A Flicker of Redemption

Chapter 24

After a little while, she pulled away from him.

"I need to get back to work."

"Ok little girl. You need me, come find me." He stated before pulling her into a soft kiss.

He didn't want to cause her anymore pain by putting too much pressure on her busted lip. She ran her hands over his head earning a low moan in response. He loved her touching him. The more they had these little moments, the more she seemed at ease in touching him. She finally pulled away and walk towards the door. Gemma had decided she was going to throw a dinner at her house that evening and was walking around letting everyone know to come to her house after work. Seeing Angelika's face made her wonder what happened. The blond explained what had transpired while she was in lock up and how Chibs had looked her over when she returned.

Gemma had her hold down the office while she did some grocery shopping and began the meal prep for dinner at her house. She made sure to let the young blond know she was expected to arrive with Happy earning a head nod from the younger woman. As Gemma was leaving, there came an older model Ford that needed some work. The owner walked in to get his paperwork started after talking with Ratboy. He started hitting on her but she kept shutting him down as she wrote out the work order. As he began to get more aggressive, she started to think she'd have to defend herself against the creep until Happy entered the office.

"You're riding with me to Gemma's after work." He told her, "Unless it's a dire situation, you ride on no one's bike but mine from now on."

"I needed a ride back to the clubhouse." She explained.

"I know." He nodded at her, "See you after work, babe."

"Ok." She smiled at him before he left the office.

Seeing that she was clearly involved with the scariest guy he'd ever encountered made the guy in the office shut his mouth until Ratboy came in to tell him his water pump was shot and they'd have to order the part for him. He followed the mechanic outside so he could call a friend to come pick him up while she finished up his paperwork then got it filed. There wasn't much else for her to do the rest of the afternoon. For a while, she sat on the couch and stared into the lot where the bikers were working on vehicles. Other times she just stared off into space lost in her thoughts about her life and her relationship with Happy.

Closing time finally came and the group of bikers all meandered into the office to clock out for the day. She headed to the room she was sharing with Happy to wash up before heading back outside to await her ride to Gemma's. He did the same before walking out to his bike. She remembered what Tig had taught her as she waited for Happy to climb onto his bike. She used his shoulder as leverage to swing her leg over the seat then wrapped her arms around his waist. He loved the feeling of her wrapped around him on the back of his bike. His intake of breath was lost on her when she slid her hands underneath the hem of his shirt and rested them on his toned stomach.

Happy followed his brothers out of the T-M lot and over to Gemma's house in preparation for a good homecooked meal. Angelika wasn't sure what to expect when she arrived. There was a car there that she thought she recognized. Happy tensed up when he saw it and hoped nothing would go down between the two women this evening. Angelika had just been stabbed that morning! He slipped his arm around her waist as he walked with her to the front door and followed his brothers inside. Each biker kissed the Matriarch's cheek as he entered. The short blond greeted Gemma with a soft smile before the Matriarch asked her to help in the kitchen. Angelika looked back at Happy who just shrugged and went to find himself a seat.

The blond woman Angelika had been pointed out as Opie's 'ol lady, Lyla, was already there stirring a pot. Tara was there mashing potatoes. It put Angelika on edge to see the doctor bitch there and she stopped just inside the entryway to the kitchen. Gemma asked her to set the table for her and pointed to where all the plates and silverware were at. Angelika quickly got on the task trying to avoid any conflict with the brunette. Lyla was interested in getting to know Angelika, especially if Happy had taken her as his 'ol lady, since she was the new face in the family. Opie had told her a little about her but not much so she had lots of questions about the smaller blond.

Once the table had been set, Gemma had Angelika start bringing things to the table like a basket of rolls, the gravy boat, a platter of corn on the cob. The young blond did as she was asked without a word. Tara didn't say a word to her as she tried to ignore the blonde's presence. Angelika wanted tea to drink so Gemma poured her a glass and told her to find a seat at the table. Dinner was almost ready so she did as she was told. Bobby passed a joint to Happy who gladly took it before glancing into the dining room to see his 'ol lady sitting there waiting patiently. She'd been helping so he wondered what was going on until Gemma called everyone to dinner.

Happy sat down next to his woman while Opie and Lyla sat down across from them. Chibs sat on Angelika's other side with Quinn sitting across from the medic. Jax and Tara sat up at the head of the table with Gemma, Bobby, Juice, and Tig. Angelika didn't feel comfortable sitting at the same table with the bitch who'd stabbed her but she was getting a free, homecooked meal and Happy expected her to be there so what could she do about it. Lyla, not knowing about the issues between Angelika and Tara began asking basic questions which the younger blond vaguely answered. She didn't trust any woman but especially those associated with bikers.

"So, you're working in the office with Gemma?" Lyla asked.

"Yep."

"I work at Cara Cara. You have a bit of an accent, where did you move from?" Lyla inquired.

"Texas."

"Why'd you move all the way to California?" Lyla innocently asked making the men around her wait for her answer.

"Needed a change." Angelika simply answered.

"I get that. Sometimes I feel like I need a change too." Lyla chuckled, "Do you have any family back in Texas?"

"I have no one."

"You have me." Happy interjected making Lyla smile at the pair.

"How did you hook up with Happy?" Lyla looked between them.

"It's complicated." Angelika stated earning a head nod from the Killah.

Lyla told the younger blond how she and Opie had hooked up and all about their wedding. Angelika remained quiet as she ate and listened to Lyla happily chatting away at her. The other blond clearly didn't see how uncomfortable she was around her. Opie gave Angelika a sympathetic look when he noticed how uncomfortable she was. Tara looked down the table and saw Lyla happily chatting away with Angelika and huffed. She didn't think the younger blond should be allowed at their family gatherings since she didn't believe the blond was SAMCRO family material.

After dinner, the women helped clean up and put all the left-over food away while the men sat around the living room smoking, drinking, and passing joints around. Angelika stayed out of Tara's way as muchas possible not wanting another confrontation especially in the host's house of all places. Once the dining room and kitchen were cleaned and the food had been put away, the women joined the men in the living room to chat and joke around.Happy quickly pulled Angelika down onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. Opie pulled Lyla onto his lap to give his brothers more space to sit. Tara sat on the arm of the chair Jax was sitting in as he talked with Bobby about a charity run Gemma wanted them to go on.

When she began yawning, Happy decided they weregoing to head back to the clubhouse. She bid Gemma a goodnight and thanked herfor the amazing meal. She bid goodnight to Lyla then exited the house withoutsaying a word to Tara. Happy nodded at all his brothers before following his 'ollady outside and to his bike. He loved the feel of her on his bike. Her thighssqueezing him, her arms wrapped so tightly around his middle, her leaning upagainst him not leaving any space between them. The ride back to the clubhousewas too short for his liking. After they parked, he grabbed her by her hand andled her straight back to their room. He needed to feel her against him, to kissher, to entangle his hand in her hair.

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