by Nikki Ash
The referee announces Bella the winner raising her hand into the air and once he let’s go she runs to Tristan giving him a hug. “You almost beat me!”
“You did good, Bella.”
“Thank you.”
The day goes by quickly. Bella fights three more rounds and wins them all, making her the no-gi champ. The gi-on tournament goes by quickly. All three of them win their first and second round, but only Bella wins the third, so her and Tristan won’t be fighting each other. She wins the fourth and fifth round, and she is officially the gi and no-gi champ for the kid’s six and seven-year-old division.
“How does it feel to be a two-time champion?” I ask Bella at dinner. We are all eating out at a local Hibachi restaurant. I hold the spring roll I am about to eat up to her mouth, making it a fake microphone.
“It feels good! I think I am going to one day become a UFC women’s division champion, and then I will start a petition to change the rules so I can beat all the boys, too.” Everyone laughs.
“How do you know what a petition is?”
“Mommy told me what it is.”
“So, I have to ask. Before your fight with Tristan, your dad was talking to you, and you looked mad. What did he say?”
“He told me not to be mad at Tristan if he beat me. I told him he is crazy! Tristan is my best friend. I could never be mad at him. That’s just stupid.”
Cooper looks over at me and smiles knowingly nodding. We have some damn good kids.
“Hey dad!” Tristan calls across the table. “Tomorrow at Disney, can we go on all the rides?”
Ashley gasps. “He called you dad?”
I lean into and whisper, “He asked me last night if I would be his dad. You were in the bath when we got back to the room and then it completely slipped my mind.”
She looks at me with unshed tears in her eyes, then rubs her nose trying to stop herself from crying.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too, babe.” I give her a kiss on her cheek.
“We can go on all the rides. We may have to stand in line for hours at a time but we can go on anything you want.”
“Yes!” Tristan fist pumps. “You hear that, Bella? All the rides!”
Chapter Fifteen
Ashley
“Oh dear, that dress looks gorgeous on you. How do you like it?”
I look down at the price tag and almost have a heart attack. Sure, it’s a beautifully simple sweetheart A-line dress with a beaded sash. It has a strapless bodice and the back is crisscross strapped like a corset holding everything up top in place. The dress is fitted up top but gently flares out at the bottom. It is floor-length with no train, which I love. It fits me perfectly, and if I’m honest, it makes me feel like a princess. However, I could live off the cost of this dress for like three years!
“Umm… well, it’s beautiful but…”
“But what? What’s wrong?” Giselle gets out of the leather seat she’s been sitting in and puts down the complimentary champagne the sales associate gave us when we walked in. When she walks up to me and puts her hand on my shoulder, I choke up. I don’t know why but I have been so emotional over the little things lately.
“My dear, talk to me. Why are you crying?” She wraps her arms around me in a hug.
“What’s wrong?” My mom comes out from the bathroom and rushes to me. I didn’t know it, but when I showed up in Colorado, my mom was getting off her flight as well. Kaden surprised me, knowing I would want my mom to be here when picking out the details for our wedding. It was one of the best surprises I could ask for.
“Giselle, give the girl some space.” Rose speaks up from her chair and when I look at her she gives me a wink.
“I’m sorry. I love the dress. It’s just a lot of money. I don’t feel right spending this kind of money on a dress. Kaden and I are supposed to become equals, partners in a marriage, right? Isn’t that what dad and you always said?” I direct my question toward my mom. “I just feel like I have nothing to contribute.”
“Oh sweetie, you contribute plenty. You make Kaden so happy. There was a time when I thought he would never find love again, but he did, and he found it with you and your sweet son. Partnership is not about money; it’s about trust and friendship. It’s about supporting and respecting one another.”
Rose stands and places her hands in mine. “Don’t allow money to come between you and my grandson. Whether you are rich or poor, money can destroy a relationship. Don’t ever feel like you are inferior. No amount of money can buy the friendship and love you and Kaden have created. Let him love you. He wants you to have the perfect wedding. Don’t look at prices. Enjoy yourself, so when you look back you remember the beautiful moments. Don’t allow them to be tainted with who has more money.”
She pulls me into a loving embrace and kisses me on my cheek. “Welcome to our family, my sweet girl.”
I turn to look in the three-way full length mirror and without thinking about the price, fall in love with the dress.
“This is the one I want.”
After picking out the dress and sending pictures of the bridesmaids’ dresses to the girls, who let me know they appreciate me not sticking them in crazy ugly colored dresses, we go to meet the wedding planner, Julie, for lunch.
“Is there a venue you are thinking of for the wedding?” Julie asks.
“We can just do it at the club… Wouldn’t that be the easiest?”
Rose and Giselle exchange a look.
“What?”
“Well, it’s just that Kaden and Gabrielle got married there.”
“Oh no! I didn’t even think about that. I’m so sorry.” I bury my face in my hands. How could I not have thought about the fact that Kaden has already been married? What if I choose the same colors they had or the same style dresses? Will he remember her instead of thinking of me? Tears quickly form and I have no choice but to release them so everything isn’t blurry.
