Page 7 of Bound by Destiny
Turning the wheel, I park in the lot, shutting down the lights. “Thanks, Jackie. I appreciate you tryin’ to help. But right now, it’s going to take a lot to make this better. I know it. They know it.”
Getting out of the car, I pull out my keycard as she gets out of her side. The pain in my jaw is throbbing.
“I get they’re pissed at you, but to punch us?”
We enter the building and move to the elevator, people looking at us strangely because of the blood. Luckily, we already dropped our luggage off earlier. “Jackie, this is the Ravage MC and you called Austyn a bitch to her face. Plus, I’ve done some shitty things that I have to atone for. I told you that something like this could happen, I just didn’t know exactly what. Sorry, by the way, about your nose.”
“That Austyn has a mean right hook. Damn, my cheek hurts.”
I push the button to the floor. “Doesn’t surprise me a bit. But I am sorry.”
“How can you just let her call you names like that?”
Part of me thinks I deserve it. Hell, I know I do. Shit that came out of my mouth, at one time, wasn’t right. It’s taken me a long time though to work that out, and it’s a work in progress. “They protect each other to a fault, Jackie. That includes me.”
“It’s not like you’re the enemy.”
Little does she know. “It’s how it is, Jackie. I tried to warn ya, but thanks for comin’ with me. And, to some, I might as well be the enemy.” The words settle in my soul like markers, each one making part of my spirit fade.
She checks my shoulder. “What are friends for.”
The elevator door opens as we step out. “Get some sleep. I’ll be at my parents in the morning and then we’ll head out.”
She nods, facing her door, her other hand coming up to her face momentarily. “You sure you don’t need a buffer?”
With a smile, I reply, “Nah. It’ll be fine.” Well, at least I could hope.
“You were right,” she says.
“About?”
“Emery and me, we do look very similar. Is that why you keep me around?” On a wink, she sticks her card in the door, and I wait until I hear the deadbolt click then go into my room.
Their similarities were the exact reason I didn’t think having Jacklyn come with me was a good idea, but I caved after her relentlessness. She is a good friend and knows more about my situation than anyone in the club does, that is for sure.
Tossing everything to the side table I sit on the bed, hands in my hair and elbows to my knees. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Em, and she’s as beautiful as she was the last time. Even more so. Hearing her laugh across the room was a shot to the gut.
I can still taste her on my lips and see the passion in her eyes every time I close mine. Yeah, I messed this all up. I’ve pushed her away more times than I can count, and I deserve her hate. Even if I don’t want it.
Calling things off took everything in my power to do, and it killed me little by little with each passing second. It’s for the best. If I ever have to go down for things I have done or said, Emery is not the person I want to go down with me. Even if it kills me to protect her from myself, I did it. Now I just have to figure out how to deal with it.
Shaking my head, I head to the shower. Tomorrow morning isn’t going to be fun, and I need to prepare. My father is going to rip me a new asshole for causing a scene tonight. Making him understand me has always been near impossible. I don’t know anything about bikes, even when he tried to teach me. It’s my fault, though. I’m seeing that now, and I want a relationship with my parents. Even if it is from afar.
I’m not sure where my life got twisted, but I need to sort my shit.
“What is it?”my father asks from across the table, a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and my mother’s hand in the other.
I’ve barely stirred the black joe in front of me before my father lays into me, which is to be expected, but it’s a harsh reminder of how far I’ve fallen.
“Tug,” my mother scolds, squeezing his hand. She’s always been more lenient with me than anyone else, and I love her for it, even though, once again—I don’t deserve it. “Calm down and give the boy a minute.” She turns to me. “How are you doing, Micah?”
“Good, Mom. Good. It’s one of the reasons I decided to take you up on the invite to come down.” Mom nods while Dad looks at his cup like he wants to throw the hot liquid on me and let me feel some of the pain I’ve caused my parents over the years. It wasn’t just the club, I had a very smartass mouth on me. There were several times when I had to suck on a bar of soap. That shit wasn’t fun. “I’m graduating early. Next week, actually.”
Mom says, “That’s fantastic, Micah. We’re so proud of you.”
“Yeah,” my father responds on a cough, his sole focus on me no doubt waiting for a bomb to go off. Sorry to disappoint him, there is no firepower on me.
“We are,” she says again, covering for him, which is completely normal around here. She’s his ride or die, as he calls it. No matter what, she’d be by his side and if I’d been paying attention, I would’ve realized that is what I should’ve been looking for all along. Too bad she was right under my nose and I pushed her away.
