Fighting Fate (Fighting #7)(19)

“Ass!”

I tickle him and he squeals. “Ax!”

“Ass!”

“You have a dirty mouth!” I’m laughing and totally lost in my baby brother. “Say Ax!”

“Ass!”

“No, silly! Ax!

“What the f*ck is that?”

“Blake!” My mom’s voice reprimands him, but her narrowed eyes are zeroed in on my mouth.

I put Jack down, and he scurries off to his train set. Clearing my throat, I throw my shoulders back, which only makes Blake scowl harder.

“Oh this?” I point to my mouth. “I got my tongue pierced—”

“What?”

“Why?”

The what was from Blake, the why from my mom. And judging by the disgusted look on Blake’s face, I’d say he didn’t ask why because he already knows. “Dunno, just wanted to.”

“Oh.” My mom has always been good about allowing me to express my individuality with my clothes, my makeup, and hair, but something tells me this particular form of expression hit just outside her comfort zone.

Blake steps forward until he’s about a foot from me, and he tilts his head. I love my stepdad. I do. He’s the closest thing to a real dad I’ve ever had, and he’d do anything for my mom and my brother, but he’s also intimidating. Especially when he’s mad. I try to shrink away as he towers over me.

“Let me see it.”

I lick my lips and then open my mouth.

He crosses his arms over his chest. “It hurt?”

“A little.”

My mom’s hand is braced on her neck as if she’s physically holding back her freak-out. “When, um…” She nods to my mouth. “Why?”

Blake pinches the bridge of his nose at my mom’s question.

“Oh, well… I was just bored I guess, and I wanted to try something new, ya know. Killian and I went—”

“Whoa!” Blake’s jaw clenches hard. “Killian took you to do this?”

“Oh, no. No, he um… I asked him to go and he—”

“So he was there when you did this.”

“Yes, he was there, but—”

“And he didn’t stop you?” Oh shit, his face is getting red.

“Blake, calm down. He didn’t want me to.”

“He didn’t stop you!”

Now I’m pissed. “Like he could?”

“Of course he could!”

“I’m a grown woman!”

Blake’s eyes fly to my mom, who suddenly looks embarrassed. “Did you hear that? She’s a grown woman!” He lifts his brows. “Sound familiar?”

“You’re overreacting! I’m over eighteen and can get anything I want pierced.”

He clenches his head between his hands. “Oh, f*ck, don’t go there.”

“Blake! Language!”

“You guys.” I force my voice to calm. “It’s okay. Honestly, I don’t even think I’ll keep it for long. Rex has piercings, right? You don’t see him any differently.”

“He’s a f*cking pin cushion for a reason, kiddo. What I’m concerned most about isn’t your need to express yourself; it’s what the hell are you expressing and why.” He holds up a hand. “Don’t tell me.”

“Blake…”

Without warning, he launches himself at me and wraps me in a hug. “I love you, baby. You’re my girl.”

I hug him back. “I know.”

“Just want the best for you.”

Shame heats my body. “I know that too.”

He drops a kiss on my head then claps his hands. “Let’s eat. I’m starving.”

My mom relaxes, and when Blake leads the way to the kitchen, she hooks her arm in mine. “I like the pink. It’s pretty.”

“Thanks, Mom.” If she knew I did this to get a guy’s attention, she’d lecture me for days on how important it is to find someone who likes me for me. That who I am is impressive enough.

But damn, if my own father doesn’t even love me enough to stick around, then how can I expect anyone else to? Sure, I have Blake, and he’s amazing, but if he didn’t have Mom, he wouldn’t keep me. Only reason he has me is because Mom and I were a package deal.

So yeah…some girls get the man they want just by being them.

The rest of us have to prove we’re worth it.





Six





Killian





“Still can’t believe you’re passing this up.”

Ryder’s voice rakes against my nerves as we push out of the classroom and squint into the sun. He pops on his vintage black Ray-Bans, looking like some Sex Pistols throwback as we make our way across campus to the café.

“I haven’t decided anything yet.” Actually, I have. It’s been almost two weeks since Cam made me the offer. A tiny voice whispers I’m making a mistake by passing this opportunity up, but that voice shuts the hell up every time I see Axelle.

“You know how rare this is, man? You’re twenty-one-years old, and you’ll be representing the UFL USA over there.” He shakes his head. “You’re a dumb ass if you don’t jump on this.”