by Nikki Ash
“How would you know?” I ask, my voice coming out harsher than I intended. Immediately feeling guilty, I apologize. “I’m sorry, Mami.”
“It’s okay, Ava. You know, sometimes I wonder if moving here was the right decision. Had we stayed in Honduras, I could have introduced you to so many nice young men. Men who were raised right and would keep their pingas en los pantalones.” I let out a loud laugh at my mom’s choice of words. Keep their dicks in their pants!
“Mom!” I scold her playfully.
“Oh, don’t act like you never use words like that, Ava Penelope.” I can hear the smile in her voice. “I’m just saying had we not moved, I could have set you up with so many of my friends’ sons, and I can tell you from experience Honduran men know how to be faithful to a woman.”
My mom and dad were given the opportunity to move to the United States when I was eight years old. My father’s job was expanding, and they offered him a better position here in Las Vegas, Nevada. Wanting more for our family, he took the job offer and my parents never looked back. Because of them moving here, my brother and I were able to go to a good private school, and a couple years ago I was the first in my family to graduate from college with a degree in digital and graphic design. Even without a degree, because of moving here, my parents have been able to live a very comfortable life.
Not wanting to hurt my dad’s feelings, my mom will never admit it, but even with everything she has, I think she sometimes misses her old life in Honduras—her friends and family, and the comfort of home. She has put my dad first since the day she met him and always will. My dad works and my mom stays home. They aren’t just married. They’re best friends. Soul mates. Everything I want but am beginning to think isn’t going to happen. They’ve been together for over thirty years and are still happy. I have one brother, Samuel, who is two years younger and is in his senior year of college. He has been dating the same girl for over three years, and I would bet as soon as they graduate they’ll get married. I’m surrounded by happy, faithful couples, and I can’t help but wonder where I went wrong.
“I’m happy here, and I’m thankful for the life you and Papa have given us. I think I just need time.”
“Okay, mi cosita linda—pretty girl—I’m going to get off now. I need to make your father dinner. Go make those boys next door something sweet, and I’ll see you on Sunday. Te quiero mucho.”
“Okay, Mami. I love you too.”
Three
Griffin
Ding! Ding! My phone indicates an incoming text and I grab it to see who it is. When the name Dawn appears, I read it to make sure everything is okay at King’s. She’s my new night manager, and while she came to me with a shit ton of experience, it’s taking a lot for me to let someone else handle the bar. I’m used to doing it all myself. I’ve learned from experience that when you want something done right, you do it yourself. Now I’m having to allow other people help run my business—my livelihood—and I have to hope they’ll do it right by treating my business like it’s their own.
“New flavor of the month?” Sean asks from beside me on the new couch his wife just purchased. When I asked him why she needed new furniture, he shrugged and said, “No fucking clue. I’ve learned to nod my head and agree.” After he and Lilly got married last year, they started looking for a new home. One they could start fresh in together. They recently found a beautiful place in the same neighborhood as Lilly’s parents and sister, Bella, and only about ten minutes from where Levi and I are now living.
I grab a chip, scoop up some delicious bean dip Lilly made, and pop it into my mouth, ignoring his question. Levi and Lilly come walking out of the kitchen: Levi is carrying a plate of cookies and Lilly is carrying a plate of brownies. Levi sets his down then runs back to the kitchen. Lilly sets hers down and has a seat next to Sean.
“You going to ignore me?” Sean presses before grabbing a cookie from Levi’s plate and feeding his wife a bite.
“I’m going to try to,” I joke, grabbing a brownie. “We’re going to need to start hitting the gym twice as hard if your wife is going to keep feeding us like this.”
“I have two months until I have to start training hard for my next fight. Let me enjoy my time off.” He pops another brownie into his mouth.
My cell phone dings two more times and Sean snatches it up before I can grab it. “Dawn? Your new manager?” He cocks one brow up.
“Oh, Griffin. Tell me you aren’t sleeping with your employee,” Lilly reproaches.
