Fighting For Your Touch (The Fighting Series Book 3)

by Nikki Ash

  I want to say no. I want to argue. I want to run the fuck away from this woman who is slowly making me feel shit I shouldn’t be feeling. Maybe six weeks in the same house with Hayley can be a good thing. I am starting to catch feelings for this woman, feelings I don’t know what to do with. I can’t find a single thing wrong with her so maybe living under the same roof with her will reveal her faults and flaws and then I can drop these feelings bullshit like a bad habit. My brain goes back to a time when I trusted Gloria reminding me where that got me…

  Fifteen years old…

  “Is it ok if I spend the night at David’s house?”

  “I think it would be best if you wait until I get home. I will be back the day after tomorrow. I don’t want to make Gloria stay at the house alone.”

  When my parents were married my dad never went out of town for business but since my mom passed away a lot has changed. My dad recently married Gloria, who is young enough to be his daughter. He goes out of town for business several times a month, and she never goes with him. Shortly after they met, they married and he bankrolled her new business, a strip club.

  Opening a strip club makes sense, since I am pretty sure that’s where he met her. He hasn’t actually said that but between the way she dresses, the friends she has over, and the conversations I have heard, I am pretty sure she was a stripper until she got ahold of my dad’s money.

  I have my bedroom door closed but can still hear Gloria and her friends downstairs drinking and listening to music. Recently, the more drunk she gets the more hands-on she gets, and the last woman I want touching me is my dad’s wife, even if she is closer in age to me than her husband.

  When he first started going away she would let my friends come over and we would all hang out. She was actually really cool. She would convince my dad to buy me the latest video games and electronics. She would let my friends and I drink some alcohol with her and her friends. We would order food in and watch movies together. It was like having a friend. While she didn’t feel like a stand-in mom, she did kind of feel like a sister in a way. After losing my sister and mom, it was nice hanging out with someone, especially with my dad gone all the time.

  Then one night everything changed. She and her friends were completely wasted and came on to me after my friends went home. They asked me if I was a virgin and when I said I was they offered to help me change that. I laughed it off to their drunkenness and went to my room but since then she has acted differently around me. When my dad isn’t looking she will rub her ass against me or touch me as she walks by. When we watch a movie she will get closer putting her feet into my lap. It’s just weird.

  When my dad said he was going out of town this morning she made a comment about not wanting my friends over this weekend when she usually encourages me to invite my friends over. I don’t understand why she even cares because while I have been in my room all night, I can hear her friends and her getting drunk once again. I was hoping to get out of here but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. Putting my ear buds in my ears, I press play on my playlist attempting to get some sleep.

  I feel the bed sink and turn over taking my ear buds out. The music has stopped and when I glance at the clock I see it’s two in the morning. I have been asleep for about three hours. A hand glides down my stomach inching its way toward my dick and before it lands on it I grab the hand bringing it to a stop.

  Squinting my eyes to adjust to the darkness I see Gloria lying in my bed.

  “What are you doing?” I am hoping I am misunderstanding her being in my bed trying to feel up on my junk.

  “I want you, Caleb.” I should have seen this coming…

  “You are married to my dad.”

  She scoots toward me and continues where she left off bringing her hand down to my dick and squeezes.

  I jump up off the bed and switch the light on.

  “Don’t do this shit. You got it made with my dad. If I tell him what you are doing he will throw you out on your ass.”

  She deviously smirks shaking her head. “You aren’t going to tell him… because if you do I will tell the Feds what I know and your dad will end up spending twenty years in prison.”

  I know exactly what she is talking about. I have heard her and my dad talking about a shitty choice he made that made him millions but was illegal, something to do with insider trading. If she rats him out I will either end up as an orphan or be stuck with her, and my dad will spend the majority of his life in prison. He’s been through enough between losing my sister and my mom. I can’t let her do this to him.

  “What do you want?”

  She smiles smugly knowing she has won.

  “You.”

  And once again another woman has been added to the list of women I can’t trust.

  “Caleb… are you ok?” I rub my hands over my face shaking off the memory of the day I learned how vindictive and untrustworthy a woman could be.

  “Yeah, I’m sorry. What were we talking about?”

  “I said my house is a single story. You and Marco can both stay with me. Don’t argue with me, please.”

  I hate that it feels like she is telling me what to do. I wouldn’t be surprised if once I am moved in, she finds a way to manipulate me... Unfortunately I’m not really sure what other choice I have at this point. It goes against everything in me to trust this woman but instead of saying no, I say ok and hope she shows her true colors sooner rather than later. Or maybe she will prove my theory wrong… and for some reason deep down I really hope she proves me wrong.

  Chapter Six

  Hayley

  It’s been two weeks since I brought Caleb home from the hospital. Well, not his home, my home. I have a four-bedroom house, so Caleb and Marco are each sleeping in one of the guest rooms while I am sleeping in my room. I enrolled Marco in school and hired a tutor to help him in case he needs to get caught up on anything. I also set it up for him to see a therapist on a weekly basis. He needs somebody to talk to after everything he has been through. I had to go through DCF to find an approved therapist and I really like the one they assigned. Marco seems to like her as well.

