The Fighting Series (Books 1-5)

by Nikki Ash

  “Isn’t that her?” I look over to see a very pregnant Kayla walking past the restaurant by herself toward the lobby. While my mom has never met Kayla in person, I’ve shown her numerous pictures of her.

  I jump out of my seat and run over to her.

  “Hey!” She looks at me for a moment, confused as to why I’m here.

  “My mom and dad are staying here. We just sat down for dinner. Want to join us?”

  She looks nervous, and I can tell she’s about to say no when my mom walks over to introduce herself. She gives Kayla a hug like she’s known her for years. At first Kayla stiffens, but then she relaxes.

  “I’m sorry! You don’t even know who I am and I’m over here hugging you! I just feel like I know you already from all the pictures Bentley has shown me of you, and I swear the boy never stops talking about you or the baby. My name is Kathleen. I’m Bentley’s mom. The man over there is Ryan, his dad. Do you mind?”

  She looks down at Kayla’s very pregnant belly wanting to touch it.

  “Mom…” I begin, but Kayla cuts me off, giving me a small smile.

  “No, it’s okay. Go ahead. It’s rock hard. She’s definitely outgrowing her space in here.” She giggles a little and it makes my heart beat faster. She’s so damn beautiful.

  “Oh, how precious! I can’t wait to meet her. Have you seen all the stuff we’ve sent to Bentley for the baby? If there’s anything you don’t like, just let me know. Everything is returnable. I just couldn’t help myself. Our first grandchild! This is so exciting. ”

  Kayla looks at me with a questioning glance. I’ve told my mom Kayla is living in Florida, and she knows we aren’t together, but I haven’t told Kayla about all the stuff I have for the baby.

  Kayla gives her another small smile. “Thank you. I’m sure everything is lovely.”

  My mom gives me a questioning look but doesn’t say anything in return. Instead she says, “We are just about to eat. Please say you’ll join us. I would love to get to know you better.”

  Leave it to my mom to ask without actually asking. Kayla obviously can’t say no to my mom because she nods and we head back to the table.

  My mom introduces Kayla to my dad and then we all order.

  “So, Kayla. Have you thought of any names yet?” my mom asks, attempting to keep the conversation light.

  “Not really. I’m hoping it will come to me once I see her.”

  “I’m sure it will. I wasn’t sure what we were going to name Bentley until I saw him. Will your parents be there for the delivery?”

  “No, I don’t think so. They’re really busy at work. I’m living with them and they’ve offered to hire a nanny to help me in the beginning. I found a job near me, but I won’t be starting until six weeks after the baby is born. There was no point in starting now and then have to take off once I have her.”

  “I know we just met, but would it be okay if I was there? I would be honored to be a part of the delivery, and maybe we could stay for a couple weeks?”

  “You would fly all the way to Florida just to see the delivery?” Kayla asks with a mixture of shock and awe in her voice.

  “Of course we would! I know Bentley will be there and I don’t want to intrude, but this is our first grandbaby. I want to see her as much as possible.” And this is why I love my mom. She doesn’t judge. She just opens her arms for anybody.

  “What the hell? I should have guessed this is how it would end.” We all turn our heads to see Sophia standing there with her friends. Her hands are on her hips and she looks like she just smelled something rotten. Now that I’m thinking about it, maybe that’s just her permanent facial expression. Knowing this is one of Sophia’s favorite places to eat, it doesn’t surprise me that she’s here.

  I can see Kayla clam up, not wanting any issues in front of my parents.

  “Hello there, Sophia,” my mom says. “I’m sorry but we’re having dinner. If you need to speak to Bentley, can you please do it another time? I’m getting to know Kayla and the stress isn’t good for the baby.” Go Mom!

  Sophia glares at my mom and then around the table, and luckily, deciding this isn’t a battle she’s going to win, walks away.

  “Now where were we?” She gives Kayla a wink and continues talking about the baby. Kayla visibly relaxes and actually starts to speak comfortably with everyone.

