CHAPTER 3

Friends In Low Places

I laid on a table in front of Happy, who was in the middle of tattooing my thigh he was shading a sugar skull with guns and roses underneath it. He had been at it for about two hours now. I was completely numb at this point. It was a couple weeks after we had first talked about finishing the tattoo. He had to go back up to Tacoma for a bit but now was back for however long. Not like I wad mad or anything. It was his job. I felt like Tacoma just rented him out to whoever. I guess that's just club life though. I was just talking away to fill the silence. Sometimes Happy would make a noncommittal sound in response to something I said, most of the time however, he was quiet trying to focus on tattooing. Like happy usually was.

It would have thrown me if he actually did join in the conversation. Fun fact I have a bad habit of fidgeting when I have no one to talk to, let me tell you I was fidgeting up a storm! More than once Happy growled at me. His way of telling me to stop fucking moving. I was trying to obey. Really, I was. But Jesus, there's only so much one person can do to entertain themselves. I should have brought some music to play while he was working. C'est la vie. A half hour later my phone started buzzing. Oh thank Christ.

"Hey Tavi, what's good?"

"Oh not much my dear, just visiting my Uncle with my brother Mark and I happen to run into some friends of ours."

"Really? Who do we know that lives all the way out there?"

" Do you remember a while back when we took that road trip to my brothers place?"

"oh shit yeah."

"Remember those guys we hung out with at the lake?"

"Oh yeah, yeah. What about them?"

"Well, girl, I went to the bar with Mark and his girl and they were there and of course they recognized me."

"Of course they did."

"Anyways, one of the guys, Esai? I think it was asked for your number so I gave it to him and now I'm calling you as a heads up."

"Well, aren't you little miss match maker? "

"I try baby girl. Lord knows you need to get laid."

"Get fucked Tavi."

"Love you baby doll."

"Yeah, you too."

I smiled as I hung up. Happy was staring at me. "What?" His eyes narrowed. "

You know what, Morrow." I tried to hide my e bust I couldn't. I "Tavi says hi." He glowered at me. "Cut your shit." He growled. I was surprised at how mad he really was. "I''m guessing you heard all that?" Of course he heard of all it. The man could hear everything. He leaned forward glaring at me. "Now isn't the time to be fucking around with outsiders, Lillie." I rolled my eyes at his somewhat warning. He was already making this into something it wasn't. To be honest, I starting to get annoyed with him. "Like anything is going to happen." He just shook his head. He wasn't dumb. "That's Bullshit. You know it and I know it."

He continued to work on the tattoo. Then spoke up again, obviously not done with what he had to say. "Your bullshit is going to get more than just you in trouble." He growled. "You act like all I do is get into trouble." He glanced up at me. "Because that's all you do. You knew what you were getting into when you came back. Clay told you what to expect when you got back. You should know your place within this club." I shot up glowering at him. My fucking place? hoo, hoo buddy, hoo, hoo.

"Hey shithead, believe it or not I came back for a fucking graduation party and to see my parents. Stop acting like I'm some god damn spoiled club princess." He just stared at me for a while. Reverting back to statue Happy. Looking so bored and unaffected by anything I had said. "You done?" I rolled my eyes mocking him. I laid back down, hoping he would be done soon. "Yeah, whatever." I huffed crossing my arms.

It was a while before I said anything to him. But I got bored with the silence and me being me I needed to fill the air with useless small talk. "Sooooooo, got any plans this weekend? Any hot dates? hmmm?" I asked wiggling my eyebrows. He shook his head and wouldn't look at me. "Look, I know I have to be careful. Okay, Happy? It's going to take me a while to figure out "my place here"(I used air quotes)." and rolled my eyes. I stared at Happy's head waiting for him to respond.

