“We haven’t seen each other in years. I just show up here and drop this kid on you. I know you have your own life going on. All I ask is that you don’t bring anyone around him… yet.” She looks up at me and almost as if I can’t help myself, I reach out, resting my hand on her arm. She tugs it away slightly. “It’s already going to be confusing enough to him when we tell him. Having to explain how your girlfriend fits in will be much more confusing.” She frowns.
“Okay,” I nod to her before I turn around and head back to the door. “And El,” I call back to her as I stop, “she’s not my girlfriend.”
“Does she know that?” She asks me and I pause. Because I’m not exactly sure what she thinks we are at the moment.
“You sure? You’re okay with keeping him while we go?”
“Yes.” my father nearly shouts at me as Axe stands next to me. “You’ve got to go clear the house out because if not, you’re going to get evicted.” I just shrug to him, making him laugh out again and I nod, leaning over and I hug Jag.
“We’ll be back soon.” I tell him and he nods again.
“Okay.” he barely acknowledges me.
“Be good for your grandpa.” I tell him and he nods his head.
“I will.” he sees Axe standing with me and rushes him before latching around him. “You’ll be back soon, right?”
“Well, this is bullshit.” I mumble to myself, causing both men in the room to laugh.
“Yeah, buddy. Of course I will. I’m just going up to help your mom move your stuff out.”
“Good.” I watch as the two hug and I haven to force back the tears that are threatening to leak out.
“I should have flown the first time.” I mutter as we walk out of the airport and Axe just looks over to me with a smirk on his face. I’ve been back in Cali for a few months now, after talking with my dad a few times. He convinced me to pack up my things and just move down permanently, or at least for now, permanently. And Khan told me he can find some things for me to do around either the shop or the club.
Axe glared at me at the mention of me working at the club.
It’s such a weird feeling being around Axe again, especially being around him alone. It’s like nothing changed. We didn’t miss any time. Just suddenly we’re here, no time is passed… except for the whole trying to get myself to stop thinking about fucking him all the time.
He maneuvers the rental car up the driveway and I inhale, looking at the house in the side mirror as Axe continues to back-up in the house's direction.
I had always been proud of myself for being able to build a somewhat of a stable life here for us.
“You ready?” He asks me as he opens the door and slides out of the driver’s seat.
“Excuse me?” I hear my neighbor, Ms. Summers, call out from the other side. “What are you doing here?” I laugh out as I step around the SUV, watching as my neighbor scolds Axe for a second as I continue to fight against my laughter.
“It’s fine, Ms. Summers.” She looks over at me, surprised, and then back up to Axe.
“Ella,” she gasps. “I know I hadn’t seen you and that adorable little boy of yours around lately. I was getting worried.” I smile again.
“Yes, my father is sick. I’ve moved back to help him out.” She looks questioning at Axe again, almost as if he shouldn’t be here regardless… and I guess, maybe he shouldn’t.
“You’re Jagger’s father.” It’s not a question, but simply she’s telling him she knows. Axe slowly nods his head, and she smiles before looking back over at me. “Is he with you guys? I would love to say goodbye before you guys leave.”
“No, he’s staying with my dad.” she nods her head before she sighs and asks us to tell him she said hello.
“She’s fucking weird.” Axe mumbles as he walks back into the kitchen after I show him which room he can sleep in.
“She is, but she has helped a lot. She’ll watch him whenever.” He just nods his head, still looking at me.
“You know, I kind of stalked this place a few times.”
“I’m not surprised.” I laugh out loud as I walk into the kitchen and sigh. “I was prepared for you guys to just show up. Even had what I was going to say planned out.” He laughs, closer to me than I expected him to be.
“And what was that?” I can feel him behind me as I slowly turn and look up.
“Well, it wasn’t really what I was going to say to you.” I pause as I take a deep breath, “More of what I was going to say to anyone else.”
