15. Creed
CREED
Nash shakes his head, moving out of the booth with an eye roll. “Whatever, you cocky bastard. I’d love to see you do better.”
I laugh, moving the basket with my pulled pork sandwich and mac and cheese closer before he can cruelly take it away from me. “That’s my job as the backup enforcer. Viper has other things to handle.”
The red-headed giant scoffs, his lips parting to retort something, but his gaze catches on something over my shoulder. “Oh shit.”
I look over, expecting the rowdy kids that have been bothering him, and my stomach nearly falls out of my ass.
Bri storms toward me, stopping at the end of the booth with crossed arms. “So it’s true. You are back in town.”
Grabbing a napkin, I wipe my mouth and motion for her to sit across from me. “Want anything to eat?”
She glances at Nash, her lips pursing before she sits with a shake of her head. “No.”
Her blonde hair flounces over her shoulders, and her perfectly manicured nails tap on the table. Something inside me clenches, a familiarity with her I know I need to let go of. She was always someone I knew would be there when I got home.
I loved that comfort, but she hates the club. I think when we were in school she figured I would never actually prospect for it. Maybe she figured watching how it tore my family apart would be enough to make me stay away. Maybe she thought I’d grow out of it one day and settle down with her.
“So, how long have you been back?”
I clear my throat, moving my food away from me. My appetite is gone. “A while.”
She nods slowly. Bri has never been one to react without thought. One of the things I’ve always admired about her. “And you didn’t think to call or text me?”
I swallow down my sigh, approaching gently. “You broke up with me before I left for Arizona.”
It’s easier than saying since the moment I saw Morgan when they pulled me over, I haven’t given Bri a single thought. Especially not since I was teased with the possibility of her pregnancy, wanting it so badly to be true.
Bri frowns, a crease forming between her eyebrows. “And? I break up with you every time you leave. Easier than worrying if you’re going to cheat on me.”
My jaw tightens as I grind my teeth a little. “I’ve never cheated on anyone.”
She rolls her eyes. “Because you wait for us to break up, I know. So noble. You’re the only person I’ve ever slept with. Can you say the same?”
It stings a bit, and I look away from her.
She knows I can’t. I’ve never hidden that I take every chance to fuck out my frustrations with her flip-flopping on our relationship.
Biker life isn’t one of ease and nonchalance, but if there’s one thing we don’t fuck with, it’s woman drama.
If you’re gonna claim an old lady, then that’s the pussy you keep.
I would never fuck any of the other girls if Bri wasn’t so adamant we would never work out.
“Maybe I’m done this time.” As soon as I say the words, it clicks how true they ring. I’ve been playing this game with her for a long time, and I think I’ve been done for a while, especially watching Gage and Dodge settle down.
The thought of walking away from Morgan makes my heart start to race.
It’s not fair to the woman in front of me, but we weren’t meant to be, obviously.
I think it’s time to put an end to it all.
It’s only fair to jump into whatever I have going on with Morgan free from the past. Not that I wasn’t already free, but now there’s no chance of misunderstandings.
Bri inhales sharply. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah,” I say gently. “Yeah, I am. I think we’re better off this way. Don’t you?”
She stares at me, her eyes watering. “What the fuck, Logan?”
I try not to flinch at the name I rarely use. She knows how much I hate it, how much I prefer being called by my road name. Hell, that’s my name more than Logan ever was.
Her tears used to move me, but now I sit here and I feel a flicker of unease at the sight. Have they always seemed so manipulative as I feel they are now? She’s the one who broke up with me, and now I’m the bad guy for not wanting to get back together?
“This shouldn’t be a surprise. We’re not good together. I don’t know why you want to be with me when you hate everything about me.”
Her nose crinkles. “That’s not true.”
I raise an eyebrow. “When’s the last time I was able to convince you to come visit the clubhouse?”
Bri glares at me. “That’s not fair. That doesn’t mean anything about our relationship.”
I lean closer to her, reaching to grab one of her hands. “That’s the fucking point, Bri. The club means everything to me. They are who I am, and you view it as an inconvenience that can be pushed aside.” Hell, Morgan is the last person who should want to be with me, but she still is.
She scoffs. “Because it is! You have to grow up at some point, Logan! You can’t just ride around on motorcycles and play pool for the rest of your life.”
My eyes harden. “You don’t know half of what we do—what I do. You think I’m just riding around to the other clubs to shoot the shit? What would you call businessmen who fly to conferences? Networking within your circles is the core of life.”
Her tongue pushes into her cheek, and she blinks away the tears threatening to fall over her waterline.
I sigh, rubbing a hand down my face. “There’s no point in having this same conversation we keep going over. Text me a time to come by to pick up my stuff.”
“Is there someone else? Like someone you actually care about? Is that why you suddenly want to just move on?” Her urgency churns my stomach again.
“Whatever I do, it’s none of your business anymore, Bri.”
She shakes her head, trying to reach for me across the table. “What if I try, huh? What if I’m willing to give the club another try and understand everything better?”
I frown, disgusted by the offer more than anything. “Fuck you.” My temper has it slipping out before I reel back. “Sorry. I just—I’ve been asking you to open your mind for years.”
“And I will! Logan, please. You can’t say we’re not good together when it’s always been us since we were fourteen.
We were—we have—” Bri’s voice cracks as she gets choked up.
She moves out of the booth, and I know she’s going to bolt.
She’s never been one for public spectacles.
I reach for her just as she rushes out of Nash’s restaurant.
“Shit.” I chase after her, catching her halfway to her car and pulling her into my arms. Her shoulders shake with deep sobs, and I wrap my arms around her, rubbing down her back.
“I don’t mean to hurt you.”
Her hands curl into my shirt, holding me tighter. “I know.” Her muffled response has a strange grief aching in my own throat. It’s not like I don’t understand. We have a long history, a thick cord to cut through.
“And if you ever need anything, you can reach out, but I think it’s time for both of us to move on. Find people who actually make each other happy.”
She sobs at my words. “I was happy, Logan.”
I sigh. “No you weren’t, and I wasn’t either. Bri, I promise you’ll find someone who can give you everything you want, but it’s not me.”
She sniffles again and pulls away, wiping her tears as she steps back. “I don’t believe you, but I guess you’ve made up your mind. You must have found someone else.”
Holding back my groan, I shake my head. “I’ve felt this way for a while.” I think the first time I fucked a clubwhore after she broke up with me, I knew she wasn’t the one. It was just easier to come back to her.
“Fuck you,” she snaps out.
I tongue my cheek, wanting to remind her that she’s the one who broke it off with me every time. Instead, I nod and take a step back toward the restaurant. “Take care, Bri. Like I said, don’t hesitate if you need anything. Just because we’re not seeing each other anymore doesn’t mean I don’t care.”
She yells something back, but I ignore her, heading back into the restaurant. Nash watches with sympathy. “Another breakup?”
I shake my head. “I’m done for good this time. I was letting her know, and she’s not taking it well.”
He whistles. “Good luck.”