Happy walked around the car as Sarah fixed her lipstick in the passenger mirror for what seemed like the hundredth time. "C'mon, you look fine." He opened the car door for her and stepped back so she could step out, checking her out the whole time. She insisted that they drive so her hair wouldn't get messed up from the wind on his Harley.
She was wearing a loose black silk spaghetti tank top that crisscrossed at her chest, a couple delicate silver necklace dangling between her cleavage. The top ended right at the waist and the tight dark blue almost black jeans she was wearing showed off her ass perfectly that looked even better because of the strappy black sandals she had on. Her hair was in loose curls down her back, her makeup was light and not overdone, and he preferred it that way. He noticed some of the people outside look their way- noting the scowls from a couple of croweaters that normally hung around. He smiled to himself; she was much prettier than any of the girls that would be here.
"Does this look dressy enough?" She asked nervously, slinging her purse over her shoulder.
Happy snorted, "Dressy isn't usually what these girls go for."
"You're not helping." She dead panned, stifling a grin.
"You look great, baby." He slung an arm around her shoulders in a protective way and kissed the side of her forehead.
Sarah smiled, wrapping her arms around his waist. She wasn't that huge in PDA, but she figured you had to in this crowd, Lena had come to a couple parties before and told her all about them. The couple glasses of wine she drank while getting ready probably helped.
"Happy!" A voice called from the small crowd that was hanging around the boxing ring. A tall guy with black curly hair that was all over the place and bright green eyes separated himself. Sarah noticed the Redwood Original patch, concluded he was one of the guys Happy told her about. Probably Tig- the one who was secretly in a relationship with a crossdresser names Venus. "Who do we have here?" He licked his lips and Sarah had to stifle a laugh, she dropped her arms from around his waist and shook Tig's outstretched hand.
"Sarah," She gave him a firm shake. "You must be Tig?"
Tig feigned surprise, "Oh, so he told you all about me?" His hands cupping his chest.
"Did he tell you how handsome I was?" His eyes gleamed. "Mmm. Mmm. What's a pretty thing like you doing with-"
Happy rolled his eyes, cutting him off. "Shut the hell up, Tig."
Tig laughed, "Relax, Hap. I'm just joking. I knew something was up with you…" He swung a finger in Happy's direction. "Sneaking out of here all the time, turning down offers left and right." Tig looked directly at Sarah. "I am happy to report that he has not touched a crow eater since I don't know when! He has certainly kept his dick in his pants for,"
Happy cut him off again, "I said shut the fuck up, Tig."
Tig smiled innocently, making Sarah laugh. He was just as crazy as Happy had described.
"Alright, alright, I'll stop." Tig put an arm around Happy's shoulder. "I'm glad you're happy, man, for real." He turned somber. "I'm serious."
Happy leveled his gaze. "Then I don't want to hear that dumb shit come out of your mouth." He smiled, lightly smacking his chest. "Is Venus here?"
Tig instantly softened. "Yes, she's inside. She can't wait to meet you." He smiled at Sarah. "It really was nice to meet you,"
"Likewise," Sarah nodded chuckling, taking Happy's outstretched hand and let him lead her to the door to the clubhouse. She liked Tig. It was her favorite pastime to get a rise out of Happy.
In the clubhouse, there was a haze of cigarette smoke and it smelled like cheap perfume, beer, and weed. It looked like a scene from a movie. There were girls almost everywhere, all in scantily clad outfits exposing more than Sarah would ever dare, and most hanging off a member or serving them alcohol. The men did still outnumber the women and they were all different shapes and sizes, all drinking booze and talking loudly to drown out the heavy metal music that was playing in the background. Sarah immediately saw Jax who nodded and started walking towards them, he had been around the bar talking to a couple of prospects.
"Sarah," Jax hugged her quickly before shaking hands with Happy. He had his signature shit eating grin and white t-shirt on. "I'm so glad you came, what do you want to drink?"
"Um, Corona, please."
"Coming right up," He turned around and whistled to a girl working behind the bar. She gave Jax a seductive smile as she took the order. "Did you want lime?" Jax turned to ask.
