Everything Worth Fighting For

by Street, K.

  “You have it all figured out, don’t you?” I laughed despite the seriousness of the topic.

  “Bee, as long as I have you, nothing else matters. Everything will fall into place.” He kissed me before he sat back in his chair and took a bite of his eggs. After a few minutes, he said, “Not to change the subject, but Tucker sent me a text earlier.”

  “Yeah?”

  “He just wanted to check in.”

  “Oh.”

  Guilt washed over me. I hadn’t really talked to Camryn much since I walked out on her, and I needed to make things right. I promised Tucker I would, and I knew the quick phone call where I had given her a half-hearted apology didn’t cut it. “I’ll call Camryn after breakfast.”

  We finished eating, and Nash cleaned up the kitchen while I set off to find my phone.

  I sat on my bed with my back against the pillows and dialed Camryn’s number.

  “Hey, stranger.” Her tone was friendly and light, so I didn’t read anything into her greeting. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you, too.” I took a deep breath. “Look, I’m really sorry for running out on you that day.”

  “You already apologized once. It’s fine.”

  Camryn loved with her whole heart, and she forgave easily.

  Sometimes too easily. I thought back to the hell Tucker had put her through.

  I didn’t want her to just let me off the hook.

  “No, it’s not. It was rude, and I’m sorry. I was going through something. You deserved more than my lame-ass apology. I meant to reach out before now, but things between Nash and me sort of fell apart, and we were trying to work through it. I wasn’t in a good place. And I don’t want it to sound like I’m trying to justify—”

  “Macy,” she said, gently cutting off my words, “I accept your apology. You know I’m always here for you, right?”

  “I know, and I swear, one day, I’ll tell you everything.”

  And that day will be after my niece or nephew is born healthy.

  “Everything with you and Nash is good? And, healthwise, you’re okay?”

  My heart warmed. Camryn was kind and genuine, and we were all damn lucky to have her in our lives.

  “Nash is wonderful. We’re better than ever, and I’m fine.”

  “As long as you two are good, that’s all that matters. Now, we need a date night. Shayne is spending the night with Laura next Saturday. So, I was thinking the four of us could go do something after the boys got off work.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Just let me know what you have in mind.”

  “I will. I’ll text you later this week.”

  “I love you, Camryn, and I’m really sorry.”

  “I love you, too. Stop apologizing.”

  We said our good-byes, and I hung up the phone, feeling lighter than I had in a long time.

  35

  Nash

  I pulled into Tucker’s driveway, honked the horn, and waited for him to come out. Since Macy and Camryn had spent the afternoon together in St. Charles, doing girlie shit, we were meeting them for dinner there.

  Tucker slid into the passenger’s seat. “Hey.”

  “Hey.”

  “We’re meeting the girls at Pete’s Steakhouse and Brewery.”

  “That’s the new place, right?”

  “Yep. According to Cam, it has excellent reviews on Yelp. She’s also been craving steak.”

  I laughed. “You’ll get no complaints from me. Do you have the address?”

  Tucker held up his phone. “Right here.”

  I turned my car around, drove back down the long, winding drive, and pulled onto the highway.

  “Before Camryn has the baby, I want to take her away for a long weekend. We have time, but I wanted to mention it.”

  I shifted my gaze from the road to my best friend and back. “No problem. You know I’ll hold the fort down at work.”

  “I know you will. The garage would have folded years ago if it wasn’t for you.”

  I opened my mouth to speak.

  “So help me God, if you ask if I want us to paint our nails or some shit, I will knock your ass out when we get out of this car.”

  I barked out a laugh. He knew me so well. Since he was in the sharing mood, I decided to tell him my news.

  “I’m going to ask Macy to marry me.”

  “That’s great, man. It’s about fucking time. Did you get the ring yet?”

  “I’m going to go shopping for one next Saturday.”

  Tucker looked at his phone. “Make a left at the next light. The restaurant is two miles down on the right.”

