Page 97 of Cash

“Winner gets you. I’ve decided I want you as my man, and I think this is the fairest way of going about it.”

I struggle to keep a straight face, but I lose that fight. Grinning, I look at Axel and see a look of disbelief plastered on his.

“You can’t just fight Bailey, win and I’m instantly yours, Candy! It doesn’t work that way!” Axel shouts gaining everyone’s attention.

“I’m just trying to be fair to Bailey. This gives her a chance to keep her man. It’s in her own hands,” Candy answers in what I’m sure she thinks is a reasonable argument.

Axel stares at Candy for a moment before turning to me.

“Help a brother out, Cash. Explain to this–this woman why this battle for Axel isn’t ever going to happen!”

I drop my head, staring at my feet while my body shakes with laughter. Candy, unknowingly, has pulled Axel out of the funk he was in.

“May I suggest that the fight would be fairer if it were Candy versus Axel? Bailey’s only a third of your size, Candy. What kind of fight would that be?” Pooh quickly suggests.

“Shut your face right the fuck now, Pooh! You stay out of this!” Axel shouts.

“You may be right, Pooh. Axel, you win you choose your woman. I win, you’re mine,” Candy calmly states.

“No! No, no, no, no, no, no! I’ve already chosen my woman and fighting you isn’t going to change that!” Axel barks back.

“Axel’s right, Candy. You don’t get to decide who he’s with. That’s not how life works. But if you’re still itching for a fight, I’ll get into the cage with you. Maybe your skills will impress him,” Ava says from beside Pooh.

“$200 on Ava,” Pooh shouts.

“I’ll take that action,” Reeves says before giving Ava an apologetic look. “Sorry, Ava but she’s got you by at least 70 pounds.”

Bets are being shouted back and forth while Candy sizes Ava up. Finally nodding her head, Candy makes her way to the cage.

“Kick her in the lady balls, Sis,” Axel advises with a grin.

I watch as Horse Nuts cringes before reaching down to reassure himself his are still attached. Axel’s comment had to have brought up bad memories for him.

“You owe me for this, Axel,” Ava informs him before joining Candy in the cage.

Candy may have had the size advantage, but Ava’s been practicing for a lot longer. The fight is short but fierce. Ava pins Candy to the mat and forces Candy to tap out. Ava stands, offers a helping hand to Candy and they chat quietly for a few minutes.

Surprisingly, Candy accepts her defeat with grace but advises Axel that she’ll still be coming to the gym. I think she’s still determined to make Axel hers, and he’s been warned.

After Candy leaves the gym, Axel turns to Ava and picks her up. Swinging her in a few circles, he plants her back on her feet and drops a kiss to her cheek.

“I always knew I was irresistible, but now all of you have to admit it too,” Axel crows.

The Axel we’re used to is back in full force.

*~*~*~*

Livi came to my house this evening to talk, but the first thing I did was pull her tight to my chest. I held her tight for a few moments, just relieved to have her in my arms again. It took her a moment but eventually she wrapped her arms around my waist and leaned her body weight against me.

Bella came over today before Livi got here at my request. She’s going to babysit while Livi and I go out for dinner and our talk. She stands quietly off to the side, but her smile shows I’m not the only one happy to see Livi again. After Livi steps away from me, she walks to Bella and gives her a hug too. From comments Bella has made, I know she admires Livi a lot and wasn’t happy with me when Livi was no longer around. With her smile back in place, Bella gives me an approving nod. Livi releases Bella and turns to face me.

“Can I see Liam before we leave?”

“Of course. He’s in his crib,” I answer.

Livi hurries down the hallway while Bella turns to face me.

“I hope you two work things out but either way, I love you. I’ll just love you a little more if you’re smart enough to hang onto a good woman.”

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