“Sounds like a plan. Thoughts on handlin’ this relationship between the three of us if Mel forgives me?” Earl asks while he pours two shots.
I reach forward, taking the glass with the tequila in it from him, and lift it to my lips, swallowing it down in one gulp.
“That’s got some bite.” I barely get the words out between coughs.
“Come on now, Pillsbury dough boy, don’t be a pussy on me.” Earl laughs, and I can’t help but join him.
I set my empty glass on the table and Earl fills it with whiskey, pushing it closer to me when he’s done.
“Okay, Ponyboy, Mels is going to forgive you. I do think we need to look for her son and make sure his intentions with wanting to meet her are sincere. If he’s just coming at her to be a prick for giving him up, then we’ll need to set him in his place.”
Earl lifts his glass, giving it a tilt in my direction before taking a large swallow of the bitter brown liquid.
“Bash is already lookin’ into that. So we gonna pick a night we each go out with her, then do group dates too?”
“If that’s what she wants. Eventually, when this progresses, we’ll have to discuss what it’ll be like living together. Do we each get our own room? Sleep in one big bed? Alternate nights we sleep with her? What do the boys do with Ashlynn?”
Earl lifts his glass, drinking the remaining liquid in it and then pours another shot of tequila and knocks it back.
“I don’t even want to think of them boys defiling my sweet girl or their sleeping arrangements. Yeah I know I sent them away to make me another grandbaby, but I still don’t want to know the details. I can tell ya, I’m not ready to have my cock accidentally rubbing against yours in bed.” I can’t help but laugh, because I’ll be damned if I don’t feel the same way.
“Likewise, but I got to admit, I think it would be a turn on to watch you get Mels off.”
“So you’re a kinky bastard? Hey at least that’s something I like about you.” We both burst out laughing as we got to know each other a little better. The biker isn’t as bad as I thought.
Chapter seventeen
Jax
Mels came to work today, but barely talked to me. Hell, if she didn’t have to about diner related issues, it would’ve been like I didn’t exist. I can see the pain in her eyes and maybe even a little regret over the way she acted.
She’s closing tonight, so I’m biding my time, waiting to speak to her privately. AJ is the last to leave, and I make sure to lock up before making my way to Mels’ office. It’s time for us to hash out our feelings and move forward.
I stop at her door, taking a deep breath before lifting my hand and perform a series of sharp, staccato knocks that cut through the silence of the diner.
“Come in!” Mels shouts from the other side and I take hold of the handle, opening it. Mels shifts her gaze toward the doorway, her eyes wide when she sees me. “Can I help you with something, Jax?”
I shut and lock the door behind me to stop any chance for Mels to slip away before we can talk, then focus my attention on the woman in question.
“It’s time we stop bullshitting and admit we’re a couple within a throuple.” I move across the room, each step taking me closer to her.
“Jax, I’m really not in the mood for this tonight.” I can hear the fatigue in her voice and I wonder if she slept at all last night.
“You may not be in the mood, but it needs to be done. It’s time I tell you who I truly am, so there are no more secrets between us. After talking with Earl last night, I know he’s aware of who I really am.”
“And who’s that?” She places her hands on the desk, pushing away from it, then crosses her arms, glaring at me. I perch myself on the corner so that I can face her as I tell her about the monstrous family I come from.
“My birth name is Jaxton Sakalov. My family is one of the biggest crime families in the world. I was set to take over the business, but it’s not in my heart. Don’t get me wrong; I can be as ruthless, if not more, than any man in Earl’s big wheel brigade. But it isn’t who I am. I wanted to cook and seven years ago I went to my father and poured my soul out and he consented to me living my dreams.”
Her lips part, but nothing comes out. I can envision the wheels in her head spinning as she processes that I just admitted I’m not who she thinks I am and I’ve been lying to her.
After a few moments, she scrunches her nose. “Why change your name? Why keep it a secret if your father was okay with your choice?”
“Simple. My family, while feared for our emotionless kills, is also hated. Our enemies would look at my desertion from the family as an opportunity to take me out. So we changed my name, and I have limited contact with my family. It sucks, but it gives me a chance to live the life that I want.”
I gaze at her as her eyes lock on to mine, her face void of all expression. Will she hate me? She’s been in love with a fuckingbiker for almost her whole life, and we all know the shit they’re known for.
“Is there anything else?” Her tone is cold and I fear I’ve lost her.
