Fall From Grace

Chapter Seven

Gracie

As soon as they could never came because Tara broke up with Jax a few weeks later and Opie started dating a waitress he met at Applebee's. Gemma told me her name was Donna and that Opie kept her in the dark about his life with Samcro. After a long heart wrenching cry and a bottle of wine I realized I was happy that Opie was happy and life moved on. I graduated from Paula Mitchell's and opened my own shop. A quaint spot just outside of Pasadena that I decorated in neon pink and black. Juice even helped me design the sign: The Hair Haven.

Opie's text messages eventually slowed and the years passed like they always seem to do until one day a loud motorcycle pulled into the shops parking lot.

"Holy shit, Gracie. Come look at this guy. He's hot as hell."

I already know who it is by the sound of his bike but I humor my assistant and glance out the window with a smile. Opie stands from his bike - tall and lean, sexy as ever and I swear I hear Steph groan when he pulls his helmet off and hangs it on the handlebar.

"You have to let me wash his hair." She says quickly - adjusting her bra to make her boobs more perky as she gives herself a once over in the salons large mirror. I hold my grin and watch as Opie flicks his cigarette away and meets my gaze in the window, smiling brightly. When he finally makes his way inside he walks right past Stephanie who's standing with her mouth wide open and he wraps me up in his embrace, burying his face in the bend of my neck.

"That's from Jax." He assures quietly - placing his lips to mine and kissing me until I'm dizzy. "...and that's from me."

I place my hand on his hard chest to steady myself and look up in to his deep blue eyes. Something's wrong. He tries to hide his secrets but there's no use - I've known him since I was five, I know when something's going on with him. "How long?" I whisper - watching Steph disappear in to the back when she realizes I'm not going to introduce them.

"Five years. Fucking Kyle got spooked and left the scene before I could get back to the truck. They caught me red handed."

"Shit, Ope." I want to tell him I knew this would happen. I want to yell at him for getting with some Applebee's skank and for not coming to see me in the past six years but instead I just hug him again. "When do you go in?"

"Three days."

"Shit."

"I just wanted to see you one more time. I miss you, Gracie." He says sadly, meeting my eyes. "Does Donna know you're spending your last few days as a free man in Pasadena?" I swear it seems like he has to think of who I'm talking about and then he rolls his eyes, running his hands down my arms. "She's just a body, Gracie. They all have your face."

His words cause a familiar ache to fill my chest. I tried to replace him two different times, one guy was a complete asshole and the other was the total opposite but they both had his face. "Let me just tell Steph I'm locking up and we can go get some food or something." He nods and looks around the salon as I disappear to the back to quickly explain my estranged relationship with the handsome biker to Steph and head out for the night.

Opie follows me to a local mom and pop burger joint and we eat at one of the outside tables mostly in silence. Every once in a while I catch him staring like he's trying to memorize every one of my features but he eventually looks away with sad eyes.

"Your place looks amazing. Juice did a good job on the sign."

"Yeah. Everyone that comes in loves it."

He finally looks at me, taking a fry from my plate. "Are you happy here?" He asks softly and I want to laugh in his face. Happy? The person I am hopelessly in love with only has eyes for his dirty biker club and some bimbo named Donna. No, I'm not happy. I open my mouth to tell him as much but close it quickly, shaking my head no. "How about you? Are you happy?"