Family Matters

Chapter 30

A few days after being released from the hospital, Ellie invited Juice over to talk the rest of his situation out. She was feeling better, the constant cycle of pain meds helping get her on her feet, but when he arrived Juice could see she was still not herself.

"Maybe we should postpone," he said as she welcomed him in.

Ellie laughed and shook her head, her sloppy ponytail whipping behind her. "No. Way. This has been dragged out long enough."

"They're gonna kill me, definitely figuratively and maybe literally."

"Stop," she sighed. "Look, you just gotta do it or it'll become an issue again. If you're really worried you could fib a bit."

"How?" He wasn't buying her optimism.

Shrugging, Ellie made herself comfortable on the couch. "Tell them you didn't know, he ran out when you were young and your mom didn't talk about it. I mean, shit, with a name like yours it isn't suspicious."

"I guess that could work," he sighed. "All my official paperwork shit says Hispanic anyway."

"There you go," she beamed. "Do you want me to go with you?"

"Nah." He instantly shot down her offer feeling childish for even wanting the emotional support. "I'll be fine."

"Okay, I'm here if you change your mind."

"Maybe after I tell em' and when you're feeling better we could go out?" His eyes we're wide and hopeful "Dinner or something?"

"Juice," Ellie huffed. "I love you and I consider you a very good friend but I don't think we'd be a good fit. I think I would just walk all over you, you're too sweet for someone like me."

His brows furrowed as he looked at her feeling an intricate combination of sorrow and anger. "I'm not some pussy."

"I didn't say that," Ellie said defensively. "You're a good guy I just don't think we'd mesh."

He nodded, dejected and not up to try to change her mind, and saw himself to the door. "Is there someone else? I just...I swore I felt something."

"You did," Ellie ignored his question. "Please let me know how it goes with the guys."

"I will," he pouted. "I'll talk to you later."

Ellie nodded and watched him leave, feeling guilty for keeping the full truth from him but she knew for now it was necessary. Hearing his bike speed further away Ellie text Tig to let him know he could come over.

--

"You sticking around?" Happy asked when Rory got out of the shower. "I was gonna order some food and roll a blunt."

"Sounds like fun to me." She smiled. "I like this; food, sex, chillin'. I could get used to this."

"I already am so don't think of leaving."

Rory smiled at that and settled on the couch beside him. An hour or so into their movie, Happy's phone buzzed and without hesitation or apology he answered it.

"Yo, what's up?"..."Oh, we good with that?"..."Alright, nah I'm with Ror."..."Yeah, see you in the morning."

"Everything good?" She asked nonchalantly.

"Juice is black," he said with a snort.

Rory looked at him in surprise. "Uhh and it's just all good? Thought you guys were kind of strict on that shit?"

"Not now, that's First 9 shit. Jax said Juice came clean as soon as he found out so we're just gonna change the bylaw but not make a big deal about it."

"Mm, progressive bikers," she joked. "Cool. I'm glad you guys didn't have to kill him."

"Me too," he slunk down on the couch. "He's a good brother."

"This is weird," she looked at him from her place beside him. "You're all so whatever about it."

"You prefer we were raging racists?"

"Well, not really," she tilted her head to the side. "New generations and shit, it's kind of cool."

"Shut up," he pulled her to lean against him.

Rory rolled her eyes but laid back on his chest and watched the movie quietly.  She was growing more comfortable with the security of their unconventional relationship but she'd never tell Happy as much.

"Hey," she glanced up at him. "I like you, a lot. Okay?"

Happy smiled and nodded. "I like you too, Ror."

* The End *

Thank you guys so much for reading and supporting this story! You all rock. I'm just about to post the sequel to this! Look for Love and Liabilities! Xox