by Brooke May
“Get your own turkey bacon, fuck face.” Beth slams into Scott’s side, pushing him away from her plate.
“You took it all!” He shoves her back, but my eyes are on my little girl as she hops off her seat and walks over to the coffee table to retrieve her white and pink gem encrusted ballerina pig piggy bank that she wanted the other day while we were out. I can’t deny her anything.
Like my lovely and sexy panda, Marissa does not care for cussing, swearing, or anything that is bad as she puts it. So I know the meaning behind the pig now. My daughter is one smart cookie. Holding her piggy close, Marissa marches up to Beth and Scott, and on her tiptoe, she slides the pig between them.
Instantly, they stop bickering and stare at the pig. Katie’s laughter beats mine out of the gates. She sets her fork down just as Marissa says, “Pay the pig.” I choke on a laugh at her stern face, glaring up at her aunt and uncle.
I lean to Katie. “They should just screw each other and get the frustration out of the way.” I know I said I wouldn’t allow it, but now I know Katie won’t be getting away again. Beth can handle her own when it comes to Scott.
Katie laughs again, causing a snort to come out this time. It’s true, though; I even notice the tension bouncing off the two of them, and I don’t notice shit like that unless it has to do with the delectable woman now leaning back into my chest.
Beth and Scott push and shove each other on their way to their rooms to get money for Marissa, who has a rate of a dollar per word. They come back and continue to fight about who will put their money in first. Marissa makes a grab for her pig but wisely decides to leave it in place before coming back to finish her breakfast.
“Tank you,” she beams at the two of them. They nod solemnly and go back to their meals, still elbowing one another.
“Knock it off; we are leaving soon.” I give them a pointed look. “And I’m not missing our flight because you two can’t keep your heads out of each other’s asses.”
Without saying a word, Scott keeps his eyes locked on mine while sliding the pig toward me. “Pay the pig,” he teases. I produce a dollar out of my shorts pocket and put it in. Always good to keep change around my daughter since it will all be hers someday anyway.
XOXO
AS LUCK WOULD have it, we are delayed. And for what? I have no clue. I can handle this for myself and the other adults with me, but Marissa has grown impatient halfway through our three-and-a-half-hour delay.
“Daddy, potty.” Her whine jerks my head up, and I instantly don’t find the women anywhere. Only Scott, who is lounging in his seat with earbuds in, ignoring the world around him while he scrolls through his phone.
“Where’s Mommy?” I set my stuff down and start to stand.
“I no know.” She shakes her head as she starts to do the infamous pee-pee dance.
God, never thought I would say that.
“Come on.” I pick her up and rush off to the bathrooms. I don’t bother to worry about our things because Scott will watch them. “Can you go by yourself?” I set her down in front of the doors leading to the two different restrooms. I really don’t feel like taking her into the men’s room and having to explain why the boy potties are so different.
“Yes!” She rushes into the women’s.
“Make sure you wash your hands!” I shout as the door closes behind her. She doesn’t answer me, and I’m half tempted to go in to make sure she doesn’t fall in, but I keep guard outside the door and lean against the wall next to it.
Having a little girl is uncharted territory. I could handle a boy a lot easier; teaching him to pee standing up, how to control his raging hormones when he got old enough, and all the other things only a boy can really do. But a girl, I’m going to do my best. Marissa will throw punches with the best of them and never put up with any boy’s shit.
The sound of a door opening draws my attention up, and boy, am I shocked to hell and back as Douglas Cunningham, Katie’s father, steps out of the men’s room, fixing his cuffs.
“Fuck,” I mumble to myself, but it is loud enough to gain his attention. He hasn’t changed in the least. Still the same fake, made-up asshole he ever was.
His ice blue eyes lock with my darker ones. I can’t believe Katie got her gentle, love-filled eye color from this cold asshole. A cool, calculated smile forms on his face, urging me to introduce my fist to it.
“Chamberlain.” He walks to me and reaches out to shake my hand like we are old pals. “How are you, my boy?”
The fuck?
