A Simple Life: Chapter 225

Winona scoops me up in her arms and twirls me around before setting me back down and planting a hard kiss into my lips. As we smooch our friends gather around us while Amos splits off to go talk to a few of the Triple R guys. As for Jack…I couldn’t say as I didn’t even glance his way once.

Looking down into my eyes Winona says softly, flipping lock of blonde hair from off my forehead. “You okay, baby girl?”

Feeling just like the damsel from a storybook I beam up at my giant slayer in awe. In this moment with our blood still pumping yet with the tension of imminent danger broken I was horny for her like never before. My hero would be receiving every reward I could lavish upon her the moment that it was possible. “Yeah. I’m okay.”

Seeing the love and lust swirling in my azure eyes her grin widens. “Let’s get outta here, huh?”

With a giggle I nod. Safely tucked to my lover’s side, her strong arm around me, we go to collect my bike then get into her truck to drive out of this yucky place.

The next couple of hours pass by in a blur as the group of us return to Amos’ place to check in on Lauren. To our surprise we find her calm, resolute and focused on the next steps that she was going to take in bringing charges to Jack and divorcing his unworthy ass. Having had some time with her Cheryl had gone full-on bad-ass Mom-mode and given Lauren all the courage that she needed and then some. Cher then goes above and beyond when, after this woman who was a stranger to her just this morning mentions she wasn’t sure where she was going to stay that night, she offers their spare room without hesitation. Cher touches my heart when she tells her. “Avery’s people are our people.” Though Lauren would not technically be connected with me anymore once the divorce went through I knew then that she would a part of my family forever more.

After a warm family hug Amos looks at his wife with a grave expression. “You sure about this, Cher?”

“Of course I am.”

“Okay.” He sighs. “I’ll start on the dog house tonight when…”

“Ohhh, no!” Cher waggles her finger. “ No, no, no! Dog stays at the garage!”

As the pair of them start their playful bickering, Lauren actually chuckling at their banter, Winona and I peel away to go update my friends who were gathered on the front lawn. While we’d been inside Briar had shown up to blend in with the others. On seeing me Pepper breaks from the group to come trotting up alongside me, nuzzling and licking my hand along the way.

“How’s she doing?” Cain asks as we join the circle.

“B-Better. A lot better.” I say. “She’s l-leaving…him.”

“Hell, yes.” Kayla nods.

“We’re taking her down to the police.” Winona says. “They won’t be able to ignore us this time. Mom’s already been on the phone with a lawyer and she’ll be raising hell if something’s not done.”

“Nobody fucks with Mama Crow.” Kayla quips.

Winona and Cain clap hands in a bro shake then pull in for a hug. “I owe you one, bud.” She says.

“Anytime, Winnie. You know that.”

As those two and Kayla talk Brayden pats my shoulder. “Dude. That was craaaazy!”

“Um, yeah.” I say softly. “Hey, th-thank you for being there.”

“Of course, man.” He smiles. “I didn’t have your back the one time you needed me. Never again. I got you, bro.” With a laugh he says. “And damn did it feel good to finally tell that motherfucker off. Ha ha!”

“Thank you.”

“So Avery.” He leans in. “Would you have done it?”

“Hm?”

“Would have shot his sorry ass?”

“Um…”

Brayden’s question draws the attention of the others. Kayla and Winona, knowing how upsetting that question would be for me, seamlessly slide into the conversation.

“Of course not.” Kayla says. “Avery was just trying to scare him.”

Slipping an arm around my chest from behind Winona pulls me close to her. “My baby was holding him there until I arrived to whoop his ass.”

“And whooped it was! I don’t think he’ll be havin any more kids! Daaamn!” Brayden exclaims. “Remind me never to piss you off.”

“You’re just learning this now?” Kayla chuckles.

Stepping in Cain says more seriously. “There’ll be questions. Maybe charges on Avery.”

