Chapter Four

The smell of vodka filled Tatum's nose as she drank down the clear liquid shot that was put in front of her. She had barely been in Charming for a day and she was already back to drinking vodka, something she had promised long ago to never drink again, and a promise that was broken once she stepped foot inside SAMCRO's clubhouse. Gemma had planned a celebration of sorts to remember Ty's life and while Tatum didn't feel like spending the night in the stuffy clubhouse listening to stories about her father and drinking, she knew she had to put on a smile and do just that.

The music was too loud as her father's favorite band played over the speakers. She pushed her empty shot glass towards a prospect whose name she didn't remember and asked for another shot. Tatum grabbed her phone from her pocket and smiled as a text from Angel appeared on the screen, she typed back a reply before putting her phone down on the bar. Tatum ran a hand through her hair and a sigh escaped her lips as she scanned the crowed clubhouse, it had changed a lot in three years and she didn't mean the way it looked. There were a lot of new faces that she didn't remember seeing last time she was in Charming, and a few of the old faces she grew up with seemed to be long gone. Tatum wasn't told much about SAMCRO since she married Angel and her and Jax's relationship pretty much needed, but she knew enough to know that they were getting themselves involved with some dangerous shit and she couldn't help but wonder if that's what caused her father's death.

"I thought you swore off vodka?"

Tatum didn't have to turn around to know Jax Teller was standing behind her and more than likely that infamous smirk of his was across his face as well. She grabbed her phone off the bar and downed the shot of vodka the prospect placed in front of her before turning around to face Jax. Tatum looked at Jax, he looked older from the last time she saw him and he looked exhausted as though he hadn't slept in days, and the smirk on his face didn't quite reach his blue eyes. Tatum noticed his kutte still held a VP patch and she couldn't help but wonder if it would soon be adorned with a President patch instead.

"I did, but what can I say, Charming makes me drink." Tatum said with a shrug as she tried to make her voice louder than the old rock music playing throughout the clubhouse.

With Jax standing in front of her she realized she missed him, missed his friendship but Tatum wasn't going to be the first one to admit that. Jax had ended their friendship abruptly with no reason and it hurt her. Tatum had thought their friendship would last forever but she guessed Jax thought differently.

"You kept your hair dark." Jax commented as he lifted up his hand, reaching out towards Tatum's hair before stopping himself. "Fuck." He muttered as though he had just realized he couldn't touch Tatum like that anymore. "Your dad. I'm so fuckin' sorry about your dad, Tatum." Jax said while pulling Tatum into a tight embrace.

"Uh, thanks." Tatum said once she got over the shock of Jax abruptly pulling her into his arms. If it had been a few years ago she wouldn't have been so shocked to find Jax's arms around her, but things were different.

Tatum hated when people said they were sorry when someone died. It wasn't as though they were the reason for the person's death so what the fuck did they have to be sorry for? It annoyed the dark haired woman and she wished people would come up with something else to say than sorry.

"Jax?" She asked while removing herself from Jax's tight embrace. Tatum had some questions she wanted to ask the blonde biker and she hoped he would give her some honest answers.

"Yeah, darlin'?" He said while placing his arms down by his side, reminding his hands not to reach out and twirl Tatum's hair around his finger even though he desperately wanted to. It had been too long since he had seen her, and now that she was standing in front of him once again he just wanted to hold onto her forever. Jax knew he had been an asshole when he stopped communicating with Tatum, but he was doing it to keep her safe or at least that's what he convinced himself was the reason.

"What happened?" She asked as she looked into his eyes, trying to find an answer in them. Tatum didn't mean just with her father's death but also with their friendship.

Jax's face turned hard at Tatum's question. "Don't worry about it Tatum. Your father's death will be dealt with." He promised.

Tatum nodded, not at all satisfied with Jax's answer but she decided not to question it any further tonight. "I think you're wanted." Tatum said as she noticed Tara standing off to the side with her arms across her chest and a scowl on her face.

A sigh left Jax's lips as he turned around to see Tara with her typical resting bitch face on. The couple had a fight before arriving at the clubhouse. Tara didn't want to come tonight and even though she had tried throughout the years to accept the club and Jax being in the club, she never really could.

"Yeah. I better go deal with that." Jax said running a hand over his hair. "You doin' anything tomorrow?" He asked as he turned his blue eyes back onto Tatum.

"Besides nursing a hangover and hanging out with Ima and Callie, no." She said shaking her head. Tatum didn't plan on doing much of anything while she was in Charming.

"Come by my house tomorrow?" It came out of Jax's mouth more like a question than a statement.

"Yeah, okay." Tatum said hesitantly as she nodded her head.

"I'll see you tomorrow darlin'." Jax said with a smile, placing a kiss on Tatum's cheek before walking off towards an angry looking Tara.

Tatum turned back towards the bar and ordered another shot of vodka. She didn't know what tomorrow would bring for her, but she hoped to finally get some answers.

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A/N: Thank you for the votes and views! ❤️