The Daddy Box Set

by Claire Adams

  “Nope, and she was pissed,” he said, laughing harder. “So, have you given any more thought to what gender you’re hoping the baby will be when you deliver?”

  “A human,” I said jokingly. “A sweet, squishy-faced human.”

  “If it wasn’t a human, we would have a whole new discussion,” he replied, laughing.

  “I have honestly tried not to think about it,” I said, rubbing my belly. “It just makes me anxious to meet him or her, and I want it to stay in and bake as long as it can. I have to admit, beyond the difficulty in movement, the nausea at the beginning, and the fact that my ass looks like a pancake now, I kind of like having my little human all curled up, safe and sound in my belly. It might sound weird to you, but it’s like the only time I’ll be able to protect them fully from the world.”

  “I never thought of it that way,” he said, shaking his head. “You really are something special; you know that?”

  “Why?” I asked, laughing. “I’m just me.”

  “And you are perfect,” he replied.

  “I really like that we decided to make it a surprise,” I said excitedly. “Kayla can’t stop talking about it. I told her there were only two options, boy or girl, so it couldn’t be that hard to figure out.”

  “Hey, you never know. It could be a whole new genetic makeup, taking the world into the future.” He smiled. “We would be the parents of the newest generation ever to grace the surface of the earth.”

  “Um, yeah, that would be interesting, but I’ll be happy with just a plain old baby.” I laughed.

  “An old baby? Like Benjamin Button? That would be so strange,” he said, scrunching his nose.

  “You know what I meant,” I said, slapping him in the gut.

  “I know what you are saying, and I really want a healthy, happy baby so we can coddle it, love it, and teach it all kinds of bad jokes and bad habits,” he said with a nod.

  “I agree, like leaving the toilet seat up not down,” I said seriously.

  “Yep, or slamming doors in old people’s faces,” he said back, trying to hide a smile.

  “I like that one. Oh, what about flipping the bird to your grandmother?”

  “Nice,” he said, laughing. “No, I know that this child will be just as amazing as Kayla, especially with you as it’s mother.”

  “Aww,” I cooed, leaning my head on his shoulder. “I think in the back of my mind, I am hoping for a little boy.”

  “Oh, yeah? I would like to not be outnumbered.” He chuckled.

  “I think that a boy would be perfect because I already love Kayla as if she were my biological daughter, so I don’t need another girl.”

  He turned his head and looked at me, his eyes shimmering and his mouth twitching slightly. He looked as if he were going to burst into tears right then and there. He took in a deep breath and hung his arm over my shoulder, pulling me close and kissing my forehead. I closed my eyes and took a deep whiff of his scent, feeling like I was in the perfect place.

  “How did I get so lucky?”

  “Thank your dad.” I smiled. “He made it possible when he decided to hit on my mom.”

  “Oh, yeah.” Ryan laughed. “I’ll have to send him a thank you card. Do they make, ‘Thank you for hitting on my wife’s mother so many years ago,’ cards?”

  “If not, you should totally make your own because it’s brilliant,” I joked. “Or better yet, have it engraved on like a big piece of wood for them to hang in their house.”

  “If I thought my father would see the humor, I would, but knowing him, he wouldn’t get the joke and really hang it on the wall,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Not really what I want hanging there when they have company over.”

  “Oh, come on, that would at least be a conversation starter.” I laughed.

  “You are so cute,” he said, pulling me in again. “I am just so happy to have you in my life.”

  “And I’m happy to be here,” I replied. “I was being serious about Kayla, though. I want you to know that. I love Kayla with all of my heart and would do anything in the world for that girl. She has crawled inside of my heart and made a home there, a place she will never leave.”

  “I love you, baby,” he said, turning as Kayla took the plate.

  “I love you, too,” I said as I kissed his cheek.

  I didn’t know how it all happened, but I really did end up with the perfect life. I met the man of my dreams, and now, he was not only my husband, but my best friend as well. He gave me two of the most precious things in life, as well, two people that I couldn’t wait to introduce to each other. Kayla had stolen my heart a long time before, and this new baby was going to knock me off my feet.

  As I stared out at Kayla, standing up on the mound holding the softball in her hand, I couldn’t help but feel almost overcome with emotion. She looked over and smiled at me before getting into position and tossing the ball out. She threw a second strike in a row, and all she needed was one more.

  My life was finally exactly what I wanted, and I would never turn back for anything. The future was full of love, warmth, and family, and just like the stolen bases on the baseball field, my heart was taken, and by two of the most amazing people I had ever known. Everything was perfect.

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  EXTREME

  By Claire Adams

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2017 Claire Adams

  Chapter One

  Justin

  It was my fight night. I sat at the back of the arena under the overhang. From my seat, I could see how rowdy and pumped the crowd was. It was smaller than what I was used to, but it was okay. I was the main event. I was the reason everyone was there that night. It felt amazing.

  The noise from the crowd was deafening. It was great because I could feel the energy in the crowd. The louder they became, the more it pumped me up for the fight. Most of the people there were eagerly waiting for me to take down my latest opponent.