Is this ass for real?
I place a death grip on him, causing him to wince, and then he takes it a step further by having the fucking nerve to place a hand on my shoulder. “Fine.” I grind my teeth, not bothering to coat my voice with anything but disdain for this man and his so-called family. I fucking hate them, and I hate it, even more, knowing that he is at the same airport as my girls.
As if knowing I was thinking of her, Marissa skips out of the ladies’ room. “All cwean, Daddy!” She waves her drenched hands up with pride.
Douglas releases me and takes a step back. Marissa turns to him with a scowl, the same scowl I’ve come to realize I gave her. Katie doesn’t know how to. I heard once that kids have a sixth sense when it comes to reading people, like dogs—not that I’m comparing my daughter to a dog.
“Who you?” That seals it; anything my little princess ever wants, it’s hers! There will be no argument from me. I’m so proud of how she continues to level a glare on the man who is her grandfather.
“I’m—” Douglas goes to kneel in front of her, but I cut him off.
No fucking way, no how is this asshole having anything to do with my daughter. He will not speak to her, look at her, or fucking touch her. His venom is not going to taint her.
“He’s no one, princess.” I scoop her back up into the protective shield that is my arms and start to carry her away, leaving Douglas behind. “Let’s go find Mommy and see if we can get on the plane.”
“Otay.” She lays her head on my shoulder, but she isn’t facing forward, she’s looking over my back as we retreat.
“Fudge,” I mutter to myself, proud that I didn’t swear.
As fast as my legs can carry us, I get us back to our stuff and find the women are back. “Hey, they just called for our flight, ready?” Katie frowns while picking up her and Marissa’s bags.
“Peachy,” I grit, stopping briefly to grab my bag, and start again. “Who’s ready for Vegas?” I shout, earning a ring of cheers behind me. I don’t look back. I don’t give a shit if Douglas is watching us. I’m one hundred percent certain he isn’t on our flight. He flies privately, not commercially.
XOXO
TRIPS TO VEGAS always go by fast, especially if you are the reigning champ like I am. When we touched down yesterday, we rushed to our hotel, and then Katie and I were off to talk to a couple of sponsors. Today, I’ve spent most of the day in the gym, only taking breaks to eat lunch and give a quick interview with a men’s magazine.
Katie has been getting ready for tonight’s banquet for the contenders for the championships in each weight class and for our wedding tomorrow night.
I can’t believe I’m finally getting to marry her …
“You’re focused.” Scott jumps into the ring behind me while strapping on his own gloves. I have so much on my mind, but I’m still ready for this.
“Fuck, yeah.” I jab into the air in front of me again. “I’m marrying the love of my life tomorrow.” My fist flies again and stays extended while Scott walks to me, leaning to the side so he doesn’t walk into my fist.
He laughs. “And here I thought it was the championship you were excited about.” Slamming his fists together, he brings them up and is ready to spar.
“Since I only plan to marry once and to the woman of my dreams, that trumps the championship.” I dodge his punch effortlessly. “Priorities, Scott. It’s all about priorities.”
“Whatever you say, man.” Minus the sounds of our b
reathing and gloved fists hitting skin, we fall into silence for the next forty minutes until all hell breaks loose.
Scott and I are sitting, hydrating and unwrapping our knuckles when the doors fly open and our eyes fly up as a very pissed-off Katie, followed by an equally angry Beth, come into the room like a hailstorm.
“What the hell is this, Chamberlain!”
I’m utterly confused. Everything was fine a few hours ago when I came down here. “Clue me in?” I cringe as I wait for her to blow over.
“This!” She thrusts yet another magazine at me.
Ah, fuck.
Carefully, I slowly take the magazine from her, keeping my eyes fixed on hers. I ease them down to the cover of the magazine to find a perfect side shot of Douglas and myself, when he had his hand on my shoulder and forcing a smile at me.
Fucking fuck, fuck fuckity.
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I shake my head. “Dammit!”
