He whistles. “Are you sure you should be driving around hungover?”
“I only had a few drinks, thanks for asking. Only tired after last night.”
Rogue offers me a cigarette that I accept without hesitation. I usually try to limit my smoking to when I’m drinking, but I feel like one could help calm me down. “Thanks, mate. This is what I needed.”
We stand there smoking in silence. Once we’re done, we drop our cigarette butts in the clear wine bottle that acts as our ashtray.
I follow Rogue inside the shop, where I hear a customer talking with Spade about their next tattoo. They want to tattoo the motorcycle club logo from my all-time favorite TV show,Sons of Anarchy, on their back. Spade tells them he doesn’t think it’s the best idea. He suggests another placement for the tattoo and a much smaller size. The customer keeps murmuring something before agreeing that somewhere else is better. Many times, customers get something tattooed and regret it sooner than later. I don’t recommend wasting money on something that can easily be avoided. That’s why my guys know how to prevent these situations by suggesting alternatives and giving honest opinions.
That being said, I have that same logo tattooed on my right leg. My tattoos tell my life story, and findingSons of Anarchyis apart of that story. That show spoke to me and reminded me how your family is what you make it to be. And Jax Teller makes me proud to be a Jax too.
I walk to the front desk but can't see Soph. She must be running an errand or something. Taking the binder with the latest paperwork, I’d like to know what I have waiting for me today. All the unnecessary bureaucracy is making me sweat, and I need Soph’s help reading through everything sooner or later.
By the end of my fourth hour at the shop, I’m counting the hours until I can leave and meet up with my two best friends. Soph’s been acting weird around me after her visit to the bank. I don’t know whether I’m sendingdon’t-fuck-with-me-todayvibes or if she’s avoiding me after what happened last night. She only helped me with tax forms after I asked her three times.
I get lost in my drawings and tattoo ideas for my future customers as I can’t focus on anything else. I’m happy if I manage a day near her without pushing her against the wall or something.
Since I'm meeting the guys at the Indian restaurant three blocks away, I leave my car in the alley. It looks like birds have enjoyed having it as a target during their bathroom breaks.Fucktastic.
Locking up the shop behind me, I check my phone to see if Ollie and Eli are already waiting for me. It’s common for them both to be early as Ollie likes to be responsible, and Eli is an overachiever. I’m usually the one who’s late everywhere I go,but now that the restaurant is only three blocks away, I plan to arrive on time for once.
When I get there, I am surprised to find an unhappy Ollie, looking like he hasn’t slept for days. Hearing my footsteps, Ollie glances my way with his tired eyes and sighs. “Jax.”
“Tough day, man?” I ask, giving him a hug before sitting down.
“You don’t even want to know.”
“Ollie, it’s me. Get it out so that you feel better, bro.” I don’t expect him to talk without Eli here, so when Ollie starts speaking much faster than average for him, I’m flabbergasted.
“My sweet little sister told me last night that she’s expecting a baby. A fuckingbaby. Can you believe it?” he shouts over the calm music coming from the overhead speakers. “For fuck’s sake, Livia can’t even take care of herself, and now she’s supposed to become a mom next spring. I’m so worried about that little niece or nephew of mine, and they aren’t even here in another five or six months.”
I stand there frozen, processing his words. “Well, shit. I’m sure we can come up with something to help the situation. You aren’t alone in this. You've got Eli and me.”
“I really hope so, as I don’t know what to do, J. I feel so fucking hopeless,” Ollie replies while rubbing his eyes, stopping the tears. It isn’t hard to tell that he is stressed and worried.
Growing up, we called Ollie our Little Poet Boy because he’s the most sensitive of us. He’s the brooding artistic type who hugs trees and saves babies from burning buildings in his free time. I mean, one of his favorite pastimes is pottery. You wouldn’t believe it based on how he’s had a hard life, but despite all that, he’s the softest boy ever. It isn’t even that surprising that he’shaving a tough time hearing the news from his younger sister, Livia. Even though she has graduated high school, she’s still young and doesn’t have a long-term partner that we know of.
“Does Livia know the father, at least?”
“She told me there aretwobaby daddy candidates, but she isn’t going to find out before the baby is born next March. I have no fucking clue what she’ll do for child support and all that. She barely makes enough money to support herself at her job at the local supermarket.”
I’m beyond relieved when Eli walks in—he’s much better with the feelings than I am.
“Ollie, who do I need to hurt?”
“Livia’s pregnant and has no idea whose it is.”
Eli squeezes Ollie’s shoulder before sitting across from us. “What can I do? I can set up a college fund or come up with some other financial aid for the kid. Anything you need, brother.”
“Thank you, man. I appreciate it, I really do. But fuck, I still can’t believe it.”
“I know you’re worried about her future kid, but you know you’ll make the best uncle out there. Do you hear me? That kid is lucky to have an uncle like you.”
Ollie smiles a tentative smile. “Right, thanks, Eli.”
“No worries. I don’t want to see you worrying about something that can’t be handled right now.”
“True. It’s just hard as I haven’t even thought about kids myself,” Ollie tells us, and we start looking at the menu.
