A yawn escaped my mouth. It was almost midnight, and we still hadn’t heard anything.
“Go to bed sweetheart”. Jared kept his word. He didn’t leave. No matter how many times I told him to go he stayed. More hassle for him if he left me alone. Ally didn’t drop by. She didn’t want it to be awkward because it was Cage he was with.
Absolute nonsense if you ask me. Things could never be awkward between us. No matter what happened Cage wasn’t to blame.
“I’m good”. I kept my eyes on the tv. Some true crime documentary was on, but I had no idea what was happening.
All I could think about was him.
“You can hardly keep your eyes open Ava”.
“I’m fine”. I could feel his eyes boring into the side of my head. “I could eat though”.
“Aye?”. He sat up. I don’t know why my eating always concerned him.
“Yes”. I smiled.
“McDonald’s it is then”.
“Loads of pickles”. I smiled.
As soon as I heard the door close and the roar of his engine I jumped to my feet. I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t already have a plan in my stupid head.
Wrapping Everleigh up in her blanket I made sure to grab my keys before making my way to my car. I didn’t know what I was doing but I couldn’t sit about and wait.
Once she was secure, I jumped onto the driver’s side locking my doors and turning up the heat. Another thing she takes off her dad, she slept through almost anything.
I put my phone in the holder, turned on the engine and pulled out of the driveway. I didn’t know where to look, didn’t know where to start.
He could be anywhere.
He could be dead.
I had been driving around town for at least half an hour ignoring Jared’s calls. He would be furious that I was out here especially taking Everleigh with me.
I didn’t even get the chance to say hello…
“Where the fuck are you?”.
“I had to try Jared”. I was already planning to head back. What was the point? I didn’t know where to start.
“Ava”. He sighed. “Get home darling, he wouldn’t be happy if he knew you were out”.
“I know”. I sighed. “I’m heading home now”. I ended the call and pulled back onto the road. Glancing at Everleigh in my rear view mirror a sigh fell from my lips.
She deserved better.
She should be tucked up in bed not out here with me looking for her dad. What was I thinking, truth was I wasn’t thinking at all. I was to wrapped up on Blaze and his whereabouts.
No more.
It was time I put my kids first. Placing my hand on my stomach, I drove the rest of the way home. This thing between Blaze and Nate was never going to stop. Family or not nothing was going to bring either of them back together.
“Mommy I’m thirsty”. Her sleepy little voice knocked me out of my thoughts.
“We’ll be home soon baby”.
“Where’s daddy?”.
“He’ll be home soon too”. I hated lying to her, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell her the truth. Heck, I didn’t even know the truth.
If he was dead, alive. He had gone completely silent to everyone. Pulling into the drive Jared stood on the porch smoking a cigarette.
“Leave her and I’ll put her to bed”. He flicked the cigarette to the ground. “Foods in the kitchen”.
“She’s awake and I’ll put her to bed”.
“You’re not listening sweetheart. It’s best you get inside and let me put her to bed”. He nodded to the bottom of the drive.
He was home!
My heartbeat quickened; how did I not see his bike?
“H-he’s here?”. I whispered already, giving Jared my car keys.
“Aye darling”.
I rushed inside….
He was here all right. Sat at the kitchen table smoking a cigarette covered in blood. His hands, his clothes, his face. Blood everywhere.
“You should see him”. He smirked.
“Are you kidding me right now?”. I could see the bruise forming under his eyes and over his cheekbone, his nose broken. His bottom lip was cut and swollen.
“It’s sorted”. He took a long drag of his smoke before going to the fridge and pulling out a beer. I didn’t miss the limp.
“Look at the state of you”. I didn’t know whether to be angry at his state or cry.
“Least you don’t have to pull a bullet out this time”.
“Are you fucking-… do you know what I can’t even”. I clenched my teeth. I was relieved he was okay, but I was pissed at the same time. Did he really think coming home in that state was okay?
“Babe”.
“Clean yourself up”. I went about making Everleigh a drink all the while he stood staring at me. “I was worried sick and do you-…”. I turned around bumping into his chest, his arms circled my waist. “Don’t even right now Blaze”.
“You can’t be mad at me sweets”. He kissed the side of my mouth his hands sneaking lower until they rested against my ass.
A sigh fell from my lips. I was mad and I wasn’t. He scared me because I thought he wasn’t coming back to me. “You really scared me tonight. You up and left without telling anyone and poor Cage”. I groaned.
“You giving him a hard time again?”. He smirked.
“You shouldn’t have gone alone”. I frowned.
I wanted to ask about Nate, but I wasn’t sure the reaction I was going to get. Blaze was roughed up, his face a mess and the blood. God the blood.
“I had to do this alone babe. It was between Nate and me. I couldn’t get anyone else involved”.
“Is he-…”. I couldn’t bring myself to say it. Chewing the inside of my cheek I broke our stare.
“He ain’t dead”. His arms fell from my waist as he limped his way back to the table. Bringing the beer bottle to his lips he took another long drink. “He’s pretty fucked up but he’s not dead”.
“Fuck sake brother”. Jared stood leaning against the door frame.
“Looks worse than it is. Should see the state of that fucker”. He smirked.
I knew things weren’t fixed. I don’t know why I thought they would have been. Two grown men fighting it out, two brothers and he was sat here laughing about it.
“Clean yourself up before you come to bed”. Nothing was resolved. It was never going to stop between them. Blood was thicker than water but that wasn’t the case with Blaze and Nate.
He could have been killed. Not even a thought of what he would have been leaving behind.
Grabbing Everleigh’s cup, I stormed my way upstairs. Yes, I was pissed off and I had every right to be. Pushing her door open wider I placed her cup on her nightstand.
She had already fallen back asleep.
Hearing the front door open and close I knew Jared had left. Going into our bedroom I pulled back the covers and got in.
It wasn’t long before he came to bed. Still covered in blood, still wearing the same clothes. “Straighten that face before I get out the shower darling”.
I clenched my teeth giving his back the middle finger. I was glad he was home and safe but that didn’t mean I wasn’t angry.
He left me, he left his daughter and his unborn child and for what, his fucking pride. He would have left me on my own to bring up our kids.
I was overreacting but I couldn’t help it. I was so scared of losing him. Hearing the shower turn off I rolled onto my side pulling the covers up and around my neck.
“You really gonna stay mad about this?”. I could hear him moving about the room. Drawers opening, the click of his lighter.
“Absolutely not”. I turned around glaring at him. “Not in the bedroom. I’m pregnant in case you’ve forgot”.
He smirked but still lit up the cigarette. “I can’t wait to see you round and fat”. He moved to the window opening it up wide. “Your tits massive, fuck sweets I’m getting hard just thinking about it”.
I bit back my smile. “I’m still mad at you”. I crossed my arms over my chest. “You left me”. I whispered.
He threw his cigarette out, closing the window and drawing the blinds. “I didn’t leave you babe; I’ll never leave you”. He pulled back the covers getting in beside me.
Leaning my head against his chest, I threw my leg over his. “I’m glad you’re home and safe”. I placed a kiss against his chest. He was right, there was no point in staying mad. He was home and that’s all that mattered.
“I love you A”. He placed a kiss on top of my head as I snuggled closer.
“I love you too”.