I couldn’t help but feel that someone was following me. Every aisle I went up the hair on the back of my neck stood. My grip on the shopping cart tightened. I hadn’t felt this feeling in a long time. My stomach tightened, my mouth becoming dry. I was in a store full of people, surely to god I was safe.
Biting back my fear I spun around. There he was, Nate. Letting out the breath I didn’t realise I was holding I glared.
“Are you following me?”.
“What, no”. Scratching the back of his head I saw the hint of a smile.
Yes, yes, he was.
“You could have just said hello instead of following me like a big creeper”. Rolling my eyes I started pushing my cart towards him.
“Nice to see you’re still the same”. He grinned. “And I would have said hello I just didn’t know how to approach you”.
Really?
“So, you thought you’d follow me instead?”. Making a face I shook my head. It wasn’t very often I seen Nate anymore. Bumped into him a few times, shared a few words but that was it.
There was a time way back when that we were close. To think I could have been with him instead of Blaze, but the heart wants what it wants.
“I’ll know for next time”. He winked. “So, how’s my brother?”.
Nope! I wasn’t doing this.
“Maybe you should try and reach out to him”. Every time I bumped into Nate it was always the same conversation. I couldn’t see things working out between them ever. Not after what he did. He broke the code of brothers.
“Blaze will never forgive me for what I did Ava. It’s the reason I ask you every time we bump into each other”. He sighed.
“There’s always a way to make it right”. I shrugged. “You just need to find out what that is”. I couldn’t even bring Nate’s name up without it causing an argument. We all know how jealous he gets.
“I worry about him. He’s stepping up soon and I’m not sure he’s ready”.
Blaze was more than ready but I wanted to know how he knew this. I knew he watched out for him but was he tracking the club? Nate had a lot of money; I knew that much.
“Would have been mine y’know. The club would have been mine; it was mine. I would have taken over after your dad”.
“That’s your own fault Nate”. He did the worst thing you could do when it came to the club. He sailed Blaze up the river without a paddle. Left him to rot in jail.
“I fucked up, but I was young and stupid”. He shrugged. “I knew Blaze could handle it”.
“So that makes it okay?”. I frowned.
“I did one bad thing Ava, you’ve no idea the shit my brother has done and yet he still gets the girl”. Shaking his head he laughed. “I could have given you the world and more, brought Everleigh up as my own. One day back here and you fell straight back in love with him. What is it about my fucking brother?”.
How did this end up being about me?
“I didn’t fall back in love with him Nate, I had never fell out of love with him”. I didn’t appreciate his tone and I had already apologised for what happened with us in the past.
I had no doubts that Nate would have been a great partner, but my heart already belonged to Blaze. It had for an exceedingly long time.
“I just don’t get it”. He sighed. “He’s wasted his life with that damn club. He’s no future, can’t support his family and-…”
My hand connected with his cheek, my eyes falling into slits. He could run his mouth all he wanted but I wasn’t going to stand here and let him say Blaze couldn’t support his family.
“How dare you”. I hissed. “He’s not perfect Nate but he sure as hell can look after us”. It was the first time I was hesitant of where this was going to go.
The hatred in his eyes, it was the first time I saw the biker that he used to be. His hands balled into fists; his teeth clenched.
“You would have been mine”. His nostrils flared; the glare clear. It was the first time I had even been afraid of him.
Swallowing the lump that appeared in my throat I watched his eyes soften. He knew I was afraid of him. This man in front of me wasn’t the sweet Nate I met years ago.
“If you hadn’t of let Blaze, take the blame for what you did you would still be a part of the club. Like you said it would have been yours, but I won’t let you stand here and bad mouth him. He may not be successful or have lots of money, but I love him. I always have”. I whispered.
“He’ll never be enough for you Ava but when you’re ready you know where to find me”.
I watched him walk away. I was physically shaking with anger. I was always rooting for them to fix things before it was too late but now, now I hope I never bump into him again.
I thought I knew Nate, but he only let me see what I wanted to see. At least with Blaze I saw every part. He never tried to be something he wasn’t. No matter how horrible he could be I knew he was always being himself.
What you see is what you get with Blaze.
I couldn’t even remember what else I came here for. Heading towards the cashier I quickly paid for what I had and got out of there.
I just wanted to go home.
I was parked down the street, still in view so I could see the clubhouse. I had been having little twinges in my stomach since I left the store but nothing strong enough to make me worry.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Nate and how horrible he was. How do I tell Blaze? There was already bad blood between them and if I told him what happened he would kill him.