“What the hell, Chamberlain? Are you all buddy-buddy with my father now?” Katie shoves my shoulder. I grit my teeth, trying to control my temper. I know she is only lashing out. She isn’t thinking right and letting her fears take hold of her. “When were you going to tell me?”
“K.C., I think you need to step back and calm down.” Scott stands slowly, trying not to spook her with his hands raised.
And he’s down. I’m alone in this battle.
“Calm down?” She growls. “I shouldn’t have to fucking calm down!” Now I’m shocked more than pissed. Katie cussing is new. She looks back at me just as I stand and try to grab her. “What is going on, Chamberlain? Do you have some sort of sick deal with him?” She steps away from me, cutting me down with the tears falling. Shaking her head after I don’t answer her, she storms out of the gym. “Asshole!”
The door slams. “What the fuck just happened?” Scott asks in disbelief.
“No clue.” I stare at the now closed doors before to the magazine. “Fucking Douglas,” I shake my head and open it to find the article because there is always an article.
Yesterday, Senator Douglas Cunningham of Massachusetts reunited with his daughter, Katherine’s, fiancé, Chamberlain Lawrence, and finally met his granddaughter. Sources say that Senator Cunningham hasn’t had contact with his estranged daughter in four years. When asked, Senator Cunningham said that he very much wants to restore a connection with his daughter and her family. But when asked about what happened to the family bond he shares with his family, he simply said she took off without saying a word to any of them. The Cunningham family was devastated over this, and the senator said he and his wife would do anything to be a family again with Katherine, Marissa, and Chamberlain. This leaves more questions unanswered. Did the fighter Lawrence do something to cause a tear in such a solidified family? If so, why is he reaching out to Senator Cunningham now?
The magazine is shredded within seconds of reading the last word. “Fucking, damn, douche of an ass licker!” I roar as I slam the magazine down and start stomping on it like it will do any good.
Heaving, I look over at Scott. “Feel better? I may have a lighter.” He covers his mouth, trying to not laugh because he knows I would beat the shit out of him and it would have nothing to do with training. Snarling, I storm out of the gym and head up to our villa to find Katie.
I crash into the room, startling Marissa, Fiona, and Beth. The women point in the direction of my room while Marissa ignores me and goes back to coloring. Calming down, so Marissa doesn’t see my anger and I don’t scare Katie, I walk a little less briskly to our room. I open the door and step in with ease. Katie is on the bed with her face buried in the pillows as she cries.
“Katie …” I walk over to the bed and sit down next to her, tenderly putting my hand on her back. “Hey, come here.”
“No.” She tries to bat me away, but I lift her anyway.
“Stop it,” I scold her, pulling her onto my lap. “I didn’t even know he was at the airport.” She sniffles. “I took Marissa to the bathroom, and he came out of the men’s room. I barely said anything to him and got Marissa away from him as fast as I could, panda.” I hook my finger under her chin and raise her face to mine. “You are going to have to get used to what the media says and know that basically none of it is true.” I kiss her nose and wipe under her eyes. She looks tired, worn out.
“Wh-why didn’t you tell me … you saw him?” She hiccups.
“I want to protect you and Marissa from them, from any harm.” I’m surprised by my tender tone. I never thought I had it in me. “I didn’t want to worry you, but I’m sorry for not saying something.”
“You still sh-should ha-have t-told me.”
“Shh.” Rocking her back and forth, I do my best to stop the tears. “I’m not going to let him get to you or Marissa. And we are going to ignore the media and what the Cunningham family is saying about us. None of that matters, Katie. Just us.” I kiss her wet cheek. “Tomorrow, you won’t be one of them anymore. You’ll be mine. A part of me, my wife, my love, and my partner.”
She nods and cuddles into my chest. “I’m sorry, too.” She yawns.
“You don’t need to be sorry, Katie—”
“I’m hormonal and tired. I’m not used to the go-go all the time, and it’s drained me.”
I rest my chin on the top of her head. “We are almost done for the season, and then we’ll go home and relax. For now, why don’t you take a nice long nap before you have to get ready for tonight?”
