The Fighting Series Boxset

by Ash, Nikki

  “Everything is ok. Right?” Hannah asks. I know it won’t be long until my parents and friends are fighting to all come back so I need to tell her now.

  “I need to tell you something but you can’t tell anyone, not yet.”

  “Does this have anything to do with why you wouldn’t let Caleb back? He is completely torn up. A tornado couldn’t rip him from that waiting room.”

  “He left, Hannah!” I yell but take a calming breath before continuing. I don’t want to wake Marco or do anything to put the baby at risk. As a doctor, I know it would take more than yelling to do anything to my baby but as a mom-to-be I am not going to take any chances by working myself up.

  “What do you mean he left?”

  “He was giving me a massage and I think he had a flashback of some sort. I don’t know for sure but I have seen them happen a few times, except this time instead of fighting through it, he left. Then he said he was moving out. Marco and I were at the park alone while Caleb was looking for an apartment to rent.”

  “Hayley that’s not fair. I know you are upset right now but think long and hard before you place that blame on Caleb. People get upset all the time. People leave and many women take their kids to the park alone. Most just don’t have psycho drug dealers stalking them waiting to kidnap them. Caleb leaving isn’t why you are upset. He came back a few hours later. He’s the reason you were even found. You know this. So, what’s going on?”

  I sigh loudly. I know she is right and that’s why I didn’t want Caleb coming in here. I am a mix of emotions and I imagine being pregnant isn’t helping.

  “I’m pregnant.”

  “Oh, my goodness!” Hannah squeals. Then she sobers. “Is the baby ok?”

  “Yes, the doctor did an ultrasound and I am roughly six weeks along. He wants me to take it easy for the first trimester to be on the safe side, give my body time to heal.”

  “So, you aren’t going to tell Caleb? Was this planned?”

  “That’s the thing. We knew we were having unprotected sex and we knew this could happen but I had it in my head it would be harder to get pregnant than it actually was, and while I am so excited about this baby I am afraid Caleb will regret it.”

  “I think you need to give him a chance, Hayley. I don’t know all that happened but the guy out in the waiting room doesn’t look like a guy who would ever regret having a baby with you. On the plus side we will have our babies months apart.” We both squeal and it wakes Marco up.

  “What happened?” Marco asks.

  “Nothing sweetie. We are ok. Go back to sleep.”

  Hannah and I chat for a few minutes and then she goes back to get our parents. They give me hugs and kisses and as much as I want to tell them I think it’s best to keep it to myself for now. Anything can happen and every person I tell will be another person I have to tell if I lose the baby.

  Once they leave all my friends take turns coming in and out. Bentley and Kayla are last.

  “He’s a mess, Hayley. I know you are upset but he’s a freaking mess out there. Please don’t punish him for too long. Even if you are ending it with him, just let him know,” Bentley says.

  After spending the evening with Marco by my side the nurse lets Marco know he can’t spend the night. He is not happy at all but when Kayla tells him he can have a sleepover with Chloe he gives in.

  The next morning, I am released. Since Kayla had taken Marco home with her she picks me up and brings us home. Marco and I both take showers. When I tell him, I would like for him to stay home one more day to get some rest he asks if he can sleep with me. I can’t even imagine how traumatized he is from all of the recent events. He obviously doesn’t want to be alone and the truth is I don’t really want to be alone either. I thought maybe Caleb would try to come home but I guess not. Marco cuddles into bed with me and I put on a kid movie hoping he won’t have nightmares. The kid has been through way too much.

  I look at the clock and see it’s two in the afternoon. I go to grab my phone and remember it was smashed the day we were taken.

  Marco stirs awake and I decide I am not going to let what happened bring us down. It will definitely be discussed at his weekly therapy session but I am not going to dwell on it. We are both ok. My baby is ok and the men who are alive will be locked away for a long ass time.

  “Hey sweetie, did you have a good nap?”

  He nods his head yes and cuddles up next to me.