  I changed lanes, and when the green arrow came on, I turned the wheel.

  “I’m glad you two have finally worked it all out. I’m happy for you.”

  I never told Tucker about Lucas. As far as I was concerned, that was between me and Mace. If the time came and she wanted anyone besides the two of us and Mama J to know, that was her call.

  “She hasn’t said yes.”

  “There’s no way she’s going to say no. When are you going to pop the question?”

  “Soon,” I told him as I pulled into the parking lot.

  “You going to ask the old man for her hand?”

  “Asking implies I want his permission. His approval doesn’t mean a damn thing to me. He made it clear where he stood years ago.”

  Unless I had a degree, made six figures, and wore a suit and tie to work, her father would never approve of me.

  “It means something to Macy.”

  Tucker was right. Macy wasn’t a daddy’s girl, but his support mattered to her, and she respected him.

  “I know.”

  I also knew that Macy loved me. She was fiercely independent, and while her father’s approval was important to her, in the end, she would do whatever the hell she wanted anyway.

  “I’ll do it right,” I assured Tucker as we walked inside.

  I scanned the crowd.

  Macy and Camryn sat at a big booth in the back corner. Camryn was talking, and whatever she said had Macy tossing her head back in laughter.

  My Bee.

  She was so damn beautiful.

  “Welcome to Pete’s. How many?” the hostess asked.

  “Our party is already here.” I gestured to them.

  Tucker and I headed for the table. I dropped a kiss to Macy’s lips as I sat in the booth. A few minutes later, our waitress appeared. I ordered a beer, and Tucker did the same.

  My gaze darted between Macy and Camryn. “Did you girls have fun today?”

  “So much fun,” Camryn said. “We got manis and pedis.”

  “And we went to this dessert bar and had the best chocolate lava cake ever,” Macy chimed in. Her eyes filled with lust.

  “That good, huh?” I laughed.

  “Better than sex,” Camryn agreed. Then, she let out a tiny squeal. “Okay, so not better than sex but pretty damn close.”

  Tucker smirked. “That’s what I thought.”

  We were all laughing when the server returned with the beers for me and Tucker. She refilled Camryn’s water and Macy’s sweet tea and jotted down our orders.

  When she walked away, Macy turned to me. “My mom called earlier. She and my dad got back yesterday, and they want us to come over for dinner tomorrow night.”

  Her father wanted to have dinner with me about as much as the man wanted to have a root canal.

  “Sure. That sounds great.”

  A look passed between me and Tucker.

  I guessed we would see if, all these years later, Macy’s father had moved past his prejudice. Of course, I wouldn’t hold my breath.

  After dinner, the girls wanted to do something, so we decided on mini golf. Camryn had wanted to go bowling, but Tucker had made it clear that was not happening. Slick shoes and pregnant women did not mix well, and Camryn wasn’t the most graceful thing.

  “Baby, you’ve yawned a dozen times in the last five minutes,” Tucker said to his wife as
we made it to the ninth hole out of eighteen. “It’s time to call it a night.”

  “But—”

  He kissed her to shut her up. “No buts.”

  Considering I had a semi from standing behind Macy and watching the way she gripped the putter all night, I was ready to get her home.

  I turned to Macy, a suggestive look in my eye. Desire flared in her blue pools, and she didn’t have to say anything. I saw how ready she was to leave.

  “I’m tired, too,” Macy lied. She linked her arm with Camryn’s. “Let’s go, sister.”

  We took the clubs from the girls and gathered the balls.

  Macy will be playing with mine later.

  We said our good-byes and headed for home.

  “Where’s your car?” I asked Macy once we were on the road.

  “At my house. Camryn picked me up there.”

  “Do you want to go to your place or mine?”

  “Mine, if that’s okay.”

  “Anything you want, Bee.”

  She rested her hand on my thigh, inching closer to my cock. Desperate to be inside her, I broke every speed limit on the way home.

