by Ash, Nikki
“When can I go home?”
He chuckles softly. “You should be able to get out of here tomorrow sometime. I just want you to stay the night to make sure you continue to remain stable.”
“Ok, thank you.”
“Congratulations on your little girl.”
And with that, he shakes Bentley’s hand and walks out the door.
Faith begins to fuss and Bentley reaches over to take her from me. He grabs a bottle and shakes it up, and begins to expertly feed her.
“I know you wanted to breastfeed but I had to feed her. The doctor said if you would like to start, you can try whenever you are ready.”
He seems so hesitant like he is afraid I am going to lose it on him. I suddenly feel so bad for the way I have acted. I was going to have this baby and then let him know about her. Geez, I am such a bitch. It’s only been a few days but it’s clear he is going to be an amazing dad.
“No, it’s ok. It’s probably for the best she is bottle-fed. I can see how much you love her and we will have to figure out a custody agreement. It won’t work if I am breastfeeding her. You deserve to see her. You are her dad.”
Bentley’s jaw clenches and he glares at me for a second before speaking. “I know you plan to go back to Florida but it’s not happening. First of all, you can’t go anywhere for six weeks. Second of all, you will be living with me. We are a family and I am not letting Faith or you leave this state. If you want to go to Florida so damn badly then I guess I will have to go with you. Did you notice the people in the room? Did you notice who wasn’t in the room? Your parents didn’t even bother to show up.”
“I wasn’t supposed to give birth yet.”
“What the fuck does that matter? They are your parents and they should have been here. I am done sitting back and giving you your space. I love you and I love our daughter. Just give me a damn chance please.”
I know he is right but it is so hard to open my heart up. At least with my parents I know what I am getting, and it doesn’t include my heart broken. I look at him holding our daughter in his arms like she belongs there. She is eating and is so content with him. That’s exactly how I feel when I let Bentley in. Content. But I can’t let Bentley in like that because he will eventually break my heart and when he does, I will be stuck in his life because of our daughter.
“Look, I will stay in Las Vegas for the next six weeks but that’s all I can give you. We take care of Faith together as equals but I can’t do a relationship.”
Bentley’s jaw goes tight and he looks like he is about to explode. He closes his eyes for a few seconds and then opens them. “Ok, I will take what I can get but just know that I am not going to hold my feelings back, and once you see your heart is safe with me we will be a real family.”
“I don’t want to argue with you. Are we staying in the apartment?”
“Yeah, we are. At least for now. I already have Faith’s room done and you can sleep in my room.”
“You are expecting me to sleep in the bed with you? You do know I can’t have sex for six weeks, right?”
He looks at me like I have just lost my mind and then says, “I don’t give a shit about having sex with you. I love you, Kayla. In the next six weeks, you are going to see what a real man does when a woman gives her heart over to him, and by the time the six weeks are up you will be begging me to make love to you.”
I can’t help but laugh at his cockiness. “Whatever you say Bent. Hand me over our daughter. I need to smell her some more.”
He laughs and hands her over to me so I can burp her. As I hold her close I look from my precious little girl to Bentley and back again. Is it possible to really have it all? I guess only time will tell.
There’s a knock on the door and Bentley calls whoever it is in. Liz, Cooper, and the rest of the gang all pile back in. They say congratulations and give me hugs and kisses.
Liz comes over and whispers, “Bentley really handled it all while you were out. He could be named father of the year.”
I smile and glance at him talking to his parents. “He is an amazing man.”
Liz’s eyes open wide. “Are you two together?”
“I am staying at least for the next six weeks and we are going to be living together to take care of Faith but no, we aren’t together. Bentley deserves to be with someone capable of love. I am not the person for him. Maybe once we are living together and raising Faith together he will realize it and move on.”
She gives me a big hug and kiss on my cheek. “I am so glad you are staying and I know you two will work it out. You are meant to be together. You will see. ”
Caleb walks over and gives me a peck on my cheek. “I am glad you are ok.”
“Thanks. Are you ready for us to take over the apartment?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve missed you, Kayla. I am glad you are back.”
I look over at Hayley and see her watching Caleb closely. I know she has a crush on him but he doesn’t really show any interest in her. She sees me eying her and gives me a small smile and wink. I smile back. Caleb would be lucky to snag a woman like Hayley.
Everybody stays for a while and chats. Faith is passed around and doted on by everyone. Eventually the nurse comes in and kicks everybody out saying I need rest. As much as I love the company she is right, I do need the rest. I am exhausted.
Bentley tells me he is going to go home for a little bit to give Faith a nap and will be back up later after I have rested. I give her a kiss and then close my eyes as I let sleep overtake me.
Thirteen
Bentley
It’s finally time to bring Kayla home from the hospital. Liz and my mom both offer to watch Faith for me but there’s no way my little girl is leaving my side yet. I will consider it when she’s a little older… maybe. Caleb and I had all of Kayla’s stuff overnighted to our place. Kayla’s parents weren’t too thrilled but I didn’t really give them much choice when I told them Kayla can’t fly anywhere for at least six weeks. They said to let Kayla know they will be down in a few weeks to visit, and thanked me for dealing with the situation. I wanted to yell at them and tell them Kayla almost dying isn’t a fucking situation but kept my mouth shut. They are both a waste of my time and energy.
