Chapter 6: The revealing bike ride
2 Months 3 Weeks and 5 days till deadline.
Jess tried not cringe as the drunk man hit on her. This was the part of working in a club she hated. Every drunk man thought she was an easy mark.
Jess handed the man over his drinks.
"Come on baby, join us." the man suggested pointing over to his friends.
Jess smiled but shook her head.
"Sorry sweetie I have to work." Jess apologised.
Not that she any intention of going with him even if she wasn't working. She couldn't turn him down outright because they wanted to have his repeat custom but that didn't mean she liked it.
The man took her hand and kissed it.
"Another time, beautiful." He mumbled slurring over some words.
Jess just smiled and thankfully he turned and walked over to his friends.
"At least we know he'll be back." A familiar voice said next to her.
Jess turned and came face to face with Thea.
Today had been a long day from an even longer week. Half of their staff were out sick with some bug that was going around and so both Thea and Jess were having to help out behind the bar. Not to mention the double shifts she had be pulling all week just so the club could be up and running every night.
"Take a break." Thea ordered.
Jess shook her head. She would love a break, her feet hurt and her head pounded but they really couldn't afford for her too. Even with both of them working they were still down a barman and two waitresses.
"I can't." Jess replied reluctantly.
Thea smiled.
"Take a break." Thea repeated her voice leaving no room for arguing.
Jess sighed, she could really do with a break.
"Ok." Jess agreed.
"But just ten minutes." She added as Thea pushed her out of the bar.
Jess walked on her tired feet towards the lair. She had been so busy the last week that she hadn't had time to do much other than work and sleep.
No to mention things between her and Tommy had been strange ever since the bar crawl and Jess had no idea why. She missed the fun they used to have, she missed being able to text him every stupid thought she had in her head. She missed his running commentary of Connors training sessions with Andy. She missed them. But most off all she just must him.
Not even the flirty text she had been getting from Eli the guy she met on the bar crawl could distract her. Sure he was fun and sweet but he wasn't Tommy and that fact was starting to become a problem.
Jess made her way down the stairs.
"Hey Jess." Connor called as she reached the bottom step.
Jess smiled and made her way over to him.
She silently hugged him before heading over to the sofa. She didn't come here to distract them she came her to have a break and maybe see Tommy. She really wanted to see Tommy.
Connor turned to look at her.
"You look tired." He pointed out.
Jess sunk into the sofa and nodded.
"It's been a long week." She mumbled.
"The boys ok?" Jess asked noticing Tommy and Andy were nowhere in sight which meant they had to be out in the streets.
"Yeah their just finishing up something." Connor reassured her, but not given her any detail.
"Why not take a nap?" Connor suggested.
Jess sighed, she was really tired.
"Will you wake me up in ten minutes?" Jess asked and Connor nodded.
"Sure." he replied.
Jess nodded and closed her eyes. Ten minutes wouldn't hurt.
"Thanks Connor." Jess mumbled as sleep consumed her.
Tommy flew through the streets on the arrow bike, glad the night was finally coming to an end. He had been distracted all night. No, that was a lie. He had been distracted all week. He hadn't spoken to Jess since the bar crawl and he missed her. Tommy knew there had been a problem with staff at the club all this week but it was killing him not speaking to her.
"Why don't you both head out early?" Tommy suggested to his brother and Andy through the comms.
"What about you?" Andy questioned.
"I'm just going to head back to the lair and check on a couple of things before doing the same." Tommy lied.
Tommy knew he was too distracted to sleep so he was planning on working out until he was too tried to move but neither Connor nor Andy needed to be there for that.
"Cool then I'm signing off, got a date with a beautiful lady." Andy replied before turning off his comms.
Andy had been seeing someone he met at the bar crawl and Tommy was happy for him.
"What about you?" Tommy asked his brother.
He knew things between Connor and Katie had been tense since the bar crawl. Connor had been spending more time at the lair than usual.
"You're not avoiding Katie again are you?" Tommy added.
If he would have known asking his brother to come out with them would have caused this much of a problem he wouldn't have asked.
"Tommy, mine and Katie issue are not your fault." Connor assured him as if he was reading his mind.
Tommy sighed.
"So you signing out?" Tommy questioned.
"No, I think I'm going to head upstairs and see if I can convince Thea to let me take over for Jess for a bit." Connor replied concern lace his voice.
"What's wrong with Jess?" Tommy demanded more forcefully then he intended.
