The ringing of my cell phone wakes me out of a perfectly good dream. I was riding on a road right next to the west coast, the sun beating down on my ash brown locks. The sound of crashing waves was beautiful, and I felt at peace.
Without even checking to see who is calling I answer, in a not so happy tone. People who know me should know better than to wake me up, mornings and I do not coincide well. I am water and morning is oil, we just don't mix.
"This better be good." I roll over, pulling the covers of Jax's guest bedroom over my head. There was barely any light shining through the curtains, but even the tiny amount bothered my eyes.
For the last month, I have been taking the night shift on the 24-hour-Wendy-watch. Jax wanted to have her committed to some type of rehab, but the club feared she would snitch on them if we put her in one. Honestly, I don't know how much she knows, but it's not worth the risk to have any more of my guys behind bars. Now, we all have to waste hours of our lives babysitting a full grown woman.
There is a sensor on the bedside table next to me. It will go off if she opens the door or window in her room. I used to have a system similar to it back at my bar, for after closing time. It was a precaution for if someone tried to come in and rob the place. It's deafening and annoying, it only stops when you turn it off with a passcode.
Thankfully Wendy hasn't tried anything while I have been here. I still have leftover hostility towards her from when I found her trying to shoot up.
"Uhh...Casey, I am sorry. It's my shift, and I don't have a key." Half-Sack sounds like a child that has just been disciplined, feeling guilty of his actions. "Actually...uh.. I am little early. Sorry." All the pent up annoyance in me when I answered the call dispersed.
Half-Sack has become my fourth roommate, and no matter what the kid does, I can't ever be mad at him. Maybe it's the fact his actions somewhat remind me of an innocent child, even though he is neither. Or it could be that he only has one ball and the boys tease him about it. Either way, all I can do is smile and forgive him when he apologizes.
"Give me a second, be right there." I slide out of bed, grabbing my discarded sweatpants and tank top. When both are on, I walk to the front door, the sensor in hand. The house was pristine, for now. This is my last night with Wendy, and I am sure when I leave no one will want to pick up after her like I have been. Gemma and I promised we would switch off months until the baby came. Except she is having someone cover the night shift for her and is taking the evening shift. When we made this plan, it was decided I would get the shift where I would spend the least amount of time with her, because of our less than favorable relationship. Therefore, for the last month, I have been at Jax's place from midnight till six am, every day. It's been a terrible adjustment.
Half-Sack holds up a bag of donuts and coffee when I open the door to greet him. Ignoring the bite of the morning air, I step towards him giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Don't tell the others, but I swear you are my favorite roommate, kid."
The brown bag crinkles under my touch as I take the food and the coffee from his hands. I let him in, gathering my stuff up with my free hand. The coffee burns my hand a little, but I ignore the feeling. A burn on my hand is worth not having to set my coffee down and having that one second lead me to see Wendy. I always leave my bag right by the front of the door; that way I can get out of here quickly. The less I see Wendy's face, the better.
"Remember to turn the house security system back on after I leave. There is leftover pizza, from Juice yesterday, in the fridge. Wendy frequently will yell at you to turn off her own little personal detectors before she leaves her room. And I don't care what that bitch says, she can't eat junk food all day, don't let her." I look around the clean house one last time, knowing it won't be like this again until I come back. "I think that's all. Good luck with prego woman."
I give Half-Sack a smirk, before closing the door. Finally, I am Wendy free for a while. Ha, I am such a bitch, and I don't even care.
Normally, I could give a rats ass if one of the boys are late for work. Nine out of ten times I will cover for them if Gemma or Clay gets on to them. I lie and say I sent whoever was late on an errand. Gemma and Clay never question my sweet smile, not when it comes to work.
However, the fact that Jax Teller is twenty minutes late is really pissing me off. He promised he would bring me the bag of stuff I left on my bed, which holds everything I need to dress work appropriate, in my eyes at least. I have been sitting around in just a black tank top and gray sweatpants since six thirty this morning. Which didn't bother me until we opened at seven. The look I have been getting from employees and customers are strange, and I can only flick off the ones who work for me.