He finally looked up at me no change in expression. "Done." "About fucking time slow ass." I wanted to be annoyed. I wanted to be pissed with his shitty arrogant attitude. But its Happy, he's just doing his job. I looked down at the finished product all that melted away. "Jesus, Lowman! This is fucking amazing!" I went to touch it and he knocked my hand away. He helped me off the table and I hugged him super hard. . "Thank you." He didn't hug me back and I was fine with that. But he did pat my back. Still pissed at me. Whatever hombre.

We walked out to the picnic table and Juice whistled. I understood why, first of all: I am fucking hot and secondly: I was wearing a shirt that was basically a dress on me and barely there shorts. The shirt was long enough that it covered jut the top of the tattoo. I lit a cigarette and sighed. Juice walked around the table inspecting the tattoo. Happy stood by me quietly smoking, watching as everyone commented on the tattoo. I was positively gushing. I elbowed him and smiled. "Ya did good, kid." Happy laughed blowing out a huge cloud of smoke he had just inhaled. I thought I caught a smile but I wasn't sure. I wrapped my arm around him and winked. Happy shook his head looking away from me.

THE A COUPLE DAYS LATER*

I was getting changed, having just got out of the shower. I was at my parents house. They had finally moved me back into my old room. boo. I was pulling on some socks and my phone went off. I opened the text. It was from Tavi, she had got to her uncle's in Oakland yesterday and was already losing her mind. Her next text was asking me to pick her up and go for drinks somewhere. Fucking right. I replied and got dressed. I pulled on a army green tee shirt dress that just barely covered my tattoo, tan ankle boots and a jean jacket. I ran a hand through my insanely curly hair, picked up some gold hooped earrings and assessed my appearance, deciding to touch up my make up before leaving. I loved winged eyeliner so that's what I decided to do. Left a note for my mom saying I would be back in a few. There was yet another party at the clubhouse but I was not invited. So, ya know, fuck them. I grabbed the keys to the caddy. and went to pick up Tavi.

It took me a little longer to get to Oakland since I hadn't driven there by myself in forever. I wasn't really looking for land markers when mamma and I came up to shop some weeks back. If I thought getting to Oakland was difficult, Finding Tavi's uncles place proved almost impossible. But I found it eventually not after Tavi had texted me a million and one times asking where I was. When I got to where I thought it would be I honked once and sent her a text saying I was here. She sprinted out of the house laughing. Her aunt waved at me and I waved back. She hopped in the SUV and we rode off.

"What has you in such a great mood?" I glanced over to the girl in the passenger seat. Tavi was a god damn babe. Hands down. Tavi was short for Tavianna. She was at least 5'8 gorgeous caramel skin super long curly hair. Almost amber eyes and full red lips. She was covered in freckles that just added to her sex appeal. She turned to face me fully and smiled."Just excited. I missed you." She blew me a kiss and giggled. This bitch had pregamed. (drank some before I got there.) I laughed shaking my head "Tav, I've been gone maybe two months, three at the most." She rolled her eyes "I missed my buddy. Plus, Emily and Erin went back home." She playfully pouted. "Probably tired of hearing your loud sex." I said joking. She laughed. "That's probably true. But, hey, if its good why should I be quiet?" I guess she had a point but good god. Her room was right beside mine. She must have a lot of good sex then. "So, where are we headed?" I asked after a moment of silence.

Ten minutes later we were on the outskirts of town parked in front of a biker bar. "You're going to get me in trouble tonight, aren't you? I asked Tavi as we got out of the my moms SUV. She winked at me and pulled me through the wooden double doors. We sidled up to the bar like we owned the place and ordered. After getting our drinks I turned to Tavi leaning against the bar and sipped my drink through a straw. "So why did we have to come out the whole way here when we passed a couple different bars?" She sipped her drink, leaning against the bar with her elbows. "We're meeting friends." Why the fuck is she being so mysterious? I waited for her to elaborate but she didn't.

