II walk out of my office, immediately hit with the sound of a full bar. We have been open three weeks, and the bar already has regulars. Most of them are creepy old men that hit on the girl bartenders and servers. However, there are a handful that I actually enjoy having around.
Jason has done a fantastic job with the bar. The first time I ever stood in this place I told him he was crazy to think this bar would make it, and now I find myself eating those words. People rave about this location. The hole in the wall I had first stepped into is gone, without one trace it ever existed. The modern bar/club was classy, yet still manageable for anyone in Vegas to get in; for now that is. The bouncer already has to deny people, because over overcrowding and them not being dressed up enough.
As I walk through the door that separates the back offices and the bar, I spot Charlotte, my favorite regular. She has come in every day since the grand opening and stays until closing. One thing that is a little eerie about her is that she never gets drunk, or even drinks that much while she is here. Don't get me wrong, Charlotte has a drink here and there throughout the night, but mostly she dances. And man, do the men that come in here drool over her. The tan skinned, long legged beauty has more men wrapped around her finger than I can count.
"You look hot! Not in your regular bar owner clothing I see." Charlotte comments as I slip onto the bar stool next to her. I whip my perfect ash-brown curls over my shoulder, winking at her as I do so.
"That is because tonight I am celebrating!" With a wave of a hand, a bartender brings me the shot of the night. I can't remember what it is, but I throw it back regardless of what's in it. "Today I finished my finals, making me a college graduate. I finally have a bachelor's degree."
"Congrats! I remember what it felt like when I graduated med school; what a relief that was. The emergency room was my calling, and I finally was able to be in there and experience it." Charlotte's grey-blue eyes illuminate as she talks about her job. The sides of her slender lips stretch into a smile. "Saving people is a feeling you can't replicate."
I had no idea she was a doctor. All I knew about her was that she grew up in New York, and I only figured that out from asking about the slight accent. How does she have time to take control of an emergency room when she is seducing men of all kinds at this bar all night? If I worked on my feet almost all day, I would not be shaking my hips in some club later that night.
"Dr. Sexy Charolette...Hmmm, sounds like an up and coming porno, revolved around some teenage boys wet dream about you." Charlotte bursts into a fit of laughter at my teasing.
"What I would give to go back to working at a hospital." A once glowing face falls, her frown almost pains me to see.
"What happened?"
"No no no! It's your night to celebrate. I will tell you that sob story some other time." The smile that accompanies her words this time is forced, and suddenly I have an idea.
"Let's go!" I hit the bar and put two fingers in the air. The bartender gets right to work on my two shots. Charlotte watches me perplexed at how outspoken I am.
"Go where? Don't you and Jason have some partying to do tonight?"
"Screw Jason. I come home to that man every night. You and I are celebrating this evening. I will celebrate my degree, and that come fall I will be going to graduate school. You will celebrate all the lives you saved, plus the ones I am sure you will save in the future."
I put a shot in front of her. Her hand wraps around it, lifting it slightly in the air. She looks at me like I just gave her an incredible gift, instead of one measly shot.
"You are an interesting person, Casey Winston."
"Please, call me Crazy Casey, all the best people do."
The paper I took from Jason is in my hands as I walk into the front door.
Jason said he deserved an explanation, but I didn't have it in me tonight to open Pandora's box. He told me he wasn't leaving till he got one, so I am sure I will see him bright and early tomorrow morning.
The paper, light as a feather, weighed heavy in my hands. Seeing it again brought back memories I thought I had left behind. When I got on the road, headed for Charming, I told myself that this couldn't be something I brought with me. Some things, once over, don't need to be rehashed again.
I walk into my room and see the double doors to my little tv area are wide open. Jax is asleep on my couch. His arms are crossed, his head tilted sideways against the back of the sofa. The words Jason spoke moments ago play over and over in my head. I take it he's the one.
I placed the paper on my bed, before walking over to sit next to Jax on the couch. He doesn't stir when I sit next to him, studying his sleeping face. Today must have really worn him out. My hand touches his prickly, unshaven face. Where there isn't facial hair, his skin is soft. The warmness from my hand must have awoken a part of him, because his face nuzzles against my palm; but his eyes never open.
"Jackson Teller, I never regretted a thing in my life before the day I left you. No one has ever had the power to make me questions my decisions like you do. The things you do to me without ever having to lift a finger is incredible."
I close my eyes, remembering every time he made me laugh hard enough for my stomach to ache, every time he would steal me away from school or work, because he knew I needed a break, and every time he would kiss me out of nowhere, just because he could. A feeling of warmth spreads through my body, a smiling stretching across my face as it does. "I am going to fight for you Jax; I will fight for you, even if it kills me."
