Together

119. I want you around

Now you're gone in the blink of an eye
I try to remember what you look like
Orion's Belt in this sky
Closest thing to you other than my mind
Now you're gone in the blink of the night
I try to remember what you taste like
Deep playing in my head
The smell of your body is still in my bed
-Jade LeMac

Kie and JJ walk up the steps to her home. After her shift, she and JJ took off on his motorbike and spent the rest of the afternoon hanging at his house. Shoupe wasn't home so it allowed them some privacy to talk and not talk the way they wanted.

The only reason they left was because her mom wanted her home for dinner.

Kie asked if JJ was invited, to which Anna gave her reluctant approval. Things were still not good on that front. They've had many conversations about the night that Luke attacked JJ and struck her in the process. They understood that Luke's actions were his actions, and neither Anna or even Mike blamed JJ for them. That wasn't the issue though.

It was that Kie was there at all. It was another example of how she was put in a situation that threatened her safety. That was always their fall back for not wanting her to spend time with the boys over the years. Saying that trouble followed them wherever they went and that at some point Kie would be in the cross hairs.

The fact that she was actually hurt made them cautious again. The trust that they had in JJ and their faith that he wouldn't put her through any more unnecessary risks was lower than it's almost ever been. Which is why Kie wanted him to come over. She wanted to start rebuilding that trust. In her and JJ.

It may be stupid, but she did care what her parents thought, if not for herself for JJ. It felt like they had grown to like him, maybe even care about him, and it tore her up that they were questioning what she knew for an absolute fact. That he was good for her.

"You sure you wanna do this?" JJ asks, hand finding her side to get her to pause. "It's fine if they don't want me around, Kie."

Based on the look Mike gave him at the Wreck when he was stepping up to Travis, he's almost thinking this may be a bad idea.

"It's fine, JJ," she assures. "I want you around. They'll get over it eventually."

He bites his tongue, not wanting to upset her right before they went inside, but he very much doubts this is going to go well. Mike hadn't said more than five sentences to him since their run in with Luke, and Anna was just as hesitant. He braces himself for the awkwardness when they head inside.

It's actually going better than expected at first. Mike is still at the restaurant, and Anna tells them he'll be a little late because he wants to train the new employee on some back of house stuff himself. She reports that he's picking up on the job well and thanks Kie for being such a great trainer.

JJ bites the inside of his cheek until he tastes blood. By new employee he knows Anna means that shithead, Travis. He's only worked there for two days, but apparently he's shown a lot of potential and is extremely invested in the business. How charming.

Kie puts a gentle hand on his leg from under the table, giving him a soft smile to relax him. He forces a smile and swallows the lump in his throat that is begging to tell Anna just how great an employee she really has.

An employee that's been harassing her daughter for months, pestering her, fucking leaving marks on her. Doubts that Anna would be singing his praises then. Knows he can't do that though. Kiara won't allow it.