The Fighting Series Boxset

by Ash, Nikki

  “Kaden, thank you for loving me. This is just beginning for us and I can’t wait to see what is in store for our future. If it’s half as amazing as these last five years have been, I will be a very happy woman. I promise to love and cherish you through good times and bad, in sickness and in health. I promise to be a good wife to you and stand by your side. I promise to love you and only you for the rest of our lives.”

  She takes my hand in hers and she slides the ring we picked out for me onto my finger.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride.”

  “Kaden?” I look down at my empty ring finger and feel for a second for the indent that has long disappeared.

  “Kaden? Are you ok?” Ashley is looking at me worriedly. I look around noticing the wedding is over and everybody is filing out, heading to the reception.

  “Yeah, I’m ok.” Her eyebrows scrunch up as she frowns, but simply nods her head.

  Once at the reception, we find the table we are assigned to. It was obviously done with thought because we are sitting with all our friends. After the newlywed couple is announced and they have the first dance on the floor together, I take my jacket off and ask Ashley if she would like a drink from the bar.

  “Sure, a Bahama Breeze please.”

  After grabbing myself a Jack and Coke and her Bahama Breeze, I have a seat. Ashley isn’t sitting where I left her, instead she is out on the dance floor dancing away with all the women. I don’t bother sitting down. I just stand there like a lovesick fool watching the woman I can never have, laugh and smile and wish it was me putting that smile on her face.

  “Dude, you have it so bad,” Caleb says slapping my shoulder.

  “Yeah but we both know nothing can come of it.” I have no idea why I say that and I immediately wish I could take it back.

  “Why? Because you were married once before? Fuck that. It obviously didn’t last for a reason. Maybe Ashley was the reason.”

  I know it’s not his fault because I’ve never told him what happened with my wife, and I know he wouldn’t be saying what he’s saying if he knew the truth, but I don’t think about that when I shove him up against the wall. “Don’t you ever talk about my wife that way. It’s my fault she’s gone! Mine! I’m the one who deserves to be alone for the rest of my life.”

  Caleb’s eyes go wide. “Bro, I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened but nobody deserves to be alone. I, of all people, know that shit firsthand.”

  “I need a drink.”

  Grabbing my shoulder as I walk away, Caleb turns me around to face him. “I’m sorry. I get you don’t want to talk about whatever happened between you and your wife, but regardless, you deserve to be loved Kaden, and so does Ashley. And if you can’t love her, you need to let her go. I’ve gotten to know her these last couple of months and she’s a good person. A good person who’s been through a lot of shit.”

  “I know.”

  Picking my drink up, I down it like a shot. Then I head to the bar to order a double. And I spend the rest of the evening drinking my confusion away.

  Sixteen

  Ashley

  The wedding is so romantic and the reception is a blast. I can’t even remember how many Bahama Breezes I have had but it’s enough that I am drunk. Kaden spent the reception brooding over god knows what and I am so over his shit. I am in too good of a mood to let him bring me down. A wedding should be a joyous occasion, not a reason to brood in a corner alone. Although, now that I’m thinking about it, last year when we were part of Liz and Cooper’s wedding, Kaden kind of acted the same way.

  The party comes to an end, everyone wishing Alex and Jessica well wishes as a new married couple. We all part ways going to our rooms. When we get to our room, Kaden goes straight to the mini fridge and pulls out a few mini bottles of liquor, downing two of them after he drops to the couch. I grab the last one out of his hand and down that one.

  Putting his head back against the couch, he closes his eyes. We are both trashed and we know it. Only I am hyper and not ready to pass out quite yet. I notice an iPod dock in the corner of the room and grabbing my awesome iPhone Kaden got me, plug it in and switch on iTunes clicking shuffle.

  I’m n Luv (wit a stripper) by T-Pain blasts through the small portable speakers and I crack up laughing at the irony of this song. Kaden’s head tilts forward as he glares at me, clearly not finding the humor in it, which makes me laugh even harder. Well, fuck him!

