JAX SAW HER leave and approached Clay. "I thought she was gonna ask questions…"
Clay nodded. "She did. Guess she got enough answers for today."
Jax raised his eyebrows as Clay walked away from him. What the hell did that mean? He heard his phone vibrate, indicating that he had a text message. It was from his mother. Abel had fallen asleep at their house. Jax smiled in spite of himself. He found himself walking toward the bar, where Juice was getting a drink from one of the prospects.
"I'll take one of those too."
KRIS SHUT THE door behind herself and exhaled a sigh. She hadn't learned much that could help her father's case, but what she had learned was overwhelming. Thank God she had bought that little bottle of Tequila. She was going to need it. And she was taking a break from asking questions. She had plenty of time to talk to some of the guys more when she needed to. For now, she needed a stiff drink and a hot shower. And not necessarily in that order.
She took out the little bottle and unscrewed the top, taking a small sip. The liquor was burning its way down her throat and she welcomed it. She glanced toward the bathroom, the shower calling her name. But her cell-phone rang.
"Thank God. I really need someone to talk to."
She sat down on the bed. "I'm always here to listen. What's wrong?"
Kris took another sip of the Tequila. She began telling Natalia about all she had heard at the clubhouse tonight. Natalia, as usual, sat and listened to her best friend. When she was done, Kris took the third and final sip of her liquor, waiting for her best friend to say something.
"I'm sorry you have to deal with this by yourself, Kris."
Kris sighed. That wasn't really why she had told her best friend about today. She didn't want Natalia to feel guilty or pity her for being here alone.
"I just wish I could be there with you. But…that's why I'm calling."
Kris raised her eyebrows.
"Natalia's comin' to California, baby!"
Kris jumped off the bed. "You're what? When? This is amazing!"
Natalia laughed on her side of the phone. "I know you texted me that you got your hearing. Well, who better to be your co-counsel than a Russian bad-ass such as myself?"
Kris laughed. It felt good to laugh. She didn't do it enough. God she loved her best friend.
"I'll be there on the fourth, the weekend before the hearing."
She couldn't have received better news tonight, not after the day she had had.
"Nat, that's fantastic. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Natalia laughed again. "Oh honey, please, you know it goes both ways. Now are you gonna take my advice and go out this weekend?"
God damn right she was. There were only three places you could really "go out" in Charming. There was a country-western bar, Cowpoke's, pun intended. A more club-like bar, Valentine's. And a dive bar, Duff's.
"Yes, I'm going out. I have to, if for no other reason than my sanity."
She toed off her shoes and took her hair out of its ponytail, shaking it loose. It was naturally wavy, but even more so right now.
"And don't forget to get laid. Girl, you have got to get laid."
She was right, Kris needed sex with a man in the worst possible way. Which was why she had chosen to go to Valentine's. A place she could drink, dance and meet a man to share a hot night with. She'd shoot pool another night. A night when she wouldn't have sex on the brain.
"Have you picked an ensemble yet? You know I have to have final approval."
That was true. Whenever they had gone out, each one of them had to have final approval of their outfits before they went out. To make sure they looked their absolute hottest, of course.
"Yeah, the black stilettos and the black and yellow mini-halter dress."
It was one of her favorites. And she knew it was one of Natalia's as well. And she knew her best friend approved. "Hope you've got 911 on speed dial, girl. In that get-up, you're gonna give some of those guys a frigin' heart attack."
HIS HOUSE WAS lonely without Abel in it. He knew he could have stayed in his old room at the clubhouse, but he wanted to come home. That room represented another time in his life. A time that he would much rather forget.
The alcohol he had consumed tonight was doing a good job of that as well. He had walked home from the clubhouse, which was one of the smarter things he could have done. The last thing he needed was to get busted for driving while intoxicated.
Jax laid down on his bed, putting his arms behind his head and staring up at the ceiling. He thought back to his conversation with Opie. It was true that no other woman had caught his eye in the last year and a half. No other woman, that is, except for Kris. Kris Delaney, the daughter of one of his brothers.
Opie was right, he must have some sort of death wish. He knew Otto would not approve of anything going on between Jax and Kris. And she was cold to him, clearly not interested. It was just one of those physical reactions, he supposed. Nothing he could do about it. That's why he would go out this weekend and find a nice, warm female body. That would do the trick.