We sat in silence for a while til she glanced over at my exposed thigh. "You dirty bitch! You got it finished?!" She all but shouted making us the center of attention. "Yeah he finished it a couple days ago." I said pulling my dress up higher for her to inspect. "Lillie, its gorgeous!" She said looking up at me. I smiled "I need to get more." I nodded earnestly sipping my drink. "You really do, something more than the "eat me" you have tattooed around your ass cheek." i replied as i went to sip my drink

"That was the worst idea we've ever had!" Tavi exclaimed covering her face and shaking her head. I shook my head. "I like mine and I know Emily does too, you and Erin went over board." I said smugly Tavi turned to me, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Because kiss me, bite me, eat me, and fuck me is tame?" I nodded looking over at her sipping my drink. "I'm glad I got bite me. Erin's dad will fucking flip he ever finds out she had "fuck me" tattooed on her ass." Tavi spluttered almost choking on her drink. "Fucking right?! Oh my god I would die!" She said laughing more.

Once done with our drinks Tavi and I set off to the dance floor. The bar was pretty well packed. We had no problem dancing with whoever was around us. At some point we got separated I headed back to the bar and ordered a drink. I smiled my gratitude to the bar keep.

"Can I buy you a drink?" A sweet sweet voice said to the left of me. My mouth dropped open. Seeing it was the guy from the mall. I gave him a dazzling smile as he recognized me. I smiled, looking him up and down. Good god damn. He was over six feet tall. Built like a damn brick house. Hazel green eyes that pierced right through you. "Are you going to drive me home if I have too much to drink?" The man gave me this huge ass grin and leaned closer to me. "Mama, I'll take you anywhere you want to go." My god. Yeah. Yes please. You can take me anywhere my good sir. I couldn't help but smile and nodded. "You sure can buy me a drink." I was rewarded with an even bigger smile than before.

"You look so familiar to me." I said joking as he handed the drink to me. "Well, he should you nerd, you met him at Marks party. This is Esai Alvarez." I perked up. Ring a ding ding that's why he looked familiar besides seeing him at the mall. "My god! I am such a twit." I said in embarrassment. He threw his arm around my shoulder and shook his head. "Nah Mama, you're fine. It took me a minute but I did recognize you." I couldn't tare my eyes away from his. His eyes just drew me in. "Couldn't stop thinking about me huh?" I joked leaning against him He was taking a sip from his beer and His smile got bigger still. "You could say that." He sipped more of his drink. "I guess you'll have to make a better impression this time." I said smoothly sipping my drink. The way he was looking at me made me want to mount him right then and there. I could feel the heat rising in my cheek. I did everything I possibly could to keep myself from giggling like a little school girl. "I'll be right back." I said making my way to the bathroom.

When I was done I went outside for a cigarette. The night breeze blowing my hair in my face like I needed that while I was smoking. I tried to not catch my hair on fire as I smoked. There was no way I could pull of being bald. I couldn't stop smiling. I felt like a damn idiot. This guy was super hot and he was into me. I needed the cool nights breeze to chill me out. Otherwise I would probably have sex with him in the bathroom by the end of the night. I needed to control myself. As I thought this I felt a hand on my lower back I turned to see Esai looking at me very concerned. "What?" "I asked if you were doing okay. Asked a couple times actually." I frowned looking away. Sipping some my rum and coke. Fun fact I used to think the drink was called a roman coke.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Just lost in thought." I said smiling sheepishly "I tend to have that affect on women." I spit out my drink trying not to choke. Esai chuckled rubbing my back. "Oh is that so?" I gulped. He nodded stepping closer to me. We stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. We were nose to nose, picking up right where we had left off "So are one of those bikes yours?" I nodded to the bikes in front of us I stepped back some. I wasn't going to go to bed with this dude. Even though he was fucking hot, it wasn't going to happen. He nodded and looked over to the bikes. I leaned into his shoulder a bit. I was fucking cold and had left my jacket inside like an idiot. He wrapped an arm around my waist drawing me closer to him.

