Page 2 of The Club Princess

“Dad doesn’t like randoms in the house. You know that.” His eyes burn a path down my body. Gage swallows visibly and fixes his attention back on my face.

“And?” I say dryly.

His gaze sharpens, watching me for a moment. “What's got your panties in a twist?”

My throat burns as I try to hold back the tears stinging my eyes. We stare at each other before I step back, wanting to get away from him. I can see a few of his crew loitering around near the house.

“Do you really not know what today is?” I can’t keep the hurt out of my voice.

His brows scrunch in confusion, and he pulls out his phone, checking the date. I watch his face collapse in horror, and he turns back to me. “Mik–”

I laugh, throwing up a hand. “Fuck you both. So what if Dad cares that I threw a party? Tell him I don’t give a fuck, and he can shove it up his ass.”

I move around him to make a dramatic exit, but Gage grabs me around the elbow, spinning me back toward him. I don’t waste the opportunity and punch him in the face.

“Fuck!” I cry out, shaking out my aching hand as Gage rubs at his jaw. He grabs my wrist, checking my already bruising knuckles with a scowl.

“Why would you do that?” He asks.

I shrug, hissing with pain as he presses down. “Because you deserved it.”

A few men behind us snicker and Gage glares them into silence. He rubs at my hand for a few more seconds before pulling me into his chest, wrapping his arms around me.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers into my hair. His smell of leather, oil, and crisp pine is overwhelming but settles something inside me. It reminds me of home.

Sighing, I hug him back. “I don’t forgive you.”

His body shakes as he chuckles, squeezing me tighter. His hands rest on the small of my back as he drags one up to cup the back of my neck. Tilting my head back, he looks down at me as his green eyes sparkle with mischief.

“How can I make it up to you, princess?”

My insides twist with the endearment. I’ve been called it my entire life; it was a thing of honor among the men. But it turned nasty and condescending outside the club. It felt like something else entirely when it fell from my brother’s lips.

“Nothing, it’s too late. The day is over.” I push at his chest and step away. “I bet Dad won’t even remember without you telling him.”

Gage grimaces. “The club–”

I snort. “Yeah, I know, okay? The club always comes first. I get it. But… I just wanted one day.”

His body slumps, and I know I’m hurting him, but I bet it’s only a fraction of what I feel. “You could have reminded us.”

“Right…Because that’s not pathetically desperate.”

Gage groans. “Mikayla. We love you, but we’re busy. We would never intentionally forget about your birthday.”

Rolling my eyes, I grab a towel and wrap it around myself. “Duh. That’s how forgetting works, dumbass.”

I don’t wait for a response, and I turn and walk back to the house, ignoring the club members watching me.

“Princess!” Dodge calls, setting down the beer he grabbed from who knows where. I look at him and give him a small smile. He’s one of my favorites and also one of my brother’s best friends.

“Dodge.” I smile. He steps closer, pulling something out of his back pocket and handing the white envelope to me.

“Ain’t much, but my lady’s always goin’ on about ‘em. Happy birthday, kid.”

My chin quivers as tears gather, blurring my vision. Clearing my throat, I hold it close to my chest. “Thanks, Dodge.”

He frowns, looking over my face. “It ain’t anythin’ special. No need for the waterworks.”

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