The Fighting Series Boxset

by Ash, Nikki

  I cut him off, knowing exactly where he is going, refusing to let him go there.

  “Oh no, you don’t. Don’t start. Missing a holiday doesn’t make you a crappy dad or boyfriend and it doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to have us in your life. So just get those thoughts out of your head. You hear me?”

  “Yeah, baby,” he says, the sad undertone still residing in his voice. I am going to need to come up with a way to make this right. I can’t have him beating himself up every time he has to go away for work.

  I hear a knock on the front door as Bella starts yelling my parents are here.

  Letting her open the door, she squeals in glee as my mom and dad both take her in their arms for a hug and then move on to me. My brother lifts Bella up into his arms and gives her a huge hug as he carries her into the living room.

  “Mom, dad, Mathew, this is my boyfriend, Cooper. Cooper, this is my mom Macy, my dad Randy, and my brother Mathew.”

  Cooper shakes everyone’s hands and says it’s nice to meet them. Bella watches the entire exchange and then has to join in the conversation.

  “Umm, you forgot to tell them the best news ever. Cooper is also my daddy! And the bestest daddy ever.”

  Everybody laughs. My family might live long distance but we talk almost every day and they know all about Cooper. Bella runs right into Cooper and latches on to his legs, giving him the cutest leg hug.

  My mom looks at me, her eyes are glossy like she is about to cry from the sweet exchange. I understand completely. We agree on Chinese food to keep it easy and Bella drags everyone upstairs to show off her room. She spends the entire time explaining every toy and movie her dad has bought her until the food arrives.

  I nudge Cooper and nod towards our daughter. “See, one Holiday isn’t going to change how she feels about you. She loves you.”

  The weekend passes by way too fast. On Saturday Kayla, Hayley, my mom, and I, all spend a wonderfully relaxing day at the spa. I invite Ashley to go as well but she is heading out with Tristan to visit her parents. When we get there, it is clear Kayla has booked us for everything! An hour massage, facial, mud wrap, and of course manis and pedis. I didn’t realize how much I really needed this kind of pampering. Saturday night we all go out to dinner at a yummy Italian place, and Sunday everybody comes over for a backyard barbeque. I’ve noticed that while Bentley joins us for dinner and the barbeque, him and Kayla are completely avoiding each other. I really need to ask her how her living arrangements are working out.

  Now it’s Monday and Cooper is dropping Bella off at school on his way to the gym so I can see my parents and brother off on their flight back home.

  I pull my parents into a loving embrace, sad their trip is already over. I love where I live but I also wish I could be close to my family. “Oh, Mom, Dad. I am so glad you guys came. I miss you so much.”

  “Sweetheart, I am going to miss you, too. But I am so happy for the love, Bella and you have found. Cooper is a great man and father, and I feel so much better leaving, knowing he is here taking care of my girls,” My dad says through glossy eyes.

  Next I give Mathew a hug goodbye. “Don’t be a stranger.”

  “You never know. Maybe after I finish my two years, I will decide to transfer to ULV,” he says with a wink.

  “Don’t even tease me!” I shout and people walking by stare at me. We get to the security entrance and since I don’t have a ticket I can’t go any further. We exchange a few more hugs and they are gone.

  Eighteen

  Liz

  After seeing my family off, I head straight to the gym to get caught up on some bookkeeping. Cooper is already there, training with Kaden, and when he catches my eye, he gives me a wink. God, I love that man.

  I am not even sitting down into my chair when Kayla comes bounding into my office, her face red and hands in the air.

  “Aghhh!!! I swear that man is trying to drive me insane!”

  I have a feeling I am about to hear all about Bentley. “Who?”

  “Oh, give me a break, Liz. You know whom I am talking about... Bentley!”

  And it’s as if she beckoned him over, the man of the hour comes walking into my office. So much for getting any work done.

  “Hey, Liz.” Bentley addresses me when he walks in and it doesn’t go unnoticed he just completely ignored Kayla. I look over at her and she is shooting daggers at the poor man.