Kayla’s brother, Zach, on the other hand actually seemed genuinely concerned and said he is almost finished with a couple of his summer classes and plans to visit as soon as he takes his finals. I know they aren’t close but I have to wonder if it’s more because of their parents and less because of how they feel about each other.
I finish arranging all of Kayla’s stuff in my drawers and closet. The woman has a lot of damn clothes. I just finish organizing her toiletries in our bathroom when I hear the muffled sound of Faith crying in the baby monitor. I grab a bottle from the kitchen on my way to get her. I have learned quickly that my daughter demands to be fed as soon as she wakes up so I might as well have the bottle in hand.
“Hey there pretty girl; you ready to go get your mom?”
She wiggles her little arms and legs and I am pretty sure it’s more of the sight of her bottle dangling in my hand and less about picking up her mom but we can pretend. I change her diaper quickly while she fusses wanting to be fed and then sit down on the couch to feed her. She tries to suck it all down as fast as possible and cries when I stop her from eating to burp her. She finishes her bottle and I burp her one last time and then buckle her into her car seat.
“Hey there Mr. Mom!” Caleb comes out of his room laughing.
“Ha ha, very funny. I am going to get Kayla from the hospital.”
“Nice. I will probably be at the gym when you get back but I will see you guys later I am sure.” He walks over to Faith and gives her a kiss on her forehead before heading out the door. The guy never shows his emotions but since Kayla and now Faith are around I see him slowly coming out of his shell.
We get to the hospital and Kayla is ready to go. The nurse insists she has to be taken by wheelchair to the c
ar and once we are there she opts to sit in the backseat with Faith. I smile as I glance in the rearview mirror at my two favorite girls in the world. They are my life.
“What are you cheesing about?” Kayla catches me staring.
“I’m just happy, Kayla. You both are healthy and ok and you are back living under the same roof as me.”
She blushes and scrunches her nose up making my heart open even more. Vulnerable Kayla doesn’t show very often but when she does it makes my heart melt.
We get home and get situated. I have Kayla lie on the couch and put Faith in her bassinet next to her so they are close to each other. My phone goes off with texts and phone calls after the next from our friends and family asking if we are home and if they can come by. I don’t want her to feel too overwhelmed and if I am honest I kind of just want my ladies to myself.
I get Kayla a glass of water and then sit on the other end of the couch pulling her feet up over me and setting them down in my lap. I begin to softly massage her feet as she stares at me with confusion. I ignore her and bring up something I have been thinking a lot about since Faith was born.
“So, I’ve been thinking…”
“Oh boy, that’s never good!” Kayla says with a laugh. “Is that why you are giving me a foot massage? To butter me up?”
I smile wide and shake my head. “I know you want to go back to work in six weeks. I have been thinking I could stay home with Faith.”
Her eyebrows sink down together in confusion. “Like a stay-at-home dad?”
“Yeah, like that. I love fighting and I plan to keep working out but I don’t have a contract with the UFC. I am sure moms who stay home still have hobbies and such but I want to quit training fulltime and stay home with her. Fighting would just become a hobby.”
“But don’t you love fighting? And can you afford that? I mean, I make a decent living and if I decided to stay here Cooper has already told me I have a job waiting for me but it’s not enough to live comfortably on.”
I know right now I should tell her that I am an extremely wealthy man. I come from old money passed down from generation to generation. I have more money in the bank than I will ever spend in a lifetime, but for some reason I am scared to tell Kayla. I don’t think she is a gold-digger by any means. As a matter of fact, I think the opposite. I think me having money might scare her and make her run. She’s one of the most independent women I have ever met, and if she knew the amount of money I have, and the amount of money our daughter will one day have, I honestly think she would bolt. The truth is the only people who know about my money are Kaden, Caleb, and Cooper, and they know I don’t like for it to be mentioned.
So instead I say, “I do love fighting but these last few days with Faith… well, I love being home with her more. Plus, I have saved up. It will actually save money since we won’t have to pay a nanny. I just can’t imagine leaving her with anyone. I want to be the one to be there for her first words, steps… I just love her so damn much. I don’t want to leave her with a stranger when I can be here with her.”
Kayla’s face falls and I think maybe I said something wrong.
“Does it make me a bad mom for wanting to go back to work?” She bites her bottom lip like she is about to cry.
I get up and move to kneel in front of her. “Hey, there is nothing wrong with you going back to work. You love your career and you will be an amazing mom and still be able to work. We are fortunate that I am able to stay home with our daughter. If you ever decide you don’t want to work and want to stay home please know you always have that option. We can always reassess the situation. ”
She laughs softly but not in a that’s funny way but more of an are you insane way. “So, we will both be without an income and stay home all day with Faith? You do realize babies need things like diapers and formula which cost money?”