  Once we were inside, Macy turned to me and licked a slow trail over her bottom lip. “Anything I want?” she asked, reminding me of my promise in the car.

  “Absolutely.” My mouth claimed hers in a kiss.

  Our hands began to roam.

  Her fingers tugged the hair at my nape.

  My tongue battled with hers and won.

  Her hands went to my fly.

  I shifted my hips, pressing my erection into her palm. I broke the kiss long enough to free her from her shirt.

  “You’re fucking beautiful, Bee, and you’re mine.”

  My lips were back on hers while my fingers skated over her rib cage. Gooseflesh prickled her skin.

  She dropped to her knees and freed my dick from the confines of my jeans while I fisted her hair in my hands.

  Macy swirled her tongue over my head, swiping the drop of pre-cum from the tip.

  “Fuuuck,” I hissed.

  Macy on her knees, using her tongue on my cock, was a fucking sight to behold.

  Her fingers wrapped around my base. Her perfect pink lips slid over my crown as she sucked me into her mouth and slowly bobbed her head.

  “That’s it, baby. Just like that.”

  My fingers tangled in her hair. Each time she went down, she took more of me into her warm, wet mouth.

  Macy sucked harder.

  Faster.

  “Fuck, you feel good.”

  She cupped my balls and gently rolled them in her palm.

  If she didn’t stop, I was going to come down her throat. When I shot my load, I wanted to be buried balls deep inside her pretty pink pussy.

  I tightened my hold on her head to still her movements. “That’s enough, Mace.”

  She met my eyes and released me with a pop.

  I guided her to her feet while she grinned like the Cheshire cat, knowing damn well she had nearly brought me to my knees.

  I kissed her hard on the mouth, tasting myself on her tongue. In seconds, we stripped bare, leaving clothes in our wake as we stumbled to the bedroom.

  I pinched and rolled Macy’s nipples.

  “Ahh, Nash,” she moaned.

  I cupped her tits, sucking one and then the other while I sank two fingers into her center.

  “Yes. Please. Oh God,” she cried out.

  I drove her to the edge but didn’t let her crash over the precipice.

  Withdrawing my fingers, I painted her essence on her lips before sucking her taste from my skin and kissing her. I fucked her mouth with my tongue.

  My dick screamed to be inside her. I walked her backward until the backs of her knees hit the bed. She fell onto the mattress, and I gripped her thighs, tugging until her ass was on the edge.

  I kept my feet on the floor, and holding on to her legs, I tilted her hips. My shaft was lined up with her entrance, and I thrust hard into her.

  “Ahh.”

  I pulled almost all the way out and did it again.

  “Nash, oh God.”

  I pumped in and out of her. “So good, Bee.”

  “Yes, Nash. Yes. Oh God.”

  “Are you ready to come, baby?”

  I didn’t know how much longer I could hold off, and I needed her to get there.

  “So close.”

  “Squeeze your legs around me.”

  She did as she had been told.

  “That’s it, baby.” I circled her clit with my thumb.

  Her pussy strangled my cock.

  She cried out her release while I hammered into her.

  Once. Then, twice more. My orgasm ripped through me, and I came with a roar.

  I collapsed next to Macy and pulled her into my arms.

  “Holy shit,” I panted.

  It took Macy a few minutes to form words.

  “Wow. I mean, wow.”

  “That good, huh?” I chuckled.

  My fingers swept over her cheek, brushing her hair to the side.

  We held each other’s stare with our hands clasped between us. She looked at me with so much love, and I knew I would do anything to make her look at me like that every day for the rest of our lives.

  36

  Nash

  I got out of the car and walked around to Macy’s side to open her door.

  She put her hand in mine, and together, we strode up the walkway to her parents’ home. Macy rang the bell and stepped back.

  Seconds later, her mother answered.

  Sierra Caldwell was an older version of her daughter—only, where Macy’s hair was red like her father’s, Sierra’s was blonde.

