"Tommy?" Amber yelled as she walked into her boyfriend's flat.
"About time," he said walking into the kitchen to meet her. "Where've you been?" he gave her a light peak on the cheek and headed to the fridge "food?"
"Ah nah I'll wait till we go out. I stayed the night in Charming at one of the waitresses place, was way too tired to drive, I really need to find a place in Charming."
"I told you getting a job in Charming wasn't practical when you live in Lodi," he said. Then he noticed her lip and gently grabbed her chin to examine it.
"And I told you I can only get work where there is work and there was nothing in Lodi. I had a few drinks after work and took a tumble, can you let go of my face." She mentally congratulated herself on going home first and changing into a three quarter sleeve top that covered all that needed to be covered.
He took her hand and led her into his bathroom sitting her down on the edge of the bath tub and gently put cream on her lower lip. He blew on it a little to help it dry faster.
Tomas was a sweet heart. They had only been going out for a few weeks but he was the most devoted guy in the world. He was sensitive and caring as well as gentle and sweet everything Tig Tragger was not. She felt a pang of guilt run through her and the thought of Tig. She liked Tommy and didn't like that she had cheated on him but at the same time she had no regrets. Tig could scratch her itch in a way Tommy couldn't.
"I think I might give up my Lodi apartment and find a place in Charming, make it easier to pick up more shifts at the Dog," she said casually as she stood in front of the bathroom mirror and played with her hair.
"Oh, well I guess that sounds logical," he said "whatever you want."
It was not the answer she wanted to hear. She wanted to be told she had to stay in Lodi, that she could give up her job because as an accountant he earned enough to support her.
"Ah I see you found your cut brother," came Chibs loud Scottish voice.
"Yeah, that gothic looking bitch had it," said Tig handing his brother a beer and greeting the others as they walked in.
"Did you hit that little tart?" asked Clay even though he already knew the answer.
"Ah fuck," he ran a hand through his hair slightly embarrassed, "yeah I did but I don't remember it."
The room erupted in laughter.
"You find a fine woman like that and you don't even remember shagging her, ah shame on you Tigger," Chibs said hitting him on the back.
"Ah fuck you all," he said and he headed out to his bike.
The sun was beginning to set and he wanted to head to the Hairy Dog to see if Amber was working. First he headed home to stow his cut safely away, no way was he making the mistake of losing that again.
"Hey babe how was lunch with the boyfriend?" asked Lilly as Amber walked into the bar through the staff door out the back.
"Was okay," she said giving the girl a kiss on the cheek and putting her bag in her locker.
"And how was the big bad biker?"
"Delightful. Thanks for letting me crash at yours I was fucking legless after he was done with me," she grinned slyly.
"Think you will ditch Tommy for him? I wouldn't if I we're you, Tig Tragger has a rep in this town, he is good for a night but that's it." Lilly led the way to the front of the bar and the two started their prep work.
"Tommy is sweet and does everything I ask him to do but he is such a sensitive push over and not all that exciting in the sack, and Tig is the complete opposite," she replied as she took the stools off the bar. She shrugged, "not really open for discussion anyway Tig doesn't seem like the relationship type."
The night started off slow. The Hair Dog was a dark little pub that did not get a lot of civilian traffic through because the large Nord population unnerved them. It had a high staff turnover because the owner liked to higher you woman and young woman didn't like to be harassed by the Nords. Lilly was in her thirties and often dated Nords, she didn't seem to go for their white hate bull shit but Amber suspected she was a regular customer of theirs.
"Hey Amber get me a jug baby, bring it over to me at the booth," said one of the regulars as he took a seat with a few of his boys.
Lilly looked at Amber coldly, "since when did Darby he ask you to do his drinks?"
Amber could only shrug.
She pulled the bear and took it over to the booth on a try with a few glasses she set it down on the table and asked if they wanted anything else.
"Nah you can piss off," said one of the heavily inked boys.
Amber really didn't like these guys. She hated people who thought they were better than others simply because of their race or religion.
"Well shit you're all politeness aren't you," she said glaring at the guy.
"Fuck off bitch," was the reply.
"Amber get back behind the bar girl," Lilly came over and stood next to her, "sorry boys."
Darby eyed the older woman, "you got my money Lilly?"
"I ah, sorry Ernie, I will get it for you soon as I can," she got all flustered and moved back behind the bar as fast as she could.
"I saw you talking to one of the Sons last night," Darby said to Amber "I don't expect to see him around here again you hear me?"
Amber nodded, "then don't come here."
Before she knew what was happening Darby had her bent backwards over the pool table, his big hand around her small neck.
"Listen you little bitch, you're new to town and I get that but you need to learn the way things work around here and you need to learn fast," he hissed in her air.
"And the way it works Amber is that when shit heads give you troubles you come see uncle Tigger and I sort them the fuck out," no one had seen Tig walk into the bar. He didn't raise his voice, he didn't pull his gun he simple stood in the door way and spoke.
Darby released Amber and turned to Tig, "one Son is not threat to us," he said as the three Nords that were at the booth with him stood.
"Cut the bull shit Darby, you know that taking me on means the club will just come after you full force at a later date and see I know you know that which means I also know that you know you are in a powerless position right now. In short fuck off or I make a phone call and you will be forced to fuck off." Tig walked over to Amber and put a hand on her shoulder and gave it a wee squeeze.
The four Nords headed for the door looking more than pissed off. Before Darby walked out the door he turned back and was met by a sly smile on Ambers face and her middle finger.
Tig handed Amber a card with a number on it, "you call that if they give you any more trouble. Now go get me a drink."
Tig stayed for only one drink, he had been gone for about an hour before Amber even noticed. She was rushed off her feet cleaning up spills and dealing with fights. Friday's were always the worst nights because all the guys from the local mill got paid and wanted to relax after working so hard all week long.
"God I think I could fall asleep on my feet," sighed Amber as she locked the front door from the inside and started putting the chairs up on the bar to make it easier for the cleaners to mop up later that day. It was 3am.
"You're crazy working here and living there," yawned Lilly, "stay at my place tonight; you can't drive now you won't even make it out of Charming before you're crashed in a ditch asleep at the wheel."
Amber made no attempt at protesting. "Thanks Lil you're a sweet heart. I'm going to try find a place in Charming and give up my Lodi flat then you won't have to put up with me doing this to you."
They got into their separate cars and headed for Lilly's.
As they walked in the door Lily had a brainwave, "why don't you move in here? We know we get on okay and I have the room and could do with some help paying rent."
Amber jumped at the chance. Before going to bed they decided that they would drive up to Lodi in the afternoon and pick up Amber's few belongings. They would only need one car and it would take only one trip.
So i totally forgot that 21 is the legal drinking age in America (it's 18 here) so for this story lets pretend the legal age is actually 18 ;p
Thanks for the reviews and alerts and all that. I have no idea where this story is going yet but you all motivate me to write it.