"You and Jax are going back to Charming?," Shayna asked, coming into our bedroom, sitting next to my suitcase as I packed.
"Yeah. Christina, the nanny said it's okay if you and the babies stay with her until we get back. Her husband's a cop, so I think her house is the best bet. She's coming to pick you guys up in an hour, so make sure you have a bag ready also."
"I already do."
"How?"
"I heard you and Jax talking about it before the sex sounds came into play and I put my headphones on."
I held a hand to my face, feeling my face grow warm with embarassment.
"Jesus christ, I'm so sorry about that, Shay."
"I get it. Angry sex is the best sex there is."
"And how would you know that?"
"I was a different person before you and Jax took me in."
"You've been with us for so long, I tend to forget about that."
Jax came in with Gracie in his arm while the other was holding a fresh bottle for her.
"Hey, you almost packed," he sat by the headboard of the bed, laying Gracie in his arms. Her small arms stretched for the bottle until Jax brought the bottle's nipple to her mouth.
"Yeah, I'm ready," I replied, zipping my suitcase closed.
"Is Abel awake yet," I asked Jax before I left the bedroom to make breakfast.
"Yeah, he's awake. He's playing with his blocks in the living room. You don't have to worry about him getting something to eat. He's eating cereal as we speak."
"You left him alone with a full bowl of cereal? I won't be surprised if the kitchen walls are decorated in milk and cheerios by now."
Like Christina promised, she came to pick up the kids within the hour. The moment they stepped outside the door, the house was uncomfortably silent. I really hope the heat dies down fast in Charming, so I can come back home to our kids.
"Shit, I can't remember the last time the house was this quiet," Jax commented, placing our bags by the front door.
"Niether can I. This kind of silence is making my skin crawl."
He came over to me, placing a kiss on my lips before bringing me into a hug.
"Don't worry, we will be back home before you know it."
"We're going to Charming, Jax. When does anything go according to plan? We better get out of here or else we will miss our flight," I walked over to the front door, grabbing my car keys out of the bowl on the table next to the door.
Jax bent down, picking both of our suitcases up, following me out of the door.
We weren't in Charming until close to 5 in the afternoon.
Jax dropped me off at Gemma's while he met up with the club at a place called Scoops and Sweets since the damn clubhouse got blown up.
I knocked on Gemma's door, waiting for her to answer.
The door opened, and she gave me a friendly smile.
"Hi, baby."
"Hey, Gem."
"Come in. Sorry about the mess," she stepped aside, letting me in her home.
"It's okay," I replied, moving around the scattered boxes around her house.
"Jax meet up with the club?"
"Yeah."
"I know you're pissed, sweetheart. "
" I'm not pissed. I'm just worried. Every time I step into this town, I can't help but feel something bad is going to happen."
Gemma closed the distance between us, rubbing her hands up and down my arms.
"That's one of the unfortunate instincts we old ladies have, Julia. We either give into the bad shit or fight like hell."
I nodded, putting my suitcase on the kitchen table.
"Do you want me to help you unpack your things?"
"For a little while, yeah. The club is throwing a party for Jax later on tonight at the porn warehouse and I need to help set up for it. You think you'd be up to helping me?"
"Sure. I could use a reason to drink," I gave her a smile, and I opened the first box I laid eyes on, and started unpacking the items from the box.
"Hey Lyla," I greeted as I put the mutliple bags of booze on the bar counter in the porn warehouse.
She smiled at me, rounding the bar, pulling me into a hug,
"Hey Julia. How are things in New York?"
"Good. How are you doing?"
"I'm okay. I'm taking it day by day, ya know?"
"You and the kids should come to New York. You guys will love it. It will be a nice vacation."
"Yeah, I'd like that. You and me can have a girls' day, get to know each other better."
"Absolutely. So, what do you need me to do?", I looked around at the large warehouse.
" Honestly, you already did it," she looked inside the bags of booze I bought in with Gemma.
"Really? You don't need me to do anything else?"
"Yeah, you're coming to the party tonight right?"
"Hmmm, my husband is going to be surrounded by horny croweaters and pornstars. You bet your ass I'm coming."
She smiled, taking my hand.
"Let's go find you a dress."
"I don't know, Lyla. I'm a mom now. I can't be wearing shit where my ass is hanging out anymore."
"Just because you're a mom, doesn't mean you have to dress like one all the time. You need to show these other cock hungry bitches what you got."
"When you put it like that," I followed her to the dressing room in the back of the warehouse.
Five hours Later:
"Hey Lyla, have you seen Jules," Jax asked once he got to the warehouse.
"Yeah, she'll be here," she smiled.
As Jax walked into the clubhouse with the club, women who weren't his wife were drawn to him like a moth to a god damn flame.
"We missed you, Jax," Emily Duncan whispered in his ear, biting his earlobe, making him pull away quickly.
" I'm married, darlin'."
"You act like that's going to stop me. Remember how good it was, Jax? The way you let me ride your cock?"
"No one rides my cock quite like my wife."
Emily's jaw clenched with anger as he went up to the bar to get a drink.
A pretty blonde placed a beer in front of him, popping off the cap for him.
"It's good to have you back, Jax."
He gave her a weak smile, downing his beer.
"Jackie, you okay," Chibs tapped his back as he took a seat next to him.
"Yeah, I'm good. I forgot how agressive the croweaters could be."
"If anything, they're more agressive because you've been gone a while."
A pair of hands covered Jax's eyes.
"Emily, how many fucking times.."
Jax turned around, his jaw dropping as he saw me.
"I hope that look of shock is a good thing."
Of course it's a good thing. A fucking great thing. Julia was wearing a dangerously low cut red lace dress that only went past her mid thigh with matching red pumps, making her almost his height. Her usual curly hair was pin straight and her makeup was beautifully done.
"Jesus christ, babe. You look fuckin' incredible."
" You can thank Lyla. Your moment of silence got me nervous."
I caught Chibs staring at the plunging neckline.
"Hi, Chibs," I snapped him out of it, making him jump slightly.
"Hey, darlin'. It's good to see you. You look lovely," he leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you. I'll be keeping my eye on you, Teller. You better behave yourself," I smiled, giving him a kiss on the cheek, ready to walk away.
Jax caught my hand, making me look at him in question. He turned his head, looking at Chibs.
"You mind if we pick up on our conversation later?"
"It's your party," he replied as Jax pulled me into the first room of the warehouse.