Chapter 9

TAYLA

“He can’t afford to bring on more people,” I relayed to Logan as we pulled up to the house.

“It’s alright. We’ll find you something soon,” Logan reassured, giving my hand a comforting squeeze.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and hopped out of his sleek black truck.

“Thanks for the ride, Logan,” I said.

“Anytime. You got that spare key I gave you?”

“Yep. Do you need your phone back?”

He shook his head, and I closed the truck door behind me.

As he drove back into town, I unlocked the door and stepped into the quiet house.

I made my way upstairs to my room.

I kicked off my ballet flats and shrugged off my denim jacket.

I unzipped my black knee-length skirt, letting it pool at my feet, and unbuttoned my white blouse.

I changed into some comfy grey leggings and a white tank top before heading down to the kitchen.

I brewed some lemon tea and took it out to the back garden.

I settled on a bench, sipping my hot drink.

The sun was shining brightly overhead, and the distant cries of seagulls filled the air.

The sound of the surf was soothing, and I closed my eyes, letting the breeze wash over me.

Maybe a walk on the beach would be nice...

No!

I might run into Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome again.

A part of me was disappointed, but I reminded myself that I had hit him with a rock. He probably wouldn’t be thrilled to see me.

Maybe I had scared him off?

I smiled to myself and took another sip of my tea.

After about an hour, I went back inside and picked up the morning paper, flipping to the job listings.

I scanned the ads and found one for a cleaning job four times a week with decent pay.

It would cover my share of the rent and leave me with enough to live on.

There was a cell number to call for an interview. I picked up Logan’s phone, dialed the number, and held it to my ear.

“Hello?” a man’s voice answered.

“Hi. I’m calling about the cleaning job I saw in the paper?”

“Great. Can you come in for an interview tomorrow morning?”

“Absolutely. Can I get the address?”

I grabbed a scrap of paper and a blue pen.

“It’s 224 Greydale Drive. How about ten o’clock?”

“That works for me,” I said.

“Can I get your name?”

“Sure. It’s Tayla. And who should I ask for?”

“When you get to the gate, ask for Hayden. See you then.”

I ended the call and shrugged.

It wasn’t glamorous, but it would keep a roof over my head and food in my stomach. Plus, it would give me some independence.

I couldn’t wait to tell Jess and Logan if I got the job.

I pocketed the scrap of paper and headed into the living room.

I turned on the TV and waited for Jess to get home from work.

She had told me she was working a nine-to-three shift.

Around three fifteen, Jess came home looking worn out.

I jumped up and made her a coffee, which she accepted gratefully.

“It was a crazy shift. And I found out Tony fired John, so now we’re short-staffed.”

“He told me he couldn’t afford to hire anyone else,” I said.

She rolled her eyes.

“I don’t know if he’s just being cheap, but fuck, lunchtime is a nightmare,” she complained.

I felt bad for her.

“How about I make dinner tonight?” I offered.

“Really?” she asked.

“Yeah. How about a cottage pie?”

“Wait a second. You can cook, you can dance, and you’re gorgeous? Where have you been all my life?” she teased.

I laughed and started gathering the ingredients for dinner.

“My dad was a chef,” I explained.

“Logan never mentioned that,” she said, surprised.

“I don’t talk about him. He left me and my mom to start a new family with a woman barely older than me.”

Jess made a face.

“So your mom is Logan’s mom’s sister?”

I nodded and started peeling potatoes.

“Oh, I have an interview tomorrow for a cleaning job,” I mentioned.

“That was fast. Good for you,” she said, smiling.

She finished her coffee and went to the fridge.

She pulled out a chilled bottle of white wine and grabbed two glasses from a cupboard.

I smiled as she poured us both a drink.

“To new beginnings,” I toasted.

“Fuck yeah!”

I watched her down half her glass and giggled.

She grabbed her phone and a speaker, and soon Bad Boy was blasting through the kitchen.

By the time Logan got home from work, the cottage pie was in the oven and vegetables were steaming on the stove.

He also walked in on two slightly tipsy girls starting their second bottle of wine, dancing around the kitchen.

He stopped the music on Jess’s phone and we both looked at him.

“Something smells amazing,” he said, grinning.

“Tayla made cottage pie. And why didn’t you tell me her dad was a chef!” Jess exclaimed.

“Like I’d waste my breath on that jerk,” he muttered.

Logan grabbed a beer from the fridge and Jess hit play on the music again. We danced as we served dinner.

I noticed Logan watching me as I moved. I felt a bit self-conscious, so I stopped dancing and sat down to eat.

After dinner, Logan did the dishes while Jess and I finished our wine.

“Let’s take our drinks and go for a walk on the beach?” Jess suggested.

Logan glanced at her.

“We’ll stay on this end,” Jess assured him, grabbing her drink.

She also grabbed her phone and the speaker, and I followed her out to the back garden with my wine.

I held up the fence panel for Jess to duck under, then she held it for me.

We walked to the top of the grassy bank, but before we descended to the sand, I grabbed her arm.

“Is the beach empty?” I asked.

I wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea of running into the guy I'd smacked with a rock, and I didn't want Jess to find out I'd snuck out.

She grinned, catching my drift, and took a quick look around.

“There are a few couples strolling by, but no one you need to worry about,” she assured me.

I followed her over the dune and onto the sandy beach.

She plopped down on the dry sand, sipping her wine.

I settled next to her, my gaze fixed on the ocean.

My eyes wandered towards Raffiel beach, and I felt a wave of relief seeing no one, especially no jeeps, heading our way.

Had I scared him off?

I sure hope not, I thought to myself.

“What do you want in life?” Jess asked out of the blue.

I shrugged, unsure.

“Funny enough, I had a plan about a month ago, but that’s all changed now.”

I took a hefty swig of my wine.

“What happened?” she probed.

“I met a guy who promised me the world, then cheated on me. I caught him, and when I tried to leave, he...he...hit me,” I confessed.

“Is that where the bruise on your back came from?”

I nodded, feeling the sting of tears in my eyes.

“Actually, it’s one of many. He swore he’d never hit me again, and like an idiot, I believed him. But it only got worse. I had to get my mom to help me escape. I stayed with her for a bit, but he wouldn't stop stalking me, wouldn't stop calling.”

“Is that why you moved all the way out here?”

I nodded again, the tears finally spilling over.

Jess wrapped her arm around me, pulling me into her shoulder as I let out all the tears I'd been holding back.

“It’s okay. Logan and I will take care of you. You’re better off without that fucker,” Jess comforted me.

Logan came out with a beer and sat next to Jess.

He noticed my tears and furrowed his brow.

“You okay?” he asked.

Jess gave me a reassuring squeeze, and I sat up.

“She’s fine,” Jess answered for me.

I wiped my face with the back of my hand and stared out at the sea.

Jess was right.

I would be fine because I was going to make damn sure of it.

I had been given a chance to start fresh here, and I was going to seize it with both hands.

The three of us sat there, sipping our drinks and watching the sun set before we called it a night.