by Ash, Nikki
“Grandma! Grandpa! Hurry!” Lexi yells from the front door. “We’re waiting for you! Santa came and I was such a good girl! Alec got a lot of presents too, but I don’t know why.” She rolls her eyes. “He wasn’t that good.”
“Lexi, be nice,” I scold her and she just shrugs.
“I was good!” Alec argues.
We all pile into Mila’s house and watch the kids open their gifts. A couple days ago we went to see Santa at the mall. When Georgia said what she would like, Charlie freaked out realizing that she completely forgot she would need to buy her daughter presents. We’ve been so busy getting her situated, it slipped our minds.
I went out that night and bought several gifts for her knowing Charlie wouldn’t want to leave her side any time soon. I did it without expecting anything in return, but I will tell you, the reward I was granted by my woman was well worth it.
“Should we tell everyone?” Charlie whispers into my ear. She’s tucked perfectly into my arm right where she belongs.
I lean over and give her a kiss on her cheek before pulling her to stand next to me. “We have an announcement to make.” Everyone stops talking and turns toward us. “As you guys know I asked Charlie to marry me in Vegas after the fight and we originally decided to put it off until June—”
“But there was no way Tristan was going to wait that long,” Charlie says and everyone laughs. “So, we have set a date for March 14th. We’re going to get married in Las Vegas at the Bellagio and then we’re honeymooning with the girls.”
“Which is a surprise,” I add, and Charlie gives me a look of confusion. She mentioned wanting to go to Disney for the honeymoon, so she knows that’s going to happen, but the little girls don’t know, and Charlie doesn’t know that I’m booking a two week trip to all of the parks and a weeklong Disney cruise.
“Mason, I would love for you to be my best man.”
Mason gives me a chin lift. “For sure.”
“And Mila, I would love for you to be my maid of honor,” Charlie adds.
Mila glances over at Mason, who looks almost scared at the idea of walking down the aisle with Mila, before rolling her eyes. Then she smiles. “I would be honored.”
Everybody gets up to give us a hug and congratulate us. Once Mila announces she’s going to start breakfast, Lexi and Georgia come over holding hands.
“Daddy, Charlie, I have a question,” Lexi says before glancing over at Georgia who tilts her head slightly. She’s been fine around me so far, but it’s only been a week. However, if she’s anything like her mother, I’ll win her over in no time. “Well, me and Georgia have a question.”
“Okay. What can we do for you ladies?” I ask, pulling Charlie into my side.
“We were wondering…well…Georgia doesn’t have a daddy anymore, and I don’t have a mommy. So, I told Georgia I will share my daddy if she shares her mommy.”
Charlie stiffens next to me, and when I look over at her, her eyes are already watering. “And what did you guys decide?” I ask.
“We want to share. Is that okay?” Lexi looks back and forth between Charlie and me.
“It is more than okay,” Charlie says. Kneeling down, she takes both girls into her arms. “I would be so, so, so happy to be both your mommy’s.”
“I agree. I’m completely shareable.” I give Georgia a wink and she grants me a shy smile that mimics the way her mother looked at me the first time she noticed me in the coffee shop, and I know I’ll definitely be winning her over.
Epilogue
Tristan
Wedding Day
I’m standing on the veranda at the Bellagio surrounded by our family and friends waiting with little patience for the ceremony to begin. It’s just me and the pastor up here at the moment. My mom is sitting in the front row, and when our eyes meet, she shoots me a wink. She told me last night at the rehearsal dinner she couldn’t imagine me ending up with anyone besides Charlie. For years, she thought Bella and I would end up together, and when that didn’t happen, I think she was worried I might’ve given up on love. And if I’m honest, I think for a little while I did. What I didn’t know at the time was that I was waiting for Charlie.
The music begins and out walk my beautiful daughters. Lexi and Georgia are dressed in light pink frilly dresses, their hair and makeup done up to make them look like the most adorable princesses. They both smile up at me as they enter. It’s not really a walkway—more like an entrance. They giggle as they throw rose petals from their baskets onto the ground, making sure to throw every last one before they meet me at the front.
“They’re all gone, Daddy,” Lexi says, showing me her basket. Georgia giggles in agreement.
“Do you like my dress?” Georgia asks.
“I do. You both are the most pretty pink princesses I’ve ever seen.” Both girls giggle again. They sit down next to my mom like they were told to do as we watch Mason and Mila make their way down the aisle. Mason’s grinning way too wide and Mila is trying to smile through her scowl, which means Mason probably said or did something to piss her off. It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest. While he might consider Mila to be off-limits, it hasn’t stopped him from driving her nuts the last couple months. If I didn’t know better, I would almost think her being off-limits actually has him wanting her more, especially since their living situations have changed. When they get to the front, they separate, Mason standing on my left and Mila standing on the bride’s side.
