by Nikki Ash
Copyright
The Fighting Series © 2016-2019
Nikki Ash
All rights reserved
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
Table of Contents
Fighting For a Second Chance
Dedication
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-One
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Three
Twenty-Four
Twenty-Five
Twenty-Six
Twenty-Seven
Twenty-Eight
Twenty-Nine
Thirty
Thirty-One
Thirty-Two
Thirty-Three
Thirty-Four
Thirty-Five
Thirty-Six
Thirty-Seven
Thirty-Eight
Thirty-Nine
Forty
Forty-One
Forty-Two
Forty-Three
Forty-Four
Epilogue
Fighting With Faith
Dedication
Prologue
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-One
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Three
Twenty-Four
Twenty-Five
Twenty-Six
Twenty- Seven
Twenty-Eight
Twenty-Nine
Thirty
Thirty-One
Thirty-Two
Epilogue
Fighting for your Touch
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Epilogue
Fighting for your Love
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter one
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Epilogue
Fighting 'Round the Christmas Tree
Cooper
Liz
Bentley
Kayla
Caleb
Hayley
Kaden
Ashley
Bella
Marco
Cooper
Bentley
Liz
Hayley
Kayla
Marco
Bentley
Cooper
Bella
Liz
Cooper
Caleb
Bella
Ashley
Hayley
Bella
Marco
Kaden
Marco
Bella
Other Books by Nikki Ash
About the Author
Acknowledgements
Other Books by Nikki Ash
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Fighting series: book one
by
Fighting for a Second Chance
Copyright © 2015 Nikki Ash
All rights reserved
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
Cover image: Depositphotos
Cover designer: Jersey Girl Designs
Dedication
To my two beautiful miracles... Always follow your heart.
One
Liz
Graduation day
As I sit in the auditorium of my high school surrounded by three hundred of my fellow classmates I’ve gone to school with my entire life, I look through the sea of maroon and white caps and gowns in search of her. I finally lock eyes with Kayla, the best friend a girl could ever ask for.
&n
bsp; How we became best friends is anybody’s guess since we’re polar opposites in every way. While she has naturally blond hair that is long and pin straight, I have mousy-brown, wavy hair that spirals halfway down my back. She has striking blue eyes to my boring light brown. Her pale skin looks like she has never stepped foot on a beach despite living in Florida and surfing the waves her entire life. My skin is naturally a caramel brown even though I can’t stand the beach in spite of living so close to it all my life.
Where Kayla is outgoing and always the life of the party, I’m soft spoken and reserved. We’ve both been cheerleaders for our local high school for the last four years, but I’m only one because Kayla begged me to try out and I gave in, afraid of losing my best friend to the popular crowd. She made team captain, so it was a given I would be on the squad as well.
I truly enjoy school, and while reading is my favorite pastime, Kayla spends her evenings partying it up and the mornings copying my notes.
When our eyes lock, I smile at her and she smirks back. Words don’t have to be spoken to know what we’re thinking. After being inseparable for the last thirteen years, we can practically read each other’s minds without saying a word.
In about four more hours we’ll be on our way to Miami Beach to party it up for the next seven days, courtesy of my parents as a graduation gift. Now, I’m far from a partier, but even I’m excited to spend a week in South Beach. I might be a bookworm, but I’m still a teenager.
The principal begins to call us up by last name and I’m one of the first people to step across the stage since my last name is Browning. As I walk across the stage, I hear Kayla holler my name at the top of her lungs. “Go Liz!” she yells. I also hear my parents and brother cheering me on.
I smile wide and stop at the end of the stage, so the photographer can snap my picture. I’m extremely excited to finally be done with high school and ready to begin my journey as a college student in a few short weeks at the University of Las Vegas. Kayla and I will be going to the same college and living together just off campus. I was accepted to ULV on a full academic scholarship to major in business and accounting. Yep, not only am I a book nerd, but I also love math and I’m really good with numbers. I have no idea what I want to do with the numbers yet, but I know I want to spend my days with them and my nights with a good book.
Kayla’s parents are just so happy she’s actually going to college, they’ve insisted on paying her tuition as well as our rent while we’re there. She has no idea what she plans to study, but I don’t think they care as long as she goes. Since my parents are so thankful to Kayla’s for paying the rent since my scholarship doesn’t cover room and board, they’re paying for Kayla and me to go away for a week before we head to college.
I’m excited to do some shopping and lounge by the pool with my latest romance novel on my iPad. Kayla has bookmarked and sent me every hot spot imaginable she insists we must check out. That girl would seriously have us partying twenty-four hours a day if it were possible. I’m hoping she’ll get completely partied out and pass out, allowing me to sneak out and do some serious reading by the pool. With the stress of finals behind me, I have too many books calling my name.
The principal announces Kayla’s name and just about the entire auditorium of students cheer. I wasn’t kidding when I said she is the life of the party. I don’t think there’s a single person here who isn’t friends with her.
She walks across the stage and when she gets to the end, where the photographer is waiting, she raises her fist and yells, “Yeah, baby!”
Everybody can’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm. When Kayla smiles and laughs, you have no choice but to join in.
What feels like several hours later, everybody’s names have been called and the principal congratulates the graduating class. Throwing our caps high into the air, we all celebrate our freedom. We are officially high school graduates. I find Kayla, and we make our way to our parents who are waiting just outside the auditorium. After taking several pictures by ourselves, with each other, with our parents, and with our brothers, who are good friends and will be sophomores next year, we make our way to the exit to go out to dinner to celebrate.
