2. On to You

On to You

Jax

I t's been two days since the wedding. Macie refused to stay at the house so, I followed her home making sure she got there safely. Damn this girl is set in her ways.

Finishing morning practice, Dakota and I are headed back to his house so I can help him get the rest of their shit out of their house into ours.

My best friend will be living in my house, his mother, and his little sister that I'm obsessed with. This ain't good.

I had a good time with her at the wedding. Her soft skin against my rough calloused hands, how easy it was to spin her around and make her laugh.

I am in no mood to move furniture today, but at least I'll be spending the rest of this day with her.

I pull into Koda's driveway parking behind him, noticing dad is already here. Of course the fucker is, he can skip practice, but I can't. My gaze snaps over, seeing Macie walk out of the front door with a box bigger than her in her arms, but she carries it with ease. For her little ass, she is pretty fucking strong.

I get out of my car, making my long strides towards her, reaching out I take the box from her hands.

"I'm not helpless." She snaps before she sighs.

"Didn't say you were. "

"Well, thank you." Wiping the sweat beading on her forehead with the back of her hand, looking like she didn't get any sleep. Her hair is pulled up into one of those messy styles, and it drives me crazy.

"You alright?" Asking her with concern, she looks exhausted.

"Yeah, I worked last night so I'm tired."

"Worked?" I ask scrunching my brows in confusion.

"Yeah, I work at night."

"Doing what?"

She drops her gaze from me, clearly hiding something. "Don't worry about it, there's still a lot to do." Turning, she walks away from me.

What the fuck. I put the box in the truck, and I follow her into the house, leaving Dakota's fucking ass outside with our parents, I need to know what she's doing. She works at the rink giving kids skate lessons, and they aren't open at night.

"Macie." I growl as I follow her.

"Leave it alone Jax, I'm not talking about it." She says as she runs up the stairs and her little ass bounces in my face with every step she makes and I'm ready to drop to the floor.

"Don't run from me."

"I'm not, I'm trying to get this done so I can sleep for a few hours."

"Where are you working that keeps you out all night Macie?"

"I dance, okay." She sighs and I cock a brow, my mind starting to stir.

"Jax, just leave it alone, I dance, that's all you need to know." She snaps then turns and I almost run into her with her abrupt stop. I look down into her eyes, her words are filled with a plea, "let it go Jax, please."

I search her eyes, not liking that she is hiding something, she's dancing at night. What the fuck. I don't like this one fucking bit. Does Dakota know what she does at night?

"Alright, I'll let it go for now, but I will find out what you're hiding."

"You do that, have fun trying." Her tone filled with her sass before shooting me a wink as she shoves a box in my hands.

"Get to work big boy." Smiling before she turns and is gone.

What the fuck! Yeah, this is not good. Fucking big boy; Girl you have no idea and I have a feeling my little angel is going to fuck around and find out with this little flirty shit she's doing.

Macie

I said the wrong thing. I shouldn't have told him I work at night, but I guess he would find out anyways. Mom and Dakota know I work at night, but I told them I worked in a department store, stocking shelves.

What a complete lie that is. I hate that I lie to them, but I really want to get out of this town. There's nothing here for me. My mom's happy now, I don't have to worry about leaving her alone, so I don't feel bad for wanting to leave. Dakota will be fine, his life is hockey, and who knows he may leave to play on another team too .

I keep carrying boxes from the house, avoiding being in the same room as Jax, avoiding him asking me even more questions he doesn't need to know the answer to.

I catch a glimpse of Jax and Dakota putting my mother's dresser in the truck, stopping myself to lean against the window frame and watch them. I chew my lip, taming down the smile that wants to crack, watching Jax lift the dresser with ease, the muscles in his back flexing and moving with his movements, his skin glistens with sweat from the hot sun hitting against it.

I had a lot of fun with him at the wedding that I didn't really expect. It was a good time, and it was even better when his hands were all over my body dancing.

They all tried to get me to stay, but I refused, I wanted to go home.

"What are you doing honey?" Snapping my head over with my mother's words, seeing her in the doorway of my bedroom.

"Nothing, sorry, I was day dreaming."

"Mm hmm… I bet you were."

"Mom don't even start."

"What, I'm just saying you and Jax looked like you had a lot of fun at the wedding."

"We did, but there's nothing to that mom, he is my stepbrother now."

"Oh, pshh… If you two grew up together, then I might judge you, but you didn't."

"We did too Mom. I've known most of the team my whole life."

"So."

I shake my head with my eye roll, grabbing my last box from my room and walk to the door.

I turn and look into my room that has been my room since I came home from the hospital, nineteen years ago, and it lays empty. My jaw stings as the tears begin to pool in my eyes, making me feel like the last part of my dad is in this empty room.

It hurts. I miss him so much.

"Sweetheart I know this is hard."

I sniffle up my tears, wiping my cheeks and I look to her. "It is, but I'm happier for you now mom."

Which is the truth, I am. I was already planning on leaving. I just wasn't ready yet.

"I'll see you at Paul's."

Shooting her a fake smile, trying to keep my emotions to myself.

"Sweetheart…"

My chin quivers, and I walk away from her, not wanting to make her feel bad here, but I can't help how it makes me feel either. When I say it hurts, it hurts me more than anything in this world leaving the memories of my father in that room.

My feet are quick in their steps, getting downstairs, I walk even faster trying to avoid Dakota and Jax. Darting past them to my car, I put the box in the back seat and shut the door.

