Second Time Around...

✨Chapter 13✨

Jax and Avery collided like two runaway trains, the force of their desire throwing them together. Their mouths crashed, a desperate, hungry meeting of lips and teeth. No gentle exploration here, but a fierce claiming, a silent acknowledgment of the yearning that had simmered between them for far too long. Avery gasped softly as Jax's hands found the small of her back, pulling her in so tightly she could feel every hard line of his body against hers. Her own hands, trembling slightly, tangled in the thick strands of his hair, her fingers digging into his scalp as she deepened the kiss. Tongues dueled, a frantic dance of taste and texture, each movement igniting a fresh wave of sensation that coursed through their veins. Breaths hitched and mingled, hot and ragged, the only sound in the suddenly small space around them besides the frantic rhythm of their hearts.

Jax's breath hitched as his lips trailed down Avery's neck, each kiss a feather-light touch that sent shivers dancing across her skin. "I missed this," he murmured, the words thick with longing, the sentiment echoing the chasm of time that had separated them.

Avery sighed softly, her fingers tangling in his hair. The familiar feel ignited a rush of shared memories. "No more than I have," she whispered, her voice thick with unspoken longing. She gently pulled him closer, a silent plea to close the gap that remained between them, a mutual desire for reconnection. "But as much as I want this, the timing isn't right. Not here, in my makeshift office with its stained floor and no proper desk."

"You're right." said Jax, nipping at the spot on her neck that he remembered was an erogenous zone for her. "Guess we'll just have to do the same thing we used to do when we were kids and didn't know how to deal with the feelings we were experiencing at the time.

"Lumpy's Diner it is then." she smiled, feeling so light that she wondered if she might actually float away.

*****

Nestled in their familiar corner booth at the diner, a wave of comfortable nostalgia washed over Avery as laughter and stories filled the air. It truly felt like stepping back into their younger days. She remembered how, in a shared teenage struggle against the confusing tide of hormones and a fear of solitude, she and Jax had made it a ritual to call Opie, their steadfast friend, to join them for dinner. That simple act of connection had been their anchor. Today, the scene felt strikingly similar yet subtly altered. The easy banter and shared history were present, but a key element was missing. Back then, Opie's shadow was almost always Donna, his girlfriend, a vibrant presence who completed their quartet. Today, however, the space beside Opie remained empty. Avery couldn't help but notice the quiet absence, a silent testament to the passage of time and the inevitable shifts in their lives. The reasons for Donna's absence hung unspoken in the air, adding a layer of unspoken complexity to their otherwise lighthearted reunion.

"Hey, Ope, how's Donna doing these days? I haven't seen her since I've been back?" Asked Avery as she crammed a French fry dipped in ketchup into her mouth.

"She's doing really well. She's working at the elementary school as a third-grade teacher and raising our kids," Said Opie.

"That's awesome. I remember she always wanted to be a teacher. How many kids do you two have now?" Asked Avery.

"Just two, though she hasn't been subtle about wanting more. Especially since this one here went and knocked up his ex." Said Opie laughing and punching Jax in the shoulder. "But yeah, we have two kids... Kenny and Ellie. Kenny's 6 and Ellie is 8." Said Opie.

At the mention of Jax fathering a son, Avery felt a pang of jealousy course through her system. She knew the situation with Jax and his ex but that still didn't mean she wasn't jealous that he had tried to move on.

"How great is that?" Said Avery, hoping she didn't sound like a jealous ex.

"It's been the greatest adventure of my life. Kenny loves bikes just as much as Jax and I did at his age. Ellie is more like Donna. She's more into reading and making good grades." Said Opie as he dipped one of his fries in mustard. "I can't complain. They're good kids."