The music changes into the wedding march, and a few seconds later, Charlie and my father appear. Charlie had planned to walk down the aisle by herself, but when my dad heard, he wasn’t letting that happen. He offered to walk her down the aisle, and after Charlie cried for a good five minutes, she accepted.
I watch as they walk closer, and I try to absorb every feature of her as quick as possible. The only downside to getting married on the veranda means the walk is short. Charlie’s in a simple floor length white gown. There are beads shimmering in the light and while I have no clue the style or name of the dress, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life. Her hair is down in loose waves, and her makeup is done naturally. But what makes her breathtaking is none of that, it’s the smile on her face. I’ve seen Charlie smile a thousand times, but I never realized until she was reunited with her daughter, how half-ass her smile really was. Not that she wasn’t happy with just Lexi and me, but there was a piece of her missing. A piece I imagine nobody can replace when you lose your child. I don’t know about that missing piece and I thank god every day Charlie is no longer missing that piece of her heart.
Now, as I take her hand in mine, and kiss her cheek, I see the difference in her smile. It’s bigger, brighter. It tells me her heart is whole. We turn to face the pastor and he begins speaking.
We decided to do the traditional repeat after me vows for our ceremony. The pastor starts with Charlie first, and she repeats after him. To be honest, the best part—and the only part I even care about—of the entire speech is when she says, “I do” and slides my ring onto my finger. I go next, and when I say the same words, I see a single tear fall down her cheek. I know it’s a happy tear, but I still catch it. I don’t like my woman crying whether it be because she’s happy or sad.
“And now can we please have Georgia and Alexandria join us?” the pastor says. The two girls jump up from their seats and join us in the front.
“While today is about Tristan and Charlie coming together, in this case, it’s not just about two people merging their lives—it’s about four people. I have here the adoption paperwork to make Charlie and Tristan the legal guardians to Georgia and Alexandria. But first, both parents would like to say something. Tristan, go ahead.”
I turn toward my two girls, both of them so little and innocent. Georgia has no idea the type of person her dad was or why he died. Lexi doesn’t even know her biological mother is dead. But one day they’ll ask, and my goal in life is to make sure when they do, it isn’t because they feel I’ve failed th
em in some way. Knowing I’m speaking to little girls, I attempt to keep what I need to say short and simple.
“There are three days in my life that I will always remember. The first one is the day my dad, Kaden, came into my life.” I look to my dad and he smiles warmly at me. “The next was the day Lexi was born.” Lexi grins happily. “The third was the day I met Georgia.” I glance Charlie’s way quickly and see her single tear is now multiplying by the second. Georgia smiles sweetly. “When I was a little older than you two, I met my dad, Kaden. He loved me and my mom more than anything in the world. He showed me what it means for a dad to love his child, to love his wife, and to be the man his family needs. My promise today is to spend the rest of my life loving the three of you, being the best dad and husband I can be, and supporting you in any way I can. Being there for every stage of your life and making sure you know you are always loved.” Taking the box Mason was holding for me, I open it up and hand Charlie, Lexi, and Georgia each a necklace. They are identical—all three having one large diamond heart with each of our birthstones. Lexi’s and Georgia’s will be put away until they’re older, but I figured they could wear it today.
“These necklaces symbolize the four of us coming together, becoming one family.”
The two little girls giggle as they put the necklace over their heads. “I love you, Daddy!” Lexi hugs me.
“I love you too, Lex.”
Georgia smiles shyly. While she’s coming around, she rarely shows any emotion toward me until I do it first. From the stories Charlie has shared, I would bet Georgia is scared because I’m a dad and a man like her father was, and he was a piece of shit. But that won’t ever stop me from trying to earn her affection.
“I love you, Georgia,” I say, kneeling down so I’m at her level. I put my arms out and she wraps her tiny arms around my neck.
“I love you too,” she whispers into my neck. When I go to stand up, she doesn’t let go, so I pick her up and hold her.
I look at Charlie and she’s crying hard. Mila hands her a Kleenex and she wipes her eyes. Good thing she’s not wearing too much makeup.
“My turn?” She laughs through her sobs.
* * *
CHARLIE
“I was sitting in a coffee shop drawing the day I met Lexi.” I look down at Lexi, remembering the first day I saw her. Tristan said one of the most memorable days of his life was when he met Georgia, and I know exactly what he means because one of mine was the day I met Lexi. The fact is, our children are the best part of both of us.
“You painted the big tree,” Lexi acknowledges.
“I did. And you’re too little to understand this, but that day…” I take a deep breath. “That day you saved me, Lexi. You gave me your picture of the pumpkin and it made me so happy. I was missing my baby girl so much, and you invited me to your contest. It was so, so nice of you.” I’m speaking simplistically hoping Lexi will understand, but my words aren’t telling the entire story. The one Lexi isn’t old enough to understand. The one where I thought my daughter was gone forever and then Lexi came into my life and reminded me it’s okay to love again. The one where she and her father gave me their hearts so willingly and trustingly.
