Happy Lowman has always been the lone wolf of the MC world, preferring his own company over others most of the time. When he patches over to the Redwood Original, he finds himself facing Gemma and her pushing for him to settle down. He finally buys...
Later that afternoon, Gracie, Jeremy, and Tyler were sitting down to dinner in Gracie's kitchen. As they ate, they discussed their days, Tyler telling them about football tryouts that were starting the next week at the high school.
"That's great, Ty! I know you've been practicing all spring. I have no doubt that you'll get a position."
Tyler nodded. "Yeah, I sure hope so anyway. Hey, Aunt Gracie, how about a movie night?"
Gracie shook her head. "No can do buddy. I'm going out tonight."
Jeremy gave her a look as Tyler snorted. "You? It's not like you date or anything."
Jeremy leaned over and smacked his son on the back of the head. "Don't talk to your aunt that way, dude. It's not cool." He turned and grinned at his sister. "He's not wrong though. Who ya going out with?"
Gracie rolled her eyes as she stood and started gathering dirty dishes. "I'm not going on a date, but thanks both of you for the vote of confidence. Do you remember Lyla Winston? I'm going out for drinks with her and a couple of her friends."
Jeremy nodded. "Yeah, she's married to Opie, right?" When Gracie nodded, so did he. "He's a good guy."
Gracie snorted and shook her head. "So let me get this straight. It's completely fine for me to hang out with the old ladies but not the Sons themselves?"
Jeremy shrugged. "I doubt you'll get into much trouble with the ladies. I just don't want you to date a Son, that's all."
Gracie eyed her brother. "Well, since one hasn't asked me out, I guess I'm in the clear." She pointed toward the front of the house. "Okay, you two get out. I need to get these dishes done then jump in the shower."
After telling her that he would see her at the shop the next morning, Jeremy and Tyler left her to clean up the kitchen. As she worked, she thought that she didn't really need her brother or her nephew to inform her that she didn't have a social life. She was well aware of that, but it always seemed that by the time she got done working for the day, she was exhausted and wanted to just chill out on her own couch.
She supposed when the time was right, she'd meet the one that she was supposed to be with. That's what her father had always told her and she didn't think she should knock his logic. He'd met her and Jeremy's mother in high school and they'd been together until breast cancer took her when Gracie was a teenager. She knew that her father was still in love with her mother the day that he took his last breath, and she could only hope for that kind of relationship.
Gracie laughed as she was enveloped in a hug. "Gemma! I haven't seen you in ages!"
Gemma broke the hug and held her at arms' length. "Let me take a good look at you. Damn, you're looking good!"
Gracie heard a throat clear and turned to see the brunette from next door sitting there with a confused look on her face. "You two know each other?"
Gemma nodded as they took seats with Lyla and the other woman. "Oh yeah. I've known Harley since she was in diapers. She used to play with Jax and Opie. Her family owns Biker's Heaven in Lodi, the shop where the boys buy their parts and bikes from." She turned to Gracie. "I was so sorry to hear about your dad, sweetheart."
Gracie gave her a small smile and nodded. "Thank you, and thank Clay for the donation to the cancer center in dad's name. It was truly appreciated."
Gemma waved her off. "Nah, you all are family baby." She pointed to Tara. "You know Lyla, but this is Tara, Jax's old lady."
Tara nodded but still looked confused. "I thought you said your name was Gracie."
Gracie chuckled and nodded. "Right. It's actually Harley Grace, but I prefer Gracie." She rolled her eyes. "Why dad felt the need to name me after a motorcycle, I'll never know." She nodded to Tara. "So you and Jax moved in next door?"
Tara chuckled and shook her head. "No, we were just helping Happy move in. Happy Lowman is your neighbor."
Gracie smacked her forehead as the others laughed. "Well, that makes sense. I was wondering why I hadn't seen you again."
Gemma nodded, a considering look on her face. "Well, now that we've all reconnected, let's keep it that way, huh?"
Hours later, Jax, Opie, and Happy walked into The Hairy Dog looking for the women. Gemma waved them over to a table where Tara, Lyla, and Gracie were laughing uproariously at something.
"Took ya long enough to get here." She waved a hand at the three younger women. "Take them home."
Happy frowned as he tried not to stare at the new woman, who he had to admit was smoking hot, even drunk. "Why am I here?"
Gemma grinned. "She's your neighbor. Be neighborly and take her home."
He rolled his eyes. "She has a kid and an old man. Call them."
Gemma sighed as she watched Jax try to wrangle a drunk Tara into a standing position. "Gracie has neither of those things. Take her home."
Happy stared at Gemma for a moment before finally sighing and stepping closer to the table. He waited for Opie to peel Lyla away from a still giggling Gracie before he stooped down to get her attention. He smiled inwardly when her eyes got big as she looked him over. "Can you sit a bike?"
Gracie blinked at him for a moment, something that he found fucking adorable, before she nodded slowly. "Yes." She belched loudly, making her and the other two start laughing again. When she was done, she put a hand on her stomach. "I might have to throw up first though."
Happy shook his head before reaching out and taking her arm, pulling her out of her seat. "No puking until we get you home, little girl. Let's go."
She nodded as she wobbled on shaky feet beside him for a moment. "Yes, sir."
Happy chuckled slightly as Opie and Jax grinned at him. He slowly led her out of the bar, watching to make sure she didn't fall on her face. When they got to his bike, he swung a leg over before motioning for her to get on. With Gemma's help, she finally straddled the machine and latched onto his kutte. As he tried to ignore the smirk Gemma was giving him, he reached back and put her arms around his waist. He glared at Gemma for a moment before speaking.
"Why aren't you taking her home?"
Gemma just smirked more. "I just got the Escalade detailed. Didn't want to take a chance of her tossing her cookies in it." She gave him a little wave. "Have fun, kids."
Happy just hit the starter and roared out of the parking lot in response, knowing that Gemma was laughing at him. It took minutes and he was pulling into his driveway. When he cut the engine, he turned to look at Gracie. "You got your keys?"
Gracie frowned for a moment before finally shaking her head. "My phone and keys are in Lyla's bag."
Happy cursed under his breath before he got off the bike and helped her. "Looks like you're bunking with me tonight."