Connor ignored his tone.
"The clubs been short staffed for about a week and Jess has been working double shifts all week she looks shattered." Connor explained.
"She could really do with a break." Connor added.
Jess needed a break and Tommy needed to make sure she got it.
"Do you think you can get Jess to meet me out back?" Tommy asked his brother looking down at the arrow bike.
Tommy had planned on using his dad's bike to take Jess on her bike ride but maybe if he was really careful he could get away with taking her on this one.
"Sure." Connor said warily.
Jess placed the money in the till and turned directly into Connors chest.
"Owe." Jess mumbled rubbing her head.
For a self-proclaimed computer geek Connor sure had a hard chest.
"Sorry." Connor muttered as he took a step back.
Jess nodded and frowned as she looked up at him. He was standing behind the bar.
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
Connor turned to the counter and took someone order.
"Well your short staffed so I asked Thea if you guys need and hand and she said yes." Connor explained as he went about making drinks.
Jess took her own order.
"You don't have to do this. We're coping." Jess promised.
Yes they were short staffed but they were coping.
"Right now you're coping but when you leave, it will be hard for the others." Connor replied.
Jess frowned. She was closing Vendetta today.
"I'm here to closing." Jess informed him.
Connor shook his head.
"You were." He told her.
"But now you leaving, Tommy's waiting for you out back." Connor added.
Jess turned to face Connor.
"What?" She demanded. She had no idea what was going on.
"I am finishing your shift for you and Tommy is out back waiting to take you home." Connor explained.
Jess wanted to argue she really did but she was so tired and the idea of seeing Tommy was too hard to resist.
"Ok." Jess agreed.
Connor smiled before gently pushing out of the bar.
Jess made her way to the back alley.
"Tommy?" she called frowning at the empty alleyway.
"Hey stranger." Tommy's deep voice rumbled from behind her.
Jess turned and found Tommy still in his hood standing by the basement door. Jess didn't see Tommy in his hood very often but every time she did it took her breath away.
Tommy slowly walked towards her and Jess had to remind herself to breath.
Tommy walked passed her and over to his bike, Jess's eyes followed his every move.
He sat down and held out his hand.
"Do you trust me?" He asked.
Jess didn't even need to think before answering.
"More than anything." she breathed and took his head.
Tommy gently pulled Jess over to him and placed the helmet on her head.
He took a deep breath as she settled herself behind him. He didn't think anyone's words could affect you the way Jess's words had him.
"More than anything." she had breathed and Tommy's heartbeat speed up.
He shook his head he needed to get himself together, she was and always will be his friend and he needed to remember that. Not get caught up on anything he thought he might be feeling towards her.
"Hold on to me tight." Tommy ordered as he gently pulled her arms around him.
Tommy felt Jess nodded into his back.
"Don't let go." He ordered.
Jess tightened her hold on him and Tommy took off.
He loved the feel of her behind him.
"This is incredible." Jess squealed in delight.
Tommy couldn't help but smile. If she was happy then so was he.
Tommy pulled up outside her apartment about forty minutes later. He knew he had taken a risk riding with Jess while he was still wearing the hood but seeing her excited face as she pulled of the helmet Tommy couldn't bring himself to care.
"Thank you, thank you." Jess repeated throwing herself into his arms.
Tommy caught her easily and pulled her in close. Had she always fit his body so perfectly? It felt so good having her this close.
"I've missed you this week." Jess mumbled into his chest.
Tommy looked down surprised. He knew he had been so busy trying to forget how Jess looked that night he had let the days get away from him by waiting for her to call him, when he could have been calling her.
"I thought I did something wrong." Jess admitted as she pulled out of his arms.
Tommy shook his head.
"You didn't, I just got busy." Tommy lied.
He had never been mad with her and he hated that he had made her feel that way.
Jess smiled before hugging him again.
"Good." Jess said into his chest.
Tommy hugged her tightly.
"You should get going before someone sees you." Jess said reminding him of his outfit.
Tommy nodded.
"Go on up." Tommy ordered.
"Thank you Tommy." she said stepping towards him.
"Thank you for helping me cross another item off the list." she added.
Tommy nodded and Jess smiled before gently kissing his cheek and walking away.
"Night." Jess called over her shoulder.
Tommy watched her walk away as realisation hit him.
"Shit." Tommy muttered to himself.
Sara was right he liked Jess.
