More Than Lies (41 page)

When I look in my mirror, I see Shawn pull out of line and then he must have pressed the throttle because his speed increases. Seconds later he passes me and then slams on his brake. That causes me to do the same, but I have to cut my wheeler first so I don’t run into the back of him.

This isn’t going to be good.

I put the gearshift into park and then kill the engine. Shawn’s already off his bike and is removing his helmet, then he starts walking this way.

“Out. Both of you get the fuck out of the machine.” I roll my eyes, but do as he says. There isn’t any sense in making this situation any worse.

“What’s your problem, man?” Apparently Preston doesn’t feel the same way.

“Just unbuckle and get out.” I bite each word out as they exit my mouth.

“You’re my fucking problem.” I unbuckle, then open the door and step out onto the ground. “You aren’t going to talk to her the way you have been doing for hours. I’m not putting up with that shit and I’m not letting her deal with it either.”

Preston turns his head, looking at me as if surprised.

“My helmet has a communication device inside it.” I explain.

“You see that trail.” Shawn points off to the side of the trail. There is a small entrance to a trail that isn’t used often in the direction of where his finger is pointing. “Get on my four-wheeler. Take that trail until it forks then take the right folk. It’ll take you straight to the house. You’re done here.” Shawn starts to walk toward the driver’s side of my Maverick.

“I think Taralynn and I need to head back.” Preston declares. I don’t think so.

“That’s not going to happen and one last thing.” Shawn looks at Preston with cold eyes. “Break anything on my machine and I’ll break something on you. Get in, Tara.”

Preston actually does not say another word. He gets on Shawn’s four-wheeler and leaves. I’m happy for once since leaving the house this morning.

When Shawn gets into my side-by-side, he puts his helmet back on. I buckle up the same time he does. Neither of us speaks; instead we ride for next seven hours. Not straight, non-stop riding. We stop, rest, replenish with snacks and hydration. We take bathroom breaks. The guys pee in the woods. I go up to the lodge area and use their facilities to do my business. We hang out with other riders.

The rest of the day is nothing but fun. By time we are heading back at dusk, I’m caked in mud, I’m drenched in sweat and have dirt everywhere including inside my mouth.

Shawn speeds through the front yard, passing Mason on his dirk bike and then comes to a stop along the tree line where we park our dirty machines. We’ll need to hose them down before showering so they’ll be ready to ride come tomorrow morning. We are only riding two days. Sunday night, we will head back home.

When he parks, I unbuckle and get out of the machine. Once I’m out, my gloves come off followed by my goggles and helmet last. I lay them on top of my side-by-side and run my hands through my matted hair. It’s a tangled mess, but it’s to be expected.

Rounding the machine, I walk toward Shawn.

“Thanks.”

He removes his own helmet and does the same as I did by discarding it on top of the machine.

“For what?” His dirty face looks confused.

“For today. For making him leave and then taking me riding.” I love it when Shawn’s drives my Maverick. He hammers on it and it’s like enjoying a roller coaster ride. I had fun. For the first time in a while, I was happy today. Really happy and I finally did get to free my mind for a little while.

“You’re welcome, but you don’t have to thank me.” He smiles. I want to get closer. I want to wrap my arms around him and I’m pretty sure I can see it in the way he’s looking back at me that he wants the same thing. That warms me on the inside.

“Taralynn.” My name is said with animosity. It’s Preston’s voice. I turn and he’s stalking toward me. Does he hate me now? Oh, I’m so broken…not. “We’re leaving tonight.” He looks at me from head to toe. I’m almost certain there is disgust starting back at me. “Can you go clean up so we can get out of here?”

I’m not able to utter a word. One, I’m all but taken back. Who the hell does he think he is? He can’t tell me what to do. I don’t think so, buddy and two, Shawn steps in front of me, blocking my path to Preston.

“She isn’t going anywhere with you. She isn’t leaving this house until tomorrow night. But you, you can pack your shit and get the fuck lost.”

