Say You Love Me

Chapter 13

I really hope she doesn't start off with fifty different questions… I thought to myself as I pulled back into the driveway from picking up Steph. She had been quiet the entire ride over here.

"Steph, are you okay?" I asked her. Stephanie looked like she wanted to ask me something.

"Yeah…I'm just nervous," she told me looking at the house.

"Why, what the matter?"

"Is Jackson mean? Is that why Mom wants you to stay away from me? He's not racist or anything?" she asked. I took a deep breath and chuckled. This must have been Brenda spewing her nonsense all over the place.

"First of all, Jackson isn't mean. He's a hell of a lot nicer to me then Mom ever was and second of all he's not racist. We are half black and half Irish; two races that some people in Charming have an issue with, Jackson, however doesn't have an issue with any of it! Do you honestly think that I'd be living with him and enjoying the holiday with him if he was? You're silly," I told her as I got out and grabbed her bag from the trunk.

She hopped out and followed me.

"But I overheard Mom talking to someone…"

"Brenda is full of shit and like to manipulate people to get what she wants. I'm pretty sure she has talked about me over these past few weeks. Did you believe any of it?" I asked her heading towards the front door. I turned to look at her and it looked like a light bulb had gone off in her head as she smiled.

"You're so right Steph," she told me as she ran and hugged me. I kissed her forehead. God, I have missed her…

"Come on, lets go eat," I opened the door and yelled out for Jackson.

"I'm in the guest bedroom! Be right there," he yelled out. I set Steph's bag down by the couch. I told her where everything was as I fixed her a plate. I had just sat hers on the table when Jax walked in.

"I waited on you two to get back so we could eat together," he told me with a kiss on the cheek.

"You didn't have to do that, Jax," I told him as I heard Steph clear her throat. I turned around to look at her and she was smirking. She better not embarrass me.

"Stephanie, this is Jackson Teller. Jax, this is my sister Steph," I said. Steph reached her little hand out to shake hands with Jax.

"Nice to meet you finally Jax!" she said.

"You too, little one. I got the guest room all set up for you."

"Thank you, I'm sorry to bother you guys like this," she told Jax with her head down.

"Hey, you are more then welcome here whenever you like," he told her.

"See I told you he wasn't mean!" I told her as I stuck my tongue out at her. Jax turned around with a confused look on his face, I mouthed Brenda, and left it at that.

"Okay he's not mean, he's pretty awesome…you could have told me he was hot though."

"Steph!"

"What? You guys boyfriend/ girlfriend yet?" she asked. Jax just sat there and laughed.

"Yes, we are," Jax told her.

"You're a pain do you know that? Grab your plate and go in the living room. We're watching a movie."

"Yes Mother," she said as she headed out of the kitchen.

"She's really funny, I like her."

"Yeah she's a real freaking hoot. You know Brenda tried telling her that you were racist or some shit like that?"

"Jesus Christ, really?"

"Yeah…I'm done talking about her for the rest of the night though. Let's go eat!"

"Yes Ma'am."

We ate and I had Steph situated in the guest room after she got out of the shower and before I headed to bed. I tucked her in and went to stand up when she grabbed my hand.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"Thank you for not forgetting about me."

"I could never forget about you, I love you. Go to sleep, if you think Jax is awesome wait until you meet Miss Gemma," I said with a smile as I kissed her on the forehead.

I closed her bedroom door, walked into Jax's room and was met with a half naked Jackson with a smirk on his face.

"Round two?" I asked whipping my shirt over my head.

"Get over here…" He told me. I really love this man was my last thought before he ravished and cherished my body well into the middle of the night.

I woke up to an empty bed and a note.

Had to run an errand, I'll meet you and Steph at Gemma's.

Love, Jax.

Well shit! I wanted to make him breakfast! I got up and made Steph pancakes before she could get up. She came out into the kitchen after I had just put the last one on the plate.

"Morning sleepy head! You sleep okay?" I asked.

"Yeah…but you and Jax need to be quiet. There are children trying to sleep here," she said laughing. I felt my face turn red as I mumbled an apology.

"Where is the boyfriend anyway?"

"He had some errands to run. Said he'd meet us at Gemma's. I wanted to get there early to help her if she needed it. I'm gonna go take a shower and get ready."

"Okay, I'll get ready after I'm done."

I went and got ready, deciding to just throw on a black dress that stopped just about my knees and had lace sleeves that covered my shoulders. My black wedges would do. I texted Jackson and let him know that we'd be at Gemma's within the next hour or so. He said he was already there. I yelled for Steph to see if she was ready as I walked into her room. She had all of her stuff packed back in her bag. I smiled when I realized that she had on a black dress too that went down to her ankles.

"You want help with your hair?" I asked.

"Yes, please. It's thick like yours and I still haven't figured out how to do anything with it."

"I got you. Curls, half up and down?"

"Yes, please. Thank you."

"No Prob," I told her.

Forty-Five minutes later, we were pulling up to Gemma's house. Steph was nervous; she grabbed my hand as we headed inside.

"It's gonna be okay," I told her.

"Mom's gonna kill me."

"Don't worry, I'll deal with it." I told her as I set my purse down. Jackson and Clay were in the living room having what looked like a heated conversation. Not today guys, please… Clay stopped speaking as he saw my sister and me.

"Wow, Babe. You two look beautiful," Jax said as he got up and kissed me.

"Thanks Jax," I told him. Steph still was holding on to my hand as Jax took her other one and introduced her to Clay.

"Stephanie, this is my step father Clay." I saw her eyes bug out of her head as she let go of my hand to shake his. The guys both had their cuts on, she probably saw the president patch on Clay's cut.

"You're the president of the club! That's so awesome! Thanks for letting me come over," she said in awe. Clay had a huge smile on his face.

