MIA

 

“Winner! The young lady in the pink tank top, come on down. What can I get ya, darlin’?” the carnival worker’s voice boomed over the crowd that started to gather around Uncle Jacob and me.

“Oh my God! I won again,” I goaded, putting my hands up to my face, pretending to be shocked. “Take that, Uncle Jacob! What is that now? Zero wins for you and six for me? Boom!” I smiled, running over to the carney to claim another prize.

This time I picked out a big pink teddy bear with a tie-dyed shirt on, to go with my other prizes.

“You really are Lucas’s kid,” Uncle Jacob teased, ruffling my hair.

I pulled away from him, looking up at the side of his face as we walked side-by-side down the grassy field. “Did he use to kick your butt, too?”

He just laughed and shook his head, confirming I was right. “Let’s go find your aunt and cousins, smartass.”

The Fourth of July fair had been going on for decades in Southport. Always set up in the same field with the ocean as it's backdrop. People from all over came to town that weekend to join the festivities. The huge Ferris wheel could be seen for miles outside of town, lighting up the night with its neon-colored lights. There were beer tents, casino tents, games tents, any kind of attraction you could think of, it was there.

All of them surrounding the carnival-style rides and booths, like the one I had just schooled Uncle Jacob at. Music blasted through the speakers, bells rang out announcing winners and screams echoed off the rides. I loved the energy of the fair the most, people smiling and laughing without a care in the world. Oh, and the smell of the carnival food, just thinking about it made my tummy rumble.

My grandparents on daddy’s side actually met at the fair. Papa had told me stories time and time again how love came to him on the merry-go-round. My grandma, who I had never met, was riding on one of the horses going up and down, laughing with her friends. He stood at the gate watching her being carefree and happy. Saying she had a smile that could light up anyone's life, and it had. She died from breast cancer when Mason was just a baby. My daddy said it was the hardest time of his and Aunt Lily's lives, the saddest too. But they keep her in their hearts and see a lot of her in me. I just wish I could have met her. It would have been nice to maybe have someone on my side.

After pleading with Daddy for over a month, he finally gave into letting me go to the Fourth of July Fair. Except, I had to go with Uncle Jacob, Aunt Lily, and their two kids, instead of with Mason, Bo, and their friends like I wanted to. Daddy and Momma were going out of town for the weekend for some romantic getaway, saying they needed some quiet time together. I told them they would have plenty of quiet time if Daddy would stop making Momma scream in their bedroom. He knew she didn’t like to be tickled. I couldn't understand why he still tickled her all the time.

I was pissed when Daddy said I had to stay with my aunt and uncle all weekend. I wanted to stay home with Mason and Bo. There was no chance at winning that fight. Not even for one night. I was grateful to be going to the fair at least, but the last thing I wanted was to be treated like a baby again. I didn’t want to go with my aunt and uncle, they wouldn’t let me go on the big rides like Mason would.  I went to go argue my case, but Momma gave me a stern look not to start with him again.

So I just dropped it, even though I hated losing. Nothing upset me more than not being right. Momma said I got that from my daddy, you would think that it would make him understand me better, but I think it only made it worse. All I could hope for was to run into Mason or Bo and be allowed to hang with them for a little while.

“Mia, if you win any more prizes, we’re not going to be able to fit them in the car,” Aunt Lily laughed, holding a giant monkey around her neck, hugging my dolphin, and carrying my goldfish I had won.

“I can’t help that Uncle Jacob sucks,” I replied, sticking my tongue out at him.

“Pssh… I wasn’t even tryin’, little girl.”

“Alright you two, Riley wants to go on the Tilt-A-World again, and Christian is asleep in the stroller. Let’s ride a few more and then go find a good spot for the nighttime parade, okay?”

“We just got here, Aunt Lily. I didn’t get to go on any of the rollercoasters, especially The Scrambler. I haven’t even eaten my funnel cake, you have to eat a funnel cake at the carnival.” I cocked my head and put my hands on my hips.

“If we wait too long we won’t be able to see the parade. Besides, you’re too little to go on those rides.”

“Says who? I’m tall enough,” I argued, walking over to the cardboard clown holding a measuring tape. “See.” I pointed up. “I’m plenty big. If Mason were here, he’d take me.” I think since I was the first girl to be born in the family, everyone thought they had to baby me because of it. “Come on, Aunt Lily. What happened to you being fun?”