“I can’t believe my baby is all grown up! It feels like yesterday you girls were coming home from kindergarten and begging to go on your first playdate.” My mom can’t stop crying while we enjoy our Crème brûlée at our favorite Parisian restaurant downtown.
“Oh, Mom, stop,” I mumble back. I swear she’s cried more this week than I’ve ever seen her cry my entire life.
“But it’s true! You’re going to be so far away in Nevada. Promise me you’ll come home and visit often. I’m so afraid you’ll get over there and never come back.”
I love my mom to death, but I think moving away will help me spread my wings. We’re extremely close, but because of that, I always live in fear of not wanting to do anything to disappoint her, not that she would judge me in any way if I screwed up. My mom isn’t like that—she has always been more of a friend than a mother. She had me at eighteen years old after my dad and her had been dating for four years. They met their freshman year in high school and it was instant love. I’ve personally never been in love, but I find it hard to believe one can fall in love with somebody they just met; however, I would never tell her that.
As soon as she found out she was pregnant with me, she decided to stay home and be a full-time mom instead of going to college. My dad worked nights delivering pizzas and went to college so he could get his degree in business. Immediately after graduating, he started his own business and still to this day runs a successful window cleaning company here in South Florida. We aren’t rich by any means, but we have always had everything we could ever want or need.
After the business took off, my parents bought their first house in Jupiter, Florida right across from the beach, and that is where I met Kayla on our first day of kindergarten. Kayla, on the other hand, comes from an extremely wealthy family, but they’re also the least loving family you’ll ever meet. Kayla and her brother aren’t really close. He is always getting into trouble, and Kayla’s parents are rarely ever home.
Kayla and her brother have both practically grown up at my house and she’s always saying she wishes her mom was more like mine. It seems like while Kayla’s mom chose the career, my mom chose the family. I just don’t understand why people feel like they have to choose one or the other.
I know my mom loves being home with my brother and me, but I also know she wishes she would have attended college before having us. She was so focused on raising us and helping my dad run his business, she never went to school. She always tells me to make sure I follow my dreams and passions. I think it’s because she never got to follow her own.
Which leads me back to not wanting to disappoint my mom. I’ve been so focused on school these last four years to make sure I follow my dreams and passions, I haven’t even so much as dated. I am looking forward to finally going out on some dates once we’re up at ULV.
“I can’t wait to leave tonight to Miami,” Kayla whispers in my ear. “It’s going to be so lit down there. So many clubs and parties going on. You better be ready to get your groove on, girly.” I laugh as she shakes her ass in her seat. Kayla is forever looking forward to the next party.
“Yeah, yeah,” is all I can come up with as a response. I have no idea how I’m going to make it seven days with Kayla in Miami partying it up. At least here in Jupiter she has to keep it tame since the town is small and boring to say the least.
We decide to drive Kayla’s Volvo SUV down to Miami. It’s a graduation gift from her parents and is really comfy. We get to the Miami Beach Resort, valet park the car, and check-in to our room. Looking around, Kayla and I grin at each other, thinking the same thing. My parents did well. The resort is literally right on the beach. I inhale deeply and can smell the ocean breeze coming off the waves. I may not like the sand between my toes or between other places, but I still appreciate the beautiful s
cenery. We walk to the back of the resort and see a beautiful pool surrounded by lounge chairs. Right behind the pool is a cute tiki-bar that separates the resort from the beach.
Once we get to the room, I slide the key card in and open the door. Immediately, we start squealing while throwing ourselves on to the white plush mattresses of our queen beds. Looking around, I notice our room is overlooking the ocean. The balcony hangs directly over the sand, and since we’re ten floors up, I can see everything down below. The sun is starting to set and it’s a gorgeous pinkish-orange. There hasn’t been much rain the last few days and I hope it stays that way, but you just never know in Florida.
“Oh. My. God!” Kayla is still bouncing on her bed as I walk back in from the terrace and lie down next to her on her bed.
“Liz, your parents booked us an amazing room. I can’t believe we get to spend seven days here, on the beach, at the pool, and it is literally right near every freaking club we’re going to be checking out. Thank goodness I got us those fake IDs that say we’re twenty-one. We’re going to seriously have the best time before we have to go back to boring books and classes.”
I stifle my laugh. Since when has Kayla ever let books and classes bring her down? Never. There is no stopping this girl and I’m sure once we’re in Las Vegas, she’ll be right back to being the life of the school. Although, if we get arrested for the fake IDs she had made, we may never make it to school.
“Ugh, Kayla. Do you really think it’s wise to go to clubs that we shouldn’t be in, right before our parents let us fly across the country to go to college? What if the bouncer realizes the IDs are fake and we get arrested? We will be so screwed. My mom will be so disappointed.”
“Liz, stop! It’s all good. They totally look like the real deal. Trust me, the guy I got them from assured me nobody would be able to tell the difference. Stop stressing over nothing. We’re going to have an amazing time this week, then you can go back to your book-loving self next week once we’re at ULV. I can’t believe you decided to start classes this summer. There is no way I am stepping foot in a classroom until August.”
Yes, I’m starting school this summer. I don’t know what the big deal is. I can take three classes and get a head start. It’s the smart thing to do. I didn’t bust my butt the last four years in high school to screw up now.
“Okay, okay. So, Miss Miami, where to first?”