Grabbing my cell phone back, I take another bite of the delicious brownie. “For your information, I haven’t been with anyone in probably six months. Thank you very much.” I grab the remote to turn up the college football game in hopes of drowning them out. UCLA is whooping Tennessee’s ass, which makes me damn happy. Because we grew up in Los Angeles before we moved to Vegas, Sean and I have stayed loyal to our California teams, especially since Nevada doesn’t have any sports teams of their own.
“Are you regretting breaking things off with Karen?” Lilly asks.
I shake my head. “No, even after almost six months of dating her, it just didn’t feel right. I thought maybe it was because I wasn’t ready to settle down, but now…I don’t know.” I shrug. “Sleeping around doesn’t feel right either.”
Levi comes walking back out of the kitchen, a tall glass of milk in his hands. He plops down onto the floor next to the mini-feast of food and starts digging in.
“Well, I would offer to set you up with a friend of mine, but the last friend I set you up with, you broke her heart and she moved across the country.” Her words cause me to frown. I genuinely liked Karen. We hit it off almost immediately and I enjoyed her company. The problem came when she wanted to play a more active role in Levi’s life. For some reason, I kept her at a distance. She finally got fed up and gave me an ultimatum. I was either all in or out. I chose out, and she moved to New York, taking a position her job offered her.
“You know what? There’s a woman at the gym in my Pilates class. She was just saying she’s looking to start dating again. Her name is Heather. I can set you up with her.” Oh jeez…here we go.
“I don’t know…I have Levi. I would have to find a sitter. And what if it doesn’t work out? I don’t want you losing another friend because of me.”
“First of all, Sean and I can take Levi for the night! You know I miss taking him on Friday nights now that you no longer need us to babysit, and she’s not really a friend per se. More like an acquaintance.” Lilly smirks. “Plus, I doubt you’ll run her out of the state from only one date.”
“You know she isn’t going to give up until you agree,” my brother warns.
“Fine,” I let out a groan, “set me up.”
“Yay!” Lilly squeals before grabbing her phone and heading into the other room to most likely text her acquaintance.
“Thanks, man,” Sean whispers once she’s gone.
“For letting her set me up?” I ask, confused.
“Getting pregnant isn’t going as smoothly as we thought it would be. Who knew there was more to getting a woman pregnant than just sticking it in. Lilly is starting to get stressed. Maybe her focusing on your love life will take her mind off the baby making—or lack of.” I know Sean is trying to come across like it’s not a big deal but I also know Lilly is excited to start a family. She’s mentioned on several occasions wanting a whole litter of mini-Sean’s running around everywhere. Lilly is one of the best women I know and she will make a damn good mother. She’s already an amazing aunt to Levi.
“Hey,” I say softly in case Lilly walks back in. “It will happen. You guys will have your family.” I look my younger brother in the eyes. He nods, giving me a small ghost of a smile.
“Okay! Heather is available and said yes for Friday,” Lilly says as she walks back into the living room. “You want to sleepover Friday night, Levi?”
“Yeah!” Levi shouts. “Can we bake some more?”
“Absolutely!”
&n
bsp; “Jesus, Lil,” Sean laughs. “I’m going to need to take him to do some manly shit to counter all the womanly shit you’re doing with him.”
Lilly puts her hands on her hips as she glares at Sean. “Baking is not women stuff. Anybody can bake. Don’t be a sexist pig.”
“Come here, babe,” Sean calls her over to him. She stands in front of him, her body in between his legs, before he pulls her into his lap. “I hope when we get pregnant, we have a girl,” Sean murmurs. My eyes stay trained on the game, wanting to let them have a moment as I send up a prayer to the man above that he gives them their little girl. If there’s two people who deserve to create a family, it’s my brother and his wife.
Four
Ava
It’s been a crazy busy week! I intended on baking these damn muffins days ago but I haven’t stopped once. You would think working from home would mean I’d have more time on my hands but it doesn’t. It only means I have to focus even harder so I stay on task. I’ve made seven book covers this week as well as updated four websites. I attempted to make the muffins two days ago, but I got so wrapped up in a sexy cover I was making for a romance author, I didn’t hear the buzzer go off. I burnt the hell out of the damn muffins and had to throw them all away. This time, I set two timers and thankfully didn’t burn them.