  “You’re here. Come in. Come in.” Sierra stepped out of the way to allow us to enter.

  “Hi, Mama.” Macy kissed her mother on the cheek.

  “I missed you.”

  I stood back as the two of them hugged like it had been years since they saw each other.

  Sierra smiled warmly and circled her arms around my waist. “Nash, it’s so good to see you.”

  “You, too, Mrs. C. How was your trip?”

  Contrary to how I felt about Macy’s father, I adored her mother.

  “Wonderful, just wonderful. Baxter, the kids are here,” Sierra hollered as we passed the den.

  We followed her into the kitchen.

  “Let me get you something to drink. Would you like a beer, Nash? Or maybe a gin and tonic? I have bourbon, too.”

  “Beer is perfect.”

  “What about you, Macy?”

  “I can get it, Mom.”

  “Nonsense. Tell me what you want.”

  Macy stood on her tiptoes and leaned into me. “See where I get it from?”

  I pecked her lips. “No kidding.”

  She poked me in the ribs. “Iced tea is fine. Thank you.”

  Sierra gave us our drinks just as Mr. Caldwell walked into the room. Without any prompting, Mrs. C made one for him as well.

  “Good evening, Macy.”

  Macy turned to her father. “Hi, Daddy.” She walked toward him and kissed his cheek.

  “Good evening, Mr. Caldwell.” I extended my hand.

  “Nash.” He placed his palm in mine, squeezing harder than was appropriate.

  Perhaps he wants to have a pissing contest, too.

  “Dinner should be ready in a bit. Why don’t you boys go chat while Macy and I finish up?” Sierra suggested and shooed us out of the kitchen.

  “Shall we, Nash?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Drink in hand, I followed Baxter into the den.

  “Have a seat.” He gestured to the chair adjacent to the one he’d sat in.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on. There wasn’t a fucking ounce of love lost between me and the old man. As much as I hated the words that were going to leave my mouth in the next few seconds, I would swallow my pride for the sake of his daught
er.

  “Mr. Caldwell, I’d like to ask for your blessing to marry your daughter.” I lifted the beer to my lips in hopes that the alcohol would wash away the bitterness on my tongue.

  Baxter stared into his bourbon, swirling the amber liquid while he seemed to contemplate my words. “Tell me, Nash, do you still work at Jaxson’s Garage?”

  He knew damn well where I worked.

  “Yes, sir.”

  He nodded. “You know, Nash … you were always a little slow on the uptake.”

  My jaw twitched. “Excuse me?”

  “The way I see it, nothing has changed in the last ten years. You’re still working the same dead-end job. You don’t have a college degree—correct me if I’m wrong.”

  I gripped the beer bottle so damn hard; my fingertips turned white. But I remained silent, confirming what he already knew.

  “That’s what I thought. So, in fact, nothing has changed. You weren’t good enough for my daughter then, and you certainly aren’t good enough for her now.”

  “I don’t think that’s your call to make.”

  “How do you plan to support a family on a mechanic’s salary?”

  The word family stung like a slap to the face.

  He didn’t give two shits about how much I loved his daughter. That I would sell a kidney or any other damn organ on the black market to take care of Macy. All he would ever see was a work shirt with a blue collar. In his eyes, my worth was based more on my fucking portfolio than on who I was as a man.

  “That isn’t your concern.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. My daughter’s well-being is indeed my concern.”

  “I knew coming here was a mistake.”

  “And yet, here you are.” Eyes curious, he looked at me. “Tell me, does she know?”

  Before I had a chance to respond, Macy appeared in the doorway, confusion marring her face.

  My mouth went dry as her gaze flitted between us. “Do I know what?”

  37

  Macy

  My stomach knotted as my gaze shifted between Nash and my father. “Will somebody please tell me what is going on?”

  “Mace—”

  “I would be very careful about the next words that came out of my mouth if I were you, son.”