"No problem at all. We are happy to have the both of you here. I'm gonna go check on Gemma in the kitchen," he said as he walked away.

"I can't believe I thought Jax was a prospect," she mumbled as Jax starting laughing.

"Don't' worry, I corrected her. Did Gem need any help with the food?"

"No Babe, as far as I know she's just waiting on the bird."

"I want to meet Miss Gemma, Shay!" Steph piped in.

"I'm gonna go sit on the roof, I'll be back in in a little while," Jax told me.

"Okay, Baby," I kissed him and went to introduce Steph to Gemma.

Clay was nowhere to be seen, I assumed he was out in the garage.

Gemma turned around and smiled when she saw Steph and I.

"Hey Sweetheart, what are you doing her so early?"

"We wanted to come and see if you needed any help." I asked her.

"Everything is all set, I'm just waiting for the turkey. Is this the famous Stephanie? She's beautiful," Gemma asked.

"Stephanie, this is Miss Gemma. This is Jackson's momma." I told her.

Gemma got down on eye level with Steph and Steph hugged her.

"It's nice to meet you Miss Gemma."

"Likewise, Sweetheart. There's some snacks and other finger food on the table in the dinning room if you need anything until dinners ready."

Stephanie said thanks and headed off to the dinning room.

"I figured you wouldn't mind if I brought her over. She called me crying last night. Brenda was just gonna leave her alone at the house today."

"Yeah, I know. Jackson explained everything. He paid a visit to your mother this morning to talk about it." My face paled. Did he hurt her?

"He didn't rough her up or anything. Just made it known to stop spreading lies about you and him to Stephanie and to let it be know that you could see Steph whenever you wanted."

"Yeah? How'd she take that?"

"Well I'm pretty sure she knows that you two are in some type of relationship now."

"She's spiteful Gemma. She will probably do everything in her power to take Jax away from me….I'm not going to let that happen."

"Oh I know that. I'm pretty sure she knows that too." Gemma said. We went into the dinning room with Steph and talked about everything under the sun until it was time for the turkey to come out of the oven.

"I'll go get Jackson, he's on the roof." I walked outside around the side of the house. There was a ladder leaning up against the house so I figured that how he got up there. I took my shoes off and climbed up. I saw him sitting and writing in a notepad.

"Baby…dinner's ready." I told him. He turned around, looked at me and gave me that smile that I loved so much.

"You look like an angel standing there like that, you know?" I blushed and looked down. He stood up and walked over to me. I lifted my head to him and kissed him deeply.

"I love you, you know that?" he asked.

"I know, I love you too."

"Come on, let's get down there before Gemma starts getting impatient."

Jackson climbed down the later first, I turned to follow him and felt his hands on the side of my hips as I climbed down. He pinned me against the ladder and kissed my neck. No no no, not right now.

"I really want to peal you out of that dress," he told me as he reached around me and stroked his hand in between my thighs.

"Jackson, if you go inside with me, you can do whatever you want to me after I drop Steph off later."

"I want you now, Darlin'. I think I might sneak away with you after dessert."

"Jackson…"

"Come on let's get this dinner over with," as he took my hand and led me back inside.

"They were probably making out," I heard Steph telling Gemma and Clay.

I felt myself blush and looked at Jax, his face was red too as we walked back into the kitchen.

"See! Look at their faces! Pay up Mr. Clay!" Steph said as I heard Gemma laughing.

"I think they bet on us," I told Jax.

"Yeah and it seems like Clay lost."

"Jax, couldn't keep your hands of her for ten minutes could you?" Clay said as he fished a twenty-dollar bill out of his pocket.

"You think there bad now, you should hear them at…" I cut her off.

"OH KAY! Who's ready to eat?"

We all sat down as Gemma brought out the turkey for Clay to carve. I was really proud of Stephanie for using her manners and getting along so well with Jax's family. She looked truly happy.

Everything was pretty pleasant well into dinner. Even Jax and Clay had managed to stay civil. Gemma asked me about what I was planning on doing after I graduated high school.

"Well I plan on going to college to become a teacher and working at the garage as long as you'll have me until I'm done with school. I wanted to teach English to middle schoolers but I don't think I'll do that now. I think I'll get a business degree instead and open something in town." Jax stopped eating and looked at me.

"Why'd you change your mind, Babe?"

"I don't know… I want something of my own like a bookstore in Charming with really nice computers for kids to use. Somewhere that kids could come do or get help with their homework if no ones around to help them at home or for kids to come and hangout if their home life isn't going to well. I could have like a little café inside of the bookstore too in case they got hungry or something like that. I think it would be nice to have a business that I could call my own, be by own boss and not have to answer to anyone."

"That's a brilliant idea, Shay," Gemma said.

"Yeah, the town could use something like that," Clay said. It was quick but I did catch the glare Jax gave him after he said that.

"Do you want children?" Clay asked. Stephanie mumbled to the side of me that she thought Jackson and I would have really cute kids.

"Yeah, I've always wanted kids. A boy and a girl would be ideal but you never now," I told him.

"Boyfriend," Steph said looking at Jax.

"Yes, little one?"

"Don't you think that I'd be the best auntie ever?!" she asked. Everyone at the table laughed.

"Yes, I do." he told her.

"Good, just making sure you knew that VP," she said with a smirk.

"I like her," I heard Gemma say. For some reason that made me really happy. This family made me really happy. Even though I knew that the issues between Clay and Jackson were deeper then he wanted to tell me at the moment. I'd have to ask Gemma about it at some point.

Just not too soon.

NOTE

Sorry this chapter was a little delayed. I hurt my hand and couldn't really type without it hurting. Any who! Clay is already trying to make plans to use Shay's business as a front…I don't think Jax is gonna let that happen at all

- Ashley