Three #3
“Avery Jude Davenport. You are an hour early! How dare you.” Her tiny body relinquishes all frustration as she opens her arms and runs at AJ.
She squeezes her so tight that she has to tap Mia on her back a few times to alert her she can’t breathe.
“Sorry!” She scrambles away and darts behind AJ to give my dad a hug.
“You looked like such a DILF on the big screen Mr. West. There are so many comments about it. You should be proud.” She salutes him and I can’t help but shake my head.
Ever since she realized it bothers me that she thinks my dad is hot, she harasses me with these types of comments every chance she gets.
Rory leans down and gives her a kiss on the cheek before going to do the same to his mom.
AJ finds me and I wrap her in a bear hug. “I hate surprise parties.” She whispers as I hold her a little tighter. She deserves to be celebrated like this though. Her being the head corner coach for a professional fight is no small thing. We are all ridiculously proud of her.
“Just pretend you love it.” I say quickly before pulling back and nodding to the counter, “she also had Melinda make that stupid pie you like so much.” The pie is perfect and untouched because Mia threatened anyone who dared touch it before AJ got here.
“She really worked hard.” AJ looks around and I can tell how much she probably just wants to retreat back to her apartment. The minute that Mia comes back next to us though, AJ puts on her best smile and hugs her friend again. “Thanks for doing this, Mia.”
“Don’t lie. I know you hate it. I just got all caught up in throwing a party.
You know I love parties. There were balloons literally everywhere, but Ol saved your life.
” AJ’s eyes dart to mine and I give her a small smile.
“I won’t do it again. I’m sorry.” Mia’s voice is small and it’s a sound I’m not a fan of.
AJ crosses her arms and looks Mia directly in the eyes.
“Don’t you ever apologize to me for loving loudly.
We don’t do that.” Then she takes in the state of the apartment before cringing.
“But also no balloons, ever. I hate them.” The girls start busting out laughing and I ease away to go stand with Dad in the kitchen.
He is cutting into the pie when I approach. “She’s going to kick your ass.”
He doesn’t even look up as he plates a piece of pie and groans. “I taught her how to kick someone's ass. I’m not scared.” We both glance back over at the girls and he quickly moves the piece of pie behind him when Avery looks our way. He plasters an innocent smile on his face as she glares.
“Yeah, okay old man.” I laugh and move out of the warpath that AJ is now on towards my dad.
Rory meets me in the living room and decides to also stay out of the kitchen when he sees the fight about to happen. “Eddie is a brave man,” he breathes out.
“She’s his favorite. She gets away with everything and she lets him get away with everything too.
” Honestly, their relationship is the definition of healing.
Dad never hesitated to take her in when she needed a safe place.
And AJ loves him fiercely for it. I clear my throat. “You fought really well.”
Rory’s annoying ass grin appears, showing his teeth. He reaches out, shaking me with his hand on my shoulder. “How hard was it for you to compliment me?”
I mumble fucker under my breath and he laughs even harder. “No, seriously. You were wild out there. Thanks for keeping her in your corner.” Most guys wouldn’t let their girlfriend train them and corner them in the most important fight of their life.
“I wouldn’t have won without her. I wouldn’t want to win without her.
” His voice always carries the same amount of sureness when he talks about AJ.
He barreled into her life when she took over training for Dad after his heart attack and showed her that she is worthy of love.
He never gave up on showing that to her even though she keeps every ounce of heart locked down.
“Hey, um.” I clear my throat again. “I’m sorry for being a dick so much.
This is your home now too. If you need me for anything, I’m here.
” And I mean it. It was hard watching him obtain the only dream I’ve ever had a chance at remotely reaching.
But it’s more important that AJ found someone to meet her on every level she needs.
For my dad to have another professional fighter come out of his gym and build his legacy more.
Having Rory around is good for everyone.
I just need to get over my own shit to let it be good for me too.
I turn back to him, deciding to try and make real conversation in the effort to move things forward.
“You changed your walk out song to her song? That makes you braver than my dad.” Most would think that was a romantic gesture, but I know AJ.
Rory’s head falls back in wild laughter.
“She was so pissed at me for that. She even threatened to find a new fighter if I didn’t change it to something else before my next fight.
” I watch his eyes track every movement she makes.
She’s holding a fork threateningly at my dad and he’s laughing.
I don’t try to fight my search for crazy blonde hair I know is sitting with my brothers at the kitchen table.
She laughs and a smile spreads across my face.
“AJ always follows through on her threats, so I would find a new song.” I advise him, still watching Mia.
“I don’t know. I kind of like her wild and angry with me.” That’s one thing we have in common. We like our girls wild and full of bite.