Southern steel- Mack

2. Eden

2 years later

I'm walking out of the school, and I spot Mack on a motorcycle waiting for me. "Hey Eden. I'm going to pick you up today. Your brother is helping Pops do some work."

"Mack! Did you get a motorcycle?" Mack just turned 16 not long ago. I've seen him drive some of the guys motorcycles at the clubhouse while learning to ride.

"Yea. I've been working on it for about a year at the garage so I could drive it when I got my license. She's pretty nice huh?"

I nod. The only motorcycle I ride on is with Pops. I'm excited to get to ride with Mack. Mack isn't around all the time. I see Ty a lot because I stay at Cora and Pops' house many nights. Mack works at the garage to club owns and is busy. Mack is so handsome. His eyes are such a light blue they look like the sky. My eyes are brown, and I don't like them. They look like my dad's and remind me of how mean he looks at me. I wish I didn't look anything like him.

"Eden, I bought a surprise for you." I see him reach on the bike and grab the coolest black helmet with a purple skull and purple flowers on it. "You have to wear this when you ride with me on my bike. It's your own special helmet."

"It's so pretty. Thank you!" At this point my stomach growls so loudly.

"You hungry? Let's go to the diner and grab a burger and some milk shakes. Hop on behind me." He says as he climbs on the bike and then helps me on. "Hang on tight!"

I love riding on the bike with Mack. We get to the diner and he helps me off the bike, and we head in. I sit down in a booth, and Mack takes the seat across from me. "Get whatever you want. It's on me."

As we eat our cheeseburgers, fries and milkshakes I get to know Mack. This is the first time we have ever spent any time without the other boys or adults at the clubhouse. "You haven't been having any problems with your dad when you're home have you? If you do or he lays a single finger on you let me know."

"No he pretty much just ignores me. Sometimes he yells at me when he's drinking but doesn't hit me anymore. When he gets mad I go to my room and lock the door like Titan taught me."

"That's good. You tell us if it happens again. How is school going?"

"It's ok. I like reading, and my teacher this year says I'm really smart. Some of the kids still pick on me, but Pops has been teaching me how to stand up for myself. He taught me how to make a fist if any of them try to hit me. He told me to knock their lights out. Cora taught me if a boy tries to put his hands on me to kick them in their family jewels. She said to hit them hard enough they feel like they're choking on their own balls and learn to keep their hands to themselves." I say on a shrug. I see Mack grimace slightly. "Do you like working at the garage?"

"I do. I've been helping out and learning since I was about your age. I don't think I want to do it forever though."

"Do you want to be the president one day like your dad?"

"I don't think so. I think everyone expects me to, but I want to see other places. I've grown up behind the gates of the clubhouse and kind of want to do something different eventually. If you're going to be the president it is a serious job. You have to want the responsibility and really live that life."

"I want to go to a big college school when I get older. My teacher says if I work hard I could do anything I want."

"Your teacher is right. You're super smart. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You're going to do amazing things."

"You are too Mack. I know it. You're going to have adventures like you want."

We make it back to the clubhouse, and Mack helps me off the bike. He takes my helmet and fixes it to the back of his bike.