Take Your Time (Zak Bagans short story)

Ch.1

A/N: This is a short story to help me get my writing mojo back. This short story is inspired by Sam Hunt's 'Take Your Time' so there's some sensitive parts in here. Please read at your own risk. I hope you enjoy!

Las Vegas, Nevada, the city that never sleeps. The city that people come to have parties, gamble, do drugs and commit suicide. Then again, every city had that kind of problem so that's one of the reasons why Tiffany chose to stay in Las Vegas. Another reason was she had a few close friends that also live in Vegas and she didn't want to move away from her friends. But there was also another reason why she couldn't move out of the city too so Tiffany just lived with it.

"How can you still be with this guy for three years, Tiff?"

Tiffany sighed hearing her friend ask that question again for the thousandth time as the two of them were seated at a cafe's outdoor patio. "It's just not that easy to leave him Zak. I've told you this before. He's got good qualities in him."

"Like what? Gets so fucking drunk and beats you until your unconscious? Or is sober but takes his anger out on you by slapping you then having his way with you?" Zak's voice was calm but had a slight edge to it.

"He can be sweet and funny when he wants to be. He can be loving....." Tiffany thought back to the beginning of her and her current boyfriend's relationship, he was charming and loving at first. But as the years went by everything started to slowly change. The sweet little kisses disappeared. The opening up doors when your hands were full disappeared. Him helping out in the kitchen while she was cooking dinner disappeared. Everything turned into Tiffany doing it all; taking out the trash, cleaning the whole house, laundry, cooking and grocery shopping.

"He can't even do a simple task like take out the trash, he makes you do it. Hell, he made you quit your job Tiff...." Zak sighed, taking a drink of his coffee.

Tiffany looked down at her untouched cup of coffee remembering how her boyfriend threw a fit about her job. She was a receptionist for the local hospital and always got thank you cards from patients for helping point them in the right direction on where to go in the hospital for their appointments. It was mostly the elderly sending her thank you cards but it made her day at the hospital better when she received appreciation from patients. But her boyfriend didn't like that, he always thought that Tiffany was going behind his back to sleep with those patients who sent her thank you cards. So to resolve the problem Tiffany quit and just became what people call a 'housewife' or a 'maid'.

"I know. But..." She stopped because she was about to make yet another excuse for her boyfriend's behavior.

"But what?"

She shook her head then took a swig of coffee. "Nothing..."

Sighing, Zak ran his fingers through his dark hair. "I'm not trying to talk down to you. It's just, I'm confused about the whole situation. You always told me that you wanted to be with someone that would be there for you and love you for who you are. But this guy is completely opposite of that."

"I know Zak...it's just complicated." Looking down at her watch Tiffany sighed and drank the rest of her coffee. "I better get going, he'll be home within the hour."

Zak grabbed Tiffany's hand as she was getting up from patio table. "Just remember me, Aaron, Billy, Nick and Jay are here for you. When you're ready, let us know."

Tiffany gave a small smile. "Thank you Zak."

"It's what friends are for." He gave a smile then let her hand go.

"I'll see you later."

The two of them said their goodbyes then Tiffany went back to Hell.....which was unfortunately home. When she got there and shut the engine off to the car, she headed inside and started making dinner. Something quick and easy like hamburger helper. Getting out a package of hamburger meat, Tiffany started to defrost it in the microwave. Once it was defrosted she put it in the skillet and started browning the meat. After the meat browned she drained the grease and started putting the help ingredients in. By the time it was done, the door front door was opening.