The Fighting Series (Books 1-5)

by Nikki Ash

  Cooper notices me staring and gives me a wink, moving closer to me. “The dragon symbolizes strength.” He points to the dragon. “And him breathing fire symbolizes me breaking free from my parents’ constraints. I got it a few years after my parents split up and shit got bad. I was working with my dad and ended up leaving to go work on my own. I’m heading back home to work with him again and have no idea how I’m going to deal with him. In the tail, it says, ‘I breathe in my courage and exhale my fear.’ It’s to remind myself that I’m strong enough to stand up to him and be my own person.”

  “It’s beautiful,” I whisper without realizing I’m running my fingertips along the words of the quote he just read to me. I can feel goose bumps rise up, and I look at him and see he’s staring at me like he’s about to devour me. His look of want causes my lady parts to tingle and I instinctively tighten my thighs to seek relief. He leans forward and begins to kiss me with such passion it’s as if he’s making love to my mouth. His lips mold to mine, his tongue battling with my own, and it’s official, Cooper has ruined me.

  We make love a few more times throughout the night, until I once again fall sleep with his body wrapped around mine, wishing tonight would never have to end.

  I wake up to the door unlocking and then opening and realize the space next to me is empty. The clock reads five in the morning. Kayla is tiptoeing into the room in a shirt and cotton shorts that reads Miami, Florida. She must’ve bought them from one of the tourist shops. She has her dress and heels in her arms, and I can tell she’s trying not to wake me.

  When she looks over at me and sees I’m awake, she giggles and lies down in her bed, patting the spot next to her for me to join her. I get up to crawl across the bed when I feel the crinkling sound of paper. I look down at it and see my name scribbled along the top. The only person it could be from is Cooper, and my stomach falls at the realization that it’s a goodbye note. I knew this was coming, but I didn’t realize how much it would hurt.

  Liz, I had to catch an early flight and I didn’t want to wake you. You looked so peaceful lying in bed wrapped up in my arms. I wish I could hold you like that forever. Thank you for the most amazing thirty hours of my life. I will never forget them and will probably fantasize about them for years to come ;) Stay sweet, baby girl.

  —Coop

  I take the note with me over to Kayla’s bed so she can read it. “Do you regret sleeping with him?” she asks after reading the letter.

  “No, it was perfect. I knew going into this it would be a one-night stand, or a thirty-hour stand as he put it. We’re just starting college and I’m not about to try to start a relationship with somebody right now. Did you get Bentley’s number?”

  “Nope, we had fun but agreed what happens in Miami, stays in Miami. Let’s get some sleep and enjoy the rest of our week. And don’t think I’m letting you off the hook. After I get some shut-eye, you’ll be giving me all the details.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” I laugh, and we curl back up into the sheets and fall asleep. My thirty hours with Cooper were amazing and I’ll never forget our short time together.

  My first day without Cooper is a bit depressing. I can’t stop thinking about him and Kayla seems a bit down as well. She hasn’t really said what happened with Bentley, but I think—like Cooper did to me—he took with him a little piece of her heart.

  Kayla and I spend the day lounging by the pool. She’s listening to music while I’m reading my book. Then, by the late afternoon, we decide to go back up to our room to shower before getting a bite to eat. When we walk inside our room, I see a thin white rectangular box wrapped in pink ribbon on my bed.

  Kayla gets excited and tells me to hurry up and open it. When I pick it up, there’s no card stating who it’s from. I pull the ribbon off, and when I open the box, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

  “What is it? I’m dying over here,” Kayla says, coming closer to see what I’m looking at.

  “It’s gift cards to Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and iTunes.”

  Kayla cocks her head to the side, her eyebrows shooting up. “Um, okay. Am I missing something here? Why do you look like you’re about to cry over them? And who sent them?”

  I take the gift cards out and find a small piece of paper with typed words.

  I wasn’t sure where you get your books. Whenever you buy a new book, think of me. –Coop

  “I made him play twenty questions to get to know him and told him I love to read but that I don’t always have the money to buy new books, so I reread my favorites.”

