Battle

He roars with laughter and then his expression turns serious. “Only feisty blondes that get under my skin.”

“I got under your skin?”

He hums, brushing our noses together. “Since the moment I saw you, and once this party’s over, you’re gonna be under me, where you belong.”

The doorbell stops me from telling him to put the note on the door. When Battle goes to greet our guests, I hop off the counter, burning with desire. What is he doing to me? I can’t believe I gave him my panties.

I feel like sticking my head in the freezer, but Tucker enters the kitchen behind Battle. He introduces me to Stacy who holds their three-month-old, Ryder, in her arms. He’s adorable with perfect cherub cheeks. She asks Battle if he would like to hold Ryder. Without reluctance, he swoops the newborn from her arms. He makes faces, a gleam of pure admiration twinkling in his eyes, as Ryder coo’s at him.

It warms me in an unforeseen way. I want this joyful moment one day with my husband and my baby. Uncertainty brews in my thoughts. Battle openly admitted he didn’t think he would ever be able to give me marriage.

Am I wasting precious time playing house—pretending I’m okay with what he wants? At twenty-five, is my biological clock ticking? Does it matter? I have to be content in the middle or capable of walking away. I’m not comfortable with either outcome, but leaving him is impossible.

“So Faye, how did you do it?” Stacy interrupts my thoughts, absently twisting a lock of long brown hair around her finger.

Battle and Tucker have left the room with the baby. She didn’t wait long, and I’m annoyed with her cattiness. At least she could say the words, “land Battle.” Or whatever other stupid way she could think of to express her curiosity.

“Do what?” I ask, wanting to hear her define “it.”

“Convince Battle to hear Tuck out.” Oh. I wasn’t aware she knew I had anything to do with the two of them making peace. My intervening created problems for her and Tucker, and while they’ve worked them out, I assume I’m not her