My boots clicking against the concrete, I walk into the office of the Teller-Morrow garage. Gemma looks above her glasses that are sitting on the middle of her nose. "How long is that British stalker going to be around?" Gemma asks with mild curiosity.
I put my black leather bag on a hook I put up in the office. My hand runs through my hair in frustration. "What did he drop off today?"
Jason had come into town about a month ago after finding out the startling news. At first, I thought I would explain everything to him, but after some serious sleep and thinking, I realized I didn't owe him shit. Part of what happened was his fault. Therefore, I told him what he had found was real, but that was all the information he was getting out of me.
"Coffee and these strange yellow/white flowers." Gemma had put the flowers in a vase, setting them on the desk.
At first glance I already know tell what the flowers are. Jason had given them to me many times. "Primroses, those would be the flowers you just referred to as strange. Jason thought they held significance to our future. He always wanted to bring me back to England some day."
"Look how that worked out for him." Gemma stands up holding out a freshly printed receipt. "This receipt is for you to take out."
"Your sarcasm is just what I need in the morning Gem, it truly is." I take the receipt from her hand, with a suspicious look on my face. The name on it lets me know why she chose me to take it, it's Donna's receipt. Just as I am about to protest the phone rings, causing Gemma to wave me out of the office.
I slide my black leather jacket off and throw it at Gemma's face. The maroon tank top I am wearing is hovering just slightly above the top of my skinny black jeans. A slight breeze tickles my exposed skin. Black aviators are currently being used as a headband, to tame my curls. And my black knee high boots don't exactly scream garage manager, which is what I am, but I do look pretty badass. Hopefully enough for Donna to not be a complete bitch to me like she has been since Opie went to jail.
Donna see's me as soon as I walk into the actual garage. She is standing across the way with one of the workers who aren't part of the club. Her soft light-blue eyes look me up and down, but the wrinkle-making-frown I was expecting, isn't on her face.
"Mrs. Winston, you are ready to go," I tell her with a small grin.
She nods slowly, still taking in my presence. I have attempted to visit her, my niece, and nephew several times, but Donna has never allowed me to. There was always some excuse.
"Could I talk to you for a second?" Donna picks at her fingertips, a nervous habit of hers.
"I tend to be a pretty busy person, but I can spare a couple minutes." My hands slide into my back jeans pockets, and I nod towards her car. We start walking to her car. I can tell she is uncomfortable with this, which makes me wonder what she is doing here. "Ellie saw you the other day. She said you were walking in the park your mother takes her and Kenny to."
I lean against her car when we get to it, hugging my arms as I listen to her speak. I had gone to see my big bro in prison not too long ago. We talked about the old days; it was the only way he would stop bugging me about what really brought me back to Charming. Nostalgia had been flowing through me after that, so I went and visited a park where Opie and I used to hang out when we were kids.
It's a shame I didn't see Ellie. Kenny and Ellie are a big part of my life, all of my family is. I wrote to them when I was in Vegas, sent pictures of the appropriate things I was doing. Seems old fashioned, but Ellie and Kenny relished in it. And I would do anything for my family.
"Yeah, I went to see my brother. You could say it spurred some memories. I went back to where we had some of our best ones when we were younger. Trust me, I wasn't trying to run into Ellie and Kenny, even though I do I want to see them." My lips purse into a straight line. Donna is their mother, and I respect that, but letters only go so far. I want to see my nephew and niece in the flesh.
"That is actually why I am here. Casey, we have our differences, and I still believe you should cut all ties to this club." She shifts her weight from one foot to the other, stopping from harping more on her hatred for the club. "Listen, I only got my car fixed here because I wanted to see you in person. I wasn't sure you would answer me if I called you."
"Are Kenny and Ellie okay?"
"Yeah, of course! That's not what I am saying...I..I was wondering if you would come visit them." I stand up straight in disbelief. Rarely do things take me by surprise, but the words that came from her lips just did.
Donna is a strong woman, always has been. However, there has always been one person in her life who could persuade her from being her stubborn self. We are the same person in one particular way; love can bend us. It can't change us, but it could sway us.
"I am assuming Opie asked you to do this." Donna goes to defend herself, but I stop her by putting my hand up. "Don't...you don't have to say anything. He may have asked, but you are the one that is allowing it. Thank you."
I rest my hand on her cheek for a second before walking away. She misses my brother, I miss my brother, and there is no reason for either of to make things in the other's life harder.
