Jax's cellphone began to ring.
He looked at the caller id and sighed before flipping the phone open and bringing it to his ear.
"Hey Clay.. What, I need the guys to help clean up Cara Cara today. I don't know if you realized, but the porn business is our only actual income. The garage isn't doing so well this month."
Whatever Clay said pissed him off enough for him to hang up the phone, tossing it in the compartment between us.
"Asshole."
"What happened?"
"Clay took my man power for the day."
""It's okay, we have enough people to get the job done. If you want, you can just drop me off at the studio and go fix everything with Clay."
"Mel, I told you I would help get this place cleaned up and I'm still going to do that."
His tone sent me signals that he didn't and wasn't going to arugue about this, so I said what I know would satisfy him.
"Okay."
He slid his eyes over to Melanie's direction, wondering why she suddenly fell silent.
She had an open magazine in her lap, folding down pages she obviously was interested in.
"Mel, what are you looking at?"
"My mom snuck a couple bridal magazines into my purse before we left the house. She probably wants me to start thinking about my wedding dress for our "wedding"," I replied, using my fingers as air quotes.
"Really, can I see," Jax leaned over the small compartment sepeating me and him, trying to glance at the magazine.
I snatched the magazine up from my lap, holding it tightly to my chest.
"No way! It's bad luck to see the dress before the wedding, even fake ones."
"I thought it was bad luck to see the bride wearing the actual dress."
"Well.. you might be right, but I don't want to take any chances."
Jax grinned as I rolled up the magazine, placing it inside of my purse.
When we finally made it to Cara Cara, I spotted Britt carrying a few boxes of trash bags, taking the lead inside of the warehouse while her younger brother and two buddies followed behind her.
"What's Andrew doing here?", Jax asked, unbuckling his seatbelt while I undid my own.
"Like you. He's here to help out."
"Or he's just helping out to get closer to you because he wants to get in your pants. It' s been his mission since high school."
"How would you know? You never hung out with him."
"Mel, I don't know if you noticed, Charming is a small fucking town. We went to an even smaller high school," Jax got out of the truck, rounding to my side of the car, opening the door for me.
"If you say so," I responded, stepping aside, letting him shut the door.
"If he comes on too strong, let me know and I'll take care of him."
"Okay superman, I will. But until then, can you put your cape away and start helping me clean up this warehouse," I coiled my arm around his, bringing us to the entrance of the warehouse.
When I reached the doorway inside, I rooted my feet to the ground, receiving a worried look from Jax.
"Mel.. Mel.., darlin', you okay?"
I shook my head no, taking a couple steps back from the warehouse.
"I just.. I just need a minute," I turned around, heading back to the truck with Jax right on my tail.
I opened the door to the passenger side, sitting down, digging through my purse for a pack of smokes and my lighter.
I recovered my lighter, but no smokes.
"Fuck, do you have any smokes on you?"
He reached inside his pocket, pulling out a fresh pack, handing them to me.
"Thanks," I pulled out a cigarette, holding the lighter to the end of it.
"Mel, what happened when you got to that door? You looked like you seen a fuckin' ghost."
"Memories of what happened to me came flooding back. I guess it rattled me. Sorry."
"You don't have to apologize. Take all the time you need. You want me to stay out here with you?"
"No, I'm okay. I'll be inside in a minute," I took a deep drag of the cigarette, feeling the smoke dancing around in my lungs calming my nerves as well.
"Hey, is everything alright out here?"
Jax rolled his eyes as the familiar voice jumped into our conversation.
"We're fine out here, Andrew. We'll be inside in a minute," Jax stated sternly.
Andrew was a good looking man. He had short black wavy hair and blue eyes smiliar to the color of Jax's . He grew into his tall 6'3 frame since high school, and had some buldging muscles that he would purposely flaunt by wearing wife beaters or tight t-shirts. He was sweet, maybe too sweet. The kind of sweet that makes you approach with caution.
" Jesus fucking Christ Mel, Britt wasn't kiddin'. Are you okay?," Andrew pushed his way past Jax, leaning in to give me a feather like peck on the cheek.
I looked down, noticing Jax's clenched fists.
"Yeah, I'm okay. It looks worse than it feels."
"Why would Jax drag you out here? You should be at home."
Jax was ready to answer when I jumped to the opportunity first.
"He wanted me to stay home too, but I offered my help."
" Oh okay. I don't want you overworking yourself. You just leave it to me. I think we will be able to have this place up and running by tomorrow."
"Really how? The computer and camera were stolen."
"I bought a brand new computer and camera for the studio."
" Wait, what?"
