Xavier FINAL (Men of Steel #4) (2 page)

“I think Carly’s having a bad dream.” She yawned and laid down. “Can I sleep in here?”

“Sure Little Bell.”

“Are you okay Uncle Xavier?”

“I am.”

“Okay. Hey, that’s the Barbie I couldn’t find. I must have left her in here. I found
a new outfit for her. I wanna show you. I’ll be right back.” She grabbed the Barbie
and headed to the door and stopped. “Hey do you wanna play now? I can be…”

“Tomorrow Bell. It’s late okay?” I smiled and she started pushing out that bottom
lip. “I promise tomorrow.”

She smiled and ran out of the room.

I jumped up and grabbed some shorts out of the dresser and threw them on. I laid on
the bed and covered up. Bella walked in and Barbie’s plastic ass was now covered in
pink feathers.

“See?”

“Looks great Little Bell.” I patted the bed and fake yawned. “Jump up here and get
some sleep.”

She jumped up and hugged me. “You’re my favorite you know?”

“I am?”

“Yep.” She snuggled up to me and fell fast asleep.

I loved that kid. She was the best. Apparently so was I. I was almost content with
the fact that I was the only one not getting any action around here. Almost.

Shit was gonna have to change. As much as I loved Bella, I would not be playing Barbie’s
and hiding from reporters because
Momma said so
.

~

Momma Joe and all the girls were going to get facials and shit. I was thankful to
have a few moments with my brothers.

All three of them where connected to electronic device. They were crazy. All three
of them were sell outs. I loved ‘em all but what the fuck had happened.

“I need ten minutes.” I announced.

They all ignored me so I said it louder. “Ten minutes!”

Each held a finger up and continued talking on their phones.

“I’m jerking off to a Barbie doll and the thoughts of your woman!”

The room fell silent and they all glared at me. Then they ended their calls.

“Did that get your attention?” I snapped at them. “I see Bekah strapped up, hear Carly
begging to get properly fucked, and hear Tara praising Jesus while you’re banging
her.”

“You watch it.” Cyrus sneered.

Zandor chuckled and Jase scowled.

“All while looking at a naked Barbie doll and my niece walked in the room!”

“What the fuck is wrong with you!” Jase yelled while Zandor and Cyrus laughed.

“She didn’t see shit, but check this. She went to your room first and said she thought
Carly was having a nightmare…”

“I’m not fucking joking Xavier,” Jase warned.

I interrupted him. “Fuck your wife or so help me God…”

“You better not even finish that statement X.”

“Regardless, I am going home. I need to get my life back--.”

“Momma Joe isn’t going to--.”

“Momma Joe isn’t gonna.” I mimicked Zandor.

“This is family time bro.” He laughed.

“Yeah, from seven in the morning until eight thirty at night. Then you three scatter
like roaches. I’m not sayin’ I haven’t enjoyed it, but I’m out.”

“You’ll have to let us get shit in order. We just enrolled Bella in--.”

“No. I’m going back home, alone. You guys do what you already have planned. I need
to figure out what my life is gonna be.”

“You’ve got nothing to figure out. We already have life in order Xavier…” Jase began.

“You have yours. That’s cool. I’m gonna figure out mine.”

“There’s plenty opportunity here.” Cyrus interjected.

“I agreed to be part of Steel Incorporated but not like this. I want to start something…”

“The music stuff?” Jase laughed. “We can get that started, just chill…”

“Not we. Me. I want it and I want it my way.” I stood firm.

None of them said a word.

“Look, you all figured out your way in this, I’m gonna figure out mine.”

“You don’t have the background Xavier. You don’t…”

“Neither did any of you! I’m not kidding. I’m gonna…”

“We’ll support whatever but you need to learn the business.” I started to argue and
Jase continued. “Work at Steel for a month.”

“Zandor didn’t have to.”

“Zandor didn’t want to start a whole new business. He…”

I was losing this one. “Cyrus just jumped in and…”

“He was a fucking Seal. Security isn’t that big of a stretch.” Jase laughed.

“Yeah well,” Awe fuck what was I gonna say? “You three know what I’m capable of with
music…”

“Then join a band,” Jase suggested.

