Taivon: Book Three of the Cantrell Brothers Series

Chapter Forty-Three

"Hey, Alix." Taivon sighed. "It's me ag-g-g-gain. If you c-c-could p-please c-c-call me back . . . I understand th-th-that you n-need t-t-time, but I'm here. I'm s-s-s-sorry for p-p-putting you through all th-this. I should've t-t-told you s-sooner, but p-p-please c-c-come back. I luh-love you."

He hung up the phone. He called her when he first woke up, then after he got back from work, and then right before he went. The message was always the same. He meant every word he said, and he couldn't stress that enough.

Taivon seriously debated just calling into work again today, but he thought better of it. He'd called in the last two days, not exactly prepared to go deal with people. Lord knew he would blow up at anybody simply for just breathing in the same room as him. He just didn't feel like being out in the real world today. He just wanted to mope around and continue calling Alix.

Even though she hadn't been answering her phone.

He understood that she needed time to think, but he just wanted her to come back so that they could talk about it and finally move on from this. But, he knew, that if he were in her shoes, he would take a lot longer. He probably would have left and gone back down by Titus. Wouldn't even be in the same state.

Getting out of bed, he got dressed, made himself eat something, and drove to work. Thank God Isaiah was there. He hadn't seen the man in awhile, what with his suspension and all that. He'd wanted to go over by his and Pearl's house, but he would only start crying again. He had to keep going.

"Hey, boy. Nice to see you again."

Taivon smiled. "Nice t-t-t-to see you, t-too."

It was a pretty quiet day. He and Isaiah drove around the park, but nothing really happened. They stopped for a break back at the station, but nobody really noticed Taivon, and he didn't really notice them. He'd make peace with some of them one day, but right now, he didn't exactly care.

He couldn't exactly manage a smile when the only thing on his mind was Alix. Day in and day out.

"Did you want to come over for dinner tonight? We could talk about it," Isaiah offered.

Taivon gave a small smile. "Th-Th-Thank you, b-b-b-but I c-can't right now. I swear, once I guh-guh-get her back, yuh-you'll be eating d-d-dinner at my house every night."

"And eat your cooking?" Isaiah laughed. "Not likely."

For the first time in days, Taivon actually felt a real laugh come out. Yes, he'd thought his heart was literally being ripped in two after she'd left, but he knew – deep, deep down, he knew – that she would come back to him. Because he would wait for as long as it took. If she loved him even half as much as he loved her, then she would try to work things out.

He'd give her time, though.

That's what Taivon kept telling himself as he drove back home, anyway. He parked his car in the garage, shucked off his shoes, and started dialing her number again. He didn't care how pathetic it may seem. He honestly didn't. Taivon left another message. Just as he was about to flip his phone shut, the doorbell rang. And somebody pounded on the door.

His heart raced. He hoped it was Alix. He desperately, desperately hoped. That way, they could sit down, talk about it, and move on with their relationship.

Only, it wasn't Alix at the doorway.

It was Leon.

For a split second, Taivon debated about just keeping the door closed and faking that he wasn't home. But if he'd seen Leon, then Leon had certainly seen him. The fact that her older, and very protective, brother was here could only mean one thing. Taivon didn't care. Because that meant that Alix was okay. She was probably pissed at him, but that was okay.