  Cooper pretty much insisted I take a few weeks off, paid of course, to be here for Caleb. According to him it’s still working since Caleb is a fighter at the gym and I am the doctor on staff. Caleb was in a lot of pain when we first arrived home. He spent the first week pretty much sleeping, eating, and reluctantly having me help him use the bathroom. He was on some strong meds but the last couple days he is starting to come around. He is sitting up more, watching ESPN, refusing the pain meds, and playing games from his bed with Marco and me like Scrabble, Monopoly, and Yahtzee. It has become part of our routine, playing a game together before Marco goes to bed.

  The door swings open and Marco comes barreling into the house with a big smile on his face. Is it weird that the feeling of this pseudo-family makes my heart melt?

  “Hey Sweetie. How was your day?”

  He pulls a piece of paper out of his new backpack I purchased for him for school. We went by his house to see what he could bring from his mom’s place before they cleaned it all out but there was nothing but a few photos that were worth taking. I took him shopping and bought him all new clothes that fit him.

  “I got an A on my math test,” he whisper-yells trying to stay quiet in case Caleb is asleep. I have told him repeatedly this is his home and he can talk at whatever level he wants.

  Tears prick my eyes at how happy he is. I didn’t know Marco well before all this happened but anybody who knew him at all saw the sadness that resided in his eyes. Looking at him right now, it’s like looking at a completely different kid. I pull him into a hug and tell him congratulations. It would be so easy for him to rebel. Nobody would blame him after everything he has been through. But instead he is focusing on the positive and shining bright.

  “That’s amazing, buddy.” We both look up and see Caleb leaning against the wall with one of his crutches under his arm smiling at Marc
o. He looks a lot better. Most of his bruising is now light yellow or completely gone, his leg is in a cast but with his ribs starting to heal he can use crutches when he needs to. Well, right now only one crutch, the one with his good shoulder.

  “Want to see it?” Marco asks.

  “Absolutely!” Marco brings the test to Caleb and Caleb makes a huge deal out of it telling him the problems look really complicated.

  “I think this calls for a celebration. What do you want for dinner tonight?” Caleb asks him.

  Marco looks unsure like it’s a trick question. While he is now smiling and dressed nicely on the outside, the inside of him holds too much insecurity from years of abuse from his mother. He eats every meal like it’s his last, never gives his opinion unless we beg, and asks constantly what he can do to help out of guilt. The therapist told me it’s going to take time for Marco to be comfortable with just being a kid. He has never been given the chance to behave like one before.

  “Umm… Can we… maybe… order in Chinese and… umm… maybe invite Kayla and Bentley over so I can see Chloe?”

  Caleb looks to me to confirm it’s ok with me. I nod agreeing. I am so proud of Marco for actually answering this time.

  “Sure, buddy. Why don’t you go do your homework and I will text Bentley now?”

  Marco says ok and heads to his room.

  “He’s come a long way,” Caleb says softly to me.

  “Yeah, he has. Karen from DCF has asked me if I am interested in adopting him.”

  Caleb’s face looks shocked. “What did you say?”

  “Well, I know you and Marco are close so I wanted to make sure it’s ok with you first. I don’t want to overstep.”

  “Of course you can adopt him. You will make a great mom to him. I can already tell. What about Chloe?”

  “Ok, good. I just wasn’t sure if maybe you wanted to… I agreed to foster him when you were in surgery. Oh, and Kayla said she is looking into adopting Chloe. I considered adopting them both but I know it would mean a lot to Bentley and Kayla since she can’t have any more kids.” When Kayla was giving birth to her daughter there were complications and the obstetrician had no choice but to perform a partial hysterectomy to save her life. Unfortunately that meant she wouldn’t be able to ever get pregnant again.

  “Marco needs a mom like you. I know he will be in good hands when I am healed and move out. I’m glad for Bentley and Kayla. They are awesome parents.”

  The thought of Caleb moving out makes my stomach sink. I know he’s only here because he’s hurt but these last two weeks have felt like my house is finally a home. Marco is coming around, finally laughing and watching television and the house is no longer quiet. The thought of Caleb leaving saddens me but at least I will still have Marco. With Caleb’s leg being stuck in a cast for at least six weeks I decide to enjoy his company while he’s here and not focus on him leaving.

  “Thanks,” I say forcing a smile.

  “I’ll go text Bentley and Kayla and invite them over for dinner.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Dinner with Kayla, Bentley, and the babies went well. Kayla and Bentley have decided to officially start the process to adopt Chloe but insisted on making sure it’s ok with Marco. He said ok but then asked what would happen to him.

  “How would you feel about me adopting you?” I asked him.

  “Really?” He asked excitedly. Then he turned to Caleb. “Would you be adopting me, too?”

  Caleb’s face sunk at his question. “Unfortunately the state frowns upon people who aren’t together adopting a child together, but with Hayley working at the gym we will still get to hang out a lot.”

  Marco scowled and if not for the sad situation causing these two to both be upset I would laugh at how adorable they both looked. Hanging out so often together has caused their facial expressions to mimic one another. They might not be related but they are very similar in their mannerisms.