“I’m sorry, Julie. I know you came here to discuss the wedding but I don’t think this is a good idea.”
I drop my napkin onto the table and rush outside needing some fresh air to collect myself. I am walking down the sidewalk in no particular direction not paying attention when I run into a woman walking in the opposite direction.
“Excuse me.” I look up and see a ghost. It’s the woman in the pictures. Gasping, I look around to see if someone is playing a joke on me. “Gabrielle?”
The woman’s eyes widen before smiling sadly. “No, she was my sister. You’re Kaden’s fiancée, right? I saw you that day in the club, when we ran into Kaden but you probably weren’t thinking about that at the time.”
“Oh, right. You were hugging him. I didn’t see your face clearly. You are Gabrielle’s twin?”
I palm my forehead at the stupid question. Why else would this woman be a spitting image of Kaden’s dead wife?
“I’m an idiot. Please ignore me.”
The woman laughs. “That’s ok. My name is Danielle. It’s nice to meet you. You looked like you were in a rush, and you’re crying. Are you running to or from something?”
“From… I was at a lunch with the wedding planner and I kind of got overwhelmed. But you don’t need to be bored with the details of my crap.” I wave my hand.
“I don’t mind. Kaden and I have been friends for years. I’m happy he found you. When he came to visit my family a few months ago he seemed to be turning a corner. Congratulations on the engagement.”
“Thank you. And I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you. So, what had you feeling overwhelmed?”
“It’s going to sound stupid but I was supposed to pick the venue, so I picked the country club, which was the same location where Kaden and your sister were married. Now I’m second guessing everything. It’s my first wedding but he’s already done all this.”
“Ahh… and you’re afraid you will either be repeating what they did or he won’t like what you chose and compare it to their wedding.”
>
“Yeah. Stupid, right?”
She laughs softly. She has a pretty smile just like her sister did in all the photos I looked through. “No, it’s not stupid. Talk to Kaden. Tell him how you feel. Otherwise you will drive yourself crazy with worry.”
“You’re right, I will. Thank you. It was very nice to meet you.”
“You, too. I look forward to the wedding.” Danielle gives me a quick hug, then walks off. The wedding? I never would have thought her family would want to attend our wedding…
My phone goes off.
Kaden: Ash….
Me: yes?
Kaden: Talk to me, babe. My mom said you ran out of lunch crying.
Me: Can we just elope like Caleb and Hayley did?
Kaden: We can do whatever you want, baby.
I think about how selfless he is. I know if I really wanted to, Kaden would go to the strip, find a little church, and marry me tomorrow. But then I remember our family, especially his grandmother, who wants to see us get married. It would be selfish to deprive them from being there to witness us getting married. I feel so lost and confused. I sit down on the bench and start crying again.
Kaden: You there?
Before I can reply my phone is ringing.
“Hello?”
“Baby, are you still crying? What is going on?” The sound of his voice makes me cry harder.
“I-I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” My cries turn into sobs. “W-we were deciding on a location and I pick the w-wrong one. I-I picked the o-one where you married Gabrielle.” I am now crying so hard I am hiccupping and I can’t stop.
“Ashley, baby, please calm down.”
“I-I can’t. What if our wedding is horrible? What if you liked your first one better? What if I say the wrong things? Or pick the cake you already had? You didn’t want to get married again because you were only supposed to get married once. You already had your perfect wedding.”
“Oh, baby. I wish I was there so I could wrap my arms around you and hold you. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too.” I sniffle and it sounds horribly un-lady like, “Ugh! I am all snotty. I sound like a vacuum sucking up snot.”
Kaden chuckles softly.
“I don’t think I can do this, Kaden.”
“Do what, Ashley? Marry me or plan the wedding?”
“Plan the wedding. Of course, I want to be your wife.”
Kaden sighs into the phone. “I’m sorry, Kaden.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about. How about we do something a little untraditional? How about I plan the wedding? You already picked out your dress, right?”
“Yeah.”
“So, everything else is just details. I don’t like you sounding like this. It’s not worth the stress. Our wedding will be one-of-a-kind because it will be ours. Everything could be the same, the colors, the venue, the food… It wouldn’t matter because the only important detail, the only thing I care about is you and me and Tristan. It will be perfect and original because I will be marrying you.”
“Everything you say is always so damn perfect.” My cries that slightly subsided start back up again in full force and Kaden chuckles into the phone.
“They weren’t meant to make you cry, Ash. Go back to the restaurant and eat lunch. Enjoy your time with our moms and my grandmother. Go to the spa, get a massage, and then come home. I will handle the details. Ok?”
“Ok.”
“And baby…”
“Yeah?”
“I love you and your cute snotty sniffles.”
“I love you, too.”
Kaden
“What the hell was that about?” Bentley asks. The guys are all over my house to watch the Super bowl. With Ashley being out of town, we all figured my place would be best to drink beer, eat shitty food, and watch the game. No women are allowed. Cooper, Bentley, Alex and Stephen are already here and Caleb is on his way over with Marco.
