15. Jax #2
In between conversations, I try to keep tabs on Kiley, but she has been floating around for the last couple of hours, helping wherever she is needed. Right now, she’s behind the bar, helping with drink orders.
“Got your ugly sweater ready for tomorrow’s party?” Bishop asks when I sit down next to him. Three players are in the booth, finishing their dinner and drinks.
I shrug. “Just going to wear what I wore last year.”
“You don’t have a new one?” Saint chimes in. “I buy a new one every year.”
“O’Riley’s party is the only time I wear it. I don’t need a closet full of different ugly sweaters. That’s a waste.”
“That’s so responsible of you,” Hutch teases, causing the other guys to chuckle.
I smirk at his smart-ass comment. “Someone in the group needs to be.”
“Is that why we haven’t seen you scouting lately?
Because the old man wants to be responsible, or are you finally dating someone serious again?
” Saint asks. The guys have been trying to get me to hook up while on the road, but I’ve had no desire to, especially when a beautiful green-eyed brunette keeps occupying my thoughts.
I chuckle at the nickname they’ve been giving me.
“No one serious, and this ‘old man’ doesn’t have time for scouting with my daughter about to move in with me.
” I glance over at Harry, who tries to cover his shit-eating grin with his beer bottle.
I know what he’s thinking, especially when I watch his line of vision go to the bar knowing that Kiley is there.
“I call bullshit,” Saint exclaims. “Your kid does not come on the road with you.”
“I don’t care what you think, and obviously, it’s not affecting my game. If anything, I’m playing better than ever.”
“That’s true,” Hutch answers. “Maybe the old man is on to something. Maybe we all should be celibate.”
The other two players look at him as if he’s lost his mind. “Fuck that,” Saint scoffs. “I rather play like shit and be benched.”
We all laugh and change the topic to each other’s plans during the break, but it’s becoming hard to hear with how loud the bar is getting.
“Let’s go to the room,” I yell at the guys and point to the door.
I stand up to head that way, but that’s when I notice Kiley struggling to carry two very large trash bags.
Without hesitating, I make a beeline to help her.
“Kiley,” I call out. “Let me help you.”
She stops to look over her shoulder, sees it’s me and relaxes. I reach out and grab one of the bags out of her hands.
“Thank you,” she says, and motions her head for me to follow her.
We briskly walk to the back of the bar, through the kitchen where I see Keegan and Killian helping with food. They’re so busy that they don’t even look at us when we walk by. Kiley opens a door and leads us outside to an alleyway. We go a short distance to the dumpster.
“Kiley, let me do it.” I grab the other bag from her without waiting for a response and hoist it up into the dumpster. I rub my hands on my jeans and look at her. “Those were heavy!”
She laughs. “Lots of people are drinking tonight, thanks to you guys.”
I look around at our surroundings and frown. This is no place for a woman to be alone at night. “Do you always take the garbage out by yourself?” I question while we walk back to the pub.
“No, usually one of the guys does it, but the entire staff is tied up tonight, so I thought I would help and do it.”
“It’s not safe out here by yourself, Kiley. Please don’t do that again.”
She’s about to argue with me but then stops. We get to the back door of the pub and instead of opening it, she leans against the wall. “Can we stay outside a couple more minutes? It’s too hot in there, and I need a break.”
“Sounds great to me.” The cold air is a welcome invitation versus the stuffiness of the pub. I stand next to Kiley and notice the glistening moisture on her forehead from being overheated. “Are you okay?” I ask in concern.
“Oh yes. Just tired. Tonight has been a lot.” She looks down and then right back up at me. “Not that I’m complaining, because I’m not. This whole event has been incredible, and it’s all because of you.”
I chuckle at her need to explain herself. “You’re allowed to feel tired, Kiley. Honestly, I don’t know how you do it—being a single mom and working two jobs.”
“Soon to be three.” She gives me a sheepish grin, and I laugh.
“Only if you continue working at the bar during your days off will it be three. I don’t recommend that and you don’t need to do it.”
She shrugs. “We’ll see, but seriously, Jax, thank you for all you’ve done for my family.”
I shuffle my feet, feeling weird all of a sudden around her. I’ve never felt bashful around a woman before, but for some reason, I’m feeling it tonight. Must be the alcohol. I’ve drunk way more than normal today.
“You’re welcome, but you might not be thanking me after you start watching Chloe,” I tease, silently praying that my daughter won’t be a handful.
“Chloe seems like a remarkable young woman. I doubt she’ll give me any problems. I enjoyed seeing her and her mom last week.” She hesitates, and I wait to see if she’s going to ask the question that’s on her mind. “Can I ask you something personal, Jax?”
“Of course you can,” I tell her with an encouraging smile.
“What happened between you and Gretchen? She seems really nice.”