Looking at my childhood home one last time, I turn to open my driver's door when a hand slams it shut. Spinning around I look up meeting Jax's hard stare.

"Why are you crying Angel?" Asking as his thumb wipes the tear from my cheek.

I shake my head dropping my gaze from him. "Don't worry about it."

I turn and open my door before I slide into my seat not letting him ask anymore, and surely not letting whatever is sparking between us get any hotter.

"Where are you going? "

I look up with my playful smile through my open window as I start my car. "I guess home."

His face goes unreadable, a little excitement, a little nerve, a little bit of everything is sparking off his smile, but those eyes are filled with a deep hunger.

He nods and takes a step back, holding that hard gaze on me "See you at home."

I feel the heat rush to my cheeks causing me to quickly look away. I then put my car in first, and pull away.

I drive to his house, Paul's house, my new house, whoever's fucking house it is, that's where I'm driving with wet panties.

He's got me all flustered and confused. Is he just being nice because our parents got married? I mean we've always kind of been friends, we've known each other forever. I don't know, and I find it weird, confusing, and really leaving me lost for what to do, but I am also exhausted, and I really need to get some sleep.

I make it back to the new house and get my boxes up to my new room, which of course is across from Jax's. But I have my own bathroom, which is a huge plus, and I have my own little balcony, how fucking cool is that.

I don't feel like unpacking anything, so I collapse on the bed and sleep finds me within seconds.

Dakota

When we got back to Paul's, I went to go find my sister to talk to her. I know she's having a hard time with this marriage between mom and Paul, she was daddy's little princess. She is a princess, until she's not.

Finding her asleep, I let her be, knowing she worked last night and will work again tonight.

She is a fucking liar. She tried to give mom and I some bull shit that she was working at a warehouse, and I didn't believe it for a second and I'm shocked mom did.

I followed her ass and I know she dances at night. But she's not stripping, she's just dancing, in a way I do not want to watch my little sister dance, so now that I know what she does, I leave her the fuck alone.

I know how Jax feels about my sister; he has always had feelings for her, and I'm honestly shocked he hasn't tried anything yet. This shall be interesting having us all live in the same house. I'm cool with whatever, the only reason I am here is to keep an eye on Ma. But now, she's got Paul, I can venture a little.

I know Macie wants out of here, and she will be soon. And I hope Jax is prepared for that, because my sister is set on leaving, and when she sets her mind to something, you're not stopping her.

Macie

When I wake, the sun is setting, and I know it's time for me to get my ass up and get ready for work. Wishing that I could stay here in this bed and sleep all night, but I can't. I jump in the shower, shave, do my nightly routine, before I get out and blow dry my hair before getting dressed. Grabbing my outfit I will change into; I throw it in my bag and I'm out the door.

I noticed no one is home as I make my way to the garage. It's a good thing, this way I don't have to answer questions.

Getting out to my car, I see Jax and Dakota's cars both gone, realizing I must have missed a lot during my nap. Well really that's the only sleep I get.

It really sucks sometimes, and it is starting to wear me out.

When I get to work, where I perform on stage, hiding behind a mask, entertaining, with my provocative dancing, but we add some humor too. It's almost like burlesque dancing but, a different style. Its Kenny's style is what I say. As long as we bring in the spenders, he stays happy. I mainly get put on the pole, but my favorite place is my silks, but I don't get to use them much.

When I get to my room, I open the door and see two dozen roses on my table in front of my mirror. "Okay." The words whisper out in suspicion as I make my way over to them.

Seeing a note sitting in between the stems, I dig my hand down between them, pulling the note out.

It reads….

My breath catches in my throat and panic consumes me. "Oh no."

I don't want anyone knowing I work here, the reason why I wear a mask, and in this club. I just don't want the judgement.

My door opens, and I spin around in a panic and my friend Keri walks in. "What the hell is wrong with you? You look like you've seen a ghost. " She snaps.

"Do you know where these flowers came from?" I ask.

"No, someone delivered them earlier, Natalie said anonymous sender."

"Got yourself a daddy now, look at them. Two dozen too, damn girl." She laughs with her side look.

"Oh my god No!" I laugh my words as she shuts my door, sitting on my lounge couch, and I start to peel out of my clothes and get myself dressed and ready for the night.

"Did Kenny tell you we have a big crowd tonight?"

I roll my eyes with my answer "No, he didn't."

"It's the hockey team."

My hand covers my mouth, trying to bite down the laugh and my curse, closing my eyes. You've got to be kidding me.

"It should be a good night; they can be a handful." Keri giggles.

"I think I'm sick." I start to cough before my laugh bursts out from my mouth. I can't believe this is happening.

"What's so funny?"

"My brother is one of those hockey players."

She snorts a laugh before she giggles, "No, are you serious?"

"Yeah, it gets better." I meet Keri's playful gaze on me…

"My stepbrother is the captain."

"Oh, dear lord, this is going to be a fun night."

With the realization of this hitting me, I start to wonder if those flowers came from Jax, and this is why they are coming here tonight. I'm in so much trouble if I get caught.

"I need to dance in the back tonight, Keri, switch with me."

"Oh, no girl, you're not getting me in trouble; Kenny wants you in the front, and you don't mess with his placements."

My door opens and Bree walks in asking "It's show time, you girls ready?"

I look at myself in the mirror one last time, grabbing my mask from my table, I slide it over my face, only covering my eyes. And pray like hell, this night goes without getting caught.