As I filled the kettle, I glanced out the window and smiled. She had Duke running around after her. One thing I was sure of was that she was loved by so many.
I dread the day she gets a boyfriend.
Stirring my coffee, I noticed the car pulling up. Ally was here. Frowning I glanced at the clock. Maybe for once she’s took a day off. Sighing I remember when that was me. Always working 14-hour days.
I missed it. I loved my job. I loved what I did. Fixing her a coffee I took a seat at the table.
“Please tell me your free tonight?”. She groaned.
“Free for what?”. I asked raising my eyebrow. She was always up to something.
“A night out please. I know you’re a mom now but please tell me we can go out. I need a night out; we need a night out. Please Ava”.
I couldn’t remember the last time I was out. But I do remember the fun times we did have.
“I’ve already text Lexi and Chantelle and they both can’t wait to see you. So, can we?”.
“I’ll need to ask my mom if she can babysit but it shouldn’t be a problem”. Ally was right we did need a night out. I suddenly had butterflies in my stomach, but it was good butterflies exciting ones.
“Yes”. She grinned “I can’t wait for us girls to all be together again”.
And then my stomach dropped. I still had to tell Blaze. Not that he didn’t like me going out. He just always wanted to be there.
“No, no get that smile back on your face. You’re not allowed to be sad for tonight. We’re finally getting a girl’s night out. It’s been years Ava and besides”. Lowering her voice she whispered, “Blaze and the rest of them can suck it”.
Laughing with her I rolled my eyes as she winked. “It’ll just be like old times”. I’m sure it would be.
“Right, I have to run. The girls will be here for about 3. I have a few things to do then I’ll be here”.
“Okay I’ll see you tonight”. Giving her a quick hug, I followed her out. Everleigh was up in Blazes arms as he stood talking with Duke.
Telling him what I was doing tonight was going to be fun. My stomach was in knots even thinking about it.
Walking towards them I took her from him. “Right baby how bout we go get ready. We’ll go get some ice cream and a new dolly. Sound good?”.
“Yes mommy”.
“Why was Ally here?”. He asked
“Oh, she’s coming over tonight, Lexi and Chantelle and coming too. Girls’ night”. I smiled. Already I could tell he was thinking the worst.
“You’re going out?”. He sounded surprised.
“I’ve gotta go I’ll see you later. Was nice seeing you Duke”. My phone was in my pocket and my bag was already in my car. I didn’t have to go back inside so that stopped him from following me. I knew he would have something to say about me going out tonight.
Strapping Everleigh into her car seat I made sure she was secure before closing the door and getting in my side. He was walking towards my car motioning that I put my window down.
“Take this and buy something new with it”. Passing me his card I frowned. “Buy whatever you wanted darling”.
“Daddy, you come too”. Everleigh asked.
“Not today sweetheart but soon”. I could hear the hurt in his voice. I knew he wanted to spend more time with us. “Let me know you’re okay when you get there”.
“I will. I love you”.
“Love you too sweets”.
Everleigh picked out a new dolly, I bought a new dress and boots along with other pointless stuff that we probably don’t need. Daddy’s card had been well and truly used today.
Walking through the shopping mall with her hand in mine we entered the ice cream shop and joined the queue. “Okay baby what flavour do you want?”. I asked.
“Chocolate mommy with sprinkles”.
“Just like your daddy”. I grinned. After ordering her an ice cream we collected it and headed back to the car.
“Mommy where is Uncle Ared?”. Strapping her back into her car seat I frowned. That was a good question. “Wanna see Uncle Ared”. She cried.
“Okay baby I’m sure we’ll see him soon”. Kissing her forehead, I closed the door and got in my side. “Eat your ice cream Everleigh before it melts”. During the drive home I couldn’t help but think of Jared. It was strange that I hadn’t heard from him and that he wasn’t at the clubhouse.
“Everleigh how would you like to stay with papa tonight?”. Glancing in my rear-view mirror I couldn’t help but smile. She was out cold, but that ice cream was still clutched in her hand.
My girl.
Pulling into the clubhouse I was taken aback with how many bikes were parked outside. What was happening? I noticed a few familiar faces. Duke was still here. Lifting Everleigh into my arms I managed to discard of the now melted ice cream. Jared was here. He was in deep conversation with Blaze. Then it hit me. Markos charter was here.
“Little Ava”. He smirked kissing my cheek. “How you doing?”.
“I’m good Marko. Why are you here?”. I asked walking towards Blaze.
He laughed.