Grabbing the cute wicker basket my mother gave me during my visit on Sunday, I lay down some tissue paper then stuff the basket full of the delicious muffins (I may have eaten one…or five). I make my way over to Griffin’s place. I’ve seen him and Levi a few times coming and going, when I’ve actually stepped away from my computer, needing some type of sustenance to continue to survive.
I knock on the door and wait—nobody answers. I knock one more time, hoping they just didn’t hear me. If I have to bring these muffins back home, there might not be any left by the time I try to bring them to their house again. This time the door swings open and standing in the doorway is a very tall, very beautiful, woman. Well, she would be beautiful if her face wasn’t stuck in resting-bitch-mode.
She’s wearing a dress that looks like it could be painted on her skinny frame. Her hair is pin straight, not a strand out of place, and her make up is done to perfection. I try not to glance down at myself but when her eyes roam down my body and her nose scrunches up in disgust, I can’t help it.
And of course, I’m in sweat pants and a shirt with a damn taco and nacho on the front having a conversation: “Let’s just taco ‘bout it…No, I’m nacho friend.”
“Can I help you?” Her tone matches her face—pure bitch.
“Yes, I’m the next-door neighbor. I was just bringing these muffins over for Griffin and Levi. Are they home?”
“I’m sorry…what? Your accent is kind of heavy.” I will not kill this bitch…I will not kill this bitch…
“I live next door,” I say slowly. “I have muffins for Griffin and Levi.”
“Griffin is in the shower. I can take them.” She holds out her hands and I hand them over. “Are they gluten free?” Ay dios, mio. She’s one of those…
“I didn’t check for gluten but based on the amount of sugar and flour I dumped in, I would imagine the only thing they are free of is vegetables, but they do have fresh blueberries in them.” I give her a saccharine smile.
Her nose does that scrunched-up-disgusted thing again as she attempts to smile. “Well, I’ll be sure Griffin gets them.” Just as she’s about to shut the door in my face, Griffin’s voice rings out. I don’t see him at first, but when he opens the door wider, moving resting-bitch-face to the side, I see him. All of him. And holy mother of god is he hot!
His shaggy jet-black hair is still damp from the shower, spiked every which way in a I don’t give a fuck look. He’s rockin’ the two-day old stubble and I have to stop myself from reaching out to feel it on my palms—wondering how it would feel against my lips, between my thighs. Whoa there, Ava…calm yourself…
He’s dressed in a forest-green sweater and a pair of jeans that fit him perfectly. Would it be rude to ask him to turn around so I can check out his ass? You’re right, it probably would be. Sigh.
“Heather, who’s at the door? Oh! Hey, Ava! Did you need something?” He smiles warmly at me and I briefly wonder why in the world he’s interested in a woman like the one standing in his apartment.
“Is that what you’re wearing?” heather cuts him off to ask.
“Yeah.” He gives her a tight-lipped smile.
“Well, I guess it’s better than that bar shirt.” She pushes the basket of muffins into his chest. “Your neighbor brought you muffins. I wouldn’t give your son too many, though. They’re loaded with sugar, and the last thing you need is a child bouncing off the walls.”
Ignoring her comment, Griffin takes the basket from her. “These muffins smell delicious. Thanks! Levi is with my brother and Lilly tonight, but when he gets home in the morning, I’ll make sure he gets some…If I don’t eat them all before then.” He shoots me a flirtatious wink that has me squirming in my sweats.
“You’re welcome. Have a good night.” I give him a small smile before excusing myself.
Five
Griffin
I slam the door behind me, annoyed that I just wasted an entire night with that woman. I shoot Lilly a text asking if there’s something I did that would make her want to punish me by setting me up with Heather. Then I pull my sweater off and unbutton my jeans, pushing them down. Toeing off my shoes, I kick them into my closet then throw on a pair of basketball shorts before I step outside onto my porch, needing some fresh air.