  “I need to go to the mall to get a new phone. Why don’t you get dressed and we will stop on the way and get lunch?”

  “Ok.”

  After we are both dressed, we walk out to my car to head to the mall. I stop short seeing Caleb’s truck parked in the front of my house. “What’s he doing out there?” Marco asks.

  “I’m not sure. Why don’t you get in the car and I will go speak to him?”

  I get to the truck and see Caleb is texting on his phone. I knock lightly on the window. When he sees it’s me, he rolls down his window.

  “What are you doing out here?”

  “I couldn’t leave you guys alone. I just figured it would be better to sit out here since you didn’t want me to be around you.”

  Gosh, I am such a bitch. I refused to see the man who saved us and he sat in his truck because I didn’t want him near me.

  “Thank you.”

  “There’s no need to thank me. This was entirely my fault. I saw his threats but didn’t take them serious enough. And then I walked out and while I was looking at apartments, you both were kidnapped. Do you think maybe we can talk?”

  “I would like that but Marco and I are heading out to the mall. The guys who took us smashed my phone so I need a new one. I also need to get him lunch.”

  “Would it be ok if I went with you guys?”

  I want to say no because being around him hurts but at the same time being around him completes me. It also doesn’t help that I feel guilty for hiding this pregnancy from him. This whole situation sucks.

  “Sure.”

  He gets out of his truck and runs in the house to change quickly and is back a few minutes later. On our way to the mall he asks Marco how he’s feeling and Marco says he’s ok. He also says he wants to eat at the food court so we head straight to the mall. After we park we go straight to the wireless store. I let them know my phone was destroyed and decide to upgrade to a new phone.

  Marco and Caleb are looking at the latest technology when a salesman walks over and starts talking to Marco. “You should ask your dad to buy this for you.”

  I hold my breath praying Caleb doesn’t deny it; I know it would hurt Marco’s feelings. Instead he pats Marco on the back and says, “He just got a new iPad. We can’t spoil him too much. We will have to see how his report card is this semester.” Marco laughs and points out his grades are really good.

  After the gentleman sets up my new phone we head to the courtyard to get something to eat. Marco is so hungry he wolfs down all of his food and asks for more.

  “Hey mom, can I go grab another chicken sandwich?”

  “Sure sweetie.” I hand him money and watch him walk the ten feet over to the counter to order a sandwich.

  “I don’t know how I am supposed to let him go to school. I don’t want him leaving my sight.”

  I look at Caleb and realize I said that out loud. He’s staring at me weird… like with adoration maybe… I’m not sure.

  “What?”

  “He called you mom, again. He did it when you were brought to the hospital.”

  “Oh yeah.” I can feel a big smile grace my face. “He asked me if he could call me mom at the park. I also told him I was approved to adopt him.” I feel tears spring forward.

  “Why are you crying?” Caleb leans over to wipe the tears falling down.

  “When we were being held hostage, I thought that moment in the park would be the only time in my life somebody would call me mom, and I was just so glad it was Marco. And then I found out…” I stutter realizing I almost announced
my pregnancy to him right here in the food court so I try to play it off. “Umm… when I got out of the hospital and we were lying in bed watching a movie, I realized how short life is. I really want to be a good mom.” I laugh knowing my hormones are going crazy and I seriously need to stop talking. I am barely making any sense.

  “Hayles, you deserve it all. More than anybody I know. I am glad Marco is calling you mom. You are his mom. You are amazing with him and you will be just as amazing with any kids you have in the future.” And insert guilt because I haven’t told Caleb he is going to be a father.

  I look over to see Marco heading back and think back to him saying he wants to call Caleb dad. “He asked if he could call you dad but didn’t get a chance to ask you.”

  Caleb doesn’t have a chance to respond but his face says it all. He would like nothing more than to be a father to Marco. I know regardless of what happens between us he will be an amazing father to this baby as well.

