Page 5 of Falling for Her

In the end, I followed their plan, hoping it would only be a few months.

I lied to my best friend, claiming I'd had a crush on her for a while. He and the rest of the club were happy for us, while Beth has done nothing but hang off my arm since.

The club, the diner, the ring, school, she is always fucking there. I haven't kissed her, heck, I don't even put my arm over her shoulder, and the last time I had sex was two days before my father and Pres bombarded me with one of the cheerleaders in the school bathroom from behind because, of course, I can'tcheaton the club princess.

“I mean, it has to be such an honor. You four are just prospects right now, but Daddy's letting you ride your bikes, which will be so exciting,” she continues to gush, and I make eye contact with my dad.

I know he sees my coldness, especially with the flinch he tries to hide, but I don't hide my disdain, I don’t even care if anyone notices the hate I’m radiating right now. For a whole fucking year my life has been taken away from me all because of him and Butcher.

For weeks, this girl has tried her hardest to get me to sleep with her. For weeks, she's gushed about how in love we are, and the whole club thinks we're theitcouple. But only I, my father, and my Pres know the truth.

I was coerced into this relationship, and now my mother can't understand why I never go home, why I refuse to speak to dad unless it’s regarding the club.

Bethany kisses my cheek when her mama calls her, and I try my hardest not to shy away before Slick, formally known as Maverick, takes her seat, and I move my arm before the fucker can cozy up to me, which he laughs at.

“Damn, and I here I thought you were going to cuddle me too,” he sighs as he runs his hand through his short hair, and I roll my eyes, not even smiling.

I'm fucking lying to everyone. All the brothers believe I'm in love with the club princess, and honestly, I don't know how much longer I can put up with this shit.

“Damn, what happened to our Jokester?” his blood brother Acid, formally known as Callum and one of my best friends, asks, and he takes a seat next to his brother, and I just shrug.

I haven't been myself since I was forced into the relationship, but they don't know that, and they don't need to know it either.

Butcher and Dad know if the club knew what they planned, what they forced on me, they'd be pissed, and a coup could happen.

Huh, maybe I should open my mouth… I blink. Fuck that was a dark thought.

“I'm just tired,” I lie, hoping they buy it. I have been put on night gate duty for the past three weeks, so they technically shouldn't see my lie.

“When was the last time you had normal shifts?” Slick questions with concern, but I shrug.

During the day, I'm at school, and in the evenings and weekends, I'm at Angel's tattoo shop that the club owns thirty percent of, but Victoria's dad, Hammer, runs and owns the last seventy percent. He's currently teaching me the ropes, allowing me to practice tattooing, fuck, he's even started putting my artwork on the walls, but being at the shop and school means nights is when I have to prove myself to the club, though, in my eyes having Bethany as my girlfriend should be proof enough not that Butcher gives a shit.

“It is what it is,” I reply, looking at my bottle of water. I can't make eye contact with them, knowing I'm lying to them and everyone.

I'm unhappy, and honestly, I don't know if this is worth a cut, being with someone I'm not even attracted to emotionally or physically, having my father sell me out.

For years the club has seen Bethany as this sweet girl, but we know her to be different, and that is only because Butch has hidden her indiscretions over the years while he and my father believe she's calmed down since being with me. I still see the old jealous Bethany, especially when Victoria is around.

She becomes petty, and I fucking hate it. She uses her best friend as a way to hurt Vicky, meaning Vicky is now bullying Scarlett at school, then comes home and claims Scarlett hit her or got her in shit for something she didn't do, and every single time Bethany sticks up for her friend but I can see through her. She's after attention, and it's working. Bullet is going to be Pres when he hits twenty-five while she has no role in the club, which is why she wanted me. Her dad allowed her to get her way at my expense and allows her to use Scarlett.

“Brothers, we're riding out in five!” Hammer booms, and I sigh as I stand, grabbing my water in the process and say, “Let's get ready,” and walk away from the blood brothers but not without hearing Acid mumble, “Fuck, maybe we need to put in a vote to have his name changed to Debbie Downer.”

I ignore him, knowing I'm not even sure I want to be part of this club any longer and continue my stride. Today is the club's fun run, which normally only brothers participate in, but as Bethany stated, we get to participate this year.

It's to raise money for all the local schools, and having kids from one of the school’s rides along helps the cause.

“Jokester,” Butcher calls as I approach the steps leading to the front door and grit my teeth but try not to get tense, knowing Slick and Acid are watching me and look Butcher's way. He nods me over, and without showing any emotion, I walk over to where he's standing near the oak bar in the common room.

“What can I do for you, pres?” I ask as I stop in front of him and he clears his throat at my standoff tone as he looks around. Making sure no one heard me but unfortunately for him, the brothers are not stupid, they know I have a problem with Butch, they just don't know why.

I no longer go to his home for family dinners or advice, and I only speak to him if it is regarding club business.

In my eyes, this man is just the club president, and I struggle to show respect when respect is not earned.

“Look, uh, you and Bethany have been together for a year,” he starts, I raise a brow, but he ignores it and states, “Today she wants to go on the fun run.”

I shrug and reply, “Alright, then tell her to get in with one of the other prospects in the truck like she normally does.”

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