"I like the attire you wore at the bar much better, love. Don't get me wrong you still look breathtaking, but dressed up you have people wanting to bow at your feet."
There is no need to look up from my phone. That voice is recognizable in any situation. Now I am really going to kill Jax when he gets here.
"If you aren't here for car repairs, you are trespassing, and I don't like trespassers. Actually, I believe there is a sign on the gate that says they will be shot." I swivel in the chair till I am facing Jason dead on. With a loud bang, I put my cell phone down. I force a false smile on my face, that way if anyone is watching us interact they won't think there is something wrong. I like to handle my own problems.
"Who is to say I am not in need of some car repairs?" Jason sits in the chair opposite of me, in front of the desk. "Why else would I visit this establishment? Though I have heard the office manager is the most gorgeous girl in town."
"At one time your flattery was tolerable, maybe even likable. But, after asking more than a dozen times for you to leave the city, the effect of it is just nauseating."
I hate being rude to Jason, I really do. The thing is, the feelings I have toward him are intricate. He has done wonderful things for me, things no one else has done. I have made connections, money, and a life for myself because of him. I will never have to depend on another person, and that is one of the best feelings one can have. Yet, there is also a part of me that blames him for the worst moment in my life. And that part stabs at me every single time I see his face. That part of me pours salt in a unhealable wound. The burn reminds me that even though he has gifted me, he has also taken from me things that can never be returned.
A roar of cheering comes from a group of men sitting at the other end of the bar. Fight nights are always the busiest here. It's entertaining to watch people get worked up over who is the better fighter, and seeing people try to prove their point while barely able to slur out their words.
I walk to the end of the bar, closest to where the back of the club is. This is where Charlotte is sitting, nursing a vodka sour. She stirs the straw in circles, looking perpetually bored. "This fight reminds me of how my cousin used to solve fights, beating the crap out each other. Then at the end, they were all buddy-buddy again, despite them bleed from their faces."
"Your family sure has an interesting way of resolving their problems," I tell her, making a White Russian.
"Trust me, if I told you all about my family, you might never look at me the same again."
Tonight we were supposed to go out, but Jason is having issues with Charlie. Typical of the nuisance to ruin my night. I told Jason that Charlie has overstayed his welcome, a week of complaining about everything is too much.
Charlie needs more money.
Charlie is angry that his brother left him behind in England.
Charlie feels like no one ever gives him the benefit of the doubt.
Charlie needs to get the hell out of my life!
I came to the conclusion he has three days to find another place to go. Jason reluctantly agreed on the matter; it took more persuasion than I have ever had to use. Knowing the selfish little brother all too well, I am aware he is going to argue with Jason over this. Jason asked if I would watch over the bar for part of the night, knowing that if I am home when this occurs, I will be less than pleasant.
"Letting your drink sit on the counter, without drinking it, is not exactly what people mean when they say some alcohol gets better with age Char." I joke, coming up to her with a bottle of whiskey in hand. Pulling a clean glass from under the counter, I flip it in the air before sitting it down and filling it with my favorite whiskey.
I lean on the counter, letting the amber liquid kiss my lips. Drinking on the job is frowned upon, but I am the owner, and I was supposed to have the night off. Therefore, anyone who makes an unnecessary comment can kiss my ass.
"You know I haven't even met the guy, and yet he has managed to make my life more complicated. Jason's brother has you being less than fun, which never happens. He has managed to get my plans for the evening canceled. And Jason is practically pulling his hair out in stress from his own blood. I hate Charlie already." Char picks up her glass, downing her drink in a couple gulps.
Another uproar comes from the group of mean on the other end of the bar, causing a smile to stretch across my face. The sound of other people having a good night makes me want to do the same.
"Screw it, Charlie isn't going to get the better of me. We are getting out of here, right now." I chug the rest of my whiskey, enjoying the slight burn as I do so.
"Did you say my name?"
