“So, he doesn’t know that Bella exists?”
“That’s what I just said. What was I supposed to say? ‘Oh, that sucks you don’t want to ever get married or have kids because surprise, you have a daughter.’ Um, no. I wasn’t about to open myself or Bella up for him to tell me flat out he doesn’t want our daughter.”
Kayla stays silent for a minute thinking. “Maybe he only said that because he doesn’t know he has a daughter. Sometimes we don’t know what we want until it’s right in front of us. Maybe if you tell him he has a daughter he’ll change his mind. When he said all this to you, it was strictly hypothetical, right? He wasn’t actually saying he doesn’t want Bella. It’s like when you send me to the grocery store with a list and I end up picking up a ton more junk food than you told me to. You don’t even know you want it and you don’t miss it because you don’t have it, but once I get home and put those yummy brownies on the counter, you can’t help but eat one. No, you didn’t put the brownies on the list, but once it’s right in front of you, you still want it, right? Maybe right now Cooper doesn’t think he wants a kid, but once you show him Bella, I bet he’ll totally want her.”
I stare at her for a second thinking about what she just said then bellow out a laugh so hard, my stomach cramps up. “Did you seriously just compare my daughter to a brownie? We’re talking about a living, breathing, innocent tiny human being. Not a piece of chocolate.”
Kayla laughs and then gets serious. “Well, she is as sweet as a brownie, and once you get to know her, you’re addicted.”
And this is why Kayla’s my best friend. She knows just what to say.
Twelve
Cooper
It’s two in the afternoon and I’m pretty sure death is knocking on my door. After Liz left last night, I tried my hardest to forget about her, but I should’ve known by now, that girl is unforgettable. As proof, several hours and a bottle of Jack later, not only did I not forget about her, but I couldn’t take my mind off her.
At one point my drunken ass wanted to go after her, but Bentley told me to leave it be until I was sober. Being drunk and trying to talk to her wouldn’t help the matter. I finally passed out in Kaden’s guest room to the smell of Liz’s sweet scent all over the bed.
Now I’m in the gym fighting against Bentley and I’m pretty sure I’m sweating out the entire bottle of Jack through my pores. My head is pounding and I’m close to throwing everything in my stomach up.
“So now that you’re sober, what do you plan to do about Liz?” Bentley asks while throwing a punch to my stomach.
I dodge it, and sigh in relief, almost positive if he’d connected, I would’ve thrown up all over the ring. I stop fighting and bend over panting like I haven’t worked out in years. He walks over and punches me in the arm, while chuckling at my pain. Asshole.
“There’s nothing to do. For one, nothing has changed from last night to today. She deserves to be with a man who can one day marry her and gives her kids. I can’t be that man. I would never want her to go through what my parents have gone through. And two, even if I wanted to take back what I said, it wouldn’t matter because I didn’t get any of her information. I wouldn’t even know how to contact her.”
Bentley looks like he’s going to give me another one of his lectures but changes his mind. “You’re aware her best friend works at this gym, right? And even if she didn’t, I got Kayla’s number last night.”
I shoot my head up. Shit, this is a game changer. How will I ever be able to stay away from her knowing I have access to her? It was easier when I thought by not having her information, the choice was made for me. Now, knowing I can get ahold of her, makes me second-guess everything.
Of course, my dad decides to come over at this moment, and by the look on his face, I can tell he overheard our conversation.
“Bentley, if you want to stay training at this facility, I suggest you make choices that help Liam and not hurt him. I would recommend you throw that number away and both of you focus on what’s important.” First, he points to me. “You have a title fight in six months you need to be training for.”
Then he points to Bentley. “And you need to stop fucking around and take this shit seriously. Any more losses and you’re going to be removed from this team. I can’t have you tainting my gym’s reputation. I signed you up to fight against Dante Cobalt. The fight is in two months. You need to win this. Understand me?”