“Mia Ryder, you don’t talk to your aunt that way,” Uncle Jacob chastened.

I peered up at him through my lashes, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. Knowing it would only get me in more trouble.

I sighed, looking down at my feet. No one understood, no one ever took my side. Papa, my grandpa, tells me all the time that the good ol’ boys, Momma, and aunt Lily never listened either. They were always causing trouble, but you'd never believe that now.

I kicked around the dirt, eating my funnel cake, following close behind them. Watching people get on and off the rides I wanted to go on, annoyed the entire time.

We went on a few more kiddy rides before Aunt Lily found an open spot next to one of the bars. I watched all the people gathering around, excited for the parade that would lead to fireworks. The Southport festival had the best firework display in North Carolina, winning awards for years.  

“Uncle Jacob, can I—” Bright headlights illuminated behind his tall frame, and the loud sound of motorcycle engines revving, broke my train of thought. I immediately peered behind him. Tons of Harleys came into view, there had to be at least twenty to twenty-five bikes filing into the parking lot next to the bar. Wearing vests exactly like Creed’s.

“Un-fuckin’-believable,” Uncle Jacob gritted out, turning his head toward the noise. “What are those pieces of shit doing here?”

“Jacob! How many times do I have to tell you to watch your mouth in front of the kids?” Aunt Lily reprimanded, holding her hands over Riley’s ears like muffs.

“I know. It’s just those heathens are no damn good. I should call Dylan and see if he wants to take out some trash tonight.”

I frowned, lowering my eyebrows not understanding what he meant by that.

What was wrong with them?

I scanned the bikers, knowing he had to be with them, but it was hard to see with all the families suddenly picking up their kids and walking in the opposite direction. Whispering to look away. Crowds parted to get out of their way. Others just turned their heads, not making eye contact with the men.

I took a few steps in their direction, ignoring my uncle who started to pull on my hand, trying to tug me away.

“Mia, let's go. Now!” Aunt Lily shouted over the chaos. “Crap! Jacob, can you help me with this stroller? It’s stuck.”

That’s when I saw him. Pulling off his helmet, shaking out his hair that looked longer now. I hadn’t seen him since that night on the beach. The same night he granted me a second wish. A smile spread across my face, my heart fluttered in my chest, a feeling I had never felt before. My eyes were glued to the man in front of me. I wanted to run over to him to say hi, but after what Uncle Jacob said and how the people were acting, I figured it wasn’t a good idea.

I watched from afar, waiting for him to turn and see me. I would have waited all night if that’s what it took for him to look at me. I straightened out my light pink dress, fixing the bows in my pigtails, making sure I looked as pretty as I could. Waiting for him to walk this way. 

He got off his bike, turning to put his helmet on the backrest when I caught a glimpse of long red hair behind him, a girl sitting on the back of his bike. Taking off her helmet, smiling up at him with loving eyes.

I jerked back, caught off guard.

It was the girl that came running up to him from the first time we met at the beach. I remembered she had chocolate brown eyes and thick black eyelashes that fluttered for him. Her long, messy, red hair was draped all over her face. He helped her off the bike, grabbing the helmet from her hands, and locking it next to his. Reaching up, he brushed the stray hairs away from her rosy cheeks. She was wearing tiny shorts, barely covering her long legs, with black combat boots like Creed’s. Her tank top hardly covered her big boobs and skinny belly.

The way he looked at her hurt my stomach, hurt my heart, and I didn't understand why. I looked down at my girly dress, all of the sudden not feeling good enough. I wanted to look like her. I wanted to be her. If that’s what it took for Creed to look at me the way he looked at her.

I could do that for him.

I waited for what felt like years, wanting him to glance my way, even if it was just for one second. All I wanted was a moment of his time. A flicker to feel a part of his life. All of a sudden as if he heard my thoughts, or felt my presence, he turned. Locking eyes with me from the distance between us.

I smiled big and wide, just so he could see my giddy face light up for him. He remained expressionless, looking right through me and not at me. Taking one last look in my direction, he turned back around, grabbed the girl’s hand and walked toward the bar.

He didn’t even acknowledge me. He acted like he didn’t even know who I was. Like I meant nothing to him.

 

When he meant something to me.