  The rest of the day goes by quickly. We walk around the mall and shop a little. Marco picks out a new game for his PlayStation and asks if we can go home so he can play. My body begins to feel achy and Caleb notices insisting we go home. When we get home Caleb heads back to his truck but I stop him.

  “Come inside, please. I know we have stuff to work out but until you find a place you are welcome to stay here.”

  He says ok and then follows me inside. I know he wants to say more but this isn’t the time to talk.

  We sit on the couch and watch Marco play his game. Caleb joins in for a little bit but excuses himself to make a few phone calls. While he is on the phone I let Marco know it’s time for bed.

  “Can I go to school tomorrow?”

  “Are you sure you are ok to go to school? You have your therapy session in two days… Maybe you can wait to meet with her.”

  “I’m ok going back. I know what happened sucks but I like going to school and I don’t want to get behind. Please.”

  How can I possibly say no to my kid begging me to go to school? He is so much stronger than me and I won’t let my parental fears scare him.

  “Ok, fine. But why don’t I pick you up from school and you can practice MMA while I work in the afternoon?”

  “Sounds good. Can you ask Caleb to come in as soon as he gets off the phone? I want to talk to him.”

  “Sure thing.” I give him a kiss on his forehead and say goodnight.

  When I get back out to the living room Caleb is sitting on the couch with his head sagging down.

  “You ok?”

  He looks up and shrugs. “They have enough evidence to put the guys who survived away. They need yours and Marco’s statements but they won’t need us to be at the trial. They will be held without bail. It’s over.”

  “So why are you sad then? That’s a good thing.”

  “I walked away. I know I messed up, Hayles. I should have been there at the park with you guys and none of this would have happened. Please tell me you will be able to forgive me.”

  I can see he is beating himself up over this and I know I need to forgive him and tell him about the baby. We need to figure this all out together but I can’t find the words.

  “Marco wants to talk to you. He asked for you to go say goodnight.”

  “Ok, thanks.”

  Thirty-Two

  Caleb

  I practically beg Hayley for forgiveness and she can barely look me in the eye. How can I expect Hayley to be on the same page as me when the last thing I said to her was not to touch me and then told her I was looking for apartments to move into? She’s hurt and justifiably so. I need to speak with her but first I need to go talk to Marco.

  “Hey buddy.” I walk into his room to sit on the edge of his bed. “Hayl—I mean your mom said you wanted to talk to me.”

  Marco’s face lights up at the word mom. He might have had another mom for the first twelve years of his life but she wasn’t one percent of the mom Hayley is to him.

  “Yeah… umm… before we got taken, we were talking and she said I could call her mom… and I was wondering… I know you can’t adopt me but well, I’ve never had a dad before but I was wondering if maybe you would be my dad. I know I am older than a baby but…”

  “Marco, stop. I don’t care if you are two, twelve, or twenty-two. I would love to be your father. You are never too old to have a dad and I don’t care what the courts say. I love you and since the moment you walked into that gym I have thought of you as my son.”

  Marco sits up and gives me a hug and I swear in that moment it feels like all is right in the world.

  “Get some sleep, bud. I love you.”

  “Love you too, dad.”

  I walk back to the living room feeling like I am floating in the clouds and see Hayley wiping her tears.

  “You were totally listening, weren’t you?” I say jokingly.

  She laughs. “Yes! I had to hear for myself... is he not the sweetest kid, ever?”

  “When he asked me to be his dad I wanted to go out and buy him a car.”

  Hayley cracks up laughing and shakes her head. God, I love to hear that woman laugh.

  “I know we need to talk but I am fucking exhausted, Hayles. Would it be ok if we talk tomorrow? I just want to lay in bed and hold you, please.”

  She nods ok and after we both change into clothes to sleep in, we climb into her bed. She lays facing away from me and I pull her close so I am spooning her from behind. I wrap my arms around her body and nuzzle my face into her hair inhaling her scent. I am pretty sure today was one of the best days of my life. Hayley and Marco are both safe, I am lying in bed with the woman I love, and Marco wants me to be his dad. The only thing left to fix is Hayley and I.

