“Don’t use that uppity tone with me,” she snapped. “I’m not Dax, Grace, or some other bitch trying to get in your pants. You lost your wife. It sucks. It sucks big time. Can I say I know how you feel?” T.A. lowered her voice, when his face turned at her sharp words showing the agony she didn’t think he had shown his children. “No, I don’t. Do I feel bad for you? Yes, I do. I could sit here and say how sorry I am, but I think you’ve had all the sympathy you can stomach. The one thing I do know is that, dude, she’s not coming back, and as much as it hurts, it’s not going to change that fact. You’re special, but you’re not that special that you can turn back time either. You might be an actor, but you can’t rewrite the script of your life to get the ending you want. It’s real fucking life, and sometimes it sucks, and then there are other times when it doesn’t. Next year, it might suck a little less or not. That’s on you. That’s the script you can write.”
She waited for him to make another snarky comment. Instead, he stared off into space as if he was taking in her words.
T.A. noticed he was starting to shiver, so she scooted closer to him and put an arm around his broad shoulders, trying to share her warmth.
When his head jerked toward her, she gave him a gentle smile. “I’m not trying to be frisky. You just look cold.”
“I am cold.”
At his words, she took his hand and stood up, pulling him up to his feet.
“You’re staying at Viper’s house, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Come on. I’ll walk with you.”
Releasing his hand, she hooked her arm around his. “I’m not flirting. I just don’t want to fall.”
As she held on to him, they started walking down the path that led to the parking lot.
“Damn, we’re both going to be sick for staying out here so long.” Nervously, she started talking to fill the silence. “Killyama had to stay the night in the hospital. I hope you take the time to go by there before you leave tomorrow. She’s a big of fan of yours,” she rattled off as they walked across the parking lot, making their way toward the path that would take them to Viper’s house.
“I was surprised when Sex Piston told me you were staying with Viper and Winter. He doesn’t let anyone stay at his house. He’s not as standoffish as Shade, but he’s a close second. By the way, if he mentions that we’re crazy as fuck, ignore him. My friends and I haven’t made the best impressions. We might have kicked their asses a time or two. It might have been three, but I’m usually a little drunk when we get into it with them, so I’m not sure. I’ll have to ask Fat Louise. Sex Piston would say three, but Fat Louise would tell the truth. Sex Piston has to one-up everyone; it’s kind of annoying, but we all put up with it because she’d kick our asses if we didn’t.”
She stopped talking when they reached Viper’s door. Releasing his arm, she turned to face him.
“Well, I guess we’re here. It was nice seeing you again.” Putting out a cold hand, she waited for him to shake it good-bye.
Dalton took her hand in his. “Thank you, T.A.”
“It’s not a big deal. I needed the walk.”
“I don’t mean that. I meant not sugarcoating telling me about how I’ve been behaving.”
“Anytime.” Flustered, she tucked a part of her hair behind her ear when he released her hand. “Have a good trip back to St. Louis.”
His lips curled in a smile. “I will. Thank you.”
T.A. nodded, then turned away and started back toward the path, hearing Dalton go inside to Viper’s home. Carefully watching her steps so she wouldn’t fall, she was going in the back door of the Last Riders’ kitchen when she passed Dax as he was coming out.
“Have you…”
T.A. knew what he was going to say before he got it out. “You should chill out, dude. Your dad decided to call it a night and went to Viper’s.”
At the relief in his face, she felt bad for him. Dalton wasn’t the only one who was grieving.
“Give him some time and space, Dax. Not everyone has to have someone to grieve with. Sometimes they have their own way of coping.”
Dax ran a hand through his hair. “What if I’m the one who needs him?”
“Keeping your dad chained to your hip isn’t going to make you miss your mom any less. Do you need to know where Grace is every five seconds?”
Dax’s troubled face relaxed. “No.”
“Then why do you expect your dad to hold your hand? He doesn’t need you holding his. Dalton doesn’t strike me as a man who would ignore you if you needed him. Am I wrong?”