I step to Shawn’s side, but his arm shoots out catching me before his hand wraps around my side and keeping me in place. Preston glances at Shawn’s hand then up to my eyes. He ignores Shawn.

Shawn drops his hand, but I stay, standing at his side.

“I had a conversation with your father. I explained what was going on here and he asked me to bring you home immediately. That’s what I intend to do. We are leaving.”

“I told you she isn’t going anywhere.” Shawn crosses his arms against his chest. He’s pissed.

“This is between Taralynn and me. Please stay out of it.” Then Preston does something stupid. He grabs my wrist and pulls me toward him.

Shawn springs forward, with one hand he stops me by placing his palm across my chest. With his other, he pushes against Preston’s chest, knocking him backwards and freeing my wrist from his grip.

“No motherfucker, this is about to be between you and me if you touch my girl ever again.”

“Excuse me?”

“Did I fucking stutter? What wasn’t clear?” He grabs me by the hip with his hand, pulling me into his front as his other hand wraps protectively around the top of my chest. “She’s mine. She was never yours. You never had a chance and you never will while I exist.” My adrenaline is kicking up with every word that pours out of his mouth. “Understand this and you can take it back to Jacob for all I care. She’s my girlfriend and if you ever lay a hand on her, I’ll rip you apart.”

“You’re dating this nobody? Seriously?” Oh he did not.

“You’re the nobody, asshole, now leave.” Preston glances between Shawn and me a couple of times before turning and going straight to his car. He leaves without any other incidences and I’m glad.

After he leaves I start looking around, everyone is standing out either on the porch or in the yard and all eyes are on us. It’s then that I realize what Shawn told Preston. He said I was his. Not only that but that I’m his girlfriend and he said it in front of everyone. My stomach is nothing but butterflies right now. I cannot believe what I heard with my own ears.

“Now that I’ve made that little scene out here in front of everybody, you are my girlfriend, right?”

“Maybe if you ask me.” I so totally am.

“Tara, will you be my girlfriend?”

“Sure. Why not.” I shrug my shoulders.

“Oh, I’m going to make your ass so red tonight for that.”

“Promise?” He leans down, I turn my face toward him and when I do, he kisses my dirty disgusting mouth. His is equally as dirty, but I don’t care that he tastes like dirt. It tastes pretty darn good right now.

My phone buzzes from inside my pocket for about the tenth time. I’m exaggerating, but she’s called me a lot today. Taking it out to look at the screen, I confirm I was right. I might as well get this over with, any longer and she’ll suspect something is wrong. It’s gotta beat staring at myself in this mirror while talking to myself any longer.

“Hey, mom.” I turn around, propping my ass against the bathroom sink to lean my weight against it.

“Hey, baby, happy birthday.” Her voice has a calming effect on me. It always has, but then again she’s my mom so that’s probably why. I’m sure other kid’s moms have the same affect on them. “Why haven’t you answered your phone today? I’ve been calling since before noon.”

It’s now a little after eight at night on a Friday.

“Sorry. Been busy with back-to-back clients.” It’s not a lie, but I feel like it is. I’ve had time to call her a few times in-between.

“Shawn Douglas.” That’s all she has to say to tell me she doesn’t believe my bullshit. “Tell me what’s really bothering you. And do not say, nothing. I can hear it in your voice.”

Ah hell.

“I’m fine, mom, just tired. It’s been a long day and Tara wants to go out to celebrate my damn birthday tonight.” I run my free hand through my hair. I’m not only going to break one girl’s heart tonight, I’m going to break two. When my mother learned Tara and I started seeing each other a little over two months ago, she was thrilled; beyond thrilled even. She loves Tara and I know she’s going to murder me after tonight. And I won’t blame her. Twenty-two years of life and death by one’s mother is what I have to look forward to.

“That’s what you’re going with? Okay, fine, Shawn. I’ll let this go since it’s my baby’s birthday. Just remember, Sunday at our house is mandatory. I’m baking you a cake, so I know I can expect you, right?”

