Fighting Love: the complete series

by Nikki Ash

  “Could she be my mommy then?” Lexi’s voice is now a whisper, and her words going straight to my heart.

  “I think that’s something we’d have to ask Charlie, but for now, she might not be your mom, but she’s your friend, and I know she loves you very much. Plus, Auntie Morgan is having a baby and we’ll get to see him or her a lot.”

  Lexi nods then picks up her mug to take another sip of her hot chocolate. She doesn’t ask about her birth mother, and I don’t mention her. One day she’ll ask and hopefully by then I’ll have come up with the perfect answer that won’t break my daughter’s heart.

  “I know this isn’t how you planned your future. You have everything outlined and in lists and you check them off as you go, but I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I love you and I’m asking that maybe we can start a new list, one that includes a future with us together as a family. Will you marry me?”

  Everyone sits at the dining room table shocked as Adam gets down on one knee next to Morgan’s chair—a jewelry box open with a shiny diamond sparkling inside. I glance from my mom, who has her hands over her mouth—she’s such a romantic—to my dad, who looks like he’s holding back from knocking this guy out. The little kids have no clue what is happening other than the fact that the food isn’t being served. The other adults are waiting for Morgan to answer, but then my eyes land on Charlie. Her expression is mournful. She’s mentioned before that she was married, and I’m assuming the guy she was with is the one that physically and emotionally abused her. She never brings him up. Any memories shared are only about her daughter.

  I haven’t wanted to push her, ask her questions she isn’t ready to answer, but that doesn’t mean I’m not curious. The more time we spend together, the more I notice. For instance, she said her credit is bad and she can’t have her name on anything. All signs point to her hiding out, which leads me to believe she’s hiding from Georgia’s father. In order for Charlie to move forward, at some point we’re going to have to face whatever she’s dealing with head on, and she’s going to have to trust me enough to fully let me in.

  Morgan sniffles. “I’ll never know if it’s just because of the baby.” Adam shakes his head. Poor guy, he’s proposing to a hormonal pregnant woman.

  “I loved you before the baby,” he insists. “You know that.” Morgan nods knowingly and takes a deep breath.

  “Okay, yes, I’ll marry you.” Everyone sighs in relief and says their congratulations, and then it’s finally time to eat some damn food. Lexi is sitting between Charlie and me, and since Charlie goes about making Lexi a plate of food before I can, I focus on piling my plate high: potatoes, stuffing, turkey, cranberry sauce, corn, rolls, and some good old green bean casserole.

  “We have an announcement to make,” my dad says once everyone is done stuffing their faces with food. Everyone quiets down and he continues. “After discussing this with Emma, who has agreed, we’ve decided to move to California. With Tristan and Mason over there and now Morgan, who will be starting a family soon. Ashley and I don’t want to miss out on the important events taking place, and it’s clear our kids aren’t planning to move back any time soon. We’re planning to put the house up for sale when we get back. Ashley would like to be moved before Morgan has the baby.”

  “Grandpa and Grandma!” Lexi squeals. “You’re moving to me?”

  “Yes, we are,” my mom gushes as Lexi jumps out of her seat and runs over to my mom, hopping up into her lap.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Charlie

  “Quit your job.”

  “No.”

  “Please, baby. You spend all day at the studio and all night working your ass off. I miss you.”

  Tristan and I are lying in his bed. It’s three in the morning and I just got to his place from work. I’m exhausted and I know he’s right, but I’m afraid if the studio doesn’t bring in a profit, I won’t have anything to fall back on. While I gave in on renting the place from Tristan, I insisted I pay him a monthly fee, and I’m covering all the renovation costs that are being done to the studio. It’s expected to open right after the first of the year and I am beyond excited. I’ve finally decided on a name—You Paint Art Studio—and I need to create a website. I even came up with a cute tagline—paint to unwind—and had some cards made up. I need to look into advertising, but I want to wait until most of the work is done so I can take some pictures.

  “I’ll think about it,” I say, then change the subject. “I was thinking maybe we could take Lexi to go get a tree this weekend. Christmas is only a few weeks away.”

