“You girls”. I cried. “I’ve missed you all”. And I did. I missed the good times we had together. My girls were friends for life.
“Is Blaze back yet?”. Ally asked.
“I don’t think so”. Checking my phone I didn’t have any messages or missed calls.
“Cage is with him so don’t worry”. Placing her hand on my arm she squeezed. “Just have a good time tonight. You deserve it”. Handing me a glass of wine she raised her hand. “To a good, drama free, men free night”.
I’ll drink to that.
But I knew it wasn’t going to be man free.
..
“Ally, I swear if this was your idea-…”
“Awk lighten up we’ve been to a few bars, but this one is the best. It’s not my fault Blaze owns it and besides it’s not just a strip club”.
Suddenly I was having Deja vu. The last time I was here didn’t go down very well. And his employees like to grass.
“I must admit it’s a good club”. Chantelle grinned.
It was and I did get to drink for free.
“Come on A we all know you want too”. Lacing her fingers through mine she pulled me to the front of the queue.
Jared was here. Was he working the door?
“Ladies”. He smirked looking me up and down. Oh no did he always do that? “Have a good night darling”. I didn’t miss his hand on the lower of my back whilst he kissed my cheek.
But he always did that. I was reading way too much I to this.
“Ava come on”. I hadn’t realised I had stopped. Entering the main doors, the first thing I noticed was how packed it was.
“Boss lady your booth is in the back”. Butch grinned as he led the way. “Drinks will be here soon ladies”.
“Holy freaking cow. Did you see the size of that guy”. Lexi laughed. “No wonder Blaze has him working here”.
I couldn’t relax. My head seemed to be all over the place. I hadn’t seen Blaze for hours. No message or missed call. Wasn’t like him not to check in even when we did have a disagreement. Well, if you could even call it that.
“Not going to lie but I love that Blaze owns this. Bottle service right at the table, not having to wait in line for a drink. Will you marry him already”. Ally smiled.
Glancing down at my ring I smiled. I couldn’t wait to marry him. Opening the bottle of vodka, I poured some into a glass topping it with lemonade and a piece of lime.
“God, I love this song. Lex are you coming?”. Ally asked holding out her hand. Wild thoughts by DJ Khaled was blaring through the club.
“I am”. Chantelle grinned. “Ava?”. Holding out her hand I shook my head.
“Not drunk enough yet”. Rolling her eyes, she grabbed both girl’s hands and headed to the dance floor.
I needed to shake this funk off. Downing the rest of my drink I opened the bottle of jager mister and took a sip, but I just wasn’t feeling it.
“How come you’re not out there with your friends?”. Jared asked as he took a seat next to me.
“Not really in the mood anymore”. Pouring myself another drink I was arguing with myself on whether I should call him.
I hadn’t heard from him all night.
“He’s okay Ava. He’s with Duke and Cage sorting out something and I’m sure he’ll drop by when he’s done”.
“Would I be a shit friend if I go home?”. I know I’d be letting the girls down, but I just couldn’t seem to enjoy myself.
“Ava he’s fine. Go have fun with your friends”. Jared reassured me.
I wasn’t in the mood anymore. I just wanted to go home. “I think I’m just going to go”. Rummaging through my bag I took out my phone.
“Ava”. He sighed.
“Jared”. I mimicked.
My phone vibrated in my hand.
It was my mom. She had sent me a picture of Everleigh all tucked up in bed. And sure, as hell she was catching flies, just like her dad.
“You smiling at princess?”.
“Look at her?”. Showing him the photo, he smiled.
“She’s precious Ava”. He didn’t need to tell me that. I knew just how precious she was.
“Still nothing from her daddy though”. Sighing I put my phone away and picked up my drink. “He’s made me feel so shitty tonight”.
“Not getting involved. The fucker can still throw a punch”.
“Can you just take me home please?”. I would make it up to the girls another time, but I wasn’t going to stay here and ruin their night. “Jared?”.
He was too busy looking at his phone.
“You might wanna hold off on that darling”. Following his gaze, I saw him. He was here and he was walking towards us. I couldn’t really tell how he was going to be, couldn’t read him. Giving Jared a nod he took the seat beside me his hand resting on my thigh. He reeked of smoke.
He didn’t speak.
A glass was placed in front of him. Brown liquor no ice. “Can I get you anything else boss?”.
Hm, she seemed nervous. Shaking his head no she couldn’t have moved away fast enough. Placing my hand on top of his I pushed it off me and stood up.