“Are you kidding me? That’s all you think I can do?”

“You can travel around Europe for a year…” Zandor chuckled.

Jase laughed, “You can …”

“You can all fuck off! Momma has three sons…and a fucking legend. Laugh it up assholes,
I’m out.”

And I walked out the door and jumped in the Benz and drove.

I wasn’t gone long when the phone rang. I pushed the blue tooth control to accept
the call.

“What?”

“Hey Legend, you gonna turn that car into a plane and fly back to the shore or you
gonna come back here and help us devise a plan?”

“I don’t need your help Jase.”

I heard Cyrus laugh, I was on speaker phone. “You definitely need a plan. Operation
Momma needs to be concocted.”

“I can handle her.”

“You have to be gentle with a woman like Momma,” Zandor began.

“Say’s the freak who ties up his woman.” We all laughed.

“I don’t doubt you can do this X. I know you can, but you need to know the behind
the scenes shit too. You wanna be a legend, let us little people help you.” Jase was
trying real hard not to laugh and then stopped. “You need to figure out what you’ll
tell Bella too.”

“That’s not fair Jase. Don’t play the Bella card on me.”

“We’ll figure it out together. Come back.”

“Fine.”

“Hey X. You should pull over and pump one out. I think you’re in desperate need of
a release.” Jase laughed.

“I can send you a picture of a Barbie doll.” Cyrus roared.

“How about an audio recording of your Birdie?”
There take that
.

“Screw you. I hope you get so backed up you drown in your own cum fucker.”

“Nice one Cyrus.” Zandor snickered.

“See you in five minutes.”

~

It only took an hour for everything to land in place. I was gonna work with Abe O’Donnell,
Jase’s best friend for a few weeks, you know nine to five shit. Then I would be scouting
out undiscovered talent in my free time.

Now on to Momma.

Three hours of argument and tears with Momma and finally everything was decided. Come
to find out, she was more worried about what I would be doing in my personal life.
She was sure someone would be after me for our families’ money and not who I am. What
she wouldn’t accept was the fact that I could care less. I had not changed. They all
did but I had not. I wasn’t fucking stupid; I knew how to use a condom.

I also made sure they knew I wasn’t hiding. I was still gonna go to the shop and work
when I could. Not just because I missed it but because there was a crazy amount of
talent that walked in and out of Forever Steel’s doors.

~

I was sitting on the floor putting on a fashion show with Bella and a crew of Barbie’s.
I’m not gonna lie, it was fun. Bella was a riot. So full of imagination and life.

That was the hardest conversation I had. She cried real tears. She even offered to
play more of the things I wanted to play. I told her I’d be back for her birthday
and that we could talk every day.

The night before I left, I packed a lunch and she and I bundled up and had a picnic
on the patio. When we were done I pulled out the Barbie she used when she played her
and the Ken doll who apparently reminded her of me.

I held him up and moved him as if he were speaking. “You know we can still talk every
day right?”

“Yes I do. We can face time.” She forced a smile and it upset me.

“No fake smiles.” My Ken said.

“I’m plastic. What do you expect?” She forced it again.

“I’m gonna miss you too Bella Doll.”

“Sometimes we have to do what we have to do Xavier Doll. I get it.”

~

A week and a half later when the plane landed in Jersey all I could think was, thank
God I’m home. And the first place I was going was Forever Steel.

Chapter 2

Harvard Goodbyes

Daniel and I met three years ago when he and I were at the same party. He was drunk,
so was I. I’m not the type of girl who just lays down with anyone. Well, I may have
been, but being raised with three older brothers and a father who is a detective in
Boston, doesn’t really allow you the luxury of dipping your feet in the sex pool.
Sure I had played around but never had actually had sex.

Growing up with three brothers who were very protective of me was a good thing when
we were younger. My two oldest brothers are two years older than I am and twins. My
younger brother is two years younger. We played well together when we were kids, Cops
and Robbers, Cowboys and Indians, and with action figures. We
loved to play all types of sports. I also learned real quickly how to fight. We always
had a great time.