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the idiot himself sauntering over to the bar. Jason is nowhere to be seen, and Charlie looks pleased with himself. Looks like Jason caved into whatever Charlie proposed to him, instead of Jason telling Charlie he needed to leave. This is why I should have stayed at the loft and not worked tonight.
Charlie takes a seat on the stool next to Charlotte, who is looking him up and down. She probably thinks he is attractive, most women do. Not me though; I can't get past his selfish ways and cockiness. No one loves him more than he loves himself.
Charlie smirked, showing his perfectly straight teeth to Char. Charlotte scoffs, trying to hide her reddening cheeks. With a wink, Charlie tries to flag down one of my bartenders.
"Oh no, you are not drinking at my bar! You don't tip my waitresses, you are an angry drunk, and when someone tries to give you your tab, you always say it's on the house." I sneer, turning to put back the bottle of whiskey.
Charlie chuckles at me, shaking his head. "That attitude of yours isn't going to be helpful since we all need to start getting along. Since, you know, we are all going to be running this bar together."
Life has a funny way of making sure there is never a dull moment. When one problem ends, another ensues. I wonder if this is karma for all the crazy shit I have done in my lifetime, if this is some twisted type of delayed domino effect. One bastard, little brother falls into my life, and suddenly my most prized possession is going to be run by such bastard.
The bottle of whiskey I was once holding is shattered on the floor. In shock of the terrible words that Charlie spoke, I must have dropped it. A piece of glass is embedded in my skin. I look down, watching the blood trickle from the pained spot, yet I don't feel any the injury. The dark crimson liquid catches the attention of Charlotte, who is now running behind the bar. One of my servers is running towards me with a cloth. And Charlie is starring at me, his smirk from earlier hasn't faded in the least.
To everyone's astonishment, I let out a laugh, one that someone makes when no other response comes to mind. A laugh that sounds slightly insane.
Clay had informed me when he came in that Jax had to do something quickly before work. I bitched at him, saying that a heads-up would have been nice All Clay did was laugh at me and get me a SAMCRO t-shirt.
Customers are still giving me weird looks, but now I don't have to worry about them staring at my boobs, which had previously been trying to pop out of my tank top.
"You alright darlin'?" Jax walks in the office, setting my bag down on the desk. I feel his eyes on me, but I don't look up at him.
I am sitting in the office chair, my knees pulled up to my chest, and my head resting on top of them. Where thoughts should be, there is nothing. In my mind there are just white walls, me sitting in the middle of the room wondering what is going to happen next.
Jason had gotten on my nerves to the point where I screamed the truth at him. I told him every last detail, something I had previously told myself I was never going to share with anyone else. He just wouldn't leave me alone; my mixed emotion of thankfulness and hatred towards him collided. The consequence is a blast of words, words that tore him apart.
For some time, all Jason could do was sit in the chair opposite of me, with his head in his hands. He wouldn't speak to me or look at me for that matter. I didn't have to see tears to know they were falling down his face.
The aftershock of my own words caused me to become silent until Clay came in a little later. When Clay walked in the door, Jason got up, looking at me for a second. With one look I knew what Jason was feeling. There was regret that he wasn't able to help me, anger that he had been an unknowing part, and utter sadness he hadn't been there to console me over a moment that had drastically changed my life.
"Yeah, today has been interesting, to say the least." I force a smile, going to grab my bag, still not meeting his eyes.
Jax's hand meets mine, making me look at him. His blue eyes see through the facade I put up after Jason left. I made it seem like I was tired, from not getting a good nights sleep. Everyone else who I lied to, once Jason left, hadn't doubted me for a second. Jax isn't everyone else though, he's more than that to me. "You can't lie to me. I know something is wrong."
"No really, nothing is wrong. I...I don't know how to put into words what I am feeling right now, it's not something I have dealt with before." I squeeze his hands a little, hoping to convey that I am somewhat truthful.
In all seriousness what I am feeling right now isn't something I have faced before, but something is wrong. I told Jason the truth, and I have no idea what he is going to do now. I had never seen him so raw and distraught. Every action has a reaction, and for once I can't tell what his is going to be.
