“Straightened that face yet?”.
“Not in the mood for another fight”. I sighed.
I always found it hard to stay mad at my dad these days. We didn’t always have the best relationship, but he was still my dad.
“You ain’t gonna get another fight sweetheart. Came to say sorry”. Looking at him I frowned, that was a first. “I get hot headed at times Ava, I lose my shit and I say stuff I don’t mean. You do you if you ain’t happy here darling then do what you need to do. No one will stop you”.
“It’s not that I’m not happy I just want my own space heck I want my own bedroom”. I wanted to be able to walk around naked, I wanted to curl up on the sofa at night with a good film, I wanted to go into the toilet and not have to put the seat down every damn time.
“So, you’re not taking Everleigh away?”.
“Dad where did you get that idea from?”.
“The suitcases, I went to check on her and seen them”. Scratching the back of his head he slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out his smokes. “Never dawned on me that you meant your house here”.
“I’m not taking Everleigh away and I’m not leaving, okay?”.
“What about-…”.
“Blaze?”. I asked. “Well, the ring is still on my finger, and I don’t plan on taking it off. I just get frustrated with him at times but when I have some time to think I realise how much the club affects his life”.
Ride or die as they say.
“We’re a family Ava and you’re part of that family. Cut the boy some slack and go fucking talk to him before he drinks my bar dry. I love ya kid”. Kissing the top of my head before he ruffled my hair he laughed when I swatted his hand away. “And if you see your mom, tell her I’ll be in soon just working on the bike”.
Watching as he made his way to the garage I got to my feet and made my way back towards the clubhouse. I just hope he wasn’t shitfaced. I couldn’t see him. I was half expecting to find him in a corner cuddling a bottle of Jack. Glancing around the bar I frowned.
Had he gone out?
“He’s putting Everleigh to bed”. Placing her hand on my arm I looked at her. “You okay baby?”. I felt terrible at the way I spoke to her earlier. My mom just wanted the best for me, and I knew that deep down.
“I’m sorry mom”.
“Don’t be sorry baby it’s okay. I overstep my mark at times, but it all comes from a good place”. Placing a kiss on my cheek she squeezed me arm. “You seen your dad?”.
“In the garage working on his bike”.
“Him and that bike”. She sighed. “I kept you some food, it’s in the oven. Make sure you eat something”.
“I will”. Eating was the last thing on my mind but come to think of it I had barely ate all day. Approaching the room where Everleigh slept, I stopped when I saw him.
“She’s asleep. Tired herself out running around mad”.
“Did she eat much?”. I asked my eyes landing on his. Everleigh wasn’t the only one that needed sleep. He looked done in.
“She ate enough. Have you eaten?”.
“I’ll eat something when-…”
“No, you’ll eat something now. She’s asleep and the monitors set up. Get some food in that belly, I’ll run you a bath yeah?”.
“Yeah okay”. Reaching out his arm slid around my waist pulling me to him.
“Blaze”…
“Just let me hold you for a sec, please”. Burying his head in my neck my body relaxed, my eyes closing. I didn’t know how he did it, but he always had a way of making me feel better. It was like nothing else matter only that I was in his arms. He was here and we were together.
And then my stomach grumbled.
“When did you last eat something?”. Pulling back, he stared at me. “You better be fucking eating Ava”. And that right there is how he always ruined the moment.
“I’m eating”. Rolling my eyes, he gripped my chin his eyes darkening.
He was always so protective.
“Jesus Blaze I’m eating”. Swatting his hand away I slipped from his embrace. “I’m going to eat something right now do you want to watch?”.
“Watch your mouth princess”. Now I knew I was in hot water. The teeth clench was always a big giveaway.
“If she wakes up come get me”. It was better if I just let it be. There was no need to cause an argument over eating.
“Just eat something you stubborn little witch”. Fighting back my smile I gave him the middle finger but was out of there before he could react.
I didn’t realise how hungry I was until I was stuffing my face with chicken.
“Good girl. Baths ready when you are”.
“Thank you”. Finishing what was on my plate I slipped off my chair and put the plate in the sink. He was always good at sneaking up on me. With both hands on either side of the kitchen counter I was trapped.
“It’s been a weird day. I would really like to take that bath and go to bed. Before you ask, we’re okay. If we weren’t you wouldn’t be touching me right now”. Turning round so I could face him I placed my lips against his. “Come to bed when you can”. Circling his arms around my waist he slipped his hands onto my bum and lifted me into his arms placing me on top of the counter.
Slipping my arms around his neck I placed my forehead against his. “I’m sorry for being a bitch”.
“I can handle you being a bitch, but I can’t handle not knowing if you’re going to up and leave me one day”.
“I’m not leaving you”.
“I know I’m an asshole with a bad temper, I’m a selfish prick at times and yeah sometimes I forget what I have. I get wrapped up in club shit and for a long time that’s all I had, it’s all I knew. I struggle sometimes because I know deep down you deserve better. I know you deserve more than this, but I can’t cut ties. This is my life babe, I wish I could give you better, wish I had more to offer. I didn’t have the best life before your dad found me. I was a scrawny teenager sleeping rough and stealing to eat. After my mom passed I-…”. He paused.
I knew my dad took him under his wing at a young age, but he had never really told me the full story. He always struggled to talk about his past life, he rarely spoke about his mom because he couldn’t.
“It’s okay”. Placing my hands on either side of his face I blinked away my tears. I couldn’t imagine Blaze back then. The strong powerful man in front of me struggling to eat, having nowhere to sleep. I didn’t like to think of all the bad things that happened to him because I knew they happened, even if we never spoke about it, I knew his childhood was rough. I knew his dad beat him.
“No baby don’t cry I didn’t say it to make you cry”. Kissing the side of my mouth he wiped the wetness from my cheeks.
“I don’t like to think about you being hurt and mistreated. I hate that you struggled, and you were left on your own as a child. I’m so sorry”. I cried. Feeling his grip tighten he held me close.
“Let’s get you in that bath and have a somewhat early night”.
“Or how about we get out of here?”. I knew Everleigh was safe with my mom and if I’m honest we could really use the alone time.
“You wanna ride on the back of my bike darling?”. Rubbing his nose against mine I smiled leaning in and placing my lips against his.
“Always”. I whispered