Present:
"Holy shit, Alicia."
"Yeah, I know. "
"You might need to give me a few minutes, maybe a half hour to myself."
I covered my face with my hands.
"Ashley.."
"What? I'm serious. "
"You said you wanted details."
"Well, I didn't expect the details to get me so hot and bothered. I should've bought a change of clothes."
I shook my head.
"So, how long did this last?"
"Seven months."
"Damn. "
"I don't want you to think I didn't try to end it. Cuz, I attempted to. Many times. We just ended up back in bed."
"I don't blame you. He's gorgeous. I also think I should help you pack later."
"Why?"
"It won't hurt having you strut your assets around the house in something sexy."
"Ashley, I'm there to take care of the kids. Not to get laid."
"You'll thank me. You just wait and see."
Nine hours later:
I came back into my bedroom with a beer for Ashley, and looked inside my suitcase.
"Uh Ashley, what are you doing?"
She poked her head out of my closet.
"What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? What happened to all the clothes I just packed in my suitcase?"
"Oh, I just took out the things you didn't need and hung them back up for you."
"Bras and panties don't count as clothes."
"They do so count."
"Ash come on, seriously. It's bad enough I got off work twenty minutes ago, and I have to rush to pack. Plus Quinn is going to be here in less than a half hour. Help me out a little."
"Okay, you win."
I handed her the beer, and she sat down on the bed next to my suitcase.
"I'll just sit here while you pack."
"Thank you."
I repacked my bag in what had to be record time.
You wanna know how I know?
As I was zipping my suitcase closed, the doorbell rang.
"Okay, that's my ride."
Ashley put her beer on the nightstand, and stood to her feet.
She walked over to me, and hugged me.
"I want a phone call at least once a day."
"Once a day, you got it."
"If I don't get one, you know I will drive out to the town we call Charming."
"I believe you. If you want to crash here for the night, you can. There's more beer in the fridge," I stated, as I rolled my suitcase down the hall.
"See, this is why you should take me up on us getting a bachelorette pad I always talk about," she called after me, following me to the front door.
"Why, so I can hear the rough sex you will have with some stranger you brought home from a bar in the next room? No, thank you."
I opened the front door and I looked up at the extremely tall man with huge arms and tattoos covering his arms.
"You ready to go, mam?"
"You don't have to call me mam. It's Alicia. You must be Quinn."
"Yeah. You all set.?"
"Yes."
He reached down and lifted my bag over his shoulder.
I looked back at Ashley, and she mouthed the word "damn" as he headed to the car.
"I know."
We gave each other one last hug goodbye, and I got in the passenger side of Quinn's truck.
It was quiet for about a half hour.
I don't know about him, but I can't take the silence no longer.
"So, when did you join the club?"
"Oh.. uh, about six and a half months ago."
"Where were you before that?"
"I was a nomad. I needed to get away for a bit."
"Did something happen?"
"Yeah, yeah it did."
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
He actually wanted to. He didn't know what it was about this woman, but she had that kind of personality that made him want to open up.
"My wife.. she died from a brain aneurysm three years ago."
"Oh god, I'm so sorry. I can't imagine."
"Yeah, I've been trying to get back out there, and find a good mother for my son, but I can't bring myself to do it."
"You have a son?"
"Yeah. His name is Christopher."
He moved down the visor in the truck and pulled out a picture of his late wife and son.
His wife was black.
I smiled to myself at that little fact.
Finally.
I don't even see birracial couples here.
It's refreshing I got to see one today.
"Your son is beautiful. How old is he?"
"Thank you. He just turned six last month."
"Well, if you want, you can bring him by the house sometime."
"Really? Do you think Jax will mind?"
"No, probably not. Abel could use a friend his age at a time like this."
"Okay, I'll talk to Jax about it. Thank you, Alicia."
"Anytime."
The silence was back again.
"Alicia, can I ask you something?"
"I don't know. It depends what the question is," I replied with a smile.
"How do you and Jax know each other?"
"I was the kids' babysitter. His wife and me were best friends."
"Huh."
"What? What is it?"
"I don't know, I just got the vibe that something more happened there."
"No, it didn't," my tone grew defensive.
"Okay, sorry. I didn't mean to assume."
"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. "
Quinn and I stopped talking alltogether until we pulled up in Jax's driveway.
Quinn took the key out of the ignition and we both got out of the car.
I opened the back door, and grabbed my suitcase.
The front door opened, and Abel came running out in his pajamas and he hugged my waist.
"Abel, it's past your bedtime. What are you still doing up?"
" Brooke said I could stay up until you get here. "
I looked up and saw her standing at the front door.
"Okay, go and brush your teeth. I'll be inside in a minute."
"Alicia."
I turned around and looked at Quinn.
"Just in case there'a an emergency, and you can't reach Jax, here's my number."
He handed me a small white piece of paper.
"Thank you."
He nodded, and went back to his car.
We got in the house, and I shut the door.
"Jax said you can put your stuff in the guest room."
"Thanks."
I walked into the guest room.
It looked like a completely differeng room.
There was brand new furniture, and the bed was heavenly when I laid on it.
He didn't have to do all of this.
"My teeth are clean."
Abel got on the bed next to me, and looked down at me.
"Let me see."
He smiled.
"Good."
I sat up and picked my suitcase off of the floor.
"Can I help?"
"Buddy, you need to get some sleep. You have school tomorrow."
"But, I want to help."
"Okay. Only for a few minutes though."
"Yesss."
He jumped off of the bed, and helped me unpack.
Jax got home around two thirty in the morning.
He heard a noise coming from the kitchen.
He pulled his gun from the back of his jeans and switched the safety off.
He entered the kitchen, only realizing he drew the gun on Alicia.
"Jax, what the hell!," I yelled, almost dropping the plate I just finished cleaning.
"Jesus christ. I thought you were sleeping."
"No, I'm very much awake. How was the homecoming party?"
"Eventful."
"Way to be vague."
"It's one of my strong suits. I'm going to get some sleep."
I saw dried blood on both of his hands.
Yeah, I bet it was eventful.
"Jax."
He stopped walking and turned around.
"You know if you need anything or need to talk to someone, I'm here, right?"
"I know," he grinned.
"And you didn't have to give the guest room a makeover. It was fine the way it was."
"Well, you're going to be here for a while. I wanted to make you feel at home."