McKayla

The water was beyond welcoming to me. It was perfectly warm and the pressure was amazing. I just stood under it for a few minutes just letting it rain down on me. I haven’t had a shower in about a week. Once I was finished, I slowly climbed out of the shower and wrapped up in a towel. Feeling refreshed, I pulled my clothes back on and dried my hair with the towel. There was a knock on the door a few minutes later. I swallowed hard and slowly opened it. Half Sack was standing there with sheets in his hands.

“Jax wanted me to bring these to you.” He said.

I smiled and took them from him.

“Thank you.” I said.

He nodded nervously and put his hands in his pockets.

“So, if you want I can show you around the bar.” He said.

I nodded and set the sheets down on the bed.

“Sure. Hey what’s your real name anyway?” I asked him as we walked out of the room.

“Uh it’s Kip.” He said.

I could tell he was scared as hell to do anything wrong. I guess being a prospect is harder than I thought. Kip took me back to the bar and told me what everyone liked to drink. Then he took me out into the back to where the alcohol is stored.

“That’s pretty much it really. It’s not too hard.” He said.

I nodded and got us both a beer. I popped the tops off and we took a sip.

“So where are you from?” He asked me.

I swallowed my sip hard and set the bottle on the table.

“It doesn’t matter.” I said.

I could feel his eyes on me. I did my best not to look at him. It’s no one’s business but mine where I came from. Kip took another sip of his beer and leaned on the bar.

“Yeah, I know how that is.” He said.

For the first time, I really looked at him. He looked so young to have been to Iraq and back. His eyes were soft and kind and I smiled a little. We sat in silence for a while until the rest of the guys filed back into the bar. Kip joined me behind the bar and helped me pour everyone a shot and get them beers. Jax smiled and raised his shot to me.

“Pour yourself one darlin’.” He said.

I smiled and poured Kip and I a shot. I clinked my glass with Kip and then Jax. We all did our shots and then the guys scattered around the bar. Jax sat on a stool and leaned against the bar.

“So, what do you think?” He said.

I smiled at him and took a drink of my beer.

“It’s better than the cab of a truck.” I said.

Jax raised his eyebrow and set his beer on the bar.

“What do you mean?” He asked.

“I was hitchhiking with a truck driver.” I said with a shrug.

Jax’s mouth hung open a little bit and he stared at me.

“You did what?” He said shocked.

I chuckled and wiped up some condensation on the bar.

“I needed out and I met him at a truck stop. He told me he was going to California and would give me a ride.” I said with a small smile.

I saw a twitch go through Jax’s mouth and he gripped the bar.

“Do you realize how dangerous that was? He could’ve raped you, killed you, and left you on the side of the road somewhere!” He half shouted at me.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. I smiled at him and put my hand on his arm.

“Relax. He didn’t hurt me. He was a nice guy actually. He bought me food every day for a week.” I said softly.

He shook his head and took a big drink of his beer. I just shook my head and kept the small smile on my face as I wiped down the bar. The rest of the night went smoothly. It was close to midnight when Clay, who was the last in the bar besides me and Jax left. Jax, who had calmed down since the hitchhiking story, was leaning on the pool table and I was sitting on a bar stool.

“Well, I’m gonna take off darlin’.” He said.

I bit my lip and nodded slowly.

“Yeah, okay.” I said.

He raised his eyebrow and smirked at me.

“You gonna be alright here alone?” He asked.

I nodded and picked at my fingernails.

“Uh huh.” I said.

Jax chuckled and pushed himself off of the table.

“You sure? I can stay.” He said softly.

I shook my head and smiled.

“No, I’ll be fine.” I said.

He looked me over for a second before walking behind the bar and took a napkin and scribbled something on it before handing it to me.

“This is my cell number. If you hear something, or need something, anything at all, you call me alright?” He said as he held it out to me.

I nodded as I put my hand out to take it. He smirked and pulled it back. I rolled my eyes and tried again to grab it. Again he pulled it away. I huffed and he chuckled before slowly waving the napkin in front of my face. I snatched it out of his hands and he smiled.

“Lock up after I leave okay?” He said as he started walking.

“Goodnight Darlin.” He called over his shoulder.

When he walked out, I half ran to the door and closed it tightly. I locked the many different locks and tested the door to make sure it was secure.

“Goodnight.” I whispered.

I flipped the lights off in the club and felt my way to the apartment. I let out a deep sigh and shimmied out of my shorts and took the blanket and sheets off of the bed and replaced them with the new ones. Once the bed was made, I flopped down on it and pulled the blanket up to my nose. I have never been more excited to sleep in my whole life.