Putting the glasses in the sink I turned the radio back on. I didn’t know how she was going to fix what she had done. If she truly thought, they were over, and her first thought was to sleep with someone else then does she really love him?
On the other hand, girls do stupid things when they’re messed up. I couldn’t get rid of the feeling in my gut that there was something else she wasn’t telling me. You don’t just go out and sleep with a random not when you have someone like Jared.
“Something smells good”.
Speak of the devil.
“You’re staying for dinner”.
“Not really giving me a choice, are you?”. He grinned but I could tell straight away it was fake.
He was hurting and there wasn’t anything I could do about it. This wasn’t anything to do with me and I wasn’t getting involved but it didn’t mean I couldn’t offer up a little advice.
“Nope”. I grinned passing him a beer. “Did you pass Blaze?”. Adding some salt into the potatoes I checked on the chicken. Everything was cooking away nicely.
“Blaze and his mini me”. He laughed taking a sip of his beer.
“She literally loves him”. I smiled. “I don’t have a look in when he’s around”. Getting out 4 plates I started to set up the table.
“That’s good Ava everything seems to be working out for you, I’m glad darling”.
“For once it’s all working out the way I have always pictured. He’s a good man with a big heart I just needed to go through some stuff to realise how much I need him”.
“Long have I been trying to tell you that?”. He smirked pulling out his smokes. “He’s always going to be better with you by his side”. Lighting one up he offered me one to which I declined.
“Maybe you need to take some of your own advice”. I whispered afraid of what he might say.
“Yeah, in due time but right now I can’t even look at her”.
“We all make mistakes Jared we wouldn’t be human if we didn’t”.
“She fucked someone else Ava. How would you feel if Blaze did that?”.
“Blaze did do that”. I yelled. “But that was a long time ago and he paid the price for doing so”.
“How can I trust her now? She-…”
“Loves you”. I spoke. “Yes, she did wrong by sleeping with someone else but surely if you love her then you’ll be willing to make it work. Try and fix it. I’ll tell you what I told her, don’t throw away what could be the best thing you’ve ever had over a mistake”.
He didn’t say anything else after that.
“Take that chicken out I’m just going to give Blaze a shout”. I loved Jared and I respected him, but I hated to see him hurt. It wasn’t something I saw very often because he didn’t let many people in.
Standing at the clubhouse door I watched the two of them and grinned. She sure as hell was her father’s daughter. Covered in motor grease and not a care in the world.
Walking towards them I picked her up as she came running. “You need a bath missy”. Brushing her hair out her face I kissed her forehead.
“Think I need one too?”. He winked wiping his hands on an old rag.
“Definitely”. I grinned. “You hungry baby? Mommies made chicken”.
“No green stuff mommy”. Shoving her hand into the back of my hair she lay her head against my shoulder.
“Green stuff?”. He asked.
“Guess who else doesn’t like broccoli?”.
“That’s my girl”. He grinned causing me to roll my eyes.
“I’m going to get her cleaned up before dinner you do the same”.
“Come here”. He smirked.
“Uncle Ared”. She was already kicking her legs to get down. Placing her on her feet she ran off to see him. Another thing I loved was her relationship with her uncle Jared.
“Get cleaned up I don’t want the chicken to burn”.
Closing the distance between us the chicken was the least of my worries. It was little moments like this that I missed. Being this close to him, having his breath tickle my cheek. The sneaky little 5 minutes together where no one else existed but us. With his hands resting on my lower back, I slipped mine up his chest resting over his heart.
“Just let me look at you”. He whispered his hand sneaking up to cup my cheek. Instantly my eyes closed. The feeling cursing through my body, the love I felt for this man standing in front of me. We wasted a lot of years apart, now it was time to make up for it.
“I’m sorry for the last few days sweets”. Stroking my cheek my eyes slowly opened. “Sorry for being an asshole”.
Moving my hands up his chest I grabbed his face. “It’s okay”. I whispered. “I’m here and I’m not going anywhere not now, not ever”.
