Casey was in the middle of getting ready for Trish's party, when her grandmother walked in and smiled.
"You look so pretty", she said.
"Thank you", she replied.
"Do you know what time you'll be home?", her grandma asked.
"Probably not too late. Maybe eight or nine", Casey replied.
"Well, if you plan to stay longer, maybe you should just sleep over at Trish's house if you can. We don't want you walking home so late and that far", she said.
Casey nodded. When her grandma walked out, Casey grabbed a bag and placed a change of clothes in it. Hopefully Karl wasn't planning to spend the night, then Casey would have to walk home if he was.
Walking out into the living room, she kissed her grandpa's cheek and he smiled.
"Have fun Casey", he said, gently patting her hand.
She hugged and kissed her grandma's cheek as well.
"I'll just spend the night at Trish's house, this way you won't wait up for me.", she said.
"Okay sweetie", her grandma said.
She walked out of her apartment. Half way down the street, a car pulled over and the window rolled down. She got nervous till she noticed it was AJ.
"Hey, what are you doing crossing the railroad tracks?", he asked.
Nervously she played with the strap of her bag. She looked back towards her home and sighed.
"I live down there", she replied.
He just stared at her for a long minute before focusing on the road ahead.
"Get in", he suddenly said.
"Excuse me?", she asked, not sure if she heard him right.
"Get in Casey", he repeated.
She did and put her bag in the back seat.
"You could have just told me where you actually lived. I don't judge, trust me, I've lived in worse neighborhoods", he said, glancing over at her.
"I'm sorry about that. Its just, most people who find out where I live like to make fun of that.", she said.
"Well not me.", he said.
She nodded.
"What were you doing there?", she asked.
AJ shifted a bit before looking out the window.
"Business", was all he offered.
She nodded, knowing that meant she wasn't getting anymore.
"So how is it that you go to the high school on the east side instead of the west?", he asked.
"Trish and I have been best friends since kindergarten. When my parents died and my grandparents lost their house, her parents let me use their address", she explained.
He nodded.
"Sorry to hear about your parents", he said.
She smiled.
"Your parents didn't leave a will or inheritance?", he asked.
"They did, but, my dad he liked to gamble and well, the day after the funeral, the men collected. Its how my grandparents lost their house too", she said.
"Collected?", he asked.
She looked over to him.
"DX", she said.
He looked to meet her eyes before looking ahead again.
"I don't work for them anymore", he said.
"Why?", she asked.
"You can't tell anyone just yet.", he said.
She nodded.
"A couple of the guys who also work for DX want out. We've got the money and clients. We are starting our own club", AJ said happily.
"Doing the same thing DX does?", she asked.
"No. Hearing your story just now, I want to be able to give families a chance. Why take out the sins of the gambler on their families. They are innocent.", he said.
That made her feel good.
"So, are you going to Trish's party?", she asked, playing with her hands.
"I wasn't planning it, but, seeing as I bumped into you. Why not", he shrugged.
She blushed and looked over at him. He smiled, eyes still on the road.
He was eating and having a conversation with her grandma like it was his normal routine.
"Did you get your groceries, Mrs. Russo? I asked Kenny to drop it off before his shift", AJ said.
Casey knew that when he said shift, he meant making his rounds to all the dealers and collecting the money. He glanced at her and she rolled her eyes.
"Yes dear, such a sweet boy he is", her grandma said.
"Groceries?", Casey asked.
Her grandma nodded.
"I didn't want to worry you. AJ said you were so busy working. Since he was in town more, he could help me out.", she explained.
"To deliver your medicine and groceries", Casey said.
Her grandmother laughed softly.
"And take me to my doctor's appointments. I can't drive myself anymore, so AJ or one of his friends is kind enough to take and bring me", she said.
"Its my pleasure Mrs. Russo", AJ said.
Her grandma walked out of the room.
"You didn't need to do all that", Casey said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Yes I did. You left and she was all alone. I found her walking to the grocery store one day, it was hot. Besides that, she's family", AJ said.