  After dinner my parents not so subtly retreat back to their room, leaving Kayla and me alone at the table.

  “Your parents are really nice, and I swear the entire meal they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. It was so adorable.” Kayla laughs and I join in. I know I should be embarrassed at my parents’ public displays of affection, but I’m not.

  “Yeah, I wasn’t kidding when I said they still act like teenagers.”

  There is a short pause and I decide to just say what is on my mind. “I want us to be together.”

  She gasps and then quickly collects herself. “Bentley, you just got out of a relationship a few months ago, and we’re getting along great as friends. Why mess with something that is working?”

  “Just because it’s working doesn’t mean it’s for the best. Sure, a Kia will get you from point A to point B but have you ever driven in a Ferrari?”

  “Yeah, well I don’t think either of us can afford the Ferrari. At least the Kia won’t break my bank account.”

  I move my seat toward her and put my hand on her thigh. She shivers, and I can feel her skin goose bump. I love that I can do that to her. I know she feels what I feel, but she’s just so damn stubborn.

  “Is there more than what you’re telling me?”

  She looks a bit taken back at my question, but after a few seconds she answers softly. “Look, Bentley. My mom warned me all those years ago I would get hurt if I lived my life through my heart, and she was right. I had to listen to her tell me how right she was and what an embarrassment I was to the family. I told myself I would never put myself in that position again. Now I’m pregnant and living with my mom listening to her once again tell me how right she was. I can’t handle it. You just don’t get it.”

  So it’s not just about getting hurt. It’s also seeking the approval of her mom. A mom that wouldn’t know what love was if it smacked her in the head. I know how it feels to want the approval of your parents. The problem is her mom is only hurting her with her negative notions about love.

  “Please. Just have a little faith in us. I can afford the Ferrari and it won’t break your bank account. I promise. I know you were hurt, but isn’t what we could have together worth the risk? Your mom is wrong about love and you don’t need her approval. We can have what my parents have. We can be happy.”

  She bites her bottom lip so hard it begins to turn white, so I take my thumb and pull it out from her teeth.

  “Can I think about it?”

  “That’s what you said all those years ago on the beach before you ran for your life.”

  She throws her head back and laughs. “That’s true. I did say that and then ran. But I’m not running this time. I promise.”

  “Okay, will you go to the wedding with me? I know you’ll be there with Liz as her maid-of-honor, but will you be my date as well?”

  “Okay.”

  After we finish eating dessert I walk her up to her hotel room. When we get to the door I can tell she’s torn as to whether or not to invite me inside. She has her eyes nervously darting everywhere besides at me. After a few seconds, she mumbles something that I can’t hear.

  “What?” I ask, refusing to give her an out.

  This time she speaks loud enough for me to hear but still at a whisper. “Um, do you want to come in and watch a movie or something?”

  “Sure, sounds good.”

  We head into the living room area and have a seat while she excuses herself to go change into something more comfortable. When she comes back she’s in a cute matching two-piece pajama set. The tank top rides up and shows a small piece of her belly.

  She looks d
own at herself shyly. “I swear it fit better the other day. It feels like I’m getting bigger by the minute.”

  “Pregnancy suits you.”

  “Oh, she’s kicking!” She comes over and sits right up against me then takes my hand and places it on her belly. I immediately feel the baby kick, and my heart constricts in my chest.

  “Isn’t that so cool? There’s a baby in here.”

  I laugh at her comment. “I would hope so! Otherwise you would have some serious explaining to do as to why your stomach is growing outward like that.”

  “Shut up! You know what I mean. When Liz was pregnant we would sit for hours and feel Bella kicking. It’s just so crazy to have a baby kicking in my own belly.”

  “She’s a miracle. Our miracle.”

  Kayla looks at me with a soft smile. “Yeah, she is.”