"Yeah, who needs a savings account?", he smiled, shrugging his shoulders.
"Thanks Andrew. Once production is back up, we will begin to pay you back. You have my word on it."
"Don't worry about it," he winked at me, causing me to feel uncomfortable.
"Easy man, that's my fiance."
"Fiance?"
"Yeah, fiance."
Andrew's eyes found my large "engagement" ring.
"Congratulations. I better get an invite to the bachelor party, Jax."
"I wouldn't count on it, Andrew."
"Jax!"
"It's okay, Mel. I'll see you two inside."
"Jax, you could've just said yes. He wouldn't go to the party for you, he'd go for the pussy."
"I don't trust the asshole so I don't want him at my bachelor party nor do I want him around you."
"Jax Teller, you're starting to sound jealous."
"I'm not jealous. I don't get jealous."
"Whatever you say, Mr. jealousy. For what it's worth, he's not my type."
"You sure because the guys in your movies look insanely similar an.."
My eyes widened, taking in Jax's last statement.
"What did you just say?"
"Nothing," Jax turned red, walking to the warehouse.
I tossed my cigarette, hopping out of the truck, chasing after him.
"You seen my movies."
"No, I didn't."
"You just admitted it! ", I shouted, getting everyone's attention inside of the warehouse.
"Mel fuck, can you lower your voice?"
"No, I can't. My best friend has seen me naked on multiple occasions, riding cock. You seriously expect me to sweep this under the rug?"
"I really perfer it if you do."
"How often do you watch 'em?"
"I'm not answering that."
"I have a right to know. That's me you're watching and I assume jerking off to. I have a right to know. If you tell me, I promise to never bring this up again."
"Promise?"
"I swear," I replied, making the sign of the cross.
He let out a deep sigh, bringing his mouth close to my ear.
" Three to four times a week."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Is it the same movie or do you switch it up?"
"Mel, you swore you'd drop it after I told you."
"I lied. I already knew about the collection you had by the way."
"You did? How?"
"Britt made a bet with me that you had 'em. God damn bet cost me three grand."
He handed me a broom with his face still beat red.
" Here, instead of busting my balls, make yourself useful and help clean up the warehouse."
"According to your hand and dick, I'm pretty useful."
8:00 pm
Britt had a scarf covering Luanne's eyes as she led her to the warehouse.
"Britt, come on. When can I take this thing off?"
She untied the scarf from around Luanne's eyes.
"Surprise!"
Luanne's jaw dropped as she took in the spottless warehouse and brand new computer and camera.
"This is incredible. It looks even better than when we first opened."
She went to each and every one of us, hugging us for about five minutes each.
"My actors better go home and get some sleep. I expect to see every one of you here by nine am tomorrow. That means you too, Mel."
"But I.. look at me."
"Doesn't mean you can't work. How do you feel about becoming my co-producer?"
Jax unlocked the front door to the house, looking back at me.
"You done teasing me for the day?"
"For today, yes."
Half Sack stood up from the kitchen chair, meeting us by the front door.
"What is she teasing you about?"
"None of your business, prospect. Thanks for keeping an eye on things here."
"No problem. Night, Mel."
"Night, Sack."
After Sack left, he went to go to take a shower to get ready for Bobby's party.
The moment I walked past Abel's room, he began to cry.
I stepped back, strolling into the nursery.
I lifted him into my arms, feeling his diaper was heavy.
I brought him to the changing table across the room, giving him a fresh diaper, tossing the soiled one into the diaper geanie.
He was still crying.
I made my way into the kitchen, preparing him a fresh bottle. When the bottle was ready, I brought the nipple to his lips only for him to turn his head.
"Okay. You're changed, you're not hungry... How do you feel about music? I'm not the best singer, but I'll sing you one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite movies since I was 10."
I took a seat in one of the kitchen chairs, rocking Abel gently in my arms.
We were strangers, starting out on a journey
Never dreaming, what we'd have to go through
Now here we are, I'm suddenly standing
At the beginning with you
No one told me I was going to find you
Unexpected, what you did to my heart
When I lost hope, you were there to remind me
This is the start
And life is a road that I wanna keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever, a wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
Abel was quiet, looking at me in wonder. Holding him in one arm, I used my other to wipe away fallen tears on his tear stained cheeks.
He started to cry when I stopped singing to him.
"Sorry, what was I thinking? I didn't mean to stop."
Jax smiled, putting his bike's keys down on the table near the door quietly, listening to her sing to his son one more time.
I hope you enjoyed this new chapter! If anyone was wondering what the song was it is called "At the beginning" by Donna Lewis from the movie Anastasia. Reviews are always welcome!