  Kicking off my heels first, so I don’t break my neck (I’m drunk, not stupid), I climb up onto the coffee table and start to dance to the rhythm of the music. I am staring straight at Kaden and he’s staring back at me watching with the undeniable lust in his eyes. I sway my hips seductively just like I do on stage, singing the words to the song. “I’m in love with a stripper… she trippin’ she playin’ she playin’ I’m not going nowhere girl I’m stayin’.”

  I laugh as my words come out with more of a slur and definitely not to the beat of the song. Then I drop my ass to the table, spreading my legs, and giving Kaden a complete visual of my pussy, since I didn’t wear panties to the wedding—Can’t have panty lines ruining the dress. His eyes widen at the visual.

  “You better be a good tipper. I don’t show just anyone my pussy.”

  That gets me a smirk from him. He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a crisp one hundred-dollar bill from his wallet. I laugh but keep dancing. I roll onto my stomach and then pop back up onto my feet taking my dress off me and throwing it at him.

  He chuckles lightly and stands, wobbling his drunk ass up to the table, to me. I don’t stop dancing, though. I turn around, backing my ass right up to him and shake it. I feel a hand land right on my ass cheek with a smack causing me to crack up laughing. Once I turn back around, he places the bill in the cup of my bra letting his hands linger on my body, moving it slowly down my sides until they land back on my ass cheeks.

  “No no, you know the rules. You don’t get to touch the stripper.”

  Kaden growls… fucking growls! Then grabbing my ass with both his hands lifts me off the couch, throwing me onto the bed.

  “You are my fiancée. I can touch you whenever the fuck I want. Got it? This pussy is mine...Mine.”

  Seventeen

  Kaden

  Fuck! Who is banging on the door? Or is it the wall? I open my eyes and realize the banging isn’t coming from anywhere. It’s my head pulsing so strongly it feels like a constant banging is taking place right behind my eyes, in my head. Looking around, I remember I am in the hotel where Alex got married. Next to me is a naked woman. The blanket is wrapped around her shoulders and head but from the waist down is nothing but silky-smooth skin. I know right away it’s Ashley. I would recognize her sexy legs from a mile away. But why is she naked? I try to remember what happened but I can’t. My head is pounding and the more I try to think about last night, the harder it pounds.

  Needing to take a piss, I get out of bed and head to the bathroom. When I go to pull my briefs down, I notice I am naked too. Fuck! It all comes back to me in flashes. Her: dancing on the table. Me: Hauling her over my shoulder. Then… nothing. I can’t remember shit after that! Fuck! Did I have sex with Ashley and was too drunk to even enjoy it? I mean, I am sure I enjoyed it. But I can’t remember how her pussy felt wrapped around my cock. I can’t remember how it felt to be fully inside of her. Damn it! I am such a fucking idiot.

  I decide to shower and get dressed. When I’m done, Ashley is up and floating around the room getting things together to leave.

  “I’m going to get in the shower since you’re out.”

  “Ash, wait.” I gently grab her wrist. I need to apologize for taking advantage of our inebriated states last night. “I’m sorry…” She flinches, pulling her arm from me. “There’s nothing to apologize for. Let’s just pretend last night didn’t happen.”

  Now it’s my turn to flinch at her harsh words. I wasn’t thinking it was a mistake at all. I was thinking the opposite. But if that
’s how she feels… “Got it.”

  We forgo meeting everyone for breakfast, going through a drive-thru instead. The drive to her parents is silent. Ashley is reading a book on her phone. She is so funny when she reads, letting all her emotions show. At a good part, she will smile or laugh; at a sad part, she will frown. It’s so adorable, especially since she has no idea she’s doing it.

  After grabbing Tristan, we drive to the airport, valet parking my car into extended overnight parking. My grandma’s birthday party isn’t until Saturday but we are staying the week and flying back home next Saturday night after the party is over. Tristan starts back at school Tuesday with open house Monday, so Ashley asked if we could be home Sunday so she can get him situated. Ashley has decided to sign him up at the school in my school zone so she filled out all the necessary paperwork. She said it’s a lot nicer and closer and Bella goes there as well, so it makes sense. I like the idea of him going to school here, maybe that will keep her living here that much longer.