Then I sprouted boobs and began going through the hormonal changes that girls go through.
It was interesting back then to see while I was going through the change so were my
brothers. Their friends changed too. Any boy I looked they brought over, ended up
with a black eye and seemingly disappeared from their lives soon after that. Odd?
I thought so until I figured out through a note I received in school from one of the
boys who no longer came over. He asked if I would like to be his secret friend. Weird?
Nope. I mentioned it to my brother Kaen and that boy had a black eye the next day
and wouldn’t even look at me.

What’s the female version of cock blocking? Poon goons, clam jam, the pussy police
or what I call it, the K.G.P. My brothers; Kaen, Keller, and Grady Patrick. Each stood
almost a foot taller than me and each had no business messing with my growth and development.
But I loved them just the same.

It was hard on them when I went to college. Mom tried her best to help me out. I wanted
a new look and boy, did I get it. My brothers went crazy and my mother defended me,
even against my father’s wishes.

I looked like a girl now. Clothes that fit, make-up, and heels. Don’t get me wrong,
I was still a Patrick down deep but now I could be Taelyn without three brothers,
who would have preferred I was going off to a convent instead of college.

I was a virgin until Daniel. He loved my brothers even more because ‘my flower’ was
still intact. He told me so the first drunken night we spent together. He also assured
me he wasn’t afraid of them. That night he touched me, all above the waist touches.
I wasn’t so perfect, my hands went south and he didn’t stop me.

After that night he courted me. He said I deserved it. He wanted to be romantic, all
brought on by virtuous me. I was pleased that I had my virginity to give to him. He
was in awe of such a notion. I wasn’t used to such a gentleman. I loved it though.
Flowers, dinners, walks in central park while holding hands, and picnics.

He pursued me hard and my family harder. When he won them over, he won me.

Our first night Daniel was gentle and loving. He showed great restraint and didn’t
push me too hard for the first year. He did that for me because I was precious to
him.

His kisses were light and soft and even his fingers inside of me were gentle. Now
I had seen porn, and it was nothing like that. It wasn’t sweaty, cursing and screaming
to God. It was perfect, just perfect. And so was every Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday
at eight thirty at night. Daniel was Jewish so he chose to not have sex on Friday
from sundown until Sunday sun up. He also said I was such a temptation that he stayed
at a friend’s house most of those weekends.

When we did have sex he called it, visiting the rose garden. It was so sweet, a lot
better than what my brothers called red heads, fire bushes, how crude! And funny,
well new improved Taelyn wouldn’t think so. Not Daniel’s Taelyn. And I loved who I
was when I was with him, wouldn’t find it funny.

Daniel moved in with me almost two years later. We shared my little studio apartment
that my scholarship had paid for. He bought a little BMW sports car with the money
that he would have spent on his place. It was our car; he told me when he handed me
the extra set of keys. He loved that car. I loved that it made him happy.

Daniel hadn’t done well in school. He explained that sports took up all his time.
He played golf, tennis, was on a swim team, and apparently he was forced by his mother
to join his high school dance team.

His desire was to become a doctor, like both his parents. His father was a chiropractor
and his mother a podiatrist. I believed in him and for two years I studied with him.
He was on the Dean’s list and was applying to medical schools. His dream was to be
accepted into Harvard’s medical program.

His dream came true in December. When someone who had been in the program dropped
out. He looked bothered by this. He said it wasn’t a true acceptance and that it was
too far away from me anyway. He also said he wouldn’t be able to afford it with the
car payment.

His parents would pay for school but not the car. He told me he knew it would bother
me if he sold it. He knew I loved it as much as he did. I told him we would figure
it out. The car was paid for so the only real expense was the insurance. He said I
could keep the car here. He would find a place close to his school.

After I talked him into accepting we drove up to Cambridge, Massachusetts and looked
at housing. The only place acceptable that we looked at that was still available was
on Cowperthwaite Street and it was a two year lease. He was ready to hang it up then
too. I hated how this was causing him to be negative and said I would get a job and
help. He told me no. I pushed hard, reminding him that this was his dream and he should
embrace it. I told him we could both get part time jobs. He said he would only accept
my help if I agreed that after I graduated I would move here with him, and marry him.
Then very quickly added that this wasn’t a proposal, he wanted that gesture to be
as grand as our love but he wanted a promise that I would be able to wait. Of course
I would.