“Can’t I just be here to see my favourite niece?”. He grinned causing me to roll my eyes. Either something was going on or they genuinely were here just for a visit. If they’re here, then why did Blaze have to go to him?
“Hey darlin”.
“Can you take her until I get the bags from the car?”.
“How long has she been sleeping?” He asked taking her from me.
“Maybe 15 minutes. She’s been up since 5. 30 she needs it”. I smiled. “Is my mom here?”.
“She’s inside. This about her looking after Everleigh tonight so you can go out?”.
Why did he have to say it like that? Clearly, he wasn’t too thrilled about the idea but then why give me his credit card? Why tell me I can buy something new?
“I’m not doing this Blaze”. I wasn’t going to argue about one little night out. You’d think he didn’t trust me. Walking towards my car I went in search for my cigarettes.
“He’s not pissed”.
“Could have fooled me”. I sighed passing Jared a smoke. “Nice of you to show your face. Where have you been?”.
“Trying to heal princess. You miss me?”. He winked lighting up his smoke.
“Shut up”. I grinned “My child misses her Uncle Ared”. One of these days she’ll get it right.
“So where are you girls going tonight?”.
“No Jared do not come over here and do that”. Puffing my cigarette, I shook my head at him. “Don’t do his dirty work”.
“Just curious sweetheart. I hear Chantelle and Lexi are coming down”.
“Is he really going to be angry about this. I’m only going out for a few drinks. I haven’t had a night out in years Jared but if it’s going to cause an argument then I’ll just-…”
“He’s pissed but not for the reason you think. You know how much he worries about you”.
“But it’s the way he goes about it”. I sighed. “Blaze has a way with words. He can be mean. Then we fight and make up. We just go around in circles”.
“You love um?”.
“Jared”.
“Ava”. He mimicked.
“Shut up”. I shoved his arm. “Seriously though how are you feeling?”. Getting my things from the trunk I locked my car.
“Always good darling. Nothing for you to worry about”.
I wasn’t convinced in the slightest, but Jared was Jared. He didn’t give anything away.
“And Sasha?”.
“Let’s not go their sweetheart”.
“Still not sorted it I see”. Walking through the clubhouse I went looking for my mom. I still had to ask her about taking Everleigh for the night. After putting the bags in our room, I found her in the kitchen making coffee.
“You want one?”. She asked already filling me a cup.
“Thanks”. Taking a seat at the table I brought the cup to my lips. “How are you?”. I asked. I was hesitant to ask her. Not because she’d say no but because I haven’t asked her to watch he while I go out drinking.
Maybe I shouldn’t go.
“I’m good baby, how are you doing? All set for Everleigh going to preschool?”. Sitting across from me she sipped away at her coffee.
“Nearly just a few things to get. I can’t believe she’s going to preschool already”. Where has my baby gone? She was growing so fast.
“I remember your first day. You couldn’t wait to go. You didn’t even look back when I dropped you off”. She smiled. “She’ll be great Ava. She’s strong like her mama”. She winked.
“Can you look after her tonight”. I asked.
“I’ll always look after her when you need me to. What have you got planned?”.
“Ally and the girls are coming over, but I mean if you can’t or don’t want to, I can just cancel”.
“Don’t be silly of course I’ll take her. Everyone deserves a night out Ava, especially you. When was the last time you were out?”.
Good question.
“Go have fun, go get drunk. You deserve a night out with your friends. Don’t worry about Everleigh, I’ll keep her”.
“Thanks mom”. Taking another sip of my coffee I poured the rest down the sink.
“Does Blaze know you’re going out?”. She asked.
Why did it always have to come down to Blaze. Yes, I was his old lady and soon to be wife, but I didn’t need his permission to go out.
“Yes, is he happy about it probably not but he never is when I want to go do something”. I was getting frustrated.
“I’m sure that’s not true. He just worries about you. Wants to keep you safe”.
“By wrapping me in cotton wool. I sometimes feel like I can’t breathe. God, I love him mom I really do but I shouldn’t feel guilty whenever I want to go out just because he doesn’t approve”.
“Ava”. She warned but I continued.
“I know”. I sighed “I’m probably overreacting like always, but it just annoys me. It’s like he doesn’t trust me. I mean he’s nothing to worry about. I am coming home to him”.
“It’s not you that I don’t trust sweets. It’s every other fucker out there. I don’t have an issue with you going out heck do what you want you always do anyway”.
Me and my big mouth.
“Really mom you couldn’t have given me a better signal”.
“I tried”. She shrugged.
Great now I had to go explain to him what I meant and hope to god he didn’t have his hot head on.