Page 9 of When Life Sucks!

“It doesn’t matter who they were. They refused, and Sacks agreed. We now have Melody at the club, locked in a room. She’ll not be leaving the club now until we have things under control.” Bolt sits forward and gives me a ‘Please understand,’ look, but hey it’s not working.

“What is it you want with me, Bolt?” I blatantly ask because I’m about done here as nothing new is being said, and I’m finished with it all.

“I want you to forgive him. He did what I asked him to do. This is not on him, it’s on me.”

“Now, that is the funniest thing I ever heard,” I laugh loudly and Ronald rubs the back of my shoulder, comforting me. “You want me to forgive the asshole who stuck his dick in my friend, and got her pregnant. Then you’ll ask me not to hold it against the child, and when Melody overdoses, which she more than likely will, you will ask me to rear it. Not happening, not on this green earth am I doing anything you are asking. You didn’t ask if I would mind having sex with MY MAN while he was sticking his ‘said’ dick in someone else. No, forget all this and get out. I’m done with Sacks, you, and the club. The only ones who have shown me respect are Jax and his father Beast. Now those two I have the time of day for.” I stand and walk out of my office, heading to the staff restroom, and wait a while as my temper cools. What a nerve he has to come here and ask me all that bullshit. Let’s see what Beast thinks of that tonight.

Ronald follows me out of the restroom, grabs my hand, guiding me to his office, where he slams and locks the door. Walking briskly to his wall cabinet, he opens it and takes out a bottle of vintage brandy, pours two hefty glasses, and hands me one.

“Up yours,” he salutes before drinking it in one go.

“Up yours,” I repeat, and down mine, but sadly end up choking and coughing because I’m not usually a drinker of brandy.

“Goddamn, girl, we have to teach you to drink.”

After spluttering a while longer, I look at Ronald with tears trailing down my cheeks from the coughing and choking. “I think I’ll stick to the wine.” I giggle, then hiccup, which has Ronald placing two fingers over his lips and giggles along with me.

By the time Jeffrey unlocks the door and enters the office, both Ronald and I are sitting on the couch, shoulder-to-shoulder and head-to-head, laughing about stupid baby daddies and taking one for the team.

“I agree with your sentiment, Alice. The idiot thought he was helping his club, that I understand, but he didn’t give your feelings a second thought, and that’s just not good enough.” Jeffrey sits opposite Ronald and me and gives us both a huge grin. “He’s scared shitless of you telling Beast. I can’t wait for that man’s reaction.”

Back in my office a while later my phone rings and looking down I see it’s Momma again. But I’m at work and she knows not to call me when I’m working so she can hang fire until I’m well and truly ready to speak to her.

Thinking about Jax and Beast during the day, I decide I'll make them a chicken dinner. I can pop a chicken in the oven with veggies to bake while I have a shower and change. I have a chicken in the fridge as I was going to cut it into portions and freeze it. But I reckon it would be nice to eat with someone rather than by myself tonight.

Sending a message to Ronald to let him know I’m leaving work early to cook a meal for Jax and Beast. I grab my laptop and jacket and head out of the building and to my vehicle.

Placing the laptop and jacket on the passenger seat, I take my phone out of the jacket pocket where I’d placed it. Walking around to the driver's side of my Camry, I stop in my tracks when I see Melody in the alley at the side of the dry-cleaning business across the street. I thought she was at the clubhouse locked in a room. Obviously not! I take a picture on my phone and make sure I catch the face of the man with her. He has a cut on, but it doesn’t look like the logo on the back that Jax and the brothers have. Anyway, I’m not hanging around here.

Once home I switch on the oven, prepare the chicken for baking, and open the bag of prepared Mediterranean vegetables that I love to roast. I toss the vegetables in olive oil, Italian herbs, salt and pepper, and tip them into the roasting tray along with the chicken and stick them in the oven. After cleaning the kitchen where I’ve been preparing the meal, I make my way upstairs, shower and change.

Once the meal is ready, I’m thinking I’ll eat before they arrive if they don’t come right the hell now, and as though by magic, someone knocks on the door.

Checking through the peephole, I see it’s Jax and Beast so I quickly open the door, giving them both a broad smile. “Come on, get in here.”

Beast grabs a hold of me and gives me a hug, along with a kiss on the forehead. Jax shakes his head before grabbing me from his father and doing the same, taking me by surprise.

“What is that great smell?” Beast asks.

“It’s chicken if you would like some. I made it for all of us, but if you’re not hungry, that is okay.”

Rubbing his hands together as he rushes into the kitchen, Beast gets to the sink before Jax can, washes his hands, and plants himself at the kitchen table, looking eagerly at the chicken I have resting on the counter.

I place the chicken along with the carving knife and fork on the table. I hand out the plates and give Beast a nod to do the honors. He gives me a huge grin, and I roll my eyes as I take the vegetables out of the oven and serve them onto the plates.

Rinsing the tray, I place it in the dishwasher ready and take a seat at the table, before remembering the apple pie I have in the fridge and place it in the warm oven to heat through.

“This is great. Thanks Alice,” Jax says as he holds up a drumstick in his hand before chomping on it eagerly.

“Eat nice, you fuckin’ heathen.” Beast rolls his eyes at Jax, but grins as he picks up a drumstick himself and takes a huge bite out of it.

I eat the piece of breast I wanted along with the vegetables. All the while watching these two grabbing pieces from the chicken. It’s not long before the wings are gone and all the breast. It looks like scavengers have been at it if I’m honest, but the pleasure of watching them eat with such gusto is worth the mess they made.

Once finished I quickly clear the table, rinse the dishes, and put them in the dishwasher before grabbing the pie and cutting it into a small, then two large portions. I take out vanilla ice cream to pop on the side of the pie and watch as they both demolish that, too.

After we’ve eaten Beast gives me a huge smile. “That was fantastic. I enjoyed every bite. It’s been quite some time since I had a home-cooked meal. Thank you, Alice.”

“You are very welcome. Any time you are in town, you are welcome to come and eat with me,” I offer and see the genuine look of thanks on his face.

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