She looks down into her own drink. “It was hard. It was fucked up. But I had to do it, it was eating me alive,” she admits.
I nod, because I felt the same way. “So, you and Silas, huh?”
She grunts. “Something like that.” Sounds like there’s more to that story.
I lift my drink up at Tag, signalling that I need a refill. He grins and starts to pour me another.
“So, you and Reid, even after his performance the other night,” she says, lifting a blonde, finely arched brow.
“Something like that,” I repeat her words. “We still have a lot to work out.” And we do. We need to rebuild the trust in our relationship. But he's up to the task, and so am I.
“Reid still going to fight Silas?” she asks. Good question.
“Not if I have anything to do with it,” I answer. She’s about to reply when we see a woman walk into the bar.
She is possibly the hottest woman I have ever seen in my life. Curly chocolate brown hair, green eyes and olive skin, she looks like she might have a mixed heritage. Her body is shapely and feminine, with a tiny waist and gently flared hips. She's a knock out.
I watch as she storms up to Ryan, anger evident in her tight expression and quick paced steps. Ryan scowls when he sees her, and walks around the bar, pulling her into a corner. They have a hushed argument, where I assume Ryan says something stupid, because she slaps him across the face before she walks out. Ryan stands there, looking stunned and angry, rubbing his cheek.
“Who was that?” I ask, wide eyed.
Jade looks as stunned as I do. “I don’t know, but I hope she comes back.”
Reid and Tag are laughing their asses off at Ryan. Ryan walks into the office and slams the door. Interesting. I’ve never seen a girl get him riled up before, or make him show any emotion. He’s nothing but charming in their presence, at all times.
Reid walks over and sits down next to me.
“Ryan needs to wife that woman.”
He gives me a funny look, taken aback. “Why do you say that?” His tone is curious.
“Did you see her? She’s fucking hot!”
Reid laughs. “Not as hot as you, baby, trust me.”
It’s true. Love is blind.
“You wanna get out of here?” he asks, holding his hand out to me.
“Yeah, I do.”
“Good, I have plans for you tonight,” he says, his eyes twinkling.
“Just for tonight?”
“For every night, baby.”
I like the sound of that.
Epilogue
Three years later
“River, the movie’s started!” I call out. River runs into the lounge room, holding his new toy Reid bought him.
“What movie are we watching Aunty Summer?” he asks in his cute little voice.
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” I say, handing him some popcorn.
“Again?” he asks, frowning.
I laugh. “We can change it if you like.”
Reid walks in and smiles at the two of us sitting there.
“Uncle Reid!” River calls out. He loves Reid.
The last few years have been amazing. Reid and I worked hard on our relationship, and we're stronger than ever. He never did fight Silas, or anyone else ever again. He still trains to keep fit, though, and there’s no way I’m gonna complain about that.
River spends every second weekend with us, and we love having him here. Last month Reid proposed, and, of course, I accepted. We moved into a bigger house, and Ryan moved right next door. It’s the perfect set up, and the best of both worlds.
Reid looks at the TV. “Again?” he asks me, frowning.
I laugh again. “Fine, you guys choose something, then.”
“How about we go out?” Reid offers.
“Sounds good,” I say, looking down at River. “You wanna go to the arcade?” I ask him, knowing it’s his favourite place to go.
His scream of happiness is all the answer we need.
“I’m gonna kick your butt in air hockey,” I boast to Reid.
“You wish, baby,” he says, chuckling.
“Let’s go get Ryan to come with us.”
“Of course.”
We walk out of the house, each of us holding one of River’s hands.