Chapter 243
Jax's Point of View
TWO DAYS LATER
Late afternoon light flooded underneath the partially lifted vehicle I was currently lying underneath. It was still fairly dark underneath the Olds Mobile though. The creeper was digging into my shoulder blades beneath my sweat soaked back. I finished ratcheting a few bolts into place and lied there for a moment, sighing deeply. I've spent the past two days working in the shop, giving myself as much overtime as I want so I can avoid Clay and Gemma at all costs.
No one has seemed to even notice, which works for me. It probably helped that I played nice last night when Rowan and I took the kids Trick R Treating with Gemma, Clay, Opie and Deacon. Lena didn't feel well so she stayed home this year. Abel and Rae were fucking adorable dressed up as Woody and Jessie from Toy Story, which I've learned is the kids latest obsession. We watched it about a thousand times in the past two days. I could quote it word for word. The kids' cuteness seemed to keep things light between everyone and they tuckered out quickly so we weren't all together long. It was nice walking hand and hand with Rowan watching the kids shriek and point at ghouls, goblins and ghosts running amuck through our neighborhood. The whole night I kept watching Clay and Gemma and when Rowan would notice she'd kiss me, on the cheek or nose or ear, anywhere, just to calm the tension and it worked.
Rowan knew she had the power to control my emotions with a simple kiss, a light touch, a frown. She controlled me, but not in a bad way. It felt good knowing she could reign in the emotions I was having before they spiraled out of my control.
I slid out from beneath the car, sitting up, wiping my hands on a rag, staring out into the parking lot. Rowan's SUV pulled on the lot a moment later and I smirked as she pulled up to the open garage doors. I stood up, tucking the rag into my back pocket, then closed the hood on the car I was finished working on, done for the day.
"Look, there's daddy!" Rowan cooed happily, making me turn around.
Abel ran —more like wobbled— towards me with a huge smile on his face. I chuckled at him.
Rowan had Rae on her hip, following behind him, a tired grin on her face.
"Hey, there's my troublemakers!" I knelt down and let Abel run right into my arms, giving him a huge hug. I tossed him high in the air and caught him, his giggles filling the air. I wrapped him up in my arms and picked him up. "What are you doing little man? You have a good day at daycare?"
Abel grinned, nodding his head. "It was fun! I wanna see grandpa Deac!"
"You're gonna see him tonight, baby." Rowan answered for me, rubbing Abel's back.
I sat Abel back down on the ground and held his hand, then leaned in and kissed Rowan on the lips, momentarily stunned by how god damn good it felt to feel her lips against mine.
"Hey, babe. How was work?" I let go of Abel's hand and let Rae climb into my arms, since she was reaching for me. I kissed her on the cheek, getting a hint of the cookie she was still eating. Crumbs stuck to the corners of her lips and chin.
"It was alright. There was an accident this morning so it was pretty busy for a few hours." Rowan yawned, her hand shooting up to hide it from me. "Thankfully everyone was okay though. I ended up having to get one of the doctors to prescribe me something for nausea." She put her hand on her belly discreetly. "It was awful today."
Rae held out her cookie towards me and I took a bite giving her a warm smile, before sitting her down on the ground.
"You know you can take some time off work, right?" I told Rowan, grabbing her hand and pulling her into my chest, my hands sliding around her hips, locking behind her. Rowan placed her palms on my chest and looked at me pointedly. She knew I didn't like that she pushed herself so much. "I can't take time off, Jax. Besides, I like my job."
Sighing, I shook my head. "Well why don't you at least let me take the kids off your hands so you can go home and get a few hours sleep before Deacon and Svery show up for dinner." My eyebrows arched trying to gauge her answer.
Rowan's lips pulled into a sweet smile. "You're the sweetest husband ever Jackson Teller, but you worry about me too damn much." She chuckled, pressing her nose against mine. Unexpectedly I bit at her bottom lip, making her laugh. "I have to go to the store and pick up a few extra things for dinner and the steaks. I'll be fine. But thank you..." Rowan kissed me, her hands running through the back of my shaggy hair.
"I can pick up whatever. Just make me a list." I offered again. Rowan was juggling a lot of roles. Mom. Wife. Nurse. Daughter. She did it so well, but I knew she needed rest and time to herself. I wasn't above taking the kids for a bit or running to the store if it helped her. She helps me with so much more heavier shit. It's the least I can do.
"You really wanna take the kids in the store?" She looked at me skeptically. "They're awful in the store." She laughed, but it was a tired laugh.
"Not for me." I smirked.
"Tell me your secret!"
"Buy em' whatever they want." I chuckled.
Rowan swatted my shoulder playfully. "Jax! You can't..." I quieted her with a kiss, letting my hand slide down over her ass giving it a light squeeze. I wanted her so badly. It was taking everything in me not to drag her into the office and bend her over the desk.
"I gotta the troublemakers. Go home. Sleep. Eat. Shower. Whatever you want to do to relax." I caressed her cheek gently rubbing my thumb along her cheek bone.
Rowan glanced at the kids sitting on an old tire lying on the shop floor, then back at me, biting her lip. "Okay. Thank you. I really am tired." She revealed, finally, resting her head on my shoulder. She looked up suddenly, her fingers playing with my beard. "Hey, with everything going on; if you want to cancel this dinner with Deacon and Avery we can. I understand..."
"No, no, no..." I interrupted her. "It'll be good. I need this. Besides your twisted little family will be a great distraction from my fucked up one." I smirked.
In Rowan's family they have kids and abandon them or don't know about them at all in Avery's case.
In mine we kill each other.
"Alright." Rowan nodded.
