Chapter 12

I spend the next week, hanging out at the clubhouse and spending time with everyone. Jax's Old Lady, Tara and Opie's girl Lyla have been spending some time with me too. The three of us are sitting at the diner having lunch when I asked them, "Can I get your opinions on something?" They both look at me and say "Sure, what's up?" I look at my hands and say "I have a decision to make. Back in Tacoma, I was seeing two of the guys from the club. Happy and Kozik. I was also studying to test out early and get my degree a year early. Well, I found out while I was studying, the guys, who promised to be faithful mind you, were cheating on me with a croweater. They hooked up with her in the dorm that the three of us shared." I tell them. They look at me shocked and Tara asked "What are you going to do?" I shrug my shoulders and say "I don't have a clue. They want me to come back to Tacoma and be with them but I can't trust them. It's not like I was choosing another guy over them. I was studying and when I went to the clubhouse to tell them that I passed my tests and that I was graduating a year early, I caught them in my bed at the clubhouse with a croweater. I took off the next night and came to Juice's house." I say. "Why his house?" Lyla asked. "He's been one of my best friends for years. We tell each other pretty much everything." I tell her. "But?" Tara asked, sensing something not being said. "I was at his house the night I met you guys and was in bed crying. He laid down with me to comfort me and we ended up kissing." I tell them. "So now you have to decide, what?" Lyla asked. "If I want to go back to Tacoma and be with two guys that have already disrespected me once or stay here and give it a shot with Juice." I tell them. "How do you feel about the kiss with Juice?" Tara asked. "It was amazing. It was like we'd been doing it all our lives. I just felt natural." I tell them. "What about the guys?" Lyla asked. "I don't know if I can trust them again." I tell them. "I guess you just made your decision." Tara says. I guess I did.

The next day, the guys pull up at the clubhouse. I am sitting at the picnic table with Tig and Juice and they both walk up. "Hey Princess." Koz says. "Hey." I say. "Wanna talk?" Hap asked. "Yeah." I say, standing up. "Use my dorm." Tig says and I nod. Walking into the clubhouse, we head into Tig's room. They sit down on the bed while I jump up onto the desk to sit. Looking down at the floor, I start. "I've had a little time to think about things. At first I thought that it was my fault. That I wasn't enough or if I'd just backed off of my studies, it wouldn't have happened. But the more I thought about things the more pissed off I got. I should have spent more time with you guys. I shouldn't have put my school first." I tell them. "Yes you should have." Koz says. "The only reason I was studying so much was because I thought that if I could graduate early that I would have more time to spend with you guys but that backfired." I tell them. "That was on us baby." Hap says. "You're right. It was. This was why I was hesitant about getting involved with you guys. But you guys made me look like a fool. Now, all those other whores are going to think that they can play me too. I can't go back to that. I care about both of you but I just can't be with you. Even if I were to go back to Tacoma, I wouldn't be with either of you. I can't trust that you won't hook up with someone else when I can't put you first." I tell them and they just nod. "We get it. So what are you going to do?" Koz asked. "I'm gonna look for a place here. I can take my state boards for California next week and look for a job here." I tell them. "Where are you staying?" Hap asked. "Juice is letting me stay in his guest room." I say. I see Hap's jaw twitch and I say "You don't get to get mad about where I stay. He's been nothing but supportive. Always has been even before you two. He gives me my space and is there when I need him. Just like a best friend is supposed to." I tell them. "You fucking him?" Hap asked. "You don't get to ask me that but that being said, no. I'm not. But if I were, you couldn't do anything about it." I tell him. "We just don't want to lose you." Koz says. "You lost me the day I walked in on you and Rita. That ship has already sailed. You can't just do whatever you want and think I'm just supposed to forgive and forget. But I will say, if I end up with anyone else it will be Juice. And you two will just have to deal with it." I say. "We just want you to be happy." Koz says. "I'm not saying I'm jumping into anything with Juice but I told him after I sorted this shit we would talk. I still want you guys in my life but I can't be with you guys anymore." I tell them. "We get it." Hap says finally. They stand to hug me and we head back outside.

Walking outside, Tig and Juice walk up. "You okay?" Tig asked. "Yeah Uncle T. We're good. I told them I can't be with them. I can't trust them like that anymore and they are okay with it." They walk out of the clubhouse and nod at Tig and Juice before heading over to Clay. Juice looks at me and I wrap my arms around his waist and say "We can start our talk when we get back to your house." I tell him. "Yeah." he says smiling. "What talk?" Tig asked. Before we can say anything, he realized what we are talking about when Juice kisses the top of my head and he sees the smile on my face. "You be good to her, brother." Tig says before kissing my cheek and walking off. "Ready to head home?" he asked. "Yeah." I say before we walk over to his bike and head out.