“Sit down”.
“I need to pee”. Grabbing my purse, I waited for him to move so I could get past. Obviously, the job he was doing didn’t go to plan because I can’t think of any other reason as to why he was acting like a prick. I could see the girls making their way back to us.
And if Blaze was here, Cage and Cooper couldn’t be far away.
“Blaze”.
He stood up and let me past.
“You okay?”. Ally asked.
Shrugging my shoulders I rolled my eyes. “I want to go home”. I whispered. Her face fell. “Walk me outside?”. I asked her. But she wasn’t looking at me, she was glaring at Blaze.
“Ally don’t”. But she didn’t listen.
“You need to have a word with yourself”. She hissed taking a hold of my hand. “Fucking look at what you’ve got, look at her”. Her voice only seemed to be getting louder.
He wasn’t happy. His jaw was clenched.
“You think because you’re some bad ass biker that you can treat my best friend like this?”.
“Ally”. I warned.
“No Ava”. Letting go of my hand she moved closer. “All because she wanted to have a night out with her friends. You don’t deserve her; you don’t deserve to marry her either and do you know what I wish she didn’t come back here because then she wouldn’t have to put up with you”. Slamming his hands on the table he got to his feet.
My heart was hammering through my chest.
“Get to fuck”. He growled. “I see your face anywhere near my clubhouse again…”. He paused.
“Ally sweetheart I suggest you go”. Jared took a hold of her upper arm. “Now”.
“He needed to know the fucking truth”. Ripping her arm from his grasp she took off.
The full table was silent. Not even Lexi had anything to say, and she was a smart ass always trying to make light of a bad situation.
“Ladies how about I take you back to the clubhouse”. Jared wasn’t asking.
I couldn’t move. What just happened? Why did he act like that? Did me going out really make him act this way?
I knew Lexi was hesitant in leaving.
“Sit down”.
But I couldn’t.
“Ava”. He finally looked at me.
And that’s when I saw the black eye, the bruising and swelling around his face. The busted lip. He was hurt.
Taking a seat beside him I sighed. I hadn’t seen his face like that in a long time and I bet it wasn’t just his face that was a mess.
“How bad?”. I asked.
“Doesn’t matter. I’m a fucking idiot and Ally was right you deserve so much better. Jared’s coming back to take you home”.
“Why aren’t you taking me home?”.
“I’ve still got stuff to do but I want you home and safe”.
Safe?
I started to panic. My breathing picked up a little.
“I’m not going home until you’re going home”. I could just be as stubborn as him.
“Ava”. He warned but I didn’t care. He was acting weird and when he acted weird, he did silly things and one of them was leaving me. He wasn’t leaving me again.
“You’re not leaving me again”.
He looked at me and it was like he was looking into my soul. I knew it. I couldn’t believe it. He was going to leave again.
Feeling the pain across my hand I hissed. “You don’t get to leave me for a second time”. I cried. “You leave me this time and you’ll never see me or your daughter again”.
“You deserve better than me”.
Crawling into his lap I grabbed his face in both hands, I made him look at me. “You don’t get to make that decision; you don’t get to fucking leave me again do you hear me”. I cried. “You can’t do this to me again”. I sobbed. Our noses were touching, my cheeks and his soaked with tears.
My tears.
“We’re good babe I promise we’re good. I’m here Blaze I’ve always been here. Please don’t leave me”. I was hysterical. The thought of him not being in my life again through me into the deep end.
“Promise me you won’t leave”.
Wrapping his arms around my waist he squeezed tight. He did something I hadn’t seen in a long time. He cried; he was sobbing into my neck.
“We’ll be okay baby”. My voice was shaky. “I promise we’ll be okay. I need you Blaze, Everleigh needs you”.
“I’m not leaving sweets. I would never put you through that again”. Placing a kiss on my neck he pulled back.
His emotions were raw. For once he wasn’t hiding or holding anything back.
“I love you Blaze so much”.
“I love you too baby”.
With my fingertips I gently ran them across his face. They looked sore. “Can we go so I can clean you up”. I wanted to go home and get him to bed. For once he looked done in. And I don’t mean tired I mean done as in done for good.
“Babe I still need to sort a few things out”.
I wasn’t letting him out my sight.
“Send Jared to do it. Please Blaze I want you home with me”.
And he did.
He took us home.
Not to the clubhouse but to our own home.