Rubbing a hand down my face I chewed my bottom lip. I had to tell him. I didn’t want there to be any secrets between us and if I did keep it from him and he found out from someone else all hell would break loose.
I was currently watching people come and go. Jared was stood smoking a cigarette, his phone to his ear. Once he clocked me, he ended the call and started walking towards my car.
He had a face like thunder.
Makes me wonder if he was talking to Sasha. It wasn’t long until she was due. As he approached my car, I rolled down my window a little.
“Why you sitting out here?”.
“Can’t be bothered moving”. I laughed but it soon turned into a groan, my hand going straight to my stomach.
“Ava?”. His eyes dropped to my stomach.
“I’m fine”. I smiled. “It’s just cramp. Is Blaze still here?”.
“He’s in the office. You want me to get him?”.
“No Jared he’ll just worry. I’m going to head home. Please make sure he doesn’t forget he’s picking up Everleigh”.
“Alright darling. I’ll see you later”.
…
I was sat on our bed still in my towel. I had a bath thinking it would help but I was still having little twinges here and there.
Taking a deep breath, I placed my hand on my stomach and rubbed gently. It was just cramp, nothing to worry about. Hearing the roar of the engine I frowned. He was supposed to pick up Everleigh. Why was he riding his bike?
Hearing the front door open and his boots on the stairs I got to my feet. “Sweets you up here and before you say anything I couldn’t get her away from your dad. She fucking loves him”.
Yes, she did.
Getting to my feet I made sure my towel was secure. “I wanted her home with me Blaze and stop looking at me like that”. I sighed.
I wasn’t in the mood for sex.
“Looking at you like what?”. He smirked sliding his arm around my waist resting his hand on my ass.
“Not a chance”. Placing my hand on his chest I shoved. “Get your head out the gutter”.
“Not even a quickie?”. He squeezed my ass his other hand tugging at my towel.
“Quickies are the reason I’m like this”. I slapped away his hand. “What time are you heading out at?”.
“Already told you darling. It’ll be around 8. Jared will be here before I leave”. He was trying his hardest to get at my towel.
“Is him being here really necessary and stop that”. Hitting his hand away a laugh fell from his lips. “You’re really starting to piss me off”.
“Baby you’re standing in a towel. What do you expect me to be like?”.
Rolling my eyes I couldn’t hide my smile. “Let me get dressed and then I’ll follow you back to the clubhouse”. I wanted Everleigh home.
“Let me see your tits first”. He smirked.
Shaking my head I undid my towel at the top and flashed him. It was the quickest flash ever, the reason for his frown.
“That was shite”. He huffed. “Get dressed I’m going for a smoke”. Feeling his hand smack against my ass I jumped.
“Asshole”.
Pulling on clean underwear I stared at myself in the mirror. It wouldn’t be long until my bump would show. One thing I loved about being pregnant was having the bump. Knowing our child was growing safely inside my stomach.
Once I was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, I ran a brush through my hair and grabbed my leather jacket. I couldn’t wait to see my baby’s face. Leaving the room I made my way downstairs; Blaze was in the kitchen smoking a cigarette with the back door open.
“Damn baby. How’d I get so lucky?”.
Rolling my eyes I grabbed my bag putting it over my shoulder. “Do you think my mom’s gave Everleigh her dinner? I was thinking of getting her a McDonald’s as a little treat”. The McDonald’s being more for me. I wanted pickles. I couldn’t stop thinking about them.
“Aye darling. Knowing your old man she’ll be stuffing her face with candy”.
My dad spoiled her rotten. Whatever she wanted she got. Anything she asked for she got, bear in mind she’s three. Maybe because he missed so much with me, he was trying to get the time back through Everleigh.
“He’s always buying her something”. I sighed. “Can we go. I’m dying to see her”.
“Give me a kiss first”. He smirked closing the gap between us. His arms circled my waist, his hands resting on the lower of my back. Our eyes connected; I couldn’t look away.
He was my Blaze. He was everything I needed. Sliding my hands up his chest I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you enough to know you didn’t cheat”.
“That shits done with Ava. You know now I’d never do anything to risk what we have. I lost you once, missed three years of my daughter’s life and I’ve no one to blame but myself. It almost killed me, but I thought I was doing the right thing. I can’t live without you darling”. Brushing his nose against mine my eyes closed as he kissed me.
I had to tell him about Nate, I just didn’t know how.
Pulling back, I bit my bottom lip. “God you’re beautiful”. Dipping his hand into his inside pocket he pulled out my ring.
He didn’t even have to ask. Giving him my hand he put it back where it belonged. “It doesn’t come off again Ava”.
“It won’t”.