(L)Inked - a Happy Lowman Story

~8~

The ringing of her alarm clock the next morning woke Evelyn up. She quickly got ready, heading to the kitchen to grab a quick breakfast and fix herself an iced coffee for on the go. She had dreamed about Happy all night and couldn't help but smile as she remembered all the explicit things they did in her dreams. It's been a long time since she got physical with a man and she really felt the urge to have „real" sex, but there was no way she would hook up with someone in Charming just for the sake of sex. Eve grabbed her coffee and backpack, heading out to the door to her gray pickup to go to work.
Like every morning, she unlocked the doors and prepared the register for the day, sipping her coffee every now and then. Fridays usually were quite busy at the shop and so was that one. By lunchtime, she was already out of gas cartridges for camping stoves. The great weather seemed to pull people outside.
When Bill came to work around 1pm he looked like he had seen a ghost. „You alright, Bill?" Eve looked at him with a questioning look. „Yeah, it's just ... there is this scary dude outside with a sons kutte. He looked like he wanted to kill me as i walked in." he explained to her. Evelyn walked a few steps towards the door until she saw the man Bill described as scary - Happy. She crossed her arms to her chest and rolled her eyes at the sight of him. „Be right back!" she called out before leaving the shop.
„You're scaring off my customers." Eve said, crossing her arms again. Happy stood up from his bike, his eyes sweeping over her body before locking with hers. She was quite tall , only a few inches separated their faces from being at the same height. „I wanted to apologize." he said, his face still tough as a rock. Evelyn's eyes softened almost unnoticeable as he spoke. „Didn't leave because of you, back then. Personal shit, you know." he continued and she had a hard time suppressing a grin from forming on her face, at that stiff apology of his. Her eyes found his again and Eve got lost in the dark of them for a brief moment. Despite his solid face, his eyes were warm and sincere, so she couldn't be mad at him any more. „Ok. Apology accepted." she smiled at him. Happy's scowl formed into a quick smile before returning to it's natural state. He took a step towards her, his hand grabbing the back of her head while he quickly placed his lips on her forehead. Evelyn was a little stunned until he stepped back again. Trying to find her composure again she shooed him away. „Now get lost, you're still scaring my customers." she laughed as he mounted his bike, nodding his goodbye and driving off. Walking back inside Eve saw Bill standing behind the register, checking out another customer. „Problem solved." she said pointing over her shoulder as she casually walked im the back of the store. Once out of sight, she tried to steady her breathing again. Happy's kiss on her forehead caught her absolutely off guard. Once she calmed herself she went back to the front. „You guys related or something?" Bill asked her. „No? Why?" she asked looking at the kid with a serious look, somewhat afraid he saw Happy kissing her forehead. „You two have the same ...facial expression. That scary scowl." he explained, his voice trembling a bit, afraid he might anger her. „You think i look scary?" Eve asked, a jokingly stern tone in her voice. „Yy... no...i mean...kinda?! The first time i came here i..i thought you were, but now that i know you..." he tried to explain until she burst into laughter. „It's alright kid. I understand what you mean." she patted his shoulder, trying to calm him. „and no, we aren't related. He's just a ...friend. MC member, you know?".

For the rest of the day Evelyn was in quite a good mood and after leaving Bill to close up the shop, she went on a drive through Charming up to her favorite spot in the woods, you could overlook the whole city from. She got her favorite sandwich from the deli on her way and once her pickup was parked, she flipped down the tailgate and sat on the pickup bed. A warm breeze blew through her hair and she took a deep breath, enjoying her alone time. She replayed Happy's apology in her head over and over again and every time she thought back to that forehead kiss, her stomach turned in a good way. She didn't took him leaving back then personally, but the fact he felt like it's worth apologizing really impressed her. Happy didn't seem like the type of man to apologize, but yet he did. Though it still had Eve wondering what that „personal shit" was, that made him leave. Her thoughts were interrupted by her phone buzzing next to her. Picking it up she saw the caller ID and took the call. „Hey Gemma!" she answered. „Hey baby. I was wondering if you show up at the clubhouse tonight. We're having a barbecue and some of the guys want to get in the ring. Could use a helping hand." Gemma said without beating around the bush. Evelyn loved that trait of hers, there was no ass-kissing or sugar-coating with Gemma, just straight up requests or orders, at least when the older lady talked to her. „Yeah, sure. I'll get changed and i'll head over." Evelyn said, hopping down the pickup bed. „Great baby. See you in a few." Gemma said before hanging up on her.
The drive to her house was short and Eve quickly went to her closet picking a new outfit. She liked wearing revealing clothes and showing off her inked skin, but she always made sure not to be mistaken for a croweater. Evelyn put on a pair of black shorts, a cropped SAMCRO tank and her trusty Dr. Marten. Clay allowed her to wear the SAMCRO-merch so she would be recognized as one of the club rather than a croweater. Protecting her, that's what he promised her father before he died in prison and Clay stood up to that word ever since. She pulled her hair in a high ponytail before walking out the door. As Eve opened it she saw a Harley parked next to her pickup, wondering where it's driver was. „Gemma send me to pick you up." a deep voice rasped from somewhere on her right. She turned to face its owner, her hands still messing with the hair tie. Happy sat on one of her chairs on the front porch, his hand casually resting on his knee while the other grabbed the toothpick from his mouth, snipping it away before standing up and walking closer to her. „The compound is packed. No space for that giant truck." he explained, nodding towards her vehicle. Evelyn nodded understanding and followed him to his bike, putting on the helmet he handed her. Both mounted the bike and Happy started the engine. „Ready ‚sunshine' ?" he asked, her nickname coming out in a mocking manner. „Sure." Eve rolled her eyes, tightening her grip around Happy's waist as he sped up, leaving her driveway.