  “Hey Bentley, what can I do for you?”

  Kayla huffs and when nobody acknowledges her, she does it again louder.

  “I just wanted to see if there’s anything else I need to do before the fight next week.” I do everything in my power to contain my laughter. It’s blatantly obvious he is going out of his way to ignore Kayla yet he looks so uneasy doing it. I just want to hide him under my desk to get him out of her line of attack.

  Now Kayla is boiling. I can almost see her visibly shaking and before I can answer him she boils over. “Excuse me, mister. I know you think the world revolves around you but Liz and I were talking first. So, you are going to need to get in line. As a matter of fact, you can go wait outside.” She is practically shouting by the time she makes it to the end of her sentence and then she is up, out of her seat and pushing him out the door.

  Bentley looked terrified. Seriously? This is a grown ass man and a fighter. What the hell is he afraid of Kayla for? She weighs like one-twenty dripping wet.

  Before the door shuts I yell, “It’s all covered Bentley. I handled everything.”

  And he may have responded but the door slams shut, blocking out all outside noise. Kayla sits back down and takes a few deep breaths trying to calm herself down.

  “So, care to explain why you just lost it on your roommate?”

  “Liz, he is so maddening. I seriously need to find a new place to live. The problem is I actually like living there. Caleb is awesome. He’s barely home and when he is, he’s totally chill. Bentley on the other hand is driving me up a damn wall.”

  “Driving you up a wall because you like him?”

  Kayla sputters out a, “No!” But her face goes a shade of pink, telling me she is full of crap.

  “Anyway,” she continues. I am here, not to talk about Bentley, but to tell you we were supposed to go get our shot almost two weeks ago! You always make the appointment. Can you make it for us, please?”

  “Yeah, I will call tomorrow. I completely forgot. Ever since the fire, it’s been crazy.”

  “Yes, it’s definitely been crazy lately. I better get back to work. Don’t want the boss to fire me,” she says with laughter in her voice as she gets up and walks to the door.

  “You know, eventually you will talk to me about Bentley.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” She waves me off before leaving my office.

  Two o’clock rolls around and I head out to get Bella. Cooper texts me he will be working late at the gym and to please save him dinner. I smile at that. Before I moved in with Cooper I didn’t do a whole lot of cooking and it definitely wasn’t healthy. Because Cooper is a fighter, he is a health freak and has to eat a certain way. He has been teaching me about eating healthy and we have been cooking together. With him at the gym so often, I have started to find recipes and surprise him with dinner when he gets home. He seems to really love my cooking and it makes me want to cook for him more often.

  Eight o’clock comes around and I am tucking Bella in bed after I finish up reading her The Giving Tree. She’s eaten, completed her daily reading, watched some television, and is freshly bathed, in her pajamas.

  “Mommy, can I please stay up and wait for daddy? Please!” She begs like she does most nights when Cooper isn’t here to tuck her in. We are lucky he has a flexible schedule so if needed, he can be home any time. With the fight coming up and him the owner of the gym, he’s been staying late to help with Bentley’s training and such. Bella and I both miss him but I try to bring her by the gym as much as possible to see him if I know he will be working later.

  However, today Bel
la had a playdate so we weren’t able to stop by. I want to let her stay up, knowing it’s important to her to say goodnight to him but Cooper can be there extremely late and she needs to get her rest. Plus, if I say yes once, she will continue to ask, so I never let her wait up. The problem is my consistency doesn’t deter her from continuing to ask every single time Cooper isn’t home on time. I make it a point not to tell Cooper since he has this crazy notion he must spend every waking moment making up for lost time or he will receive the award for worst father of the year. If he knew Bella begs for him on the nights he’s not here he would feel even worse.

  “No, Angel. We are not going to discuss this, again. When daddy isn’t home you go to bed on time. You will see him in the morning.”