  Kayla’s eyes go glossy at my explanation. “Oh, Liz. That is so romantic.”

  “Yeah, it is. Too bad I can never thank him.”

  The next day Kayla and I check out some of the sites in Miami. We take a taxi to the art district and check out the graffiti walls while having lunch at a delicious Cuban restaurant. When we get back there’s another box on my bed.

  “Get the hell out of here!” Kayla shouts when she spots it at the same time I do.

  I open the box and this time inside is the entire collection of Batman movies. I burst out laughing and look for a note. Sure enough, there’s another one.

  For your viewing pleasure. Only once you watch all of these can you judge Batman. –Coop

  Kayla reads it silently over my shoulder. “Another twenty questions fact?”

  “Yeah, it’s his favorite movie.”

  “Did you by any chance tell him you love huge houses and expensive cars?” Kayla jokes and we both burst into a fit of giggles.

  Day three post-Cooper and I haven’t received a package yet. I wonder how he is doing all this. If he is sending them daily or if he did all this before he left. To be honest, I don’t even want to know. It feels magical and I don’t want to lose that feeling.

  Kayla and I decide to go down to the restaurant in the resort for dinner. When we’re done eating and ready to get the bill, the waiter brings me out a Crème brûlée. Before he walks too far away I call him back over.

  “Excuse me. I didn’t order this.”

  “Yes, I know. It was supposed to be delivered to your room this evening, but since you’re dining with us, I thought you might like it now.”

  It hits me that I told Cooper this was my favorite dessert.

  “By any chance is there a note to go with it?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I was supposed to attach it to the receipt. I can go get it now.”

  A few minutes later he comes back with the note and hands it to me.

  I wish I were there with you sharing this dessert. I bet it tastes delicious but not half as delicious as you. –Coop

  Kayla slowly shakes her head after I hand her the note to read. “Geez Liz, this guy clearly has it bad for you. Maybe one of these will include his number.”

  I don’t want to get my hopes up, but in the back of my mind I’ve been thinking the same thing.

  The last two days of our trip pass by quickly. The day after I got the dessert, a huge blanket for the beach is delivered to our room with a note that says To keep the sand away. No phone number.

  The last day of our trip I wonder if there’ll be a gift. We’re checking out at ten to head home and say bye to our families before we head to Las Vegas, so it would have to be delivered before we leave. At ten, nothing has arrived yet, so we go to the front desk to check-out and that’s when the woman asks which one of us is Liz.

  “Um, I am.”

  “This is for you.”

  I grab the box and pray there’ll be a number inside. Removing the top, I find a beautiful white gold necklace and charm. I look closer at the charm and it’s a pair of boxing gloves. I lift them up to look for a note and find it, only there isn’t a phone number.

  To always remember me xo – Coop

  “Boxing gloves?” Kayla asks. “Another question?”

  “It must be. He said he likes mixed-martial-arts.”

  I hand it to Kayla and ask her to put it on me. Once it’s on, I grab the boxing gloves, br
ing them up to my lips, and think to myself, I will never forget you, Coop. I don’t even think that’s possible.

  Five

  Liz

  For the third day in a row I’m bent over the toilet throwing up everything in my stomach while Kayla holds my hair back and earns her best friend title.

  “Ugh! Do you think it was something we ate at the Chinese restaurant last night?”

  “Liz, if it were food poisoning, you wouldn’t be throwing up for days. I really think you need to go see a doctor. It could be the flu.”

  I know she’s right. It’s time to make a doctor’s appointment. I stop throwing up long enough to go to my room to find my insurance card and locate a doctor in our area.

  Our apartment is so cute and bigger than we expected. Kayla’s parents went all out renting us a three-bedroom apartment walking distance from campus. We both have our own room and the third bedroom is used as an office to do our schoolwork. It has a computer desk and a super cute futon that can turn into a bed if we have somebody stay over.

