My mouth became dry as I felt the lump appear in my throat. I hadn’t seen Nate since I left town. We didn’t exactly end on good terms, but they weren’t bad either.
It was simple. I loved his brother; I was in love with his brother.
“Mommy who’s that?”. She whispered burying her head in the crook of my neck.
“Mommy?”. He asked his eyes squinting a little and then of course realisation kicked in. “She’s his fucking double, holy shit”. Running a hand through his hair he took it upon himself to take a seat.
“I’d appreciate if you didn’t swear”. Okay so maybe he had changed a little.
“Sorry but the resemblance is uncanny. What’s her name?”.
This was starting to get a little weird and I was starting to feel uncomfortable. Everleigh was smart for her age, and I didn’t need for someone else to tell her who her dad was.
“Can we not?”. I asked hoping he would get what I meant and drop it.
“Sorry Ava I didn’t mean to pry. How’s life been treating you. I haven’t seen you in years, I didn’t think you’d have come back”.
“Order for Mendez”.
“I have to go”.
“Please don’t go just yet”. Matching my movement, he stood up. “Be nice to chat and have a catch up I mean it’s been years since I last saw you”.
I knew it was always going to be a little awkward with Nate after everything that went on. I knew back then I didn’t really play fair, but I was young and stupid and as much as I hate to say it, but he was there, and he was nice to me.
“It’s been years, and you still haven’t patched things up with Blaze”. I was heading into a touchy subject but they both needed to sort their shit out before it was too late.
“How can he still have you?”. He asked shaking his head.
“Nate”. I warned. “Everleigh why don’t you go get your ice cream baby”. Placing her on her feet I didn’t have to tell her twice.
“Everleigh? You named-…”
“Yes, I did”.
“Ava look-… I’m sorry. Can we start this over?”. Running a hand over his beard it was only then that I noticed the similarity between him and Blaze.
“This is just too weird for me right now Nate I’m sorry”.? Turning my back on him I took Everleigh’s hand grabbed our order and headed out.
Placing her into her car seat I jumped when I felt the hand on my shoulder. “Jesus Nate don’t do that”. Making sure she was secure I closed the door. “Don’t sneak up on me like that”.
“I was pretty rude in there and I’m sorry. I really didn’t expect to ever see you again. You look good Ava”.
“I’m sorry too”. I sighed. “I guess I wasn’t expecting to bump into you either. Truth be told I feel a little awkward”.
“Glad it’s not just me then”. He grinned “What brings you back here?”.
“Family member passed. I didn’t plan to stay but I never realised how hard it would be for me to leave again”. I left the first time because Blaze left me, I didn’t have anything to stay for but now I do. He’s here, my full family is here. My life is here and it’s exactly where I need to be.
“Blaze?”.
“What do you want me to say Nate. I hated how it all went down with us and if I could take it all back I would because you deserve so much better. I had already given my heart away and I should never have led you astray”.
He was a good guy in his own way but every time we bumped into each other it all came down to Blaze. 4 years later and still it was about him.
“Hey that’s all in the past I knew from the moment I met you who you belonged too. I told you before I was chancing my luck. He’s lucky after all these years you still want him”.
“Yeah”. Again, I felt awkward to the point it was making me uncomfortable. “I really have to go”.
“Remember when we used to be friends?”. Okay what was he getting at, did he want to be friends? There was no way I could associate with him until this feud with Blaze was sorted.
“That was a long time ago”. I whispered hating how bad he was making me feel. I made a mistake all those years ago and it was one I wouldn’t ever make again.
“Ava”….
“You’re a good guy Nate but until you and your brother sort this out I can’t”. No matter what in any situation I would always choose Blaze, I would always take his side. “Fix things before it’s too late”. Not giving him the chance to say anything back I jumped in my car and drove off.
“Mommy who was that man?”. Came the little voice from the back seat. Face covered in chocolate and not one damn was given.
“No one baby just a friend”. I hated lying to her about things. The most being that she didn’t know who Blaze was. I had to find the right moment to finally tell her he was her dad.
As I pulled up to the clubhouse my eyes landed on Blaze. He was working on his bike but no one else was around. He seemed lost, in a world of his own.
“If only he knew how much we love him”. I whispered turning my head to find Everleigh out cold.
Closing the door quietly behind me I lifted her out of her chair and into my arms. “It’s okay baby”.? I whispered as she started to groan and grunt and then the tears came. “Come on Everleigh it’s okay”. Shaking her gently I could see Blaze walking towards us out of the corner of my eye.
“She, okay?”.
“Moody because I woke her from her nap. She’ll be fine once she falls back asleep. You good?”. Soothing my hand over her hair her even breaths told me she was sleeping again.
He looked tired but better than yesterday. He still hadn’t trimmed his beard, and his hair was still longer than usual tied back in a man bun.
“Better darling”. Wiping the sweat from his forehead he took his smokes from his overalls. He really didn’t know how beautiful he was. Even standing in a worn-out wife beater and his overalls tied at the waist. He was scruffy and un-groomed but by god he was beautiful.
“See something you like?”. He smirked his tongue wetting his bottom lip.
That was my Blaze.
“Hm maybe”. I winked turning on my heel. “I’m going to put her down oh and Blaze?”.
“Yeah?”.
“You’ll always be something I like”. Hearing him laugh I couldn’t stop smiling. He was slowly coming back to me. Settling her in bed I set up the monitor before heading into the bar area. Not many people were around. A few old timers, some club girls and the prospect. Don’t get me wrong I loved the quietness but when it was like this it told me something was going on.
Grabbing a beer, I headed back outside only to stop in my tracks once I saw what looked like an intense argument between Blaze and Sasha. When did she get here?
“You fucked up”. He growled as she wiped at her eyes. What was going on, why was she here and why was she crying? “Fuck Sash why’d you have to be so fucking stupid. You’re the one that wanted him, you wanted to be his old lady”.
As I reached them, he took the beer I was offering. “Talk some damn sense into her before I lose it”. Kissing my forehead, he walked off.
“I-I’ve ruined it”. She stuttered. “I fucked up bad Ava and I don’t know what to do”. Running a hand through her hair she slid down the inside wall of the garage.
“What’s happened?”.
“Jared’s happened”. She whispered. “I’ve lost him for good this time”.
I was so lost right now. I had no idea what was going on but if it had something to do with Jared that would explain his mood the past few days.
“What did you do?”. I asked afraid of the answer I was going to get. I didn’t want Jared to be hurting or hurt by anyone. He was part of my family and I loved him like a brother. He looked after me in the time I needed it. “Sasha what did you do?”. Bending down in front of her I took hold of her hands making her look at me.
“I slept with someone else”.
Letting her hands go I stood up and backed away slightly. “I didn’t know it was that serious between you two”.
“It was serious enough and I’ve ruined it because of a drunken mistake”. As she began to sob, I felt her pain. She had made the worst mistake ever and now she was paying the price, but we all make mistakes heck I’ve made enough of them.
“Talk to him surely you can work it out”. Sliding down the wall beside her I linked my arm through hers.
“Jared’s different he won’t forgive me”.
“Then make him forgive you. If you want him so badly then you’ll do anything to make it work”. God knows I’ve been through the mill with Blaze, and we made it out the other end.
“No Ava you don’t understand Jared isn’t like the rest. He doesn’t sleep about; he may flirt and act like he does but he doesn’t”.
Well, I’ll be damned.