  “Ok,” Marco whispered not comfortable enough yet to argue with something an adult said even though he clearly didn’t agree.

  After putting Marco to bed I come out to the living room to watch some television. Caleb is sitting on the couch with his casted leg straight out in front of him texting someone with a frown once again on his face.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask sitting next to him on the couch.

  He looks up and gives me a shrug. “My apartment is due to renew in two weeks. I am going to have the guys move my stuff to storage. Once I am out of this cast I’ll have to find a new place to live. I don’t need a three-bedroom apartment for just myself.”

  “You know I have a two-car garage and it’s basically empty. Just have them put it all in there so you don’t have to pay for storage.”

  “You sure?”

  “Completely.”

  “Ok, cool. Thanks.”

  Caleb sends a few more texts and then puts his phone away.

  “I guess I will just head to bed,” I say standing up unsure of what to do. Caleb is usually in his room at night, not out here. I want to give him his space.

  “Wait! Want to watch something out here with me?”

  “I was just going to watch The Bachelor but we can watch something else…”

  “No, The Bachelor is fine. I’m used to all those girly shows thanks to living with Kayla.”

  “Ok.” I sit back down grabbing the remote to put on the latest episode.

  Caleb

  I don’t know why I ask her to stay and watch TV with me. I don’t even know why I am sitting out here on the couch. I have been able to get up for days but I usually stay in my room to avoid her. Before I got hurt I had asked her if she wanted to grab dinner sometime as friends but quickly thought it might have been a mistake. Now, instead of grabbing dinner we are living together. I have been here for two weeks and haven’t found a single thing wrong with this woman. She has taken to parenting Marco with natural grace. She bought him new clothes, signed him up for tons of school shit, and is home every day when he gets home. She cooks every meal and every single one tastes amazing. I even look forward to our nightly routine of playing games together before Marco goes to bed. She has given me plenty of space and hasn’t once tried to hit on me. She even wants to adopt Marco. When she brought it up, clearly nervous I was considering the same thing, I didn’t have the heart to say I was considering it. I know he deserves a permanent place to live so I was looking into what needs to be done. I didn’t imagine she would also be considering it.

  I know she will let Marco and I hang out so I immediately decide to let it go. She will probably make a better parent than me anyway. She isn’t tainted with the past I have.

  We are watching some ridiculous show about a guy who has ten women all fighting over him. I look over at Hayley and see the hearts in her eyes over this shit.

  “Do you really think you can meet your spouse on a show like this?” I ask sounding as negative as my thoughts are.

  She gives it some thought for a few seconds; her cute nose scrunches up making me want to lean over and kiss it. “I’m not sure but based on my results on the dating site Ashley had me join, it probably can’t hurt. Those guys who message me are crazy! At least on this show they have to do a background check.”

  She cracks up laughing at herself and so many thoughts run through my head. First, I go back to my thought of wanting to kiss her nose. I decide to ignore that shit. Next, I think about the fact this beautiful woman seriously thinks she needs a dating site to meet a man. Is she crazy? Then again she wanted me and I turned her down. Nope, she’s not the crazy one… I am. My final thought is a feeling I only recently experienced, jealousy. Like when I saw Hayley dancing with Alex; my blood boils thinking of all these jackasses messaging her wanting a date. I’m not a hundred percent sure I can trust this woman but I am going to figure my shit out soon before some dumbass on a dating site scoops up the woman I am pretty sure I am slowly falling for.

  “You’re still on that dating site? Haven’t you eve
r heard of catfishing? You should stay off that shit. A beautiful woman on a dating site is just asking for trouble!”

  Her eyes go wide and I backtrack realizing I just went off and on top of that called her beautiful. Fuck it! Let the chips fall where they may…

  “Umm… Well technically I haven’t gone on a date yet using the site since I had to cancel my first one the night we went out to dinner with Marco. I didn’t like the way he acted about the whole situation of me having to cancel so I never messaged him again.”

  Good!!

  I just nod my head trying to be cool. We go back to watching the show and the guy is going on a one-on-one date with one of the women who won the date because they had the most in common according to some quiz.

  “Do you really believe these women tell the truth?”

  “Of course! They can’t lie on television. Everybody would know they are lying!” Wow, she is so gullible. I can’t help but chuckle at her seriousness.

  “How would anybody know they are lying? I have seen plenty of women lie and get away with it. I bet you could lie to me right now and I wouldn’t even know.”

  “Ok, you’re on!”

  “We are going to need some alcohol for this. Go grab a bottle and then we will play a game.”

  She jumps up from the couch and goes to the kitchen to grab some liquor while I watch her cute behind sway in her tight tank top and tiny little cotton shorts that reads Will squat for tacos across the back of her ass. She always wears them around the house at night and swears Taco Tuesday is a real holiday. And so far every Tuesday she has made tacos.

  “All I have is a bottle of Patron Silver. Is that ok?”

  “Sure.” I take the bottle and pour two shots into the glasses she brought over.

  “Ok, so what’s the game?”

  “It’s called two truths and one lie. You will tell me three facts. Two of them will be the truth and one of them will be a lie. If I figure out which one is the lie you have to take a shot, if I can’t figure it out I have to take the shot.”