  And cue my four-year old’s tantrum. Tears pour down her face instantly—I swear they are crocodile tears because really? How does one produce real tears that quickly? —But she still looks absolutely heartbroken and pitiful, and as a mother that’s hard to deal with, especially when it’s because of how much she adores her father and not over something materialistic.

  “Mommy, it’s not fair! I-I miss him when he’s not home and he misses me. I have to go to school all day. I want to drop out of school and be a fighter like daddy.” And now I am about to cry right along with her…

  * * *

  Cooper

  I try so hard to get home by eight on the nights I don’t see Bella at the gym, never wanting to go a day without spending time with my little princess. Our time together is so precious and I never want to take it for granted.

  Tonight, Bentley and I were working on some grappling techniques for his upcoming fight and completely lost track of time. When I realized how late it was, I ran out the door without even showering and rushed home determined to kiss my sweet little girl goodnight.

  Growing up, my dad barely ever made it home, nor did he care to. My mom was the only one who tucked me in at night and the unhappier she became, and the more she went out, the more often a babysitter tucked me in. I don’t ever want to become my dad and I never want to drive Liz to become my mom.

  There are moments in life when one small thing happens that shouldn’t be a big deal but it is, and it changes everything. It changes the way you see yourself, it changes the way you see those around you, and it changes the way you view the situation. I would define this moment as just that, a life-changing moment.

  I run up the stairs to Bella’s room hoping to catch her still awake and can hear my princess sobbing. I go to enter the room when I hear her hiccup out, “Mommy, it’s not fair! I-I miss him when he’s not home and he misses me. I have to go to school all day. I want to drop out of school and be a fighter like daddy.”

  Remember when I said my heart shattered the day she was in the hospital for smoke inhalation? I take that back. It must have been a mere fracture. What’s the difference? A fracture isn’t broken. It hurts like a bitch but it’s still intact. A shatter on the other hand is a full-on break. Pieces are everywhere and there’s no way they are ever being put back together again. I grab ahold of my chest and try to stop the pain from radiating inside of me. If I never hear my daughter sobbing and crying out like that again, it will be too soon.

  And what’s worse is that I am the cause. I listen for a second to hear Liz’s reply. “Bella Faith, you need to calm down. I cannot continue to do this with you several times a week. I understand you miss daddy and I miss him too but you are not dropping out of preschool. If you want to work with daddy one day then you will go to school and graduate and get a job when you are older. Your job right now is to go to school. Becoming a fighter like your dad is a great goal but you still have to go to school.”

  Liz sounds completely exhausted and aggravated. Judging by her response, this isn’t the first or even third time Bella has thrown a fit about missing me at night. If Bella is upset then there’s a good chance so is Liz. She gave me this second chance and I can’t screw it up. If she isn’t happy, she will leave which means Bella and Liz won’t be living under my roof anymore. I can’t imagine having to live without these two girls. They have turned this house into a home with just their presence alone.

  I have heard guys complain about the messes their kids leave all over the house, or that their wife or girlfriend bought new furniture that’s too girly. I don’t know why they are complaining. Seeing the pictures Liz has put up, or the new pillows she bought to add color to the living room, or when I walk in and almost trip on Bella’s cute princess shoes, it all makes my day. It is evidence that I am living with the two most precious girls, and the day I don’t see any of that is the day my life will no longer have meaning.

  I can hear Bella sobbing still but she doesn’t respond which means she must be giving up. When she knows she is going to lose the battle, she shuts down. I absolutely love how bright her passion burns and I hope it never burns out.

  I knock softly on the door to let them know of my arrival then walk in. Bella tries to quickly wipe her tears and Liz freezes in place probably wondering how much I heard.

  I pretend like I didn’t hear anything and ignore Bella’s tears. “Hey princess. I was hoping you weren’t asleep. Has mommy read you a book yet?” I can see it in her eyes that her mom already read her a book and she doesn’t want to lie but she wants this time with me, shit, she needs this time with me, and I need it with her.