“Yes, mom, I’ll be there.” If I’m still breathing and if I’m still welcome there.

“Love you. See you, then.” Damn that sweet motherly voice. It makes me want to crack and tell her everything. A smart man probably would have asked his mother for advice. I’m not and I can’t. There is no way in hell she would understand or be supportive in what I’m about to do.

“Love you too, mom. Bye.”

I end the call and slip the phone back into my pocket. Turning around, I look at myself again.

You’re a stupid motherfucker. I hope you know that.

I probably am, but it’s end my relationship now, or do something really stupid and she gets hurt even worse. As much as I dislike the asshole, Jared is right, I won’t last through the long haul. I’m not relationship material. I’ll fuck up and then possibly lose Tara forever. I’ll figure out a way to deal with not waking up next to her every morning as long as she’s still in my life.

My mind flips to last week, when I overheard him and Tara speaking.

“Here you go, Shawn. Sorry for the wait, it’s busier tonight than usual.” Melanie hands me a beer from behind the bar.

“Thanks, Mel. It’s all right.” Mac’s pub has been getting more and more foot traffic here lately. I guess that’s good for Mac, but I prefer the place when you can relax with friends and enjoy a couple of beers after work. That’s not tonight.

Taking a swig, I push off the bar and turn looking for Tara. When I don’t see my girlfriend I figure she must be in the bathroom so I head in that direction. I’d soon just rather leave and go home. I can think of other ways to relax and they all involve me between Tara’s legs.

Before I reach the back, voices catch my attention. I notice the door to the storage room is ajar when I’m about to pass it. That’s when I realize one of the voices belong to Tara’s. I stop, and then step closer. Peering in the dark room, I see Jared with his arm braced above her.

“What do I have to do to get through to you?” His voice is raised. He sounds somewhat angry. “This is Shawn Braden we’re talking about.” When I hear my name, my jaw locks. What the fuck is he doing talking to her at all, let alone about me?

“Stay out of it, Jared.”

“No, baby, I won’t.” He really should not call my girlfriend, baby. He already pissed me off just from standing that close to her. Now he goes and does that. I haven’t fought in years, tonight might end that streak. “Shawn doesn’t love you. I love you. He’ll never love you like I do, Taralynn. You deserve more than he’ll ever give you.”

I’m pretty certain getting stabbed with a knife would have been less painful that hearing another man tells Tara he loves her. Sure, I saw it written a while back in a text message, but it’s much different than hearing it said. It makes it real. Too real.

“You don’t know that.” Her voice cracks. “Stop doing this.”

“No. You belong with me. I need you to see that.” Tara looks down, but Jared pulls her chin up so she faces him again. “He’s going to tire of the relationship, Taralynn. I’m surprised he’s lasted this long without different pussy, but who knows, maybe he’s fucking on the side, ever think of that?”

That son-of-a-bitch.

“He’s not. He’s with me every night, asshole.”

“I’m not the asshole, here. He is for stringing you along. He. Doesn’t. Love. You.”

“I LOVE HIM.” Her declaration is a yell. It hits me like a ton a bricks causing me to stumble backwards a couple of steps as all the air leaves my lungs.

Seeing the back door, the exit that takes you to the back parking lot, I leap in that direction and fall outside. My ass hits gravel and I sit there. I don’t know how long, but I sit there and all I hear playing on repeat is Tara telling him she loves me.

Closing my eyes and shaking my head, I try to get the memory to leave me. It’s no use. The more I try to forget what I heard, the more I dwell on it.

She just thinks she loves me. She doesn’t really. We haven’t been dating but a couple of months. Love should be nowhere in the equation of us at this point.

I can’t hide in here any longer. My last client should be here by now.

I open the door, exit and head back toward the front. When I round the corner into the open space that is the tattooing area, I see Tara standing against the front desk. She’s talking to Natalie and her friend, Samantha. Sam is on the other side of the counter. The three of them look to be in a conversation together.