  We spend a few more minutes with our hands on Kayla’s stomach feeling our little girl move around. When my fingers touch Kayla’s, a jolt of something hits my heart and when I look up I can see it affected her as well. I reluctantly move my hands off her stomach, but not before leaning down and giving my baby a kiss through her mother’s belly.

  “I love you, baby girl. I can’t wait to meet you.”

  Kayla gives me a small watery smile before looking away toward the television.

  We both get comfortable and I flip through the channels until I come across a movie she wants to watch. She yawns and snuggles closer to me and I know it won’t be long until she’s asleep.

  “Thank you, Bentley,” she says, sounding half asleep.

  “For what?”

  “For always being here.”

  “I’ll always be here, Kayla.”

  I give her a kiss on her forehead and she doesn’t even stir. She’s already fast asleep.

  Thirteen

  Kayla

  The wedding décor is absolutely beautiful. Liz and Cooper decided to have a small, intimate wedding with just their friends and family and everything is perfect. Because of her being pregnant, she didn’t want any type of bachelorette party and of course Cooper didn’t want a bachelor party either. The wedding is being held at their house in the backyard, but you wouldn’t even be able to tell it’s a backyard. The entire area has been transformed into what appears to be an upscale picnic. On the outside of the aisles are bright yellow daisies and pink dahlias. In the center of the reception tables are gorgeous planters with the same flowers, but instead of just water filling each vase, there are sliced lemons, strawberries, and kiwis inside each one to look like pitchers of lemonade.

  The linens are light pink and cover country style wooden picnic tables. Next to everyone’s plates are designer sunglasses for the sun. There are also little umbrellas sticking out of everybody’s cups. On the back of every wooden chair are cute handmade fans that have Cooper and Liz’s name on them with the date of the wedding. The reception area is covered with large white tents and on the back where the food will be is the three-tier light pink cake that’s filled with different colored summer flowers.

  Liz got this idea from their first family outing. Cooper took Bella and her to the park where they had a family picnic. While it is stifling hot here in Las Vegas, the tents all have fans blowing from the top corners so it doesn’t feel hot.

  Since Bentley and I fell asleep on the couch together last night watching a movie, we decided to go by his place so he could get ready and then head over to the wedding together. After checking out all the beautiful décor, I head back inside Liz’s house to find her. Instead I find Bella playing in her dress.

  “Hey, pretty girl, you ready?”

  “Yup!”

  “Where’s your mom?”

  “She’s in her room with Grandma and all the other ladies.”

  I give her a kiss on her forehead and head to Liz’s room. When I walk in I’m immediately choked up. She looks absolutely stunning in her wedding dress. I spent the day with her yesterday, but I wanted to wait to see her dress until today.

  She gives me a large smile and hugs me. Our bellies bump and we laugh together. Hayley, Ashley, and Liz’s mom laugh at us as well.

  I take her aside for a private moment.

  “You ready to become Mrs. Cooper?”

  “As I’ll ever be. Doesn’t it seem like so much has changed so quickly?”

  I start tearing up and nod. “Yeah, it does, but for the better. I’ll never forget all the nights we shared in that tiny apartment studying and playing with Bella. It felt like it was you and me against the world.”

  A tear runs down her cheek and she wipes it away. “It still is us against the world. The only difference is now we have more people on our side. You just have to let him in, Kay.”

  “I know. It’s just hard. Between not wanting to get hurt and not wanting to hear my mom tell me I told you so once again… But hey! This isn’t about me. Today is about you. You are about to be married with two kids!”

  We both laugh through our tears and give each other one more hug.

  “I love you, Liz. You are my best friend. I’m so happy for you.”

  “I love you, too. I’ll always be your best friend. Please just let Bentley in. Stop worrying about your mom and come home. I miss you.”

  I don’t respond because I don’t think I can come back here. I’ve never lied to Liz and I’m not about to start now.