Sarah nodded and noticed the girl looked past him to Sarah quickly, the slight look of repugnance when their eyes met briefly. Sarah knew that trying to fit in was going to be tough.
"Don't pay them any mind, dear."
Venus's Southern twang pulled Sarah and Happy's attention as she shimmied herself next to Sarah, her hand on her shoulder delicately. "I am so excited to finally meet you, Happy has told me all about you. I'm Venus." She stuck out her hand for Sarah to shake. "And don't let these strung-out whores make you feel less than. You are as pretty as Happy said and more than they'll ever be." She said in a low tone, making Sarah blush but laugh at the same time.
"It's nice to meet you, Venus." She took the beer from Jax. "So, Happy talked about me?" She gave him a side eye as he took a long swig of his beer.
"Oh, yes, honey." Venus took her hand. "Let's go sit down somewhere. . . I'll tell you all about it." She smiled sweetly to Happy, whose jaw was clenched slightly. "Let's go find a table."
Happy gave Sarah a look that meant he would intervene if she needed him to.
"I'll be fine, Hap." Sarah whispered, giving him a quick peck on the cheek as she started following Venus towards a booth that was open near the pool tables. She was dying to find out what Happy was saying about her truthfully.
Happy walked over to the booth where Sarah sat with Venus and Lyla, glad she was enjoying herself. He didn't mean to leave her so long but after tying Bobby in a game of pool- they played another round. The boxing matches were about to start, and he wanted to catch the new prospect get his ass beat. Sarah smiled at him as he came up, her cheeks flush with alcohol. He leaned against the booth's side- his arm slung over the top part above Sarah's head.
"Hey Happy," Lyla had been in the middle of a story but stopped short. Lyla still was running the porn studio like Luanne and had really come into her own. She could hold her herself up with no need for a man, although Lord knows, they never stopped trying. "How have you been?"
"Good, I hope you haven't scared her too much."
"I didn't know you were such a softy, Hap." Lyla grinned.
Happy shook his head, "Am not." He looked to the floor, clearly embarrassed.
"It's always the quiet ones," Venus clicked her tongue, teasing Happy. "They make the best lovers too…"
"So," Happy cleared his throat. "I'm gonna' go watch the prospect get his ass beat, you wanna' come outside with me?" He knew this wasn't her sort of thing but wanted her to have an out if she was bored of the company.
Sarah laughed at Venus's visibly distraught face, feeling the same. "I'm ok, I'll come find you in a little."
"You sure?" He chewed on his toothpick. He was slightly uncomfortable having her out of his sight and once he went outside, he wouldn't be able to watch to make sure she was safe from a drunk member. Or a jealous crow eater.
"Oh, don't you worry." Venus patted his arm. "We will keep her safe." She pointed to the bar where Tig, Bobby, and a member of the Nomad charter were taking shot after shot.
He knew the club would look out for her but some of the out-of-town charter members had come for the party and they didn't know who she was and after drinking a lot of them would get handsy. If anyone dared to touch her- he would beat their ass- he wouldn't pay any mind to who they were or what rank they held. And he didn't want her first party with the club to end in a brawl.
"Here," He slipped his cut off. "Put this on." He handed it to her.
"What?" Sarah took it slowly; she knew how important cuts were to a club. "Hap, I don't think I should wear this, it's against-"
"No one will fuck with you if you have that on," He smoothed the black t-shirt he was wearing down his stomach while looking at her expectantly. "It's ok."
"Umm ok…" She shrugged it on in the booth. It was a little big on her, but Happy's dick twitched at the sight. "Happy?" She asked teasingly, pulling her hair from under the collar, and then looked up at him.
"Yes," he leaned down to kiss her chastely on the lips. "I can't wait to fuck you later with only that on," He semi-whispered with a devilish grin.
"Such a romantic," Sarah laughed- mockingly pushing him away.
"Alright, baby. Come find me in a little." He rasped and headed for the door outside. There were quite a few men heading out there now and Happy gave her one last look before heading out the door.