  After bringing our bags through security and checking in, we make our way to the first-class lounge to wait to be called. “Do you want something to drink, Bud?” Tristan has been acting weird since we picked him up.

  “No,” he says quickly shaking his head.

  “Are you ok?” He looks to his mom and back to me.

  “What’s going on?”

  “He’s never flown before,” Ashley nervously admits.

  “Never?” I ask incredulously.

  “Nope,” Tristan answers softly.

  “Oh, Tristan! We need to get you out more, buddy! This is going to be great. First class is awesome. This trip is short, only around two hours, so no dinner served, but the flight attendant will bring you whatever you want to drink and tons of snacks. There’s Wi-Fi available and there’s TV’s in all the seats to watch movies. Plus, they give you a pillow and blankets and your seats recline.”

  Tristan’s eyes go wide in excitement and Ashley smiles at his excitement. They both make my heart melt and I am already planning where to take them next.

  After the short flight to Denver International, we grab our bags and head to the car rental area. I get an Audi SUV so we are comfortable, then we make the thirty-minute drive to my parents’ place.

  “Welcome to Cherry Hills Village,” Ashley says, reading the sign as we enter the community my parents and grandparents live in.

  “Is this where you grew up?” Tristan asks in amazement, looking out the window as we pass by the huge homes. I’ve never looked at it as an outsider but I guess I can see why it might feel a bit overwhelming. Cherry Hills Village is a community within itself just outside of Denver. It gives people country living but without having to drive an hour to get to the main city.

  “I was born and raised here.” Ashley looks at me like I have two heads. The truth is, I once even owned my own home here, until I sold it to have a fresh start away from here. When my parents visited me in Las Vegas they stayed with me, but asked numerous times if I am ok on money and if I need them to buy me a house. I could fit about five of my houses into the house my grandparents purchased for Gabrielle and me for our wedding present.

  “There’s a golf course! Can we play golf, Kaden?” Tristan shouts enthusiastically.

  “Sure, buddy. There’s also a community pool and tennis courts, and if you want, my mom can take you for a ride on her horses.”

  “Wow! I want to ride a horse!”

  “Your parents have horses?” Ashley asks.

  “Yeah, not in their backyard or anything. They board them at the Club.”

  She nods softly, a frown marring her beautiful face.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “I just didn’t picture her like this when she came to visit with your dad.”

  “Just because we have money, doesn’t mean we are snobs.”

  “No! I wasn’t thinking that…”

  I laugh. “Yes, you were, but I get it. I’m a UFC trainer. I make a good living but nothing like this. I’m lucky. My parents encouraged me to follow my passion. Sure, my father and grandfather would have loved for me to join them in their businesses but mixed-martial-arts was always my passion.”

  “That’s great, Kaden. I can’t imagine you doing anything else.”

  We pull up to my parent’s house and before the doors are opened, Giselle Scott is running outside waving her arms in excitement with her husband, Stewart, walking slowly behind her shaking his head, laughing.

  “Oh, Kaden! You’re here!” She gives me a hug not letting go for several seconds. Then she moves on to her next victim, Ashley. “Oh, sweetie! I am so excited to see you and that precious son of yours.” She looks Tristan up and down. “I swear you have grown a foot since the last time I saw you.”

  “It’s wonderful to see you, too, Mrs. Scott.”

  “Mom, you saw him like seven months ago.”

  “Oh hush! And Ashley, if I can’t get you to call me mom, at least call me Giselle, please. Let’s go inside. I made cookies. Your grandparents should be over shortly. We are going to go to the club for dinner tonight so we don’t have to deal with cooking. Tomorrow, your father has scheduled for you guys to go golfing.”

  Tristan looks over at me and I give him a wink. “Cool, I am going to bring Tristan with me, and sometime this week, can you take him to meet Shorty and Copper?”

  My mom beams at someone wanting to meet her horses. “Of course! We can go for a ride! Ashley, would you like to join?”

  “Sure.”

