Chapter 43

Tasha grumpily turned off her alarm on Monday, rolled over, and closed her eyes. “I hate Monday.”

“Me too. I’m really tired after this weekend, but really happy, too.”

Tasha felt Megan’s hand grasp hers. Tasha opened her eyes and looked over to see Megan smiling at her.

It’s honestly not fair that anyone is that gorgeous when they just woke up.

“I wasn’t expecting such a crazy weekend, but I am so glad that it happened. Thank you for talking in bed last night. I felt like we were back in college and it made me realize all over again just how much you mean to me.”

“Thank you, I really enjoyed that, too. Although, in college we were in different beds and we weren’t topless. I think that this is a big improvement.”

“Oh, definitely. Megan, last night as we were talking… Something about being skin to skin while we talked about our future and our hopes and dreams... I guess that I really felt our love on a deeper level.”

“I really felt that, too. It was like we were just melting together. Your skin is amazing, by the way.”

“Yours, too.” Tasha couldn’t help but smirk when she added, “And, your boobs are absolutely fantastic.”

“Fantastic boobs, really? By the way, Tasha, have I ever told you that you look stunning, even with bedhead?”

“Um, no. But thank you! I was just thinking how unfair it was that anyone was as gorgeous as you are when you just woke up.”

“Thank you, too. We should probably stop admiring each other and actually get up.”

“You are no fun at all.”

“Take that back! I’m fun! Hey, speaking of fun, what do you think about setting our alarms earlier and getting in some yoga to start our day?”

Tasha groaned. “You want to get up earlier? What kind of monster are you?”

“Trust me. It gets the blood flowing and really helps your energy levels throughout the day. I used to do that most mornings, you know, before we came to live with you. I kinda miss that routine.”

How is Megan so enthusiastic about this?

“I’m not sure about this, but we can try it tomorrow.”

“Yay! See, now we’re both pushing our comfort zones. Okay, let me go see if Sophia is awake.”

“Uh, Megan? You might want to put a shirt on first.”

“Oh my gosh! Good call!”

She’s super pretty when she blushes like that, too.

They set about their morning routine, which was slightly different with a new place, but not much. The biggest challenge was keeping Julius in their bathroom and keeping Nocturne out. Both cats were very curious about each other. As usual, Megan was out the door first.

Today she was headed to a middle school for the first time. Tasha walked Sophia to school. She really enjoyed this part of her new morning routine. It probably wouldn’t last much longer. All too soon, Sophia would be in middle school and probably wouldn’t want Tasha walking her to school every day. That realization was bittersweet as it also revealed how much Tasha was looking forward to being part of Sophia’s life as she grew up.

They let go of each other’s hands when they reached the school. Tasha bent down and said, “Sophia, I love you, and I hope that you have a great day.”

“I love you, too, Mama Tasha!” She gave Tasha a big hug before running off to join a gaggle of new friends.

Smiling, Tasha headed for the bus stop. On her commute, she checked her phone and saw an email from Brad.

It read:

Hey Tasha,

I finished both of the books that you asked me to read. I haven’t written a book report in twenty years and I don’t know how to start. It’s important to say that reading these books really opened my eyes to the horrible injustices inflicted on Black Americans. Not just Black Americans. The system has been weighted to favor guys like me from the start and that impacts everyone. I’m very sorry for the hurt that I caused you with my ignorance. I’m sorry for hurting Megan and Sophia. I’m sorry for being a pile of shit, as you said. I’m going to do better. I’m going to be better. As you said, so that Sophia can be proud of me, but also so that I can be proud of me.

Regards,

Brad

Tasha emailed back:

Brad,

Not the greatest book report of all time, but I’ll spare you the bad envelope. Life is a journey, not a destination and you’ve hopefully started down a new road on that journey. Now go learn about the Japanese-American concentration camps during World War Two, the mistreatment of Indigenous Americans, the Tulsa Massacre, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, Stonewall, etc.

I’ve been in this fight my entire life because of my skin and now also my sexuality. You have the privilege to ignore that struggle because of yours. I’m glad that you are choosing to be a better person.

Megan said that you were thinking of coming to roller derby on Sunday. If so, then I will see you there.

Regards,

Tasha

She really hoped that Brad wasn’t bullshitting her, but she suspected that he was sincere. He might be an overprivileged douchebag, but he isn’t stupid. Some white boys never see life outside of their bubble, some see it and can’t handle it, and some see it and it changes them for the better. I think that Brad is part of that third group.

Work was fascinating. Tasha found herself the center of attention for much of the day. When she wasn’t fielding client requests and issues, her co-workers wanted to find out about her girlfriend, how they met, how long they had been dating, etc. She had never shared any of her personal life at work, preferring to let everyone else talk about their own lives instead. When she showed up at the holiday party dressed to the nines and then Megan walked in looking like a goddess (or princess according to Sophia) it had set tongues wagging. It wasn’t that Tasha didn’t want to talk about her life, she just had never felt like she had anything that she wanted to talk about before.

Weirdly, Kevin seemed to leave her alone all day. It seemed that maybe Megan had really put the fear of goddess in him. Tasha wasn’t complaining.

On her commute home, she spent most of the time planning the next batch of freelance work. She was still focused on that when she opened the door, then the smell hit her. “Please tell me that you’re making Indian for dinner again.”

“Yes, I am,” Megan answered as she dropped the spoon that she was holding and whipped around toward Tasha.

“You’re the best—mmpf.” Anything else was lost as Megan kissed her thoroughly. “Wow, I missed you, too,” she said after they came up for air

“Sorry, I got carried away. I really missed you today. Now, stop distracting me with your—” Megan waved toward her. “—incredible hotness. Oh, and say hi to Sophia. Her schoolwork was all done by the time I got home and I’m very proud of her.”

Tasha smiled. “Will do, and thank you.” She hung up her coat and took off her boots. “Hey, munchkin, your mom says that you did all of your schoolwork before she got home today. I’m very proud of you!”

“Thank you, Mama Tasha! Mommy really missed you.”

“I can tell. I missed you both.”

“Me too! I’m glad that Mom is so happy when you’re home.”

“Aw, you’re very sweet, angel. Let me go change and then you can tell me all about your day.” Tasha walked into their bedroom, pulling at her clothes.

It’s wonderful to come home to family and love. So much better than before.

Tasha opened the bathroom door and an orange blur shot out. “Oh, damn!” She raced back into the living room to find the cats eyeing each other, tails held stiffly in the air. Thankfully, both seemed okay with the other. Nocturne hopped back onto the couch with Sophia while Julius set out to explore. Since all was well in the cat-world, Tasha got changed into something comfortable.

Dinner was excellent and they shared some quiet family time afterwards. Once Sophia was in bed, Megan and Tasha soon followed. Tasha wasn’t thrilled about early morning yoga, but it was important to Megan that she try it. Once in the bedroom, Tasha waited to see what Megan’s comfort level was compared to last night. After Megan finished brushing her teeth, she walked toward the bed, shedding her shirt on the way.

It seems that she’s comfortable with this and I really like that view.