“Okay.” Katie crawls off my lap and curls up on my side of the bed, kicking her flats off while grabbing my pillow.
“I’m going to be just outside if you need me. Get some sleep.” She hums in agreement, and I leave her to take a much-needed nap.
“Mommy otay, Daddy?” Marissa rushes to me and tries to get into the room.
“She’s fine, but she needs a good nap. Let’s let her sleep.” I hoist her into my arms and carry her over to the couch.
“Let’s go down to the pool for a while, Marissa.” Beth holds out her hand for Marissa to join her.
Fiona is in our adjoining kitchen, humming about while making everyone else’s dinner for tonight. Scott, who must have followed me up, falls onto the other end of the couch from me. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah.” I brace my elbows on my knees. “Just tired.” I need to figure out a way to keep Douglas, her mother, and her sister from getting to her and Marissa.
“Don’t beat yourself up over this, C.” Scott tilts his beer back. “Focus on getting ready for your wedding tomorrow. I have the Little White Chapel all set up.”
I laugh, but it’s nervous. “We aren’t going to get married there. Thanks, though.” I stand, energy halfway restored with the thoughts of giving Katie a great wedding, a memorable one, one that she will cherish.
“Where are you going?” He scrambles to stand, but I push him back down while searching my phone for the number I want.
“I need to get my tux.”
“Hello, Chapel of the Flowers, this is Stella. How may I help you?”
“Hello, I was wondering if you had any openings tomorrow afternoon?”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chamberlain
I MANAGE TO find both of my tuxedoes for the next two nights with no problem. I’m ready to take on the night of interviews and being around other fighters. But what I am really looking forward to is that tomorrow at two in the afternoon, I will be getting married to the most beautiful woman in the entire world, my Katie.
She’s brought so much light into my world and amplified it with Marissa. My parents would have absolutely loved her. I knew from the moment I saw her that she was special, different, and perfectly mine. As happy as she makes me, I still think back to the last conversation I had with my mom. She was in her hospital bed; the sounds of the various machines beeping along with the smell of purified air greeted me as I came into her room…
“Hi, Mom.” I slide into my usual chair next to her bed and gingerly lift her fragile,
cold hand to my lips. “How are you doing this morning?”
I miss her at home more and more. I don’t get to hear her singing in the kitchen when I come home from school, and I’m on my own when it comes to cooking, which I suck at.
It pains me to have to leave, but she won’t give me a choice. She wants me to live my life, to keep going even when she is gone. That could happen any day, and I’m not ready to let her go. Each time a message comes to one of my classes or my phone vibrates in my pocket, I think that this could be it, and I wouldn’t be with her in the end.
“It was well, angel.” Her hand shakes as she raises it to cup my cheek. She’s always called me angel. It used to bother me, but that all stopped after her diagnosis. She can call me whatever she wants as long as it puts a smile on her face. “So much like your dad.” She runs her hand down my stubble-covered cheek and rests it back on the bed at her side. “You look so much like him. I love it.” Her smile is watery and heartachingly sad.
“I missed you last night.” I lean back in my chair, but not so far from her that she can’t grab me if she wants.
“Were you with Gwen last night? I called, but Susanna said you were out.” Since she came to stay in the hospital, I’ve been staying with Scott and his parents, so I get to school on time and have some sort of stability. It isn’t home, and I want to be at home with my mom.
“Yeah.” I feel guilty being with my friend and needing a break. I’ve known Gwen most of my life, and I thought we would work as a couple, but it just wasn’t where my heart was. “I broke up with her last night.”
Mom nods and closes her eyes as if it hurts to do so. She takes a few deep breaths and opens them again, allowing me to see a glimpse of the woman she once was still in there. “She isn’t the one for you.” She tries to raise her hand, but it barely comes an inch off the bed. “One day, you’ll find a girl who will leave you breathless, make you feel every emotion under the sun, and knock you out.” She smiles fondly. “Your love will be real, true, and perfectly the two of you. Just like what I had with your dad.”