We walked inside and I immediately spotted Tavi we made eye contact smiling at each other. She was with her brother, cousin and one of their friends. I wanted to make a bee-line for her but Esai pulled me to the a quieter more secluded part of the bar. "Divide and conquer huh?" I asked following Esai. As he went to sit down. He stopped and pulled me closer to him, his hands on my waist. "You could say that." I looked up at him smirking, "I am saying that." I felt ridiculously happy at that moment. "I guess that's that we are doing. Is it working?" I bit my lip "Baby, I don't think you could handle me." He was shocked but recovered quickly. "Try me." His eyes darkened and he leaned into me, kissing me. His lips were so dang soft. His goatee was only the slightest bit prickly against my cheek. I couldn't help but smile through the kiss. I was freaking giddy. My god. He really kissed the crap out of me. I kissed him back standing on tip toe to reach him better.

We sat down at a booth in the back of the bar. His arm around me and we caught up on the past few months. "So have been accosted by anymore rent-a-cops?" he asked. I chuckled shaking my head. "My mother and father put a pretty tight leash on me. Apparently, they think I cause trouble." I said in mock disbelief. Esai laughed shaking his head."You? Trouble? Not a chance." He laughed and looked down spotting my fresh ink. "What's this?" He asked pushed my dress up higher on my thigh to look at my tattoo. He looked up at me and gave me this fucking wicked smile. Like I didn't know what he was trying to do. Pfft. "A tattoo." He smirked his hand sliding higher. I smiled and wouldn't you know it i started fucking blushing. We kissed again my hand holding tight to the one on my thigh. I just felt myself blushing harder.

At that moment my phone started ringing. "I gotta take this." I stood up grabbing my phone and headed to the bathroom. I said simply and headed in that direction. Woo boy. I saw that it was Happy and ignored the call. Like I needed his bullshit right now. I wiped my hands off with a paper towel and checked my phone. Mamma texted me letting me know her and daddy weren't coming home tonight. I started thinking about Happy.

Normally I would have never made it this far through the date. It was weird to me that he hadn't showed up. What? What the fuck? I didn't need him to have a good time. Here was a guy willing to fuck and hang out and here I am thinking about mister grumpy gills. I didn't notice Esai leaning against the wall. He watched I chewed my lip trying to figure out what I was going to do. He grabbed my hand and lightly tugged on it. I looked up and smiled. Oh hey there, pal. "I'm going to go for a smoke want to come?" I asked swinging our hands a bit. He shook his head pulling me close.

Esai closed the distance between us. His kissed me. The kiss was hungry and demanding. His hands traveling up my sides. One stopped at my lower back the other gripped the back of my neck. He nipped my lower lip, I moaned quietly. Anyone can bite my lip and I would moan. He grabbed my ass hoisting me up and pressing my back against the wall. I wrapped my legs around his waist, I started giggling and sucked on his neck, biting him slightly. He groaned when his phone went off and he set me down. He turned away as I walked outside for a smoke. Well, that happened.

I leaned back against the building and sighed couldn't hep feel a little guilty about kissing Esai. I couldn't figure out why though. Esai came out looking really disappointed. his friends followed him out and went to their bikes. I noticed he was wearing a jacket now and I frowned. "Business call?" He sighed and nodded. "Well, see you around I guess." I blew out some smoke. He pressed his forehead to mine and caught my hand in his. "We will get together soon, yeah?" I nodded kissing him lightly. I watched him get on his bike and start it up. The others started theirs as well. I felt a nudge and smiled at Tavi. She had a weird look on her face. "You're leaving me too?" I said sadly frowning. "well seeing as you're my ride I can't really go anywhere. But I was wondering if you could drop me off some where else other than my uncle's place?" I nodded taking my jacket Tavi and walked to over to the caddy. . Tavi hopped in on the other side and we took off. She gave me directions to Marks' friends house.