  Tristan wraps me up in his arms, his legs caging mine in. “That sounds perfect, babe.” He pulls my face up to his and kisses me before we both fall asleep.

  “Lexi, go put your clothes away in your drawers, please.” I hand Lexi a stack of her tiny clothes and she takes them to her room. Tristan was doing the laundry and making dinner when Brent called him to let him know the kids’ mixed-martial-arts class was going to have to be canceled because the instructor called out sick. I told Tristan I didn’t mind watching Lexi while he goes over to teach the class, and since he had to leave in a rush, I figured I would finish up his laundry and dinner for him.

  As I’m taking the pan of baked chicken parmesan out of the oven, the door slams shut and Mason yells out his usual, “Honey, I’m home.”

  “Wrong honey,” I shout back, placing the pan on the stove and meeting him in the living room.

  “Or the right one,” he jokes. “Where’s Tristan?”

  “Teaching the kids MMA class. Evan called out sick. He just left a few minutes ago.”

  Mason drops his bag to the floor and tosses his keys onto the counter. “I must’ve just missed him.” He plops onto the couch.

  “Uncle Mason!” Lexi comes running over to Mason and jumps into his lap. I head back into the kitchen to check on the vegetables and start the potatoes. I’m almost through peeling and cutting the entire bag of potatoes when I hear a Lexi scream. Forgetting the food, I run into the living room to find Lexi in tears, holding her arm, and Mason nowhere to be seen.

  I drop to my knees next to Lexi just as Mason comes running out of his room and kneels next to her. Not sure what’s wrong, I don’t pick her up.

  “Lexi, what happened?” I ask, panicking. Tears are flying down her face and she’s grabbing her arm, and that’s when I notice her wrist is dangling in the wrong direction with what looks like a bone popping out under her skin.

  “My-my hand,” she hiccups.

  “Mason, we need to get her to the hospital. I think her wrist is broken.” Mason, who is acting a lot calmer than I am, agrees.

  “Okay, I’ll pick her up. Go make sure the oven and stove are off and call Tristan to let him know to meet us at the hospital.” I jump up and rush over to the kitchen, shut off the oven and stove, and throw the hot pots into the sink. Then I pull on my boots and meet Mason at the door. Lexi is in his arms and is now sobbing uncontrollably.

  Mason sets Lexi into the back of his vehicle and I slide in next to her. The ride feels like it takes forever as I comfort Lexi the best I can while texting and calling Tristan. When he doesn’t answer, I call the gym and ask that he call me immediately. We get to the emergency room, and after Mason sets Lexi down on my lap, he checks her in.

  “It’s okay, sweet girl,” I coo. “The doctor is going to make it all better.” Lexi’s tear-stricken face glances up at me, her chest bouncing up and down. “Shh…it’s okay,” I say as I hold her close, careful not to jostle her arm or hand. Pulling her now wet hair—from all the tears—away from her face, I grab my ponytail holder from my wrist and tie her hair up in a messy bun.

  “Alexandria Scott,” a nurse calls out, and Mason gently takes Lexi from my arms, carrying her back as I follow behind. We’re brought back to the pediatric unit and another nurse appears.

  “Good evening, my name is Mila Sterling and I’ll be looking after Alexandria today. It says here you might have…” The n
urse stops reading what’s on her clipboard and looks up. She takes one look at Mason and starts stuttering. “Umm…” She clears her throat and focuses her attention on Lexi. “It says here you might have broken your wrist?” She keeps her eyes trained on Lexi. “Why don’t you set her down on the bed and I’ll get the paperwork started before the doctor comes in.” Her voice is now all squeaky as she tries to look everywhere but at Mason.

  One glance in his direction and I see why. He’s smirking. And I’m not talking about his usual I’m Mason and I know the ladies love me smirk. I’m talking about the go ahead and eat your heart out baby because I’m about to take you on the ride of your life kind of smirk.

  Mila quickly composes herself, though, and her face goes from looking shocked to looking…pissed? Disgusted? Oh no! Please don’t tell me… “Mason,” I whisper. “Did you and her…” I nod toward the nurse—who is now taking Lexi’s vitals—and Mason plays dumb. “Did you and her”—He tilts his head. Asshole is going to make me say it—“go fishing?”

