He Use To Be A Son Of Anarchy

Chapter Sixteen: Couch Crashing

Jax let me know that he'd come to my apartment the next Friday at midnight to talk some more. He quietly knocked at my door at the agreed upon time. I switched off my laptop and opened the door for him.

"Come on in," I said and stood to the side to let him pass.

He lingered near the couch and I gestured for him to sit.

"Do you want anything?" I asked as I opened the small fridge. He shook his head.

I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and sat down in one of the arm chairs.

For the next hour he told me about some of the deals that went horribly awry. He also got into how one of their rival clubs and dealers, The Mayans, became friendly acquaintances. The thing that shocked me the most, and it really shouldn't have, was the fact that they ran a porn studio. I almost spat out my water when he mentioned it. I tried to pretend like I wasn't about to choke, but he cracked a smile.

So guns, drugs and murder didn't t put Valerie Brooks off, but running a porn studio is too much? I had to seriously re-evaluate my moral standards.

Just before 1am my phone rang. I finally got the damn thing fixed. Cell phone repair shops are not a thing in Georgeville and I had to drive to another town to find someone that was able to look at it.

It was Rosa. She was checking up on me. I quickly explained to Jax that I had to take the call. He waved me off and settled into the couch.

After profusely apologising for the late call she told me about my dad's memorial service that day. I only wanted to know if my mother attended. Rosa was hesitant to answer, but confirmed what I was beginning to realise myself: My mother had changed. I didn't know for how long or how much, but if Rosa saw some good in her... Maybe it was time to just give it a shot.

I didn't want to think about that subject too much.

I headed back to the living area/kitchen to find Jax dosing off in the love seat. I quietly switched off the light and went into my bedroom. I wasn't going to wake the poor man, but I wasn't dumb either. I locked my door, but realised it would be no use seeing as I already knew that he was very much capable of picking it, but headed to bed myself anyway.

***

When I emerged from my bedroom the following morning I found Jax just about out the door.

"Jax," I said softly. He turned around quickly.

"You don't need to leave right now," I said.

I couldn't read his expression. He seemed groggy from sleeping on the couch, but other than that I couldn't tell if he was mad at me or himself. Maybe it was neither.

He walked away from the front door and sat down in one of the chairs at the kitchen island.

"Coffee?" I asked.

"Please," he said smoothing out his hair. I turned on the coffee maker and readied two cups.

The silence in the room was awkward. I fiddled with my t-shirt as I waited patiently for the coffee maker.

"I'm sorry about crashing on your couch. I didn't realise I was that tired," he said looking down at his hands that were folded on the table.

An apology from Jax Teller. Surely the end of the world must have been near.

"No harm done," I said pouring coffee into the first mug.

"Listen, I want to tell you something else before I leave," he said gripping the cup in both hands.

"I kind of have to get ready for work. Miss Wayforth is making me come in because of my disappearing act a few days ago," I said eyeing the clock.

I took a few sips of coffee and hurried off to my room.

When I came out again, just about ready to leave, he was still sitting at the counter.

"I'll walk with you," he said as we stood outside my door.

"I thought you didn't want us to be seen together. For safety reasons?" I asked.

He seemed to be pondering this. "I don't really care anymore," he simply said and gestured for me to walk first down the hall.

Just before we reached the library, he stopped.

"Val, I want you to be careful about this. Protect yourself. Publish using another name or something."

I haven't exactly gotten around to telling him I was maybe not going to write his story. I was afraid that if I did he'd stop talking to me. And us much as I hated to admit it, I needed this just as much as he did.

"I'll be safe," I said as I slowly walked towards the steps to the entrance.

"Hey, Jax," I called back to him. He turned around.

"Thanks," I said and went inside the building.

"For the last time Harry I don't want to go on a date with you," the ever so friendly voice of Miss Wayforth yelled.

I had stumbled in on the poor deputy sheriff and librarian.

They both spotted me. Miss Wayforth angrily stomped into the office and Harry nodded sadly at me. The poor man was a mess. His face was red. He looked like he was about to cry.

I smiled gently as he walked past me.

I knew that Miss Wayforth had spotted me and Jax, because that day, she treated me no better than a slave.