  It has been over a month since we’ve left Miami and I’m not going to lie, Cooper has been on my mind. But it doesn’t matter because only knowing his first name means I have no way of finding him, and since he doesn’t know my last name, he isn’t going to be locating me any time soon either. As much as I wish things had ended differently, there’s no point in regretting something I can’t change. All I can do at this point is just chalk it up to an awesome experience and move forward.

  Kayla made me dish out the details and said I’m lucky I was with a guy who actually knew what he was doing. Orgasming the first couple times she had sex didn’t happen for her and she was in shock at how many times he got me there. Any guy who comes after Cooper will definitely have a lot to live up to.

  I’ve started my classes at ULV and Kayla has found a part-time job at a cute bistro right down the street from our place. Her parents are covering all her expenses, but Kayla is too much of a social butterfly to sit at home all summer while I’m in class. She’s already met several people there and has attended a few parties.

  I make an appointment for this afternoon, hoping the doctor can shed some light on why I’ve been throwing up for the last few days. When I get inside the room, the nurse has me give a urine sample and asks me to explain what’s been going on. Then I change into a gown and wait for the doctor to come in.

  “Hello, Lizbeth. It’s nice to meet you. My name is Dr. Lee. If you don’t mind me asking, other than throwing up, have you had any other symptoms?” I think about it for a second and conclude that other than throwing up, I haven’t felt all that bad.

  “Not really. Nothing else feels wrong except I keep throwing up. I’m thinking food poisoning, but would it go on for days? My friend Kayla said it might be the flu.”

  She looks down at her notes and gives me a small smile. I feel like she’s preparing me for something bad. “Lizbeth, your urine test shows high HCG levels. In other words, you’re pregnant, which explains why you’re throwing up every day. Unfortunately, those symptoms can vary depending on the pregnancy. I take it you didn’t know you’re pregnant.”

  Every part of me begins to shake, and I suddenly feel like I need to throw up again. I jump off the medical bed, making it to the trashcan, just in time to empty the contents of my lunch into it. Dr. Lee hands me a wet paper towel and I dab my mouth. It doesn’t make any sense.

  “Doctor, there has to be a mistake. I started taking the pills over a month ago, and I only had sex a couple of times after I started the pill.”

  “How soon after you started taking the pill did you have sex? The pills should be taken with another form of protection for the first seven to ten days to be on the safe side.”

  I do the calculations in my head. I started the pills four days before we left for Miami and we had sex a couple of days later. Shit. Shit. Shit. It had been less than a week.

  Dr. Lee gives me a sympathetic smile. “Judging by your reaction I’m taking it this was unplanned.”

  “Yes, it is. I didn’t realize it hadn’t been a week since I began taking the pills.”

  “You know, Liz. Some of the best parts of life are unexpected miracles.” She smiles and continues on. “I’m going to write you a referral to see an obstetrician and they can tell you how the baby is and how far along you are.”

  She types up the referral and hands it to me. “There are many options these days. Until you decide how you wish to proceed, make sure you stay hydrated and start on prenatal vitamins. Make an appointment to see the obstetrician as soon as possible.”

  I thank her and walk out feeling like I’m in some crazy dream, until another bout of nausea hits, reminding me I’m not in a dream at all. This is my reality. I’m pregnant with a baby from a guy I lost my virginity to, and I wouldn’t know how to get ahold of him if I tried. When I said I would always remember him, I thought it would be from memories, not from a baby growing in my belly.

  I get home and Kayla’s in the living room watching some ridiculous reality show while munching on popcorn. She looks up at me and immediately knows something is wrong.

  “Hey, sweetie. How did the doctor go? Do you have the flu?”

  “Yeah, I have the flu all right and it’ll be over in about eight months.”

  Her eyes widen as she soaks in what I’m implying. She grabs my hands and sits me down next to her, closing her arms around me tightly. The tears begin trickling down my cheeks as she hugs me close. We don’t need words to say what we both know. My life is about to change. Apparently for me, what happened in Miami, didn’t stay in Miami.