“What did I ever do to deserve you?”. Brushing his nose against mine my lips parted.
Blaze never thought he was good enough for me, was always telling me I deserve better or always asking how he got me. Truth was I could never see myself with anyone else.
“This is it Blaze, we only go forward from now on. We’re not living in the past we’re building our future, you me and Everleigh”. Brushing my lips against his he tightened his arms around my waist lifting me off the ground.
“Fuck babe I needed you to say that”.
“Well hear it loud and clear. Now put me down and go get cleaned up”. Giving him one last kiss, my feet touched the ground. “Oh, and Jared’s staying for dinner”.
“I think he could be doing with the company. Sasha fucked up and I don’t know if he’ll forgive her”. With his hand in mine, we both walked towards the clubhouse. “Haven’t ever seen him like this babe and I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing”.
“He’ll forgive her”. I knew he would because I knew deep down, he loves her.
“I hope you’re right”.
Parting ways I sent him to the shower as I headed towards the kitchen. She was already sat at the kitchen table playing with the toy motorcycle from before.
“Everleigh did you wash your hands?”.
“Yes mommy, look Uncle Ared gave me monies for a new toy”. Picking up the note that was on the table she grinned. “It’s big monies I can get loads”.
“Well uncle Jared is going to get his bum whooped”. Giving him a stern look I shook my head. I didn’t mind that they liked to buy her things, but it was constant. I didn’t want her to grow up not knowing the value of anything or expect to get everything she asked for.
“Don’t give me that look Ava she’s worth it”. He grinned.
“You do realise she’s 3 and doesn’t know the value of money. 100 dollars Jared really?”. Rolling my eyes, I went to prepare dinner before Blaze got out the shower.
“Well, she knows it’s big monies”. He laughed. “Buy her something new”. He shrugged.
Going about the kitchen I started to plate up dinner. It wasn’t about buying her something new, I didn’t want her spoilt. “Right baby toys away it’s dinner time”. Placing her plate in front of her I watched as she lay the bike in her lap.
Where’d she get it from?
“Something smells great”. Blaze groaned as he entered the kitchen. Placing a kiss on my cheek he took a seat at the top of the table. “No broccoli though”. Making a face he started to laugh.
“No green stuff”. Everleigh made the exact same face as she dug into her chicken.
They really were two peas in a pod.
“No green stuff”. I sighed finally taking my seat but of course I wasn’t getting to enjoy my dinner.
“Eh how does he get dinner and I don’t?”. Cage huffed while glaring at Jared.
“Cause I’m her favourite”. He winked only adding fuel to the fire.
I swear they were like a pair of kids.
“Sit down I’ll fix you a plate”. Getting to my feet I fixed him a plate and placed it in front of him. Going to the fridge I grabbed the 3 of them fresh beers. “Eat and shut up”.
Grabbing Everleigh’s cup, I refilled it just as I heard the voices. You have got to be kidding me. I really needed to move back into my own house.
“Guys come on in there is plenty of food I’ll fix you all a plate”.
“Ava”. It was as if he could sense my frustration, he stopped eating putting his fork down.
“It’s okay”. I smiled as a few other brothers sat around the table. Placing the remainders of what I had made in the middle of the table I let them dig in. I wasn’t really hungry anyway and I knew I’d get something later.
“Mommy I’m done”.
“Bath time then?”. I grinned as she pushed her plate away and jumped off the chair.
After finishing off her bath time I wrapped the towel around her body and sat on the toilet seat with her on my lap.
“Need a hand?”. He asked leaning against the door frame.
“Could you grab me her pjs off the bed?”.
“Sure thing”. He winked.
Everleigh was dead beat I knew that for sure. “Okay baby teeth brushed and then it’s bedtime”.
“Mommy?”.
“Yeah baby?”. Grabbing her toothbrush, I applied some paste and ran it under the cold tap.
“Can Blaze be my daddy?”.
My entire body froze at her words. How did I respond to that? What answer was I supposed to give a 3-year-old?
“I want Blaze to be my daddy I like him”.