Addicted to You (Devils Right Hand MC #3)

Chapter 7

Gabby's POV

When I was using time always seemed like an abstract concept because it was never consistent. Going through minor withdrawals for one hour felt like a week. Going through major withdrawals for ten minutes felt like a year. But five hours on the best high of my life felt like ten minutes.

I never understood time, how it just marches on, but it feels like it marches over you. Time doesn't stop for anyone. It doesn't pause or rewind. It just marches on at the same steady pace as always, even though it doesn't feel like it.

Last week marked my seven-month sober anniversary. Axe surprised me with another cupcake even though I didn't say anything to him. He promised to remember the 17th of every month as a milestone at least until I reach the one-year mark. I guess he was right, those days really do feel like a birthday to me because they mark the birth of the real me, the me I had to fight for.

Time has flown in the last month but for the first time, it flew because I'm happy happy, not high. It took a while to realize that those two words are not synonyms because no one can truly be happy while they're high. But now, I am truly happy. For the first time in my life, I am financially stable: my rent is paid, I paid Hank back, I have sheets on my bed, and I have actual food in my fridge. I have a job I can be proud of. I have friends, actual friends. And I have Axe.

"You ready for next week?" Axe questions as we all sit at the bar eating dinner. It's Saturday evening so most of the club is piled in the bar scarfing down food before we open. At first, I felt weird about coming to family dinner before work, but now it's a part of my everyday routine.

"I think so. I mean the written test was easy so hopefully this will be too," I reply. Next week I will take my driving test. I took the written portion of the test a couple of weeks ago and got my learner's permit. Since then, Axe has pretty much let me drive everywhere we go. It helps me trust myself since I know he trusts me not to kill us on the highway.

"You'll do fine," he assures.

"Yeah, if you can parallel park the truck, you can do anything," Clove jokes.

"You sure you don't want to take the test with my car? The backup camera makes it a million times easier," Amber offers.

"I'm sure. I've practiced in the truck so I would rather stick to that," I reply.

"Well, I know you'll do great," Grace smiles.

We continue eating while we fall into comfortable yet mindless conversations. The girls and I are talking about the upcoming wedding and baby. Amber had her gender reveal party last weekend and they are expecting a baby boy. Everyone in the club is ecstatic because and I quote 'we will have a legacy generation.' That comment led to Grace asking why the girls couldn't carry on the club legacy, which lead to a very funny conversation to listen to.

"So have you kissed him yet?" Amber asks out of nowhere as she diverts the attention to me.

"What?" I ask as I almost choke on the soda I'm drinking.

"You bitches really do lose your filter when you're pregnant," Grace mutters.

"Well, I wanna know," Amber pouts.

"Who the fuck are you even talking about?" I ask, genuinely confused. However, all of the girls giggle in response.

"You can't be that fucking stupid," Shorty laughs.

"Are you talking about Axe?" I question.

"Who the fuck else would we be talking about?" Grace laughs.

"You guys really gotta let that go," I dismiss, "we are just friends."

"Sure you are," Amber says with raised eyebrows.