  Six

  Liz

  Five Years later

  He grabs hold of my hips and pulls me onto him, pushing his massive cock deep into my core. I feel so full. I grip his chest with my hands and begin to move up and down as his hands palm my breasts. “C’mon, baby girl. Yeah, that’s it. Come for me.” I’m so close, just a few more thrusts and I’ll…

  “Mom… Mommy…Wake up, please. Auntie Kay is making us yummy pancakes.”

  Slowly, I open one eye, recognizing I was once again dreaming. Five years of no sex will do that to a woman. I open both my eyes to find my four-year-old daughter sitting on my stomach, smashing my cheeks together with her tiny hands while trying to wake me up. I can’t help but smile when I see her bright green eyes looking at me like I hold the golden ticket to the chocolate factory. It’s then I remember what today is.

  “Mom, I see your eyeballs. I know you’re awake.”

  I laugh as I grab hold of her waist and throw her onto my bed, tickling her. Her giggles bounce off the walls, and hit me straight in my heart. As I look down at her, she’s smiling from ear to ear and the same butterflies that always take over my stomach when I see that smile invade me once again.

  She’ll never know her daddy or what he looks like, but when I look at her, he is all I see. Same green eyes, same beautiful smile, same golden-brown hair, and the same naturally sun-kissed skin. She’s a spitting image of the man who gave me the best memories I could ever ask for, my daughter. If I didn’t have the stretch marks to prove it, I would swear Isabella Faith wasn’t even carried by me but by her father instead.

  I continue to tickle her belly as she begs me to stop. “Mom, I’m gonna pee myself! You better stop.” I’m definitely not taking a chance of that happening. It’s too early in the morning to be washing sheets, so I stop tickling her. In return, she huffs and rolls over to sit across from me in my bed.

  “And to what do I owe this pleasure of you waking me up at…” I glance at the clock. “Seven o’clock?” I know why she’s up and ready to go, but her excitement is so infectious I want to hear her tell me herself.

  “Mommy, how could you forget? Today is the bestest day ever! I start preschool today. Duh!” She glares at me with such seriousness I have to hold in my smile.

  “Oh my goodness.” I pretend to suddenly remember. “How could I forget the most important day of Bella’s life
?”

  She stares at me without blinking, trying to figure out how in the world I could ever forget something so important. As funny as it is to watch her reaction, I know in a few seconds she’s really going to believe I forgot. One thing I often wonder is if her father has a temper, because I have no idea where she could’ve gotten hers from, but my sweet angel can go from zero to sixty in the blink of an eye.

  “Of course I didn’t forget what today is. You’re so silly, Bella. Look at you all dressed up and ready for your first day of preschool. Okay, let me get up, jump in the shower, and get dressed, and I’ll meet Auntie Kay and you for pancakes before we head out to take you to school. Tell Auntie Kay to save me at least two pancakes!”

  Bella beams at me, shaking her head up and down excitedly. I smack her bottom as she jumps off the bed and runs down the hall to the kitchen, yelling to Kayla to save me two pancakes.

  I can’t even begin to imagine what I would have done without Kayla in my life these last five years. When I found out I was pregnant, I lost it. How in the world was I going to go to school and raise a baby? Kayla was amazing from day one. She held my hand through my entire pregnancy and delivery. We transformed the third bedroom into a nursery, and Kayla became Auntie Kay. Although, she’s more like a second mom to Bella.

  The first year was the hardest. After Bella was born, I thought about Cooper constantly. It was almost scary how much she looked like her father. I cried for weeks after I found out I was pregnant and then for weeks after Bella was born. Kayla tried to look up Bentley and Kaden’s name while I tried to look up Cooper’s, but it was pointless. We didn’t even know where to begin. We didn’t know where any of them lived, their last names, or any of their personal information. I did look up MMA and Cooper, but wasn’t able to find anything.

  Kayla was the glue that held all my pieces together. She made sure we took classes at opposite times and on different days so somebody could always be home with Bella. We both also worked part-time shifts at the Bistro to pay for her necessities. So many times, I felt weak and Kayla was there to be my strength.