Page 39 of The Originals

She swallowed the knot in her throat, fighting against all her emotions. Her heart and mind were in an intense game of tug-o-war.

“Iwon’tdo this.”

Mick straightened, veering his gaze across the yard. It was impossible to know what he was thinking, and Mick wasn’t sharing. But he wasn’t leaving. They were at an impasse. Meg wouldn’t ask him to choose her over the club. Maybe it was her way of protecting her heart. She wasn’t sure he’d pick her if a choice had to be made. But it went deeper than choosing one over the other, and Meg knew it.

Mick had been open and clear about what it meant to him to be a member of the club. They were his family. Even if she had placed an ultimatum on the table and he’d chosen her, he’d eventually resent his decision.And me.

And the hypocrisy? Meg had been fighting the social norm and what was expected of her for years. She didn’t want the life her parents had, the future her friends were preparing for. Meg wanted to live on her terms, choose how she wanted to live her life without anyone else dictating those decisions.

The irony?I want to live my life like Mick lives his.Just nothislife.

“We’re just two very different people, Mick. I saw that last night.”

Mick scoffed, shaking his head.

“I’ll call you in a few days.” He refused to look at her, but Meg couldn’t keep her eyes off him.

She’d been through breakups with partners she’d been with a lot longer. None were this hard.

“I probably won’t answer,” she muttered.

His jaw squared, and he scowled, but he still didn’t look at her. He started his bike, revving his engine. She expected him to take off.

“Go inside.”

Meg remained planted on the sidewalk.

“Mick,” she whispered.

“Not leaving until I know you’re safe.” He paused, and his statement struck her hard. It was the same vow and pledge he’d been making to her since the first night they met.

“Go inside, Meg.”

Her eyes welled, and she gave a short nod, backing up. Meg walked up her porch steps, dug out her key, and unlocked the door. This was it. It was over. Where was the closure and contentment? If she felt so strongly, surely she should feel relief after ending it with him. Instead, she was left with a pit in her stomach as if she was going against her gut instincts.

Meg opened the door and walked in, peeking over her shoulder to the street. Mick was still there, but this time he was staring at her. Maybe this was a mistake. She stepped forward to the porch. Mick turned his head, and took off down the road.

Gone.

Isn’t this what I wanted?

****

It wasn’t often the club members did solo runs. Not many enjoyed them. Being part of the club meant riding with the brothers. Mick usually avoided those runs and never volunteered to take them. Except this time. He needed the open road and the silence.

He’d been gone almost three days, and it marked a week since he’d seen or spoken to Meg. As she’d warned, all his calls had gone unanswered. He’d initially assumed Meg just needed a cooling-off period. If she spent some time thinking about what had happened, she’d see his side. The irony wasn’t lost on himthough. He was demanding she see it from his point of view, while he had refused to see it from hers. Like she’d said, they were two very different people. From their backgrounds, their past and present, they didn’t make sense. But…

Mick pulled into the driveway of the clubhouse, parking in the rear. A few people were hanging out by the fire in the yard, some smoking near the woods. It wasn’t the usual party atmosphere. It didn’t matter to Mick. He wouldn’t be partaking in any festivities. His plan was to debrief Jack, hand over the cash from the pick-up, and head to his room. He was still on the fence whether he was going to try calling Meg again. Maybe she needed more time. While he wouldn’t admit it to anyone, he wasn’t quite ready to give up just yet.

He walked into the clubhouse.

“How’d it go, brother?” Tully asked.

Mick looked over at the bar where a few brothers were drinking.

“Easy run,” Mick said, and pulled the envelope from his chest pocket. He placed it on the bar in front of Jack and sat next to him.

“Talked to Fitz. Told him about the increase.”