Page 48 of One Good Reason

Just as I was finishing up, Talitha was sauntering out of the room. The robe hanging off her shoulder earlier was now open displaying the black and pink silk Victoria Secret set of pajamas. On her face was some type of white mask, and if I had to guess it was to help with the puffiness.

“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” I joked with her.

“I’m not in the mood, Law,” she giggled. “I figured I needed to be in pristine condition if you’re planning on pimping me out to your rich friends.”

“You’re going to hold that over my head I see.”

“Oh honey.” Ducking her chin, Talitha batted her eyelashes. “You have no idea how long.”

“Whatever.”

Pouring myself and her a glass of orange juice, I sat at the table and picked up the newspaper that was delivered with the food.

“For it to be a hotel, this food is actually pretty good,” Talitha noted.

Pulling the newspaper down from my face, I looked over at her. She was currently holding up a piece of bacon.

“Surely the bacon isn’t that interesting.”

“It’s not,” she laughed. “It tastes like beef bacon but from the looks of it, I would have to say it’s pork.”

“It’s neither,” I confirmed. “I ordered turkey bacon.”

“You’re fucking with me right.” She frowned.

Grabbing the white mug with the hotel logo stamped on it, I brought it up to my mouth and took a sip of the piping hot coffee. “Maybe.” I shrugged.

“God, you are so facetious.”

“I’ll be anything you want me to be as long as you’re smiling.”

Dropping the bacon on the plate, Talitha slumped her shoulders. “About that…”

“No need. It happened and this is where we are. I don’t want you to feel like you have to be on guard or walk on eggshells around me. You’re human and unbeknownst to the rest of the world, you hurt just like everyone else.”

“I know I do,” she clarified.

“Then don’t act like it’s a crime to show those emotions. You don’t have to be guarded with me, Talitha. You aren’t the only person in the world who has issues that they’re trying to work through.”

“Sure.” She snorted. “I’m sure your issues are vastly different than mine.”

“They might not be thesamehowever, I have issues as well. I’m just good at hiding them.”

“What kind of issues, Law?” she queried. “Because from where I’m sitting, I wouldloveto have rich people problems. At least I could go fuck off some money when I get in moods like this.”

“Money isn’t everything, you know.”

“Says the man who has a lot of it.”

Folding the paper, I placed it on the table and intertwined my fingers. We were back on the money thing and yeah, she may have been joking but it was only so many jokes I was willing to tolerate. “My wealth makes you feel a way?” I asked because she always referred to it.

“No Law, it doesn’t,” she sighed. “It could be intimidating but it doesn’t make me feel a way.”

“Well in case you haven’t noticed, it makes me uncomfortable when you mention it. I’ve worked my ass off to achieve this level of success, Talitha. This is my last time saying it, and I won’t apologize for it.”

“You’re right. I apologize again.”

“Don’t keep apologizing if all you’re going to do is turn around and throw it back up in my face.” Having had enough of this conversation, I pushed my chair back and stood. “The driver will be downstairs at six forty-five. I’ll be in my room if you need me.” With that I walked away and left her sitting there, stewing in her own pity. The quickest way to turn me off was throwing what I did and didn’t have up in my face. Granted, I did have rich people problems and somewhere there was always someone with their hand out, looking for a handout. But shit, I had issues with my egg donor, as Talitha referred to hers as. I had a traumatic past as well. Unlike her, I chose to not deal with it as a way of escaping it. The longer my mother went unconfronted,the more the issue didn’t bother me. It’s the reason I never entertained Sincere when he brought her up in a conversation.

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