“I love you girls so much.” I look from Lexi to Georgia, “And my promise to you both is to be the best mom I can be. To listen to you and love you and be there for you.” My eyes meet Tristan’s. “And my promise to you, as your wife, as Lexi’s mom, is to always treat her like she’s my own. Thank you for letting me love your daughter. Thank you for letting me in.”
Tristan nods and smiles, my daughter still in his arms. “I love all three of you so much.” I pull Lexi into a hug and bring her up into my arms. The four of us hug and everyone claps. Once we’re done, we set both girls down and the pastor says, “ I now pronounce you husband and wife and a family. You may kiss the bride.”
Tristan’s arms wrap around my waist as mine wrap around his neck, and we kiss.
“My daddy is always loving on my mommy!” Lexi announce, making everyone laugh.
* * *
TRISTAN
One Week Later
“My favorite part of Disney was seeing all of the princesses!” Georgia gushes.
“Oh! Me too! Me too!” Lexi agrees. “When we get home, can we paint my room like the princesses?”
“Sure, Lex. I told you, you can pick what you want,” I say.
“Me too?” Georgia asks.
“Yep! You too.”
“When you said we could go to Disney and on a Disney cruise, I thought you were joking,” Charlie says as we board the ship. “This has already been the best week of Georgia’s and my life. You didn’t have to book a cruise as well. This is too much.”
“Shh…no more saying anything is too much. Disney parks and a cruise is what you wanted, and it’s what you get.” I stop and kiss her on her lips.
“And what do you get? I feel so bad that you’re stuck with three girls and surrounded by Disney.”
I look at Charlie incredulously. She has no idea… “Babe, being here with my three girls is all I need. I don’t care where we are or what we’re doing. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Plus…” I lean in close to her to whisper in her ear. “You thanking me every night is the best wedding gift a man could get.” I waggle my eyebrows and she giggles.
My phone dings with a text from Emma, and I read it twice over to make sure I read it right. Then I click on my social media app and do a search. When I see it for myself, I’m shocked. I rarely go on social media except to post upcoming fights and to advertise the gym. There’s no way this is real. When he was named Bachelor of the year two years ago, the paparazzi would always spot him with a new woman and make a big deal out of it. Now that it’s hardly news that the famous UFC fighter, Mason Street, will probably never settle down, they rarely post about him anymore. Mason is good about keeping out of trouble, and since he doesn’t ever do anything news worthy, they usually leave him alone.
“Tristan?” Charlie says my name and then looks over my shoulder before I can close the app. “Oh my God! Does that say Mason and Mila are married?” she screeches. “That has to be wrong. That better be wrong! Tristan… It is wrong, right?”
“I’m not sure, but I’ll find out. Until I do, please don’t say anything to anyone.”
“I need to call Mila! How could Mason do this to her? How could he hurt her like this? You said she was safe. You said he wouldn’t touch her because she’s a mom. She’s my best friend, Tristan!”
Charlie pulls her phone out of her pocket, and before she can call or text Mila, I snatch it out of her hands.
“Hey!”
“Let me talk to Mason, first, please.”
“Fine,” she huffs, “but he better have a damn good explanation for this. I love him, Tristan, but if he hurt Mila, I’ll kill him.”
Takedown
A Fighting Love novel, book 3
Takedown
Copyright © 2018
Nikki Ash
All rights reserved
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected].
Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
Cover design: Jersey Girl Designs
Cover photograph: Kruse Photography
Editor: Brown Editing
To Luis: thank you for always putting our children first. Divorce isn’t easy, but if I’m going to be divorced to anyone, I’m glad it’s you.
Take
down
Definition: a technique that involves gaining control and off-balancing an opponent, then bringing him or her to the ground.
Prologue
Mason
Sixteen Years Ago
I sit on my bed, staring at the door. Mom told me to stay in my room until she’s done working, but that was a long time ago. Usually, she leaves for work after I get home from school and comes home after I’m already in bed, but sometimes her work comes here. I hate those nights. I hate having to stay in my room and listen to them screw her, and if it’s not them screwing her, it’s her pimp. She says she hates him but needs him to get her work so she can make money to take care of me. I can’t stand the guy. Every time he comes over, he sends me to my room, and my mom lets him, not even caring about the fact that he’s not my dad. My dad is dead.
A little while ago when I heard the moaning and grunting of the guy getting off, I thought she was almost done. But then there was screaming and shouting, and shortly after, a door slamming before everything went quiet. I thought my mom would come and get me at that point, but she didn’t. So now I’m sitting here, waiting for her, but I don’t hear anything, not a single sound. Maybe she forgot about me.