  I liked to stand near the back and watch the crowd get ready for me to appear. It helped me use that as motivation for my fights. I always stood where they couldn’t see me so I wouldn’t distract from the fight.

  “You’re gonna do great tonight, kid,” Artie said from beside me.

  “I know,” I said confidently.

  This circuit was small, but I was ready for a few knockouts. I was ready to climb those ranks and show them who I really was. I didn’t feel nervous. In fact, I was so pumped that I began to bounce around a little bit. It kept my blood flowing.

  I heard the announcer’s voice echo through the arena as he announced my opponent. I didn’t really pay attention to his name because I knew I would knock him out so quickly that it wouldn’t matter. Then, I heard my own name.

  “And he’s here to climb the ranks, hoping to go further than anyone before him, JUUUUSTIIIIIIN SIIIIIMOOOOON!” he drug my name out for effect. My heart raced with anticipation. I loved hearing my name announced.

  The crowd went wild, screaming, cheering, clapping, and chanting. There were a few boos, but from the sound of it, there weren’t very many. It was easy to block those out.

  I followed Artie, my coach, down the aisle to the cage. People screamed at me as I walked by. I fist bumped a few of my fans and elicited even more cheers.

  I could make out what some of them were saying, “Yeah!! Justin!” and “Kick his ass!” “Knock him down!” “You got this bro!” I appreciated my fans because I worked so hard to get to where I was. Four years ago, I wasn’t much of anything. I was nothing more than a walking mess, and now there I was, making a name for myse
lf in the world of MMA.

  It always made me laugh when people I barely knew would call me “bro.” It always seemed to be my die-hard fans that used that term of brotherhood. Even though they probably didn’t know a single thing about me, it never bothered me. They were the reason I kept going. They were the reason I continued to step into that cage fight after fight.

  I entered the cage and looked around. A few of the newer fighters were right in front. They were hoping to pick up a few tips from me that night. They wanted to be up close and personal with me. They wanted to learn from me. Knowing there were fighters who wanted to be like me was more flattering than anything I’d ever felt before.

  I looked around the crowd a little more. I took in so many faces, but none were memorable. Then, I spotted her. Anna. I was so glad to see her. I’d asked her to come, but I half-expected she wouldn’t show. That might have made for an awkward appointment the next time I met with her, but she was there, and she looked so hot sitting there watching me. She was close enough to see all the action, but far enough away to avoid the bodily fluids that might fly off during the fights. Smart girl. It was something I liked about her. She was sitting next to a girl who looked a little like her. They were whispering and, for a moment, I wished I could hear what they were saying.

  I put my mouth piece in and smiled at her. She smiled back, and it was enough to drive me crazy. She had the best smile I had ever seen in my life.

  I had never been with her, but I thought about it a lot. She was so hot. And not to mention, she was one of the sweetest girls I had ever met. Hot and sweet had always been a deadly combination for me in a woman. I was ready to show off for her so she could see how much of a man I was.

  Anna was my massage therapist, and even though I hadn’t been with anyone in four years, I always thought it would be fun to date her.

  From my spot in the cage, I could barely make out her dark brown hair and eyes. They both looked almost black because of the lighting. She had the best body and was a total knockout. I couldn’t get enough of her when she was around.

  I was hoping she would stick around after my fight so I could talk to her for a minute. My mind was far away, focused on Anna, when I heard Artie trying to get my attention.

  “I need you to focus,” Artie said, snapping me back to reality. “Let’s talk strategy before you get out there.”

  I nodded my head because there was no point in trying to talk with my mouth piece in. I would have had to remove it in order to form any coherent sentences.

  “This guy should be a walk in the park for you. All you need to do is watch for when he puts his guard down and then hit him high. You’ll get a KO for sure,” he said.

  I studied my opponent for a minute. Artie was right. He had been in this business for a long time. I always trusted his judgment in the cage. I had to. I knew there was no way I would ever win a fight without him as my coach. I nodded my head again to show Artie that I understood him and was going to follow his advice.

  The bell rang, and I turned my attention to my opponent. He was about my height but didn’t seem to have as much muscle mass as me. We bounced around in a circle in the middle of the cage, dancing in and out of each other’s reach. I don’t know how long we played with each other before he aimed for my face. I blocked it easily, but then he got me in the ribs. I told myself that wouldn’t happen again.

  It didn’t hurt that bad. The guy didn’t hit too hard, which showed me his weakness. I aimed for his ribs with my left fist as a distraction. When he ducked, I hit him in the cheek with my right fist. I was good at this because I always made sure to be one step ahead of my opponent.

  He got me in my stomach, again. Still not as hard as you would think for a fighter. I had been hit harder by my friends. My confidence soared.

  I led him around in a circle and blocked a few more shots. I aimed for his stomach and ribs. He blocked them, but that was my intention. I was playing with the guy, trying to wear him out. He was playing right into my plan. He aimed for my ribs a couple more times, and got one in, but I blocked most of them.