Just as I am about to answer, Caleb and Marco walk through the door. “What’s up!” Caleb says hi to everyone then grabs a beer from the fridge before plopping down onto my couch, Marco joining Tristan to play video games in his room.
“That was Ashley. I guess there’s something I should tell you guys.”
Everyone looks at me waiting for me to continue. “So, you know I was married before, but you assumed she left me, and I let you believe that without correcting you. The truth is I was married before but she didn’t leave me. Her name was Gabrielle and she was killed in a car accident on our way to the hospital for her to give birth to our son.”
I give the guys a minute to soak in what I just said before I continue. “Ashley is upset because she went to pick out the venue and it was the same venue where Gabrielle and I were married.”
“Fuck, bro. That’s why you got upset when I mentioned your wife at the wedding. I’m sorry.” Cooper comes over and gives me a bro hug.
“Nah, it’s all good. My mom just said Ashley is extremely emotional and feels bad. I told her I’m going to plan the wedding. I don’t want her to think anything she plans won’t be good enough or will upset me because I already experienced it with Gabby.”
Bentley smirks. “Your ass is going to plan the wedding?”
“How difficult can it be? Pick out some colors and shit, a cake… good to go… right?”
All the guys bust out laughing. “You’re fucking nuts,” Alex stops laughing long enough to say.
“The gesture is sweet as fuck,” Cooper adds. “But you better make sure it’s the wedding of Ashley’s dreams. Sure, she’s upset and willing to let you take over the planning right now, but when the day gets here she will be expecting a goddamned fairy tale.”
All the guys nod repeatedly in agreement. I pull out my phone to text my mom, realizing I’m going to need back up. I have a feeling I’m in over my head, here.
“Who are you texting? Caleb asks.
“Who else? My mom…”
The guys all laugh.
“Hey, I spoke with the contractor for the Rec Room and he said they should be able to break ground next month.” While the four of us have gone in equally to build the sports complex for kids to go to, Bentley has taken on the brunt of the work. We purchased the property next to the gym and had the old building demolished. Bentley has been dealing with the architects, the city, and now the contractors to get this place built.
“If all goes well, we should have this place up and running by the end of the year,” Bentley says. “We are going to have to start thinking about staff. We don’t want to wait until the last minute.”
“With that Benjamin fucker considering buying Caleb’s club, maybe Ashley would be interested in running the place. She loves working with kids.”
Caleb laughs. “Benjamin fucker? The guy saves your fiancée’s life and you’re still pissed at him for calling you out?”
“Fuck him. Anyway, what do you think?”
“I think It would be a great idea. Liz has already agreed to handle all the accounting shit,” Cooper says.
“Ashley is great at managing the club and with her experience as a teacher, I think she will be great. Talk to her and let us know.”
“Sounds good.”
The guys have all left, Tristan is in bed sleeping, and I am wiping down the counters after putting away all the food and drinks, when my phone rings. Pulling it out of my pocket, I see it’s Ashley video calling me. I hit accept and her beautiful face appears on the screen.
“Hi,” Ashley says softly. I can see a bit of the background and know she is in my old room at my parents’ house. Her and her mom both fly home tomorrow.
“Hey baby. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too. I forgot what it’s like to sleep by myself. I would take your snoring over the quiet any day.” She laughs at her own joke making me smile. Earlier, when she was sad, my heart was broken. I don’t like to see her sad, ever.
“So, what are you wearing?” She asks.
“Ashley,” I say admoni
shingly. “Are you trying to start phone sex with me while sleeping in my old bed in my parents’ house?”
“Maybe.” Her cheeks turn a light pink and it makes my cock stir. I go to our bedroom and pull my basketball shorts off and lay down on the bed.
“I just laid in bed and I’m in nothing but my briefs. You?”
She looks down and her cheeks turn brighter. “Can I pretend I’m in something sexier? I’m in a shirt that says, ‘I’m crabby in the morning’ and there’s a crab on it.”
I laugh. She has tons of shirts like that. They all say weird and funny shit. I wouldn’t expect her in anything else.
“How about you take it off, then tell me what you’re wearing?”
The phone gets put down and when she comes back I have a view of her shy face and a little bit of her tits at the bottom of the screen.
“Ok, now I’m naked.” My cock pulses.
“Ash, put your fingers in your pussy, baby. Is it wet for me?” She does what I tell her to and I know when her fingers are in because her eye lids flutter in pleasure.
“That’s it baby, finger fuck yourself good.”
“Kaden…”
“Yeah, baby?”
“Will you… do it, too?”
I look down at my hard cock that is already getting stroked. “Oh, I am, baby.”
“Tell me something you want to do to me. Something we’ve never done before.”
This woman is going to be the death of me.
“If you were here right now, I’d start by fingering that perfect pussy of yours. Then after making you come, I would put you on your hands and knees, and taking that baby oil you put on your body every night, I would squirt some right onto your ass.”
“Mmm… Kaden. Are you about to fuck me in the ass?” Ashley’s eyes are closed and I can hear the noise her pussy is making as she fingers herself. She is soaking fucking wet.