  Mason throws his head back in laughter and I groan. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous, Charlie. I don’t think Tristan would appreciate that.”

  I smack him on his arm and the nurse looks back and forth between the two of us. I lean in closer to Mason so she can’t hear. “I just want to make sure she won’t try to take her anger out on Lexi.” And this, of course, earns me another laugh. Shoving Mason to the side, I get up and stand next to Lexi.

  “Is my daddy on his way?” Lexi asks, tears welling up in her eyes again. Grabbing my phone out of my pocket, I notice I have no service. Shit! Good thing I texted Tristan what happened and where we are.

  “He should be here soon, sweet girl.” I grab the chair I was just sitting in and drag it over to her bed. Taking the hand that isn’t in pain, I lace our fingers together. “Just let me know if you need anything at all. Okay?” Lexi nods.

  Just as the nurse is finishing up taking her temperature, Tristan comes crashing into the room. He’s still wearing his MMA gi and he looks like he’s died a thousand deaths on his way over here.

  “Lexi!” He leans over her bed and kisses her on her forehead. “What the heck happened?” His gaze darts from Lexi, to me, to Mason, and the reality of the situation hits me like a ton of bricks. I’m sitting in a hospital room with Lexi because I was watching her and she more than likely broke her wrist, and I was so worried about getting her here, I don’t even know what happened.

  “I-I’m sorry, Daddy.” Lexi lets out another sob. “I was playing with Uncle Mason and when he left to take a shower, I jumped off the couch. My hand…it hurts so, so bad.” Her cries come harder and my heart shatters. I should’ve been watching her. My eyes should’ve never left her. If I wouldn’t have been trying to play house by cooking and doing the laundry, she’d still be at home safe and sound instead of in a hospital bed. What if she had fallen differently and broken her neck? Oh my God! I could’ve been responsible for two children’s deaths!

  “I’m so sorry,” I choke out, tears stinging my eyes. But I refuse to let them fall. I don’t deserve to cry. I stand up, unsure of where to go or what to do. I don’t want to leave Lexi’s side, but I shouldn’t be here. I don’t deserve to be here. Tristan steps away from the side of the bed and is in front of me before I can make it out of the room.

  “No…no…don’t you dare do this.” He grabs my chin and looks me dead in the eyes. “This is not your fault and don’t you dare try to blame yourself.” I shake my head needing him to stop trying to comfort me when he should be comforting his daughter.

  “He’s right, Charlie,” Mason says. “If anyone is to blame it’s me. Lexi was jumping off the couch and I was catching her. I didn’t think she’d try to jump off the couch when I left the room.”

  “I was supposed to be watching her,” I point out, shaking my head, and suddenly the nurse is by my side.

  “Hey, kids get hurt. I’ve been working in this hospital for the last six years and I’ve seen a million accidents.”

  “Wait a second.” Tristan stares at the nurse. “Don’t I know you? What’s your name?” He looks down at her badge. “I do know you! You probably don’t even remember me, but my daughter—”

  Mila cuts him off. “Yes, I remember you. And I’m assuming the little girl with the broken wrist is your daughter, the one you named after me.” What the heck?

  Mason cackles. “Of course she remembers us. It’s me we’re talking about here.” Mila rolls her eyes and Tristan groans.

  “I’m going to go let Dr. Matthews know I’m requesting an x-ray so we can see if the bone is broken, but my guess is, it is.” She opens the door to walk away, but before she leaves, she says, “And I told you, you were safe naming your daughter after me.”

  Mason laughs, nodding in amusement. “Oh, nurse Mila…game on.”

  Lexi’s wrist is in fact broken. While waiting to be brought back for x-rays, Mila came back in to give Lexi some pain medication. It helped her to relax and soon she was in and out of sleep. I was back at her side along with Tristan and Mason. After they wheeled her in to get x-rays—and confirmed the break—the doctor came in and set her wrist. Thanks to the pain meds, Lexi wasn’t in too much pain. She picked out a blue cast, and Mila came back in to plaster it on.