  When the bell for the third round rang, I could tell this guy was exhausted. It was perfect. This was exactly where I wanted him. Worn and unable to predict my next move. I hit him with a right hook and then an upper cut. That was all it took. He fell to the ground, hitting the mat hard.

  The ref went over to him and counted to three. When my opponent didn’t get back up, the ref called it a KO. He announced me as the winner. Talk about an ego boost. Adrenaline was still coursing through my veins, and I felt invincible.

  With the fight over, I tuned back in to the noise around me. The crowd was going wild.

  “JUSTIN! JUSTIN! JUSTIN!” they chanted and cheered.

  It didn’t matter if it was an easy fight or a tough one; every win felt just as amazing as the previous one. I loved it. The surge of energy that came with winning always felt amazing.

  When I first started out, I didn’t know how good I was going to be. But as I started to master my moves, I quickly learned I was a great fighter. It had a lot to do with my amazing coach and the fact that I fought to support myself and my daughter. She had been a huge motivator for me to become as good as possible.

  I removed my mouth piece and grinned at the crowd. Throwing my fist in the air, I yelled, “Hell yeah!” to the crowd. The cheers grew even louder.

  Artie handed me my towel and water bottle. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and took a sip of water. We stepped out of the cage, and I high fived a few of the fans as Artie and I made our way back to my changing room. I needed to take a quick breather before I got changed.

  “That was a good fight, kid. You KO’d the guy, and now you’re moving on. I’m proud of you, but…” he paused.

  There was always a “but” with him. It was almost like he had to think of something negative whether I won or lost. He had to point out my weaknesses.

  “Your form right before you knocked him out was weak. Your stance needs to be strong in case he comes back with a good hit. You don’t want to lose your balance. You need to keep your form tight. It’s only going to get harder from here on out. You have to keep that in mind,” he said.

  I knew what he was talking about. “Thanks, Artie. I’ll remember that next time,” I said. He was right, after all. I couldn’t afford to let my guard down in the cage.

  “And don’t forget to include more of your submissive wrestling moves. You can get them to tap out faster that way. You’re quick and good at it. Use it to your advantage. Keep your repertoire of moves in your mind at all times. They are your weapons.”

  I nodded my head. I just wanted the lecture to end. He sure did know how to kill my good mood. I didn’t have much time to celebrate, ever. And it sucked. I wished I could have more time with the crowd to show them I loved to have a good time too and that I appreciated their support. I wanted more time to soak up the intoxicating energy that always came after a win. I wished Artie would save his lectures for the following practice. I wished he could let me have my moment.

  “I can’t wait to tell Margie about the fight. She’s going to be so excited that I won,” I said.

  “I bet her eyes will light up just like yours do right before you get in the cage,” Artie said with a smile. I agreed with him. My daughter, Margie, and I had the same eyes. She had her mother’s smile though.

  It was still hard to think about Tammy. Even after four years, I still struggled to pay off the medical bills from when she died. And the guilt I carried around about my daughter not having her mother was insurmountable. More than anything, I hoped Margie wouldn’t take it on throughout her life. Her mom passed away while giving birth to her. They had tried everything to save Tammy, but they had to focus on Margie. They had to make sure they got her out safely. She was only four now and didn’t fully understand what happened. It was the best, most heartbreaking day of my entire life.

  I wanted nothing more than to give Margie a great life. To be there for he
r and support her in everything she chose do. But it was hard. I was still dealing with the emotions of my wife’s passing and not to mention the pile of bills that threatened our way of living every single day. It was the whole reason I started fighting. Paying off those medical bills and giving Margie the life she deserved was my sole focus. I wanted my daughter to have the life I didn’t have as a kid. My parents weren’t poor, but we struggled. And that wasn’t the life I wanted for my daughter.

  “You get home safe and rest up. I need you fresh in the gym on Monday,” Artie said while grabbing his stuff.

  “Will do, sir,” I said.

  “Don’t call me sir,” he said.

  He always hated when I called him sir. I told him it was a sign of respect, and he argued that it just made him feel older than he already was. So, I started calling him sir for fun.

  “See ya later, old man,” I said.

  “Watch your mouth, kid, or I’ll ride you so hard in the gym that you will wish you never met me,” he threatened with a wave goodbye.

  I changed quickly, hoping that Anna would still be around. I at least wanted to thank her for coming before I went home.

  Chapter Two

  Anna

  It was Saturday night, and instead of spending it alone watching Netflix, I was sitting in a noisy arena. It was my first time at a fight. My client, Justin, had invited me to watch his him. I could have said no, but I had to admit I was pretty curious to see what went on at these things.

  I had made sure to get close to the cage, but not close enough that sweat and blood could get on me. I thought I’d save those seats for the hardcore fans. I didn’t like fighting. And watching Justin fight was intense. I was nervous during every second. I didn’t know how badly he could get hurt. Or even how badly he could hurt the other guy. I didn’t understand why people wanted to do this as a career or why they got off on it. I always thought it was a male thing, but then I found out females did it, too.