  I wake up to an empty bed and when I look at the clock I see it’s nine in the morning. Hayley must have snuck out without waking me up. I know I have some serious groveling to do. I walk through the house and see both her and Marco are gone. I grab my laptop and cell phone and begin working on a plan.

  Thirty-Three

  Hayley

  After getting Marco off to school I go to the gym to check on my fighters. If it wasn’t for me working for Cooper I imagine I would have been fired a long time ago. I need to let him know about the pregnancy so he knows I am planning to go part-time and once the baby comes I would like to stay home. I don’t know what things will be like for Caleb and me but I have money put away and I will use it if I have to. Thinking about it, it’s probably best if I let Caleb know first.

  I see a couple fighters and then I receive a text from my sister asking if she can please take Marco this weekend for the entire weekend. He has never been away from me for that long so I let her know I will speak to him and get back to her. Marco and I go to court Friday to sign the papers. I plan to surprise him by having him play hooky and spend the day with him.

  I consider texting Caleb so many times throughout the day but I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how to deal with him walking out. I know he’s sorry but it doesn’t change the fact that he wanted to move out.

  When the afternoon rolls around and it’s time to go get Marco I run into Ashley who is visiting Kaden.

  “Hey girly,” she says giving me a hug. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m ok. What are you up to tonight?”

  “Nothing much. I’m off tonight.”

  “Marco and I can come over and we can do dinner.” I know I am totally avoiding Caleb but I also want to spend time with Ashley. She has seemed all over the place lately and nothing works better to ignore your own problems than focusing on someone else’s.

  “Sounds good!”

  I grab Marco from the bus stop and don’t stop at home. Within a few minutes there is a text from Caleb.

  Caleb: Are you coming home?

  Me: Having dinner with Ashley. Don’t wait up.

  Caleb: If you are staying away because of me I can leave.

  That is definitely what I am doing but I am not about to tell him that.
r />   Me: That’s not what I am doing…

  Caleb: Ok

  As Marco and I walk up to Ashley’s house I bring up the subject of Hannah wanting to spend some time with him. “Hey Marco, Hannah asked if she can take you for the weekend. What do you think?”

  “Are you ok with me going?” I love that he is worried about me but his job isn’t to worry. His job is to be a kid. My job is to worry about me.

  “Hey, I am fine, and I will be ok with you at Hannah’s. Your job is to have fun. Got it? No worrying.”

  “Ok, then I would like to go. Aunt Hannah is cool.”

  We knock on Ashley’s door and I text Hannah letting her know this weekend is a go. Ashley answers the door and lets us in.

  The boys run to Tristan’s room to play video games and I follow her into the kitchen where she grabs a bottle of wine. I notice a few notices on her counter. Some say first notice, one says third notice, and one says final notice. I look away not wanting to be nosy but Ashley sees what I was looking at, her faces looking embarrassed. She grabs the papers and shoves them into a drawer.

  She brings the wine to the couch and I follow with two glasses setting them down on the table so she can pour.

  “Kaden brought this over the other night,” she says by way of explanation.

  “Who’s judging?”

  “I know you saw the notices, Hayley. I just don’t want you to think I am behind on my bills yet I am buying bottles of wine.”

  “Trust me, I am the last person to judge anyone. But if you want to talk I am here.”

  Ashley lets out a heavy sigh and shakes her head no. “I just don’t even know where to begin. Talking about it won’t change anything.” She begins crying and I cross over to the side of the couch she is sitting on and just let her cry it out.

  After a few minutes, she composes herself. “Geez, I am a horrible host.”

  “Hey now, I pretty much invited myself over.” We both laugh.

  “The truth is I am kind of hiding from Caleb. Before Marco and I were taken we got into a fight… well not really a fight… I don’t even know what happened. And he said he was moving out. Now I know we need to talk but I’m just not ready yet.”