My phone dings.
Prim: She seemed nice at Pilates.
Me: Maybe because there isn’t much talking at Pilates?
Prim: Maybe…I’m sorry! Was it that bad?
Me: It’s okay. But I won’t be seeing her ever again. How’s my boy?
Prim: Perfect! We’re watching a movie. Come over for breakfast in the morning.
Me: You got it. Have a good night.
Prim: Night!
I throw my phone onto the small table that’s situated between two lounge chairs I purchased and set up a couple days ago. Lilly insisted I needed to have some furniture out here and I’m glad I listened. It’s a nice spot to relax outside. It overlooks the community pond, which has a water fountain type of thing spraying water out in the middle.
Leaning against the rail, I hang my head. I should feel grateful my life is finally coming together. I have a bar and restaurant that is gaining popularity by the day. I have a healthy son and a brother and sister-in-law who would do anything for me. I’m living in an apartment that isn’t rat infested and has an actual leasing company instead of some shady guy trying to rip people off. I was even able to purchase a new vehicle recently that’s only slightly used, opposed to my old vehicle which was from an entirely different decade! But for some reason, I still feel like something is missing.
“Ay dios, mio!” My head jerks up at the sound of the sexy accent, and standing on her porch in tiny silky looking pajamas, is Ava. “Ms. McBarton, the elderly woman who used to live in your apartment never came out here.”
“What does that mean? Ay dios, mio.”
Ava giggles at my attempt and failure at making my words sound like hers. “Oh my god.”
“What? I didn’t botch the words that bad, did I?”
She giggles. “No, ay dios, mio means oh my god.” And suddenly I’m envisioning her saying those same words in my bed while writhing under me.
“At least there’s a wall between us. We can only see each other when standing against the rail,” she points out. “I’ll go back in. You can enjoy your night out here.” Her lips twitch in an adorable way, and even with her tan skin, I can see a slight blush marking her cheeks. I’m not sure why though…
“Wait! You don’t have to go inside.”
She gives me a look of confusion then tries to look over my shoulder. “Your date almost clawed my eyes out over some muffins. I’m not sure she would want
me joining your fun.” She gives me a playful wink and I throw my head back in the kind of laughter I haven’t experienced in what feels like forever.
Once I’ve stopped laughing long enough to speak, I say, “She’s not here. I dropped her back off at her house after dinner.”
“That was a quick date.”
“That was a shitty date.” I shake my head. “I should have known it wasn’t going to work out when I ran late from work and picked her up in my bar shirt and jeans, and she insisted I drive to my house to shower and change.”
“I hope you brought her somewhere that serves food with no sugar or preservatives or well, anything in it.” I chuckle again.
“I brought her to Victoria’s, but you’re right. She only ate a salad—sans dressing. On the bright side, she was a cheap date.”
Ava laughs. “Wow! You take her to one of the most exclusive restaurants in Vegas and she only orders a salad? What a waste! There’s no way I would go there and munch on some carrots like a rabbit.”
“To be honest, it’s not really my kind of place, but Prim loves it, so I figured her friend would.” Ava nods in understanding.
“Why do you call her Prim? I imagine a name like that has a story behind it.”
“Her family owns one of the most elite UFC training facilities: Cooper’s Fight Gym. Have you heard of them? You mentioned you like to watch UFC.”
“I love to watch UFC, and yeah, I’ve heard of them. Bella Cooper is my favorite female fighter.”
“Yeah, Bella is her older sister.”
“Cool, but that doesn’t explain why you call her Prim.”
I smile as I think about the first time I met Lilly and dubbed her as Prim. “The first time I met her, she was dressed head to toe in designer clothes. Hair done. Nails done. Expensive purse and phone. She was standing in her family’s gym looking all prim and proper, and completely out of place.” But then she smiled at me with that genuine fucking smile, free of all judgement, and I knew in that moment my brother was fucked.
