“He comes back here, and that ring isn’t on your finger it won’t be pretty”.
“What ring?”.
Oh god…
“Oh my god you said yes didn’t you”. My mom squealed pulling me in for a hug. “He was waiting until you were feeling better, but I guess he couldn’t wait any longer. Get that ring back on your finger we’re going to celebrate”. Before I could interrupt her or stop her from doing anything stupid, she ran off grabbing a few other women.
“Thanks for that”. Glaring at Jared I removed the ring from my pocket and slipped it back on my finger.
There was no point in hiding it now, my mom would make sure everyone knew. I wasn’t in the mood for celebrating. Not when we were on lockdown and especially not when my best friend wasn’t here to celebrate with me. “Don’t give me that look Jared. You know I can’t stop worrying until I know what’s happened”.
As he put Everleigh down, I watched as she ran towards my mom.
“Can’t always think the worst Ava but if you want something to take your mind of it you could always keep her company”. He nodded to one of the booths in the back and my eyes widened.
Sasha was here…
“Have you two kissed and made up?” I grinned but it soon fell when I noticed he wasn’t smiling.
“We’re on lockdown she’s here because she needs to be”. He grumbled taking out a cigarette. “Still not ready to forgive her yet. Every time I look at her, I want to shoot somebody. Fuck Ava I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive her”.
I hated seeing him like this. He was never one to show how he felt but Sasha sure did a turn on him. But we all make mistakes, and everyone deserved a second chance. If they didn’t, I wouldn’t be here with a ring on my finger.
“Second chances are a blessing, Jared. Can you see yourself with someone else? She told me what happened”. I don’t know what I would have done if I was in her position. Years of an on off relationship, feeling the way she feels.
“Fuck did she say Ava?” By this point we were sitting at the bar a drink in hand. Well, he was I still wasn’t feeling so good, so I settled for cola.
“You have been on and off for years, she thinks you want to keep her as your little secret. She’s wants to be your old lady, but you won’t take that last step”. He was always good at hiding his emotions but not this time, his eyes were dark his top lip pulled back into a snarl, teeth gritted.
He was angry or so it seemed.
“How can she want all that when she let someone else fuck her?” He hissed knocking back what he had left in his glass. “She fucked someone else. I’d be a fucking joke if I took her back”.
“So, I’m a joke?” I asked.
Regret was written all over his face. Blaze slept with someone else, and I took him back. We put the past behind us, and we moved on. It took us a while to get here but we did it. We were fighting to keep our relationship alive, and I was thankful I fought for what I wanted.
“Ava, I didn’t-…”
“So, everyone in here will think you’re a joke if you take her back, so what did everyone think of me when I took Blaze back? Oh, that’s right fucking nothing because he’s VP am I right? Or is it because he’d kill them without a second glance?”.
“Ava-…”
“What would have happened if it was you that had slept with someone else huh? Nothing because no one would have batted an eyelid. Nobody gave two shits when Blaze treated me badly, nobody cared that I walked in on him between another girls’ legs, nobody cared because men in this clubhouse do whatever the fuck they want. They don’t care who gets hurt or how badly it affects us. We’ve just to smile and keep our mouths shut right?”.
I didn’t notice that I had caught the attention of everyone around us. Frankly, I didn’t care because what I was saying was true. Thinking back on everything that Blaze put me through, everything that I buried over the years and yet I came back and here I was ready to become his wife.
“Ava that’s enough”. I could hear the panic in my mom’s voice, but I was on a roll, and everyone needed to hear it.
Little did I know that Blaze had returned and heard everything.
“Relationships work two ways Jared and if I’m being honest, it sounds like you’ve kept her on a leash for years, she fucking loves you, would do anything for you and do you know what she’s deserves fucking better”.
By the time I finished I was red in the face with anger, my body shaking. I had no idea where that all came from, but it needed to come out and people needed to hear it and listen. Us girls didn’t need to be treated like shit; we didn’t deserve it.
Storming my way behind the bar I grabbed a bottle of tequila and poured myself a shot. Knocking it back I slammed the glass on the bar only then noticing that Blaze had returned. He was stood at the front door staring at me.
“I guess lockdown’s over then”.
Pouring myself another shot I knocked it back then put the bottle under the bar. I don’t know why I said the things I did something inside me snapped and I couldn’t hold it in. Jared had disappeared and Sasha was nowhere to be seen.
Music started to play, and everyone went back to minding their own business.
“You causing bother?” He smirked making his way around the bar.
Okay so he didn’t seem angry about what I said but why should he? it was the truth, and everyone here knows it.
“I’m sorry”. I whispered as he slowly closed the gap between us. I wasn’t sorry for what I said. I was sorry for airing out our past.
“Don’t be sorry darling. Everything you said was spot on and if I could go back and change it you can bet your ass I would”. Slipping his arms around my waist he pulled me flush against him. “I’m just glad you gave me the chance to put that ring on your finger. I know what I’ve got, and nothing compares or even comes close to you”. Bringing his lips down on mine I wrapped my arms around his neck.
His lips were soft, his breath minty. Chewing softly on his bottom lip a throat clearing caused me to pull back. Seriously it was like we weren’t allowed to get physical.
“You tell her the good news?” My dad asked as he grabbed a bottle of whiskey.
“Good news?” I questioned looking up at him.
“It was an accident, Ava. She ran a stop sign”.
My body and mind physically relaxed but I was still worried about Ally. Was she okay? How badly was she injured?
“She’s fine. A broken leg and a few broken ribs but other than that she’s good. She’ll be discharged in a few days”.
“Thank god”.
“Well, I’m off to take the wife to bed”. My dad smirked causing me to make a face. I didn’t need to know that. “You take care of my daughter, or you’ll have this to answer too”. Showing his gun, I rolled my eyes.
When was he going to stop that?
“Got it Prez” Blaze nodded as he slung his arm around my shoulders.