“Woman, when I tell you we are fine, I mean it. Work or don’t work. I don’t care. You want to move from here into a bigger house? Just pick the place. Whatever you want I will handle it. Faith will never want for anything.”
“So are we splitting the bills down the middle or what? When I lived here before it was temporary because of the fire so I didn’t pay anything. I don’t want to take advantage especially since you won’t be working.”
“Kayla, you aren’t paying a dime here. Caleb and I have it all covered. For the next six weeks just focus on Faith and getting better. Ok?”
Her body relaxes and I realize how uncomfortable this conversation is for her so I decide to ask. “What did you think I was going to say?”
“Well, my parents split everything down the middle even to this day. Even when we were little they split the nanny payment because neither of them wanted to stay home because they wanted to work even though they could afford for one of them to stay home. I thought maybe you would want to do the same, and I am not sure how much this apartment is but I know it’s not in my price range.”
“Nothing about us will ever be like your parents. I know they mean well but this isn’t a business arrangement. I love you.”
“Bentley…” I know what she is going to say so I cut her off by giving her a small kiss on her lips to shut her up. Her lips are soft and gentle and they make me want so much more. She pulls away from me with a glare and when she attempts to sit up, she is quickly reminded she just had major surgery.
“Ow!” She cries out.
“Be careful.”
“Well, I wouldn’t have to be careful if you wouldn’t attack me with your mouth!”
“Don’t your parents ever kiss?”
“I am sure they do… They do have needs but I think right now we need to keep the line clear. I don’t want it getting all blurry. Let’s just focus on Faith.”
I steal another kiss from her and stand up. She looks at me like I am crazy.
“What? You can do things your way and I will do things my way,” I say as I head to the bathroom trying discreetly to adjust the hard-on I have going on.
Kayla
Bentley heads to the bathroom while trying to hide his erection… like I wouldn’t notice the man’s large, hard dick sticking practically straight out while he tries to adjust himself as he walks away. I bring my fingers up to my lips where his just were. Chemistry between Bentley and I has never been the problem. The problem is the fact that Bentley wants more and more leads to heartbreak. I gave a guy more once and he chewed me up and then my mom let me know how stupid I was.
I decide to check out the nursery while Bentley is in the bathroom. The doctor said it’s important to walk around as much as possible to work the muscles that had to be cut open for the C-section. I walk past Caleb’s room and then Bentley’s room and into my old room. It feels like a lifetime ago but in reality, it’s only been six months since I moved out.
The room has been transformed into a surfer’s oasis! The entire room is painted a beautiful sky blue with a darker blue towards the bottom that makeup the waves. The trim is a tan color, which I am assuming is to represent the sand. Faith’s crib bedding is different shades of pink with multicolored surfboards all over it. Over her crib is a huge adorable umbrella looking mobile. There’s a surfboard hanging over the changing table that has her name written out across it. The rug is a large surfboard and on the wall, are pictures of surfers. When I look closer I see they aren’t just any surfers… they are of me!
“Do you like the room?”
I jump at the sound of Bentley’s voice, which is insane because I am standing in my own daughter’s room. It’s not like I am sneaking through his stuff.
“How did you get these pictures of me?” I ask pointing to them.
He smiles wide clearly proud of himself. “Google. I remembered that guy said a while back you were in various competitions and such so I searched your name and found some photos from your surfing days.”
“When did you have time to do all this? I was only out of it for like a week.”
He frowns and says, “Actually most of thi
s was all done in advance. I wanted Faith to know she always has a place here, and if we were sharing custody I wanted her to have a piece of you when she was away from you and with me.”
And… swoon! This man definitely does not fight fair.
* * *
I have not left the house since I have been home from the hospital and I am about to crawl out of my skin with aggravation. I need to get out of this house and off this couch! Bentley doesn’t leave often but he leaves at least once a day, usually to get groceries or go to the gym. Sometimes he will take Faith to visit his parents. Because I can’t lift he takes Faith with him everywhere. Apparently, all the guys at the gym absolutely adore her and take turns holding her. I am not complaining because he has been the perfect partner and father. He takes care of everything and all I have to do is lie here and cuddle with our precious little girl all day but if I don’t get out of here soon I might kill somebody. Ok, yes, I am being a bit dramatic but you get my point!
Bentley comes walking into the living room freshly showered and looking hot as hell. “My mom wants to host a Fourth of July Barbecue at the place they are renting. It has a pool and big backyard but I told her we aren’t up for it…”
“Are you out of your damn mind? Call her back now! Tell her we will be there! I need to get out of this house right now! Right. Freaking. Now!”
He looks at me like I have lost my mind and puts his hands up in surrender, and in his defense, I just may have.
“Ok, ok. I didn’t know you were feeling this way. We can go. You sure you are up to it? You have only been out of the hospital for a short time.”
“I am definitely good to go. Get me a chair under an umbrella, a nice cold alcoholic beverage, and I will be perfect.”