I look up at Opie, anxiety rushing through me as I begin to pick the skin around my freshly manicured nails. I feel my stomach flipping and my heart pounding as I think of what to do in this specific situation. "Babe, what's going on? I'm getting worried here." He tells me and I sigh, squeezing my eyes tightly before taking a deep, relaxing breath.
"I need you to promise me you're not going to be angry or do anything stupid, please, Ope." I tell him, looking up at him and hoping he agrees. I watch as his shift changes from worried to frustrated and confused.
"What the hell happened? Did Rick say something? Do something to you? Is he not leaving you alone?" I feel my breath get caught in my throat and I shake my head. Opie notices my tense body and sighs, "I won't get mad or do anything stupid, I promise, Faith." He reaches out to my hands and holds them as he stares down at me, "What's going on?"
I exhale slowly and nod, "At the party the other day, something happened, and I don't know how to take it or what to think of it, and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't stressing me out." Opie's eyebrows knit together, and he looks down at my growing belly, reaching for it as a way of checking on the baby. "The baby is fine, and we have our appointment tomorrow anyways." I briefly reassure him. "I went to check on Jax and he just seemed off, and really sad. I offered to talk in a more private space, so we went to his apartment." I watch as Opie's face begins to reflect nothing other than anger, "And he confessed something really odd to me."
Opie nods slowly, taking a deep breath as his squeeze on my hands tightens with anxiety and frustration. "And?"
I sigh, looking away from the man and to my mom's grave. "He said that he loved me, and thought that if I ever came back it would be for him. He said he stayed in touch with me for all of those years because he was in love with me, and was hoping that something would come from it." I look back at Opie and see the rage in his eyes as his chest begins to raise due to his adrenaline, "He was drunk, Ope, and he's going through a hard time with Tara. I doubt he meant anything of it, and was just looking for attention, or was saying whatever because he had been drinking all night."
Opie lets go of my hands and turns away from me, taking a deep breath as he pinches the bridge of his nose. "And what happened after?"
I shake my head, "Nothing. I just left and went to see you. I didn't say much; I just told him that he was drunk and lying, and that he was having a hard time with Tara, and that nothing was going to happen because I'm with you, and I love you, Harry."
He turns around at the mention of his full name and he sighs, dropping his shoulders. "I don't know what to really do or think of this. I really want to beat the shit out of him." The man admits and I nod, stepping closer to him and wrapping my arms around his torso.
"I know, but please don't. He's your best friend."
Opie shakes his head, "Best friends don't exactly go around stealing girlfriends and baby-mommas of their best friends." Opie says bitterly before moving his hand to the small of my back, "Thank you for telling me."
I nod, "Just, don't do anything stupid, please." I tell him, "You and Jax have had a long relationship, and I don't want this to get blown out of proportion. I know that it's frustrating, but he was drunk, and I doubt he means any of it."
Opie sighs once more, "Yeah, I'll do my best." He says before pressing a kiss on the top of my head, "We should probably go back home. Kenny was worried and he already ordered food when I got in, so our luck everything is going to be gone."
And with that, we had back home to spend our evening with Italian food and Kenny.
---
We had already eaten, and I can't get my mind off what Faith confessed to me. What the fuck is Jax's problem? What the hell did he think was going to happen? Did he truly believe that Faith wouldn't tell me about my best friend confessing his love for her? That she'd hide it and they'd run away together from Charming and the rest of us? I shake my head and let out a scoff, reaching for my pack of cigarettes before standing up and walking out of the house and into the backyard.
I put the cigarette between my lips and light it, inhaling the nicotine as I stare into the dark yard. I lean against the side of the house and sigh, taking the beanie from my head and running a hand through my hair. I shake my head as I flick the ash from the cigarette away and sigh before taking another drag of the cigarette. I can't help but be angry with Jax, and it's not just over this love confession thing. He's never happy with what he has, he always wants his cake and to eat it too, and he doesn't care about the consequence or infliction his words may have on other people. Faith is pregnant for Christ sake, and she's been stressed about this for a day and a bit now, and she probably hasn't been eating much or sleeping well because of it.
Thank god she said something though. I would be worried if she didn't and I'd hate to see where this would've gone if she hadn't said something and decided to keep it a secret. I look behind me and see Kenny and Faith laughing as they talk to each other about something. She's the perfect fit for this family. The way she gets along with Kenny and Ellie is unlike anything I could've imagined or even asked for. She's the best and only person I'd ask to be in my life, as well as my children's, and I'm more than thankful and happy to have her around once more.
I continue smoking my cigarette, and feel as if my head is a mess. I can't think straight, and there's nothing I want to do other than beat Jax to a pulp and to protect Faith. I want to make things official with her, I want to put a ring on it, I want her to be mine forever and more, until the end of time, and I want it all now. I want all of these changes now, and I don't know if Jax confessing his love for the redhead is motivating me to buy a ring for the woman, or if it's something that just feels right with all of our advancements: a new house, a child of our own. I sigh and finish my smoke before putting it out and walking back into the house.
Kenny looks up at me and gets up, excusing himself from Faith quickly before following me into the kitchen. "What's wrong?" He asks, "You've hardly talked to anyone since you two got home. Are you guys splitting up?"
I shake my head and reach for a beer, "Everything is fine, Kenny. We're not splitting up, but your uncle Jax is an asshole." I tell him as I crack the beer open and take a sip. "He told Faith he was in love with her." I tell him, spilling the beans even though I know I shouldn't have.
"Wait, what?" Kenny looks at me in disbelief and I just shrug as I take another sip of my beer. "What the actual fu-"
"Watch it, kid." I tell him, "And you don't tell anyone about this. If I find out you told anyone, your ass is grass, got it?" I threaten my son and he rolls his eyes, nodding as he opens the fridge to get a pop. He cracks open his pop and takes a drink before looking back at Faith who's sitting happily in the living room.
"So, what? You guys going to beat Jax up or something? I'm a good fighter, I could probably help." Kenny teases and I playfully glare at him before shaking my head.
"I don't know what we're going to do. We have that appointment tomorrow to figure out the gender of the baby, and then I might drop Faith off and stop at a jewelry store." I tell my son my plans and Kenny looks at me, a huge smile spread on his face.
"W-what? You're going to propose?" Kenny laughs, "Do it, Dad! I'll help you find a ring! I know what she likes, I follow her Pinterest account and I see what she likes on Instagram." He tells me proudly, "So she's going to be like an official step-mom?"
I smile at my son's excitement, and for a second it feels like absolutely nothing is wrong. I nod at his reaction, and feel myself feel warm and happy with his response. I'm glad to know that he's excited for her to be a permanent part of his life, and that he supports me asking her to marry me.
I chuckle, "Yeah, I guess so."
Mrs. Faith Winston's got a ring to it, doesn't it?