  “And I was thinking tomorrow while the boys are golfing, we can go to the club and have a spa day.”

  Ashley suddenly looks nervous. “Umm… that’s ok. I thought I could just hang out by the pool…”

  “Nonsense, it’s my treat! I am so excited to spend time with you.”

  Eighteen

  Ashley

  We are all sitting in the beautiful family room. Tristan is eating cookies and playing on his iPad while Kaden’s parents play twenty questions with Kaden trying to catch up on what’s going on in his life. He tells them about Alex’s fight coming up and about Tristan and me moving in with him. I’m thankful he doesn’t tell them the reason why.

  “Kaden, honey?” We all look to the door where we see a beautiful aged woman waving her cane in the air toward Kaden. He gets up, smiling ear-to-ear and hugs her.

  “Grandmother, I missed you so much!”

  “Oh, dear, Boy. You have grown into such a handsome man. Please don’t ever leave for this long, again.”

  Kaden nods, giving her a kiss on her cheek. He hugs his grandfather next, and they exchange a few words as well. It’s clear Kaden is loved and wanted here in his hometown. What I don’t understand is why he ever left, and why he hasn’t wanted to come home. The love surrounding him is so strong. His grandparents are still married and clearly in love, and so are his parents. So why doesn’t he want to get married? I remember the name Gabby written on his chest and wonder if maybe he had his heart broken.

  “And who do we have here?” His grandmother turns to face Tristan and me.

  “This is Ashley Myers and her son, Tristan.” Kaden puts his hand in mine, putting on a show for his family.

  “Ashley, Tristan, these are my grandparents, Rose and Victor.”

  “Oh, sweetie. You are gorgeous. And hello there, Tristan. It’s wonderful to meet you both. Let’s go to dinner and get to know each other. Shall we?” Kaden’s grandmother says, heading back towards the foyer.

  “Sounds good, my love,” his grandfather says, following his wife. Their love is adorable.

  “Ready?” Kaden asks.

  “Yep, let’s do this.” Then it hits me. Kaden is going to announce we are engaged and we haven’t told Tristan! He is going to be so confused. I didn’t even think about him in all this. What kind of mother am I?

  “We need to explain this to Tristan!” I say whisper-yell after Tristan jumps in to the Audi. “We didn’t think about him at all, in this. He is going to think we
are getting married for real. I can’t have him get hurt.”

  “No, you’re right,” Kaden says. We get into the car and Kaden turns around to face Tristan. “Hey, Bud. When you are in school, do you ever play make believe?”

  “Yeah,” Tristan says.

  “While we are here, your mom and I are going to play make believe. We are going to pretend to be engaged to be married. So, if you hear the grownups talking about it, it’s just pretend. Ok?”

  Tristan looks at us both skeptically. “Ok, but why can’t you get married for real?”

  His question stumps us both. Kaden says, “Umm… Well…The thing is…”

  I jump in to help him out. “Kaden is my best friend.”

  “So, you can’t marry your best friend?” Tristan asks. Damn kid!

  “Well, I guess you could,” Kaden says slowly. “But your mom and I aren’t that kind of friends. She’s my friend like how you and Bella are friends. My grandmother is really old and she wants to see me get married so we are going to play pretend to make her happy.”

  “Well… When I get older, if Bella is still my best friend I would want to marry her for real and not for pretend.”

  “You would?” I ask.

  “Yeah, she’s really nice and always spars with me in class. She always shares her Oreos with me and plays UFC with me. She’s good at fighting, too. And she’s not all girly like the other girls in my class. And if I marry her, I could play with her whenever I want.”

  Kaden looks at me with a smile in his eyes, clearly trying to hold back his laughter. What I would give to be able to live my life through the eyes of an innocent six-year old.

  “That’s very nice of Bella,” I say. “But Kaden and I are just going to be friends.”

  Tristan thinks for a moment as we both hold our breath. “Ok, but if you do want to get married for real that’s ok, too,” he says grabbing his iPad ending the conversation.

  We both turn around in our seats knowing my six-year old is probably the most logical one in the car.