"Is this like, ok?" Sarah asked concerned. She knew women wore cuts of their own. But they normally had a 'Property of' patch. Lyla's open mouth was making her nervous.
"I never thought Happy would find someone…" Lyla looked at Sarah in bewilderment. "That's basically the same thing as a marriage proposal."
Sarah grimaced, making them laugh.
"Like I said, you should have seen how nervous he was when he came to me," Venus put a hand over her heart. "Like a 15-year-old kid talking to his Mama about his first crush." She cooed at the memory making Sarah and Lyla laugh. "I'm tellin' you, he was smitten with you at first sight. He said he kept making up excuses to go to his cousins- hoping he would see you. He said his cousin was playing wingman, but you just weren't having it."
Sarah smiled, embarrassed. "I mean, he was terrifying at first honestly, all those snake tattoos, motorcycle, fuckin knife hanging from his belt all the time." She rolled her eyes and laughed. "I mean, his flirting style is definitely… different. It was the way he interacted with my kids, that got me."
Lyla laughed, "Jax always has him on babysitter watch because the boys love him. He was teaching them how to play baseball the other day in the lot. He is good with kids. Which is completely surprising. No offense."
Sarah nodded. "None taken. I feel like, no one really gets to see Happy with his guard down. He's definitely a different person it seems outside of this club- which I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing."
"You don't want the man who is in the club," Venus shook her head. "Have you guys discussed what exactly you are?" Venus pried.
Sarah remembered what Happy had told her about not gossiping too much- but she trusted Venus and Lyla but chose her words delicately. "I mean, I consider us exclusive- I can only hope he meant it when he said that he was done with." She pointed her finger up and swirled it around to gesture to all the half-naked women around. "You know, all that because I am not ok with that. The whole what happens on the road- stays on the road. Not my thing."
"Good luck," Lyla scoffed. Venus smacked her arm slightly. "Sorry, I didn't mean…"
Sarah put her hands up. "It's ok- I know the likelihood is much higher than usual. I feel stupid for even believing it but," She shrugged.
"I think Happy can get passed the free pussy, pardon my language. The way he turned down that ole Claire the other week," Venus mocked. "I thought, she was going to have a cow right there on the floor."
"Who?" Sarah felt her heart rate speed up. She followed Venus's pointer finger to a girl, beyond skinny, with long blonde hair and a tight red dress on.
"I don't mean to upset you, dear. It's not the first time I have personally seen him turn a girl down lately though. Sad to say it's normal around here- they drape themselves over the guys like a God damn dirty kitchen towel."
Sarah laughed despite herself. And Venus was glad she didn't completely rattle her.
"But she plopped herself on Happy's lap- when he was sittin' down on that couch over there. And he just gave her this look like she was senseless, stood up and her ass plopped right down on the dirty floor. Happy told her 'Don't ever touch me again' and walked away." Venus laughed at the memory.
Lyla chuckled. "Serves that bitch, right. She's such a cunt."
"Well, that makes me feel a little better." Sarah downed the last of her beer.
"Happy is bat shit crazy, but I can tell the way he looks at you is different from anyone else that he looks at. And he looks damn good with his shirt off." Lyla tried comforting her.
"Isn't that the truth?" Venus smacked her lips. "I bet there is a one-eyed snake that you do like, I heard he's very blessed down there." She teased Sarah, who nearly spit her drink out from laughing.
"I think I'm gonna' go get another drink." Sarah's face was bright red. "Does anybody want anything?"
Lyla shook her head between laughs. "I'll take another," and held up her Bud Light bottle.
"No thanks, darlin'."
"Ok, can you tell me where the bathroom is first though?"
"Use the one by the office- it's down that hallway," Lyla pointed to a long hallway that ran parallel to the bar. "And take two rights. You'll see a big painting of a Red Harley. It's more private than the one everyone else uses."
Sarah smiled, "Thanks, I'll be right back."
She walked along the bar- noting the looks from people as she passed by. She straightened up, trying to look self-confident, even though she wasn't. She was going to need a lot more to drink.
