Living with the Club

This is Real

Veronica pulled out some of her clothes, sticking it into a duffle. She couldn't get over the conversation. She replayed it over and over in her head, wondering if she stuttered or misspoke. She pulled her phone from the dock and walked to the front door.
She opened it and saw Juice walking up.
She opens her mouth then closes it when nothing comes out.
He pushes her inside and grabs her bag, walking to their room. This was all done in a fast, angry, and silent walk before he threw her bag onto the bed and started to unpack it.
"What are you doing!"
"Are you so foolish to believe everything you hear? Do you remember what I said before I told the club we were involved? No? I told you there would be tests. If you want this to work you have to communicate with me. Don't talk to me like I know what you're thinking. I can only figure out so much. That fight drove me batty because I felt like I was showing up to a group project and I was the one with no information. I will say this once. I don't think you're too needy or too attached. Sure you drive me insane sometimes, but I'm happy with that. And second, you do fulfill my sexual needs and if you didn't I would try to verbalize that in the kindest way possible so we could work on it."
Veronica looked at him and felt stupid. And more than that she realized that she could have talked to him without accusing him and in a kinder tone spoken to him.
"And Veronica?"
She couldn't find her voice.
"I'm irrevocably in love with you."
She looked at him, knowing now how stupid she'd been and realizing she needed to have more confidence in him. And also, seeing and hearing for the first time that he truly did love her. She wasn't just some hook up and that was completely confirmed the importance of her presence in his life.
"I'm sorry. I was stupid and I didn't think twice. I thought the club was honest, but it makes sense. Clay had me show up right when they we're talking about me? That was not a coincidence. It was a test and I failed, but the fact that you came back and said what you said proves were stronger together than they can see."
She hasn't said the three words Juice was waiting for.
"And Juice?"
"Yeah?"
"Irrevocably is probably the biggest word I've heard you say. Ever. So that makes me realize how serious you are, but my point is..I'm utterly in love with you too," she smiles at him.
He grabs her waist almost roughly and plants a kiss on her lips.
"How about I fulfill your sexual needs unless you want to talk about it?"
He laughs hard, "maybe later baby, I just want to be with you."
She smiled, knowing this was never just sex.
He started throwing her clothes into drawers before picking her up unexpectedly, causing her to yelp and threw her easily on the bed.
He hovered over her and just took her in as she was in that moment.

They finished in an hours time then Veronica decided to lay on the ground in the living room.
"What are you doing?" Juice asked.
"Laying."
"Well, I see that, but why on the ground?"
"This is as good as place as any."
"Bed. Couch."
"Floor," she added.
He shakes his head at her.
Juice goes to the kitchen and gets some water.
"Juan Carlos Ortiz," she said.
"Yes, Veronica May Fugal?"
"Guess what?"
"What?"
"I think that.."
"Yes?"
"You are perfection," she went with that because she couldn't quite put into words what she felt about him.
"Thank you?" He laughed.
"I can't quite put into words what you mean to me but I would say you are near perfect. Pretty damn patient. You make me happy when you're around, sad when you aren't. I can't imagine myself without you anymore. In the words of John Green, 'I fell in love with you like falling asleep. A little bit then all at once.' I don't know why I decided to say all this, but damn. I love you, my King," she jokes about the king part.
He sets down his water then lays beside her on the floor.
"You are incredible. I love you too," he turns on his side and looks at her.
They lay in silence for awhile.
"Is Ricky your only sibling?" She asked.
"That I know of. You're an only child, right?"
"Yeah unless Clay stuck himself where he shouldn't."
He nods.
"What are your parents like?" Veronica asks.
"My mother--Esme Ortiz--is a kind woman, very spiritual, but she never did support my decision in the club. It left our relationship broken. I send her money once a month. I call her at Christmas. She remarried to a man named Christopher Martin. My dad--Richard Fernandez-- presently in prison. I never knew him. The only father figure I had was Ricky's father--Michael Cole."
Veronica nods.
"What is your Aunt and Uncle like?"
"Sweet people. They did everything they could for me even with five of their own kids. I never felt misplaced while I was there."
Silence for a long moment.
"I miss my mom," Veronica says, sadly.
"What was she like?"
"I don't remember much but there was this one day, my birthday I think. I was 12 and she took me to Disney world even though we could hardly afford it. She told me that we had to pack sandwiches and water because she couldn't afford the food there. I loved that day."
"How did she.."
She knew what he was asking.
"She got in the cross hairs of rival biker gangs--an innocent bystander. At least that's what I heard."
They talked for hours and eventually they moved to their room.