“Pops says they don’t want the attention down there.” Winona says. “Sounds like it was just another Wednesday for the Triple R.”

“Shit.”

“Ol’ Jacko lost a lot of cred down there today with everything that happened and was revealed.”

“I d-d-don’t know what Jack’ll do.” I say. “I don’t think h-he’ll want to m-make a big thing of getting beat up by a woman but…”

“We’ll cross those bridges when they come.” Winona hugs me close. After kissing my head she turns me around to say. “Though Pops is going to want to have a loooong conversation with you soon.”

“Yeah. And…I th-think I’d better go back to that th-therapist again.” I say, knowing now just how wrong I’d been. “I’m sorry.”

As Winona hugs me the others gather close to pat and rub my back and shoulders. In this moment I felt so, so very blessed to have these wonderful people around me for support even after my lowest of lows.

“Well I gotta get going.” Brayden says. “Onyx is looking after both the pet shop and the shoe store right now. Mr. Nguyen’ll whoop my ass if he finds out.”

“Onyx?” I say. “That’s n-nice of her.”

With a twinkle in his eyes he quips. “She said that I can thank her tonight after dinner. Whooooeeeeee!”

I giggle. “G-Good luck.”

Brayden says his goodbyes and zips away. Looking at his phone Cain says. “I’m out too. Riley’s still kinda freaking out.”

“T-Tell her I’m sorry.” I say. “I didn’t m-mean to scare her.”

“She was happy to help out.” He looks up. “I’m glad you answered that call, Avery.”

“Me too.”

“Okay. I’ll see y’all at the wedding!”

“Bye!”

As he pulls away Briar, who had been quiet up until now, comes forward to take my hands. “I’m glad you’re okay Avery.”

“Thank you.” I say. “B-But it’s Lauren who t-took the worst of it.”

She smiles. “I’m still glad you’re okay.” After a hug she says. “I would have been there but…Kayla was protecting me. She sent me to search the parks.”

“Me?” Kayla acts aghast at the suggestion. “I just thought we’d cover more ground if we split up. It had nothing to do with keeping you away from the Trip R. Nothing at all.”

With the sweetest smile Briar slides in beside Kayla to take her hand. “Lying to Mistress will have it’s consequences.”

“Oop!” Kayla peeps. “Y-Yes, Little Mistress.”

Grinning from ear to ear Briar turns on her heel and with her chin held high walks away. “Come along, my dear. Your punishment awaits.”

“Now!?” Kayla exclaims, her tone somewhere between alarmed and aroused.

“Now!”

Kayla looks at us, winks, then hurries off to catch up to Briar. “Coming, Little Mistress!”

Winona and I laugh at our friends' theatrics. Ever since that game night where Onyx had fanned the flames of Briar’s jealousy the pair had grown closer than ever. Willing to fight for her woman Briar had allowed a bit of the Scourge out to play. I hadn’t yet had the chance to get all the juicy details but I did know that through a combination of bondage, advanced toy technology, and with her AI Meadow as an assistant the ‘Little Mistress’ had rocketed up Kayla’s list of lovers to wrest the number one spot from me. As far as I was concerned the title couldn’t have gone to a better champion.

With Winona on my left and Pepper on my right I watch my friends drive away. The yard falls quiet, the silence giving space for the thoughts I’d been avoiding to bubble up.

“Well.” Winona says. “I guess we better get this over with. I’ll go see if they’re ready.”

“Winona.” I say softly.

“What’s up, Sprout?”

“I…I was g-going to…” I shudder. “I almost…”

“I know, baby. I know.” Winona nuzzles into my hair to kiss my head. “And I woulda helped you hide the body.”

“I’m s-sorry I didn’t trust you.”

“Shhhh.”

“Thank you for s-saving me!”

“Baby.” She turns me to face her and cups my cheeks in her hands. “We saved each other”

“I love you!”

“I love you too.”

Chapter 226