CREED

I grinned, cocking my head to the side taking in the perfection of her creamy white skin as Autumn danced in front of me. Swaying her hips to the country music the live band was belting out. Running her hands up her banging body, through her hair, making every other man in the tent turn their heads to watch.  

“You and Autumn, huh?” Mason asked, peering over at me. Bringing my attention away from her.

“She wanted to dance,” I simply stated, shrugging, standing in the background. Leaning against the wood beam with my arms crossed over my chest, one leg over the other.

We rode in with the brothers, stopping to have a few beers at the bar my old man owned near the fairgrounds. I told Mason to grab Giselle, and meet us up there. The girls got a stick up their asses real quick, nagging us about how bored they were, and how they wanted to dance. The booze running warm through their bodies, getting to them faster than us. Autumn pulled me outside, smiling, laughing, not a care in the fucking world. Dragging my sorry ass out of the bar, causing the brothers to hoot and holler that I better be getting some of that ass for being a pussy and not putting my bitch in her place.

We ended up at one of the beer tents at the carnival, there was a big slab of cement in the middle of the tent, making up a makeshift dance floor. A small stage set up in the front where a live local band performed throughout the weekend. Twinkling white lights hung from the beams and tables surrounded the dance floor.

“I call bullshit. She’s been coming onto you hard the last month, so somethin’ must have happened between you.”

“Ain’t what it looks like.” I didn’t look at him, focusing on Autumn who was now dancing close with Giselle. Singing the lyrics of the song to each other with pretend microphones. Having the time of their lives.

“I don’t see you turning her down.”

“Not fuckin’ her, Mason. Won’t cross that line. Everythin’ else is just fuckin’ child’s play.”

“Does she know that?” he questioned, pointing to her, raising his eyebrows.

“She knows me.”

Autumn had been throwing herself at me since that night in my bedroom. I would be lying if I said my cock wasn’t interested. She was a fucking knockout with huge tits, a nice ass, and legs that went on for days. Pouty little lips that I used to think about being wrapped around my cock when I first started jacking off. Her loving, free-spirited personality alone was sexy as fuck to me. She turned me on in so many ways. But I knew better than to fuck around with her. It would only lead to her getting hurt. We’d been there for each other since we could walk. It was only natural for us to be drawn to one another, law of attraction and all that fucking shit.

Except things were different now.

I was different now.

Autumn needed a man that would always put her first. She was needy as all hell, always had been. I couldn’t provide her with that anymore, it was an offer that would never be on my table for us. My priority was the club, Noah, and my mother. I didn’t have the time to be the man she thought I was, the man she deserved. It fucking exhausted me just thinking about it, let alone being that person for her.

I didn’t let that stop her from flirting with me, though. Needing the support only she could ever offer. No one else knew me the way she did. I needed the distraction from the Hell that had turned into my life. I may have been leading her on, but fuck it. I wasn’t a goddamn saint, never claimed to be, and at the end of the day, she knew I wasn’t.

As much she tried to pretend that I was.

“Come dance with me,” Autumn interrupted, throwing her arms around my neck, faltering a little.

Giselle not far behind her, tugging Mason onto the dance floor without even asking first.

Pussy.

My arms naturally went around her waist. “Don’t dance,” I reminded her.

“Oh, come on… please.” She pouted, deliberately swaying her hips against my cock. “I’ll do everything, all you have to do is stand there and look like the badass you are.”

“Tell that to my cock you’re dry humpin’,” I chuckled, enjoying the feel of her in my arms.

She rolled her eyes, stifling a smile. “I didn’t know I needed his permission. Since when does your cock care?”

“Since I was eight. The day my cock realized he fuckin’ liked you, that’s when.”

She giggled, turning around. Backing her ass up right to where her pussy had just been. Knowing I was an ass man. “Do you mind? Or are you just going to stand there?” she taunted, swaying her hips to the beat of the music.  

I smiled, wide. Leaning into her ear, murmuring, “By all means, Autumn. Don’t mind one fuckin’ bit.”

She shook her head. “You have no shame, Creed Jameson.”

“Gonna take a lot more booze to get me to dance, darlin’,” I rasped against her hair. “Ya feel me?”

“Oh, I feel you all right.” She peered over her shoulder and winked.

“Oh, that ain’t nothin’, sweetheart.”

“You may just need to show me then.” She grabbed my hands, placing them on her thighs and ran them up her soft, silky legs to her hips.