The sun was down, and I was yearning for some whiskey. It had been a long day. On top of that long day, I had let Gemma go home early. That left closing of the shop up to me, well the office work that is. The in garage closing was being left to Jax.
"You almost done in there, Cas? I don't want to head out with you still in the office." Jax leans against the door, in his grease covered, blue uniform. I spin in my black office chair to get a good look at the gorgeous man.
"Because walking the so many feet from this office to the clubhouse is just not something I can do alone." I cock my head to the side, placing the end of the pen I had been using in between lips.
Jax and I's relationship has gotten better in the last month. Wendy hasn't come around the clubhouse since I socked her in the nose. And Jax hasn't brought up the past. How long will all of this last? Who knows, probably not long. But, I was going to bathe in the bliss while it does.
"Darlin you aren't half as funny as you think you are." Jax gives me a smile and chuckles under his breath.
I laugh at him, swirling back to my computer to log off. Enough work had happened today, and I needed a drink.
"I saw Donna here earlier. Everything okay?" Jax's smile fades a little. Concern brims in his eyes.
Opie and Jax are best friends. He cares about Opie's family, even if parts of Opie family doesn't care for him. Plus, he is well aware Donna and I have been on the outs since Opie got locked up.
"Donna and I's relationship has its complications, but that bridge never burned. I love her like a sister regardless of her hate for this club. You don't get to choose your family, and unless they do some drastic, you don't get to abandon them either."
The elevator dings, signaling that I had made it to my floor. Charlotte and I had gone from bar to bar, dancing, taking shots, and laughing till our stomachs hurt. We talked about everything under the sun. According to the tales, Charlotte's family isn't the law abiding type either. Her stories almost top some of mine.
Eventually, Charlotte went home, and I called Jason to come meet me at our bar, but he didn't pick up his phone. In my drunken haze, I didn't overthink it. Maybe he went to bed early.
I open the door to Jason and me's loft, hearing two male voices. My eyebrows furrow in confusion. It's three in the morning. Who would be over this late?
"You have no problem allowing Casey to take over your life, have half of your bar, and spend money on whatever she wants!" The voice is familiar, but I can't put my finger on why. I run my dainty hand through my tousled hair.
Walking down the hall I slip my shoes off, trying to stay as quiet as possible. With one hand on the wall, I creep towards the voices.
"She doesn't come around at three in the morning asking for money! Casey is my girlfriend, and she works her butt off at OUR bar." Jason's voice is tense, and I can hear the strain in it. He is trying hard not blow up in this guys face.
"I am your blood! Casey is just some hot bartender you meet on the strip, nothing more. She is just some girl."
Immediately after those words, I know who Jason is arguing with. A man I wish didn't have to be in our lives. Charlie, his younger brother. Charlie is my age, but he is immature and entitled. Whatever success his family has, he believes should be shared with him, whenever he needs it. Most of the time he asks for it in the form of cash, large amounts.
"I am a lot more than some hot bartender. You want to know what I did tonight? Tonight I went out to celebrate getting a bachelor's degree and getting into a graduate program." I walk closer and closer to Charlie, practically spitting my words at him through a clenched jaw. "Some girl? I am more family to him than you, the person who only comes around when he needs money." My bluntness hits Charlie, he steps back a little, but quickly recovers.
Charlie's dirty blonde hair is slicked back, his dark washed jeans bunching up where his tan combat boots start. His style, just like his personality, is opposite of his brothers.
Jason walks over to me, bringing me into his arms. "Go to bed, love. I will take care of this."
He whispers words in my ear asking that I let this be. However, I know I can't just go to bed. Jason loves his family, and when it comes to them, he breaks. Whatever they ask he gives, and more. He doesn't know when to stand up for himself. I pull out of his warm embrace, to look directly into his green eyes.
"Jason, let's both go to bed. We both look tired, and it's time for Charlie to leave." Looking over my shoulder, my eyes pierce Charlie's skin. If he weren't Jason's brother, he wouldn't be in our lives, but blood runs thick.
"You think you can boss me around, you little bitch." Charlie's jaw clenches, his hands tightening into fists.
"This conversation is done. Sleep in the guest room if you need Charlie, but Casey is right. I am too tired to continue this discussion tonight." Jason tries to be assertive, but I can tell he feels bad for his baby brother.
Jason leads me away from his little brother, but I keep my eyes on him until I can't anymore. Charlie has brought nothing but trouble into our lives, and if I had known any better, I would have run from Vegas the first time I ever met him.
A/N: You guys are truly amazing. Thank you for all the reads and comments. I thoroughly enjoy writing this story and will continue updating it as much as I can.