“Not sure…. Bar fight gone wrong…. I wasn’t the fighter. I was the one breaking it up. Dumb ass drunk had a nasty right hook.” She chuckled. “Didn’t think you wanted me here so I’ve been sleeping there.”

Gin had been sleeping at the bar she wandered inside Jax’s house with a black eye

“I’ve wanted to kiss you for a long time & I’ve suppressed it” she leaned into his touch a little but not to much.

“It felt like it was supposed to happen. I’ve never had a kiss — one kiss like that.”

“I just fucked up our friendship of twenty plus years.” She sighed. “That was my first reaction but it felt—“ she didn’t finish that part

“The kiss—- we haven’t said much since.”

@hollowingheart.bsky.social

“You ever gonna tell me …. Why you’ve been avoiding me?”

Pride and ego. But he was right she didn’t know what he’d say and she was so scared of it she was throwing him under the bus without realizing. “I’m sorry.” There was very few times those words had left her lips.

They’d been friends for as long as she could remember. She’d always been Gin, Red, or the occasional pain in his ass but never had he ever called her that. Her heart sank. The woman who’d square up with a literal demon & likely won had now felt utterly defeated. “You’re right.” There went her +

“Then don’t beat around the bush teller. You’ve been avoiding me. You say you haven’t but you haven’t been home much in a week. Don’t blame the club either.” Her voice was a bit rude.

“I’ve been looking for an apartment anyways. So you can have your space back.”

Her smile was there but more grimace than usual. She tore into her food eating in silence. Not sure where this convo was going. She’d fucked up- she’d kissed him & now things couldn’t be the same. He’d not been home when she was since and she hadn’t been around the club house.

She ran her hand across her face pushing the sleepiness from her eyes. The aroma of the smell from the food had reached her nose. She hadn’t realized how hungry she’d been until she smelled it.

“Food sounds great.” She stood up to get hers bringing it back with her to sit back down.

“I’m fine. Just startled me awake is all.” She’d sat up at this point. Her voice still rough but returning to more of a normal version. “Figured you were still avoiding me after ya know.”

She was half asleep on the couch hearing his voice. “Yeah” she groaned a little.

Bump

“Living my best life.”

She nodded & walked over caressing his arm gently. Before she realized what she was doing her heart had taken over & she wrapped her arms around his neck & kissed him. 30 years worth of passion in one kiss.

She rolled her eyes. “Life’s not fair.” She said with annoyance in her voice

She had a coffee cup in hand and brought it to him. She was wearing only a Samcro tshirt. “Why does this trip have to end.”

She smacked his shirtless chest with her hand. “Teller—- who would whisk me away on romantic get aways.” She teased theowing the romantic in there to get his reaction

She rolled her eyes. “Well I almost smothered you with a pillow. But I don’t wanna go to prison then no one would visit me if you were dead.”

She climbed off the back of his bike. “Well that was a nice ride.” She winked slightly

Her hair was a mess she’d woke up next to him in the one bed at the AIR b n b. “You snore you know?”

She took his hand gently and climbed on the back of his bike wrapping her arms around his waist. She was ready to get the hell out of dodge.

A small smile tugged at her lips. She exited the residence and waited by his bike. Gin rarely road on the back of anyone’s bike— even opes she typically drove her own. But she wasn’t for driving right now. She just wanted to the thrill of the ride.

“Easy teller— you’re gonna spoil me.”

“I’ve always trusted you.” It was truth ginger was loyal to Jax more than she even realized.

“Not going to argue about Abel and his intentions but he’s realized that he’s a lot like you recently. Anywho- let’s get this bike on the road!”

“He doesn’t hate you—-“ she nodded as she went inside she packed a couple outfits & necessities and rounded the corner. “Well— I’m packed. You sure this is your idea of a good time.”

She pulled out her phone no hesitation she texted Abel. “Abel’s got the bar covered. So it looks like we’re going to a bed and breakfast.” A small glimmer of excitement lingered in her eye.

Her eyes pondered in thought for a minute. “I don’t really know. A Change of scenery does sound nice.

“No I just want to ride you.—- ride with you,” her face turned instantly red. “Wherever the road takes us.”

“Wanna go for a ride on that bike of yours? Get some fresh air?”