Page 3 of The Originals

I’m so confused.

Meg spread out her arms. “Then why are we here?”

“Because I want one night where no one knows me, and I can do whatever the hell I please without any judgement. Like a last night of freedom.” Linda cocked her head and sighed. “Let me have it, Meg.”

Dammit.How could Meg say no? After all, who was Meg to judge anyone’s choices? She nodded, and Linda immediately pepped up and pointed across the room.

“Want another beer?”

Meg shook her head and watched her friend zigzag through the crowd. Sometimes friends had to make sacrifices for each other. This was Meg’s.

She continued to slow sip her beer and simply observe. So far two fights had broken out, one between two men and the other between two women. A man had literally been thrown out the front door, glass had shattered when someone wielded a bottle against the wall, and a girl spilled beer on her shoes.

Meg checked her watch and internally groaned. What had felt like hours had only been thirty minutes. The small room with the bar had gotten busier, and her small corner had become permeated by a few bikers. It left her in an unsavory position, especially when a dark-haired man with neck tattoos seemed to take a sudden interest in her. She offered a smile, but her gesture was not returned. Instead he continued to stare. It was daunting and unsettling, to say the least. When he started to move closer, Meg inched out from the corner and made her way to the back door.

She walked into the yard where there were just as many people as inside, but thankfully, more space to move around. There was a bonfire, bigger than any she’d ever seen before. Her high school hosted one every year the night before the homecoming football game, but this one put theirs to shame.

A cool breeze washed over her, and her skin broke out in goose bumps. It had gotten much colder than it had been when they’d arrived. Meg shivered and placed her beer on the ground. She rubbed her hands over her arms trying to create some heat. She considered moving closer to the fire. There were a few openings but no other women. Meg took two steps forward and immediately reconsidered.

“I’m so out of my element,” she muttered, shifting on her feet, trying to find some type of warmth.

“Yeah, why’s that?”

Meg jumped, inadvertently kicking over her beer, and spun around, retreating a few steps. She hadn’t even realized anyone had been behind her. Clearly, she was wrong. The man, and he was indeed a man, not a boy, stood a few feet away. He lifted his cigarette to his lips, taking a deep drag while eyeing her head to toe. His longish dark blond hair was swept to the side with a few strands flowing in his eyes. Even through the obstruction, his piercing blue gaze caught her attention.

Meg hadn’t seen him inside, but his leather vest with all its patches was a clear indication he was a member of Ghosttown Riders MC. It should’ve put her on edge as it had earlier when a member started to approach her. Oddly enough, this man didn’t. Still, she was cautious considering how she came to be at the party.

When he cocked his brow, she was reminded that he’d asked her something.Oh!What was the question?

Meg leaned in slightly. “Pardon?”

The corner of his mouth curled. “Said you’re out of your element. Why’s that?”

There were several reasons, and none she’d be sharing with him. Offending the host was never a good idea. Meg swallowed the knot in her throat and forced an awkward chuckle. She wasstalling. Conveniently, the best reply she could come up with wasn’t exactly a lie.

“I’m not from here.”

He was silent, taking another perusal of her body. His deep stare sent a rush of heat through her veins and a blush spreading across her chest. And it was in full view of the biker. She was displaying more skin than usual. A plunging neckline showed the tops of her breasts and a sliver of belly paired with low-rise bellbottoms that hugged her every curve. Meg had put effort into her outfit, and for a party with her own friends, it may have leaned on the side of scandalous.But not here.She may as well have been wearing a full parka compared to the topless women in bikini bottoms running around the party.

“I don’t live in Ghosttown,” she blurted, for no other reason than to draw his attention to her face rather than her breasts.

He glanced up, smirking. “Not many do.”

Meg smiled and ultimately snickered at the joke. Ghosttown was aptly named. She wasn’t sure how many people actually resided in the small town, but there weren’t a lot. They didn’t have their own police or fire department, church, or school. They were lucky to have a gas station, market, and diner. Other than that, it was a virtualghost town. It was the opposite of her own town a few miles away.

“What’s your name?”

Meg licked her lips, grazing her teeth on her bottom lip. Should she tell him? It seemed rude not to, but she was being cautious.

“What’s yours?” Turning the question on him seemed to be her best line of defense.

He didn’t hesitate. “Mick.”

“Short for Michael or Mickey?”

“Neither.” The corner of his mouth curled. “Just Mick.”

He had a great smile. The kind that put people at ease and invited conversation. It would have been fairly easy to fall for it. Meg was sure many women had, but she wouldn’t be one of them. Linda may have a scandalous fling in her sights, but Meg did not.