Jax walks around the desk, turning the chair to face him when he reaches me. He squats down till we are eye to eye. Sliding his hands into mine, a fuzzy feeling shots through me; a tingling from my head to my toes.
"Darlin', I don't know what's going through that pretty little head of yours, but I think we should ditch this place. Let's leave for the day, get your mind off it." I slide my legs down the chair, pulling his hands into my lap.
Jackson Teller always knows how to make me smile. He doesn't even have to do anything drastic. All it takes is one of his smiles, and kinds words.
"I guess I can condone ditching if it means we can get a beer and take out."
"Beer and take out it is." Jax chuckles.
"I don't think I am a big fan of this game," Juice mutters under his breath as he once again busts, exceeding twenty-one. With a scowl on his face, he pushes the cards towards me. I give his rough hand a little pat. The poor guy should probably sit out for the rest of the game.
"You mean you aren't a fan of losing!" JJ finishes his beer, bringing it down on the table. JJ is not always common sense smart, but he is intelligent when it comes to numbers and facts. Something tells me he is counting cards, but I am not going to snitch on him. After all, I am dealing; therefore he isn't taking my money.
When all the boys came home to see Jax, and I ditched the rest of the work day they insisted I make it up to them by playing some of the card games I learned how to play while living in Vegas. At first, I said no, not wanting any more memories of Vegas to plague my mind. But, I caved after JJ reminded me I had owed him lunch today. Meaning when I ditched he was left without lunch. Being typical JJ, he decided to come home and grovel about it, instead of buying his own or asking someone to lend him a couple bucks.
Don't get me wrong, I didn't feel sorry that I did it; he's a grown man he can figure lunch out for himself, but he did have a point.
The front door opens, and we all turn to see Half-Sack walk in, looking exhausted. He peels off his jacket, hanging it on a peg next to the door. Wendy must have been a handful today, not that any of us should be taken aback by that.
"Want another beer darlin'?" Jax asks, getting up to go to the kitchen. He doesn't want to be here when we ask Half-Sack about his pregnant ex-wife. I can't say I blame him; I don't like hearing about her either, but her life is tied with a little Teller's, and that makes me listen to all of it.
"I would love one, thanks for asking," JJ says cheekily, with a smug grin on his face. I lightly slap him on the back of the head, while telling Jax I would love another.
"Alright kid, let's hear it. How terrible was she today?" I question leaning my head on JJ. JJ, in turn, lays his head on top of mine.
"She was just acting weird. A pizza showed up for her, but I was with her all day and never once saw her pick up the phone to order one. Then, once it got here, she wouldn't let me have any. She ate the whole thing on her own!"
That does sound a little odd, but you can order pizza ahead of time now. Wendy could have ordered it before his shift. Or maybe she did it online, and Half-Sack didn't think about that option.
Half-Sack steals Jax's seat on the other side of me, examining the game of blackjack that Juice is losing badly in.
"You are mad that a woman, eating for two, wouldn't share her pizza?" JJ mocks.
"No..it's more than that...she was just weird! If you were there, you would understand." Half-Sack rests his elbow on the table, intertwining his hands.
"You know JJ, you of all people have no right to judge. You refuse to even set foot in Jax's house." I tell him, shoving his head off mine.
"I hate her."
"I do too, but I go over there!"
"You go over when she is sleeping-"
"Guys, something doesn't feel right." JJ and I stop our bickering, turning to look at the worried, exhausted prospect.
"You might just be over thinking it. Wendy has been acting abnormal since Crazy caught her with heroine. I am sure it's nothing dude." Juice speaks up.
It better be nothing. Wendy is already on my shit list.
A/N: Things are about to get crazy! Thank you everyone for reading :)
Khyharah: Casey already has a strong connection with Abel, and there is more of a reason than just her love for Jax! The truth will come out soon, and eventually the club will find out as well. I hope you liked this update :)
Guest: Thank you! Hopefully this update is is just as good!
Mmarazzo7: Thanks! Sorry it took me so long to get this one out; I was juggling ideas and finally decided on one.