  “I read her The Giving Tree,” Liz replies softly, trying to gage my reaction to Bella’s tears but I make sure not to give anything away.

  “Nice. Is it too late to pick one more book to read to Bella before she goes to bed?” I direct the question to Liz to make sure it’s ok. I know it’s after Bella’s bedtime so I don’t want to step on her toes but I really don’t want her to tell me no. Bella waits for Liz’s answer and when she says ok, Bella jumps out of bed to grab a book.

  I mouth thank you to Liz and she gives me a small smile before walking out to give Bella and me some alone time.

  “How’s it going, princess?” My daughter is a smart girl so she knows exactly what I’m asking but she just lifts her shoulders up like she’s not sure what I am asking about.

  “Are you giving your mom a hard time?”

  The tears well back up in her eyes and she leans over to hug me tightly, sniffling back the cries that are breaking out. “I just wanted to see you before I went to bed but she said I had to go to sleep. I just miss you so much sometimes. I’m sorry. It’s just not fair. Bedtimes are dumb.”

  “I know it’s not fair, princess. Sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do because it’s what’s best for us. Your mommy loves you so much and she has you go to bed at eight o’clock because you need your sleep. You want to be a fighter, right?” She nods her head.

  “Well, if you want to be a fighter, you have to get lots of sleep so you can grow. Did you know we grow in our sleep? So, you need your sleep.”

  I know she gets it but she wouldn’t be my Bella if she didn’t still state her case. That’s where her passion comes in. When she believes in something, she fights for it. I can’t even imagine what she will be like when she hits her teenage years.

  “Ok daddy, but I still miss you and want to say goodnight to you.”

  It hits me then that we have technology, and as annoying as it can be, it can also be very convenient. “How about we compromise? Any time I’m not home by bedtime, you can use your mom’s phone to Face Time me on my phone so we can see each other and say goodnight?”

  Her entire face lights up and she sits up straighter like I just gave her free reign at a toy store. “Ok, deal! Just make sure you answer.”

  I give her a kiss on her forehead and say with absolute conviction, “I will always answer your phone calls. No matter where I am or what I am doing; I will also make sure I am here for you, I promise. Now, let’s read you that book.”

  When I finish reading the book, Bella is passed out holding onto my arm like she needs it to breathe. It doesn’t matter what I have going
on, I need to make sure the only time I am not here to tuck her into bed is if I am away. Fuck, I can’t believe in a couple weeks I have to leave. It will be the first time I have been away from Bella and Liz since they moved in here. Sometimes it feels like I need them to breathe.

  I walk downstairs to the living room to find Liz curled up on the couch reading, and I almost feel bad taking her away from her book but I need some quality time with my woman. She sees me coming towards her and puts the iPad away.

  “Hey baby, I thought you were going to be gone longer. Is everything ok?”

  I sit down next to Liz’s feet, dragging her body to me until she is sitting on my lap. Then I wrap my arms around her body and drink in her scent. This right here is home yet looking at this woman I feel like I barely know her. Yes, I know the person she was when we met five years ago and the person she is today. She was and still is fun, and sexy, and so damn smart. She is an amazing mother and friend, and she has the biggest, kindest heart. I mean, what woman goes to the man’s funeral that almost killed her daughter?

  She cooks dinner for us every night even though I know it isn’t her cup of tea, and she works hard at the gym even though she knows how much money I have. Liz could easily stay home all day and let me take care of her but she wants to earn her own way and be equal. What I don’t know is the person I missed out on for the last five years, the woman who was forced to grow up at eighteen because she was pregnant so young but still determined to make it through college. I want to know all about that woman.

  “Tell me about the last five years.”

  She seems a bit confused at my request. “What do you want to know?”

  “I want to know everything. I want to know all about your pregnancy and Bella, every age, every milestone, and every detail. I hate that I missed out on so much, and I feel like no matter how much I try to catch up, I am too damn far behind.”