  We fix our makeup and then head downstairs to meet the guys. Cooper is already outside at the alter waiting. Bella is the flower girl and running all over holding onto her basket with flowers. The music begins to play and Bella heads down the aisle dropping flowers on to the ground. Since I’m the maid-of-honor and Bentley is the best man, we head down the aisle next. I wrap my arm around Bentley’s and let him take the lead.

  “You look gorgeous.”

  I turn my head slightly and laugh softly. “Yeah, right. I look like a damn cow.”

  He chuckles but then says, “No, you don’t. You’re glowing. You were sexy before, but seeing you carrying my baby makes you even sexier.”

  I nearly choke at his honesty. Luckily we make it down the aisle quickly and have to separate so I don’t have time to respond. Hayley and Caleb walk down next, and then Ashley and Kaden.

  The music changes to the wedding march and Liz walks down the aisle with her father. She’s walking so fast people start to chuckle. She realizes what she’s doing and blushes. She’s so adorable.

  The priest begins the ceremony and both Liz and Cooper opt to say their own vows.

  “Liz, the moment I met you I knew you were the one. Unfortunately it took us quite a few years to get here, but here we are, six years later, and I don’t want to ever imagine my life without you or Bella, or the little guy in your belly waiting to come out…”

  I look over at Bentley and he’s staring at me with unshed tears in his eyes. I want to believe he’s emotional from the words that are being spoken, but the way he’s looking at me leads me to believe his emotions are for me. I get a lump in my throat as I listen to Cooper continue.

  “… And I promise to always laugh with you and to never go to bed angry. I promise to be patient when you say you’ll be ready in fifteen minutes and aren’t ready for an hour. I promise to fight for both of us when one of us isn’t strong enough to fight, and I promise to remind you every day why giving us a second chance was the best decision you ever made. But most of all, I promise to love you through the storms and the sunshine for the rest of my days. I’m the luckiest fucking guy in the world to get to grow old with you.”

  Everybody laughs and Cooper apologizes to the priest for his foul language.

  “Coop, first of all, I would just like it on record that I never agree to be ready in fifteen minutes.”

  Bella yells out in agreement. “That’s true, Daddy. Mommy keeps saying you’re crazy!”

  Everybody laughs and then Liz continues. “I promise to try to get ready quicker. Okay, probably not. I don’t want to lie in my vows. But I do promise to trust you and respe
ct you. I promise to support you and encourage you. I promise to give you at least one more baby…”

  “You said two!”

  Everybody laughs again and Bentley smiles at me and then glances down at my belly. Listening to their vows makes me think about my parents’ vows. What they must have promised each other, if they made any promises at all. Then my mind goes to Jake and how he didn’t want any promises. I was so willing to give him my heart and all he wanted was my body and to make a fool out of me. I look at Bentley and see the emotions in his eyes. Could I have what Liz and Cooper have together? Could I be with Bentley for more than just to raise a baby with? Could we love each other and make promises and keep them without destroying each other, or will we end up with divorce attorneys fighting over assets?

  The priest announces Liz and Cooper husband and wife and they kiss. Everybody cheers and claps, and Bella runs up to join her parents. They walk back down the aisle together as a family and we follow after them.

  The reception is lovely. Everybody eats and mingles and then the music starts as Liz and Cooper are called onto the makeshift dance floor to have their first dance. They dance closely to All My Life by K.C. and Jo Jo. Once their song ends another begins and other couples make their way to the dance floor to dance as well.

  Finally it is time to cut the cake. Pieces are passed out and I enjoy the sugary goodness while watching everybody continue to dance.

  Bentley comes over, and putting his hand out, says, “May I have this dance?”

  I smile and nod and then stand as he takes my hand in his. He walks us to the middle of the dance floor and takes my arms and places them around his neck and then puts his arms around me as much as he can with my protruding belly in the way. We sway to the music without saying a word. For these few minutes it feels like we are in a bubble, just the two of us, and I think about how easy it could be if I would just give in and let this amazing man love me the way he wants to. The song ends and Bentley leans down and whispers in my ear, “Thank you for the dance.”