"Stop saying that", Casey said.
"I fucked up, I know I did, but I did it to protect you Casey. You would be dead right now along with Trish if I didn't get there on time", he whispered.
"Protect me? Hunter took me and Trish because of you and Karl, and you didn't get there on time. If you did, Trish would still be alive", Casey said.
"Karl and I feel bad about that.", AJ said.
"You promised me, AJ. When I said yes to marrying you. You promised that this club would be legit. A Casino and strip club. Not prostitution, no drugs, and no illegal gambling rings. I trusted you and you broke it. You pissed off Vince and Hunter", she said angry.
"It wasn't suppose to be all that, but there was no money coming in the legal way", AJ said.
She leaned back in her chair.
"I never lied about loving you, Casey.", AJ said.
She met his eyes.
"Did you sleep with anyone?", she asked.
"Yes", he said.
"Me too", she said.
"I would be surprised if you didn't. Its been fifteen years.", he said.
"How long did you wait? Six months?", she asked.
"Three years", he said.
That caught her off guard.
"I hoped that you would come home. I waited", he said.
"Was it the same woman or different women?", she asked.
He swallowed.
"The same woman for the first five years. Then it turned into different women", he said.
She nodded.
"Knock any of them up?", she asked.
For that, she couldn't forgive him.
"Absolutely not. Made them take that morning after pill just in case", he said.
"And of course they took it or they would one day wake up with a gun to their head", she said.
"Obviously. Only you get to carry my children", he said.
She chuckled.
"You wish", she said.
"Come home, Casey. You don't have a choice", he said, standing and walking towards the door.
She stood to follow him and give him a piece of her mind, but was stopped to see her grandma hugging him goodbye.
"Need anything Mrs. Russo, call me and I'll have it to you in a second. Only the best for you", AJ said.
Her grandma smiled and waved to him.
"I'll see you tomorrow at the club baby. Wear something nice for dinner, Mrs. Styles", he winked.
They watched him drive off. Her grandma looked at her.
"You don't love him anymore?", she asked.
Casey looked at her.
"I never stopped. I just needed some distance.", Casey said.
Her grandma nodded.
"You were so young when you got married. Right out of high school, then Trish passed and I can see why you felt trapped in this small town", her grandma said.
Casey nodded.
"Work it out with him. He really missed you", she said.
"Sure he did", Casey said.
"He lied you know", her grandma said as she sat in her recliner.
Casey joined her on the couch.
"Lied? About what?", Casey asked.
"About those other women. He didn't wait three years, more like six. Spent every day here, helping around the house from morning till late night", she said.
"He could have found time", her grandma stopped her.
"No, because when he finally did sleep with another woman, he broke down in front of me. He was terrified you would find out and divorce him.", she explained.
"What did you say to him?", Casey asked.
"That I was a bit disappointed, but understood. You were working and gone all the time Casey. He had to fly out to you and who knows if you paid him any mind.", her grandma said.
"I slept with someone else too", Casey admitted.
"And?", her grandma asked.
"I felt horrible. The first thing that came to mind was AJ, after. He was the only man I had ever been with and then he wasn't.", Casey said.
Her grandma nodded and took her hand, gently squeezing it.
"Well, you're back now and if you still do love him, make it work", she said.
Casey nodded.
AJ arrived at the club, seeing Finn, he sent him a nod.
"How is she?", Finn asked.
"She's got that same mouth on her, but that's one of the reasons I love her. She speaks her mind. Is up front with me. Also, still so fucking beautiful", AJ said.
Finn laughed softly.
"The queen is back", Finn said.
"Wait till you find yours, then you'll understand", AJ said.
Finn patted his back before leaving. AJ looked around the club. He was going to find a way to keep her for good this time.
Back then he didn't have men to do his dirty work, now he does.
"Styles", he turned at the call of his name.
"Garcia is here", Kenny said.
AJ nodded.
"Put him in the meeting room, I'll be there in a second. Let Finn and Karl know", AJ said.
Kenny nodded and left.