Once we got there she told me how to get back to the interstate. I nodded. "Are you sure you're okay to drive?" she said flicking the ash from her cigarette out the window. "Yeah, I'm just super tired." I said closing my eyes and resting my head against the head rest. "You're a terrible liar." I flipped her off. She chuckled and we sat in silence for a bit. I heard my phone chime letting me know someone had texted me. "Hey Lil?" I didn't Open my eyes. "LILLIE." Tavi grabbed my arm. "what?" I whined. "Fuckin' Happy is on his way here." I launched myself forward, eyes probably bugging out of my head. I stared At Tavi, she was holding my phone. She showed me the text.

For some reason or another I hopped out of the caddy joining her on the passenger side. I knew how much trouble I was already in, so my drunk mind said fuck it already in trouble whats a little more? I nudge Tavi, "Wanna do some shots?" She gave me this smile that could have lit up the entire block and we made our way up the walk to the house.

Forty- five minutes later found us in a fit of giggles, sitting cross legged on the floor of Marks friends front porch. He had given Tavi a key before he left with Esai. She went into the house and grabbed a bottle of tequila. By the time Happy got to the house. I was so drunk I couldn't even see straight. The bottle was full when we got it. As Happy and someone else walked up the path to us Tavi passed me the joint we had been sharing. "I asked you earlier if you were going to get me in trouble, Lillie. " Tavi hiccuped elbowing me, I fell over and grunted. Fuck. "Y aquí estamos en problemas."(And here we are in trouble." She slurred motioning wildly to our present situation. I hissed eyeing the approaching figures. "¡No, tonto, soy yo quien te lo pide! No eres el que está en problemas. Lados que son problemas." (No, you fool, that's me asking you! You're Not the one in trouble. you are trouble) I grumbled setting my self right.

Happy opened the screen door and walked in; Kozik followed him in and stood just slightly behind him. His eyes met mine and he winked. Why hello my good sir. I gave him my most dazzling smile before turning my attention to Happy. I could feel the barely contained rage rolling off of him. To tell you the truth I couldn't really meet Happy's gaze I scanned his face, nose, mouth, cheeks, ears, and finally, forehead. But I just couldn't meet his gaze. I decided that I was going to walk out of here with what little dignity I had left. It took me a moment to stand but I got there eventually. "Hey, ayúdame." (Hey help me up.) Tavi said throwing her hands up in the air. "follar en el sofá Tav."(fuck your couch, Tav)I tried to help her up but She waved me off after what I said.

I lit a cigarette and made my way past them as my phone started ringing. I heard Happy growl something about putting me through a wall, when I pulled it out. I walked to the caddy to roll the windows up and get my stuff out. I knew I wouldn't be driving home. I answered it as I hopped in "Hello?" I hiccuped starting the suv. "Hey Mama." Esai's cool voice sang through and I giggled. Pressing the window button to close the windows. "Hey." I grabbed my jacket and wallet as I got out of the caddy. "I feel really bad about leaving you in the lurch like I did. Can I take you home or at least apologize in person?" He just wanted to fuck. His voice was way to hopeful to be sincere.

"I haven't made it home yet. I dropped Tavi off at Marks friend place." "Oscar." He interjected. "Right, Oscars place but." Happy snatched the phone and threw it. "Do you have any god damn idea in your fucking head?" He growled. Happy Lowman stood in front of me madder than hell but I could help but smile as I shut the door behind me. I stared at him for a second. I mean in the years I have known him I don't ever remember him being this mad at me, ever. At that moment I saw him more clear than I ever have before. So, maybe that's why I did what I did. He was about to say something else when I kissed him. It was just a sweet little kiss. "I'm sorry." I pulled away and walked over to the bikes.

Where Tavi and Kozik stood. They looked really chummy. I didn't hear Happy behind me nor did I see the look he gave the other two, but Tavi went back to the house and Kozik hopped on his bike and started it up. He grabbed my arm dragging me over to his bike. It sent chills down my side. Not good ones. I had fucked up in a big way. I got on his bike and he tore off