mind. Win the conference, work his way to state, win it, then graduate early, so he could start in the Spring term. She would stay behind, but he’d come back for prom and kiss her at graduation before she moved to Fayetteville too. Everything would have her away from New Bend before the summer heat hit.
A card stuck out from under the laptop and she tugged to see Doc’s number. Sending her a quick text, she requested a session. Topaz had pushed so many men aside over the years. Completely blocking her own happiness, even now, nerves ate at her body and psyche and she knew she would have to come to terms with what had been, so she could have what is. The love being offered by a man who saw past her pain and found the sliver of her heart that was still alive.
When her phone buzzed, she glanced down to see a message from Doc.I have time at one, so glad to hear from you again.
* * *
“I don’t needyour pity I need your help to take these assholes down once and for all. I worry about the kids that aren’t blue eyed and blonde haired around here. Old Glen and Stimpy were racist and they wanted to do me damage. But they are part of something more, and taking Topaz and me was sending our club a message.”
His head pounded as he pushed away from the table. He had voting rights, being and enforcer and all, but telling his tale in church only made Onyx need the freedom to ride.
“I need air.” Leaving the meeting room, he cut through the clubhouse and stepped on the porch.