That was my cue to get out of there. “Gonna get a drink, yeah?”

“Yeah.” She spun, stumbling, throwing her arms around my neck again. “Bring me one of those girly umbrella drinks, okay?”

I cocked an eyebrow, looking at her like she couldn't be serious.

“Fine… bring me water,” she added, pulling away.

I grabbed her hand at the last second and twirled her around in a circle. Showing her the only dance move I knew. “Don’t fuckin’ stray. Stay with Mason. Be right back.” Smacking her ass.

She smiled, nodding.

I walked back inside the bar. It was a lot more packed than it was before. People crowded all together in the big open space, I could feel the desperation in the air, slutty fucking girls everywhere, and horny ass men following close behind them. The brothers sat in the same place I left them, lined with fresh pussy just champing at the bit. Fucking desperate bitches, beckoning for their attention, running their nails all over their cut. Or anywhere else they could.

I decided to take a piss before heading over to the bar, relieving myself before Autumn continued to dry- fuck the shit out of my cock. Leaving me with the worst case of fucking blue balls. I’m sure I could have pulled one of these eager bitches in a stall with me and had them suck my cock, but Autumn was waiting for me.

I was a dick, but I still had manners.

Skipping over all the people who were waiting to be served, I signaled Louie, the bartender, for two drinks.

He handed me a beer in a red solo cup and a bottle of water. Technically I wasn’t supposed to be drinking since I was under twenty-one, but I was never one to follow rules. It helped that I looked way older than I was. I’d been drinking out in public since I could see behind the bar, especially at establishments that my father governed.

The crowd parted for me as I made my way back outside and over to the tent where Autumn was. The music had switched from the live band to a DJ spinning the latest hits. I walked inside the tent, trying to find her through the crowd of people who’d rushed in to see who was playing. People littered the whole tent, making it nearly impossible to see the dance floor. I searched for any sign of her red hair, finally spotting her on the opposite end.

Except she wasn’t fucking alone.

Some pretty boy dipshit had his hands all over her body, working his cock into her ass, while she suddenly became a goddamn stripper on a pole. My beer dropped out of my hands and splashed to the ground, chucking her water bottle next. I hauled ass across the dance floor, shoving people out of the way. I was a ticking fucking time bomb about to explode the longer it took to get to her. Taking down anyone who was in my path of destruction, needing to get to her as fast as I could.

My fist was pulled back as I took my last step, and it connected with the motherfucker’s jaw before he even saw me coming. His head snapped back, taking half of his now limp body with him. Autumn screamed as she was pulled to the ground by the fucker who didn’t let her go. I leaned forward, grabbing her by the waist, saving her ass from meeting the concrete below. Pulling her up to my chest, snaking her body behind mine.

“Don’t touch what fuckin’ belongs to me!” I snarled, kicking him in the stomach while he was down. Squatting in front of his body, grabbing ahold of his fucking Polo shirt, getting right up in his bloody face. “You got any idea who the fuck you’re dealin’ with? Whose territory you’re fuckin’ pissin’ on?” I cocked my fist back again, ramming it into his face. His head fell back on the ground with a thud.

“Come on, pussy! Get up!” I roared, lifting him from the ground again when I suddenly felt Autumn’s hand on my shoulder. I shook her off, causing her to stumble back into Giselle. “Fucked with the wrong man!” I gritted out, close to his face.

I had a short fuse, my temper always getting the best of me. Seeing violence all my life didn’t help my anger issues.

“Creed!” Mason yelled out, stepping his way through the crowd. Crouching down in between us. “Not here. Let’s go!” he ordered, nodding behind me.

I turned around, seeing security heading in our direction. Immediately standing, I kicked the son of a bitch one last time. “Fuckin’ welcome,” I growled, grabbing Autumn’s hand. Forcefully pulling her away from Giselle, through the tent and out to the lot.

“Thought she didn’t mean anything,” Mason whispered, bumping into my shoulder when we were outside and out of sight. “Come back to my house in case they call the cops. Won’t take long for them to figure out who you are. My parents are out of town.”

I nodded, practically throwing Autumn on the back of my bike.

“Creed—”

“Not one fuckin’ word, Autumn.” I shoved her helmet at her, and then threw on mine too.

Pissed as fuck…

That Mason was right.