  “Did you know I was one of the first people to hold you?” Mila says to Lexi while wrapping her arm.

  “You were?” Lexi asks, intrigued.

  “I was. You’re even named after me.” Mila gazes over at Mason who rolls his eyes. “My middle name is Alexandria.”

  “Does your daddy call you Lexi, too?” Lexi asks, and Mila laughs.

  “No, since it’s my middle name, it stays as Alexandria.”

  “I don’t think I have a middle name,” Lexi says, confused.

  “Nope, you sure don’t. Your daddy said Alexandria was long enough to count as both. He had a hard enough time picking out your first name. He wanted it to be perfect.” She laughs and looks over at Tristan who smiles warmly.

  “Charlie, do you have a middle name?” Lexi asks.

  “Nope, I don’t,” I admit. “I guess my parents thought my name was long enough for both as well.” I give Lexi a wink.

  Tristan glances my way. “Charlie isn’t that long. Is it short for another name?”

  “Umm…yeah,” I say, not able to lie to him. Up until this point I’ve left details out, but I haven’t blatantly lied, and for some reason I can’t do it now, even if it means he knows my real name. “It’s Charlotte,” I say softly.

  I see his mouth open to respond, but before he can, Mila says, “Okay! There you go. Make sure you make an appointment with your doctor for a follow up. You should be able to get the cast removed in about six weeks as long as it heals properly. No getting it wet, and make sure you have everyone sign it.” She smiles at Lexi and hands her a lollipop. She has been so sweet to Lexi the entire time we’ve been here.

  “I know this is totally random,” I say, pulling a card to the art studio out of my purse. “I have this art studio opening up soon and I would love to offer you a free session. You’ve been so kind to Lexi, and I just want to say thank you.”

  “Oh! I love to paint, even if I stink at it.” Mila giggles. “Is this one of those bring your own wine places?”

  “Yep! It sure is! I’m also going to offer kids classes as well as birthday parties. My cell phone number is on the card since I don’t have a phone in the studio yet.”

  “Cool! Do you live around here? Maybe we can meet up some time for coffee.” Other than Bianca, who I have only hung out with a few times, and the occasional conversation with Veronica, I haven’t made any girlfriends since I moved here. When I hesitate, she adds, “I’m sorry. That was really forward. I’ve been divorced for a few years now, and well…most of my friends were from my ex-husband’s friends, and while he and I are still friends…” She trails off looking embarrassed at her rambling.

  “Divorced?” Mason chokes out.

  “
I totally get it,” I say to Mila, both of us ignoring him. “I’ve only been living here a short time and I don’t really have any friends either.”

  “Hey!” Mason shouts. “What are we? Chopped liver?” he jokes, and I roll my eyes.

  “Anyway, I would love to meet for coffee,” I tell her. “When you get a chance, text me your number.”

  “Sounds good,” she says.

  “And since we’re all exchanging numbers, why don’t I give you mine as well?” Mason joins in, and now it’s Mila’s turn to roll her eyes.

  “In your dreams, playboy.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Tristan

  “Lexi! Guess what? I have some awesome news!” I shout down the hall, and when Lexi doesn’t answer, I head to her room. There’s only one reason why Lexi is quiet—she’s up to no good. When I get to her room, she’s sitting in her bed, reading a book. Okay…at least she isn’t drawing all over her walls. Then I look over and see a huge fireplace drawn across her wall complete with stockings hung—one for each of us including Charlie.

  I sit down on her bed next to her and notice she’s reading one of her Christmas stories. “Lex,” I groan, and she glances up from her book.

  “Yes, Daddy?”

  “We’ve talked about this.” I point to the wall as Charlie comes strolling into the room. Her hair is wet from the shower and she’s dressed in a pair of ripped jeans and an off the shoulder sweater that reads ‘Let’s get lit’ with an image of a Christmas tree in the background.

  “Oh my goodness! Lexi! Did you draw this yourself?” Really? Like she doesn’t already know she drew it? Who the hell else would have drawn it? She’s just as bad as Mason!

  Of course, Lexi’s face lights up. “I did! I read in this book that Santa needs a chimney to come down, so since we don’t have one, I drew one!”