Black Water | Jax Teller

Chapter 17

"What in the hell has you in such a pissy mood?" Jax heard his mother ask as she strolled through the garage handing out repo lists that he told her to give to one of the prospects.

"Nothing," Jax replied hotly as he worked under the hood of a car to replace the starter.

"Really?" He heard his mom question. And Jax cursed God for giving him such a nosey mother. He would've thought once he turned 18 – a patched member – she would've realized that the umbilical cord was cut on the day he was born. But it seemed some invisible leash still attached them and her meddlesome ways got worse with age. And some days her attitude and need to know everything affected his marriage.

"Gem, Jax is upset because the family or Vanessa loves Chase more than him." He heard Tig holler from his end in the garage causing all the other workers to laugh at his expense.

"Fuck you," Jax shouted over the laughter and kept his head under the hood.

Truth was the family all had fucking become enamored with the dog. When they surprised Abel and Thomas with Chase, he was sure their cheeks would have become stuck with the smiles they had, as since then it hadn't come off their faces. In spite of Abel promising to take care of Chase as he was his responsibility, Jax knew it was going to land on Vanessa, who probably wasn't going to mind. He felt she was worse than the boys when it came to the drooling mutt.

Chase, of course, loved all the attention he was getting. He thought the dog had trouble picking who to give his affections too as he drooled and licked over everyone, except him of course. It seemed the two of them were on a battlefield in marking their territory in the house.

Jax didn't mind the dog even though he spent about a $1,000 buying treats and amenities for it. He didn't interact with it as much as his family. However, he had quickly asserted his dominance and what behavior was acceptable. The dog was forbidden in laying on his and Vanessa's bed. He told Vanessa he didn't want the dog on the couch, but he knew as soon as he left the house, Vanessa let the dog lounge on the couch with her. He suspected even the bed too.

However, Jax already caught the little fucker trying to chew on his kutte more than once. He didn't know what game the dog was playing at. He went to hit the dog but of course the boys and Vanessa whined and practically cried about him being mean to the damn thing.

The last thing he ever expected was for his kutte was to get ruined by a damn dog. And after Vanessa defended the little shit, he could admit he was slightly in a foul mood.

"What did the dog do?" Gemma inquired amusement was evident in her tone.

"Probably slobbered or pissed all over his kutte or did Vanessa kick you out the bed?" Tig goaded as he ate Gemma's meatloaf. Jax was close to shoving the food down his throat to make him choke and hopefully stop talking.

Gemma and Jax both ignored him as Gemma replied; "Now you know why I never let you and Tommy get a dog."

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With Abel gone at a summer music class, as he had shown an interest playing the drums, which neither her or Jax were exactly thrilled about, it was only Vanessa, Thomas, and Chase at the house while Jax was at Teller Morrow.

As she didn't work during the summer, most days consisted of this, of just her and the boys and now Chase at the house. With Donna being pregnant it added to the routine as she would help her friend out. But other than that her days consisted of entertaining her boys until Jax came home to give her a break. Of course, Neeta still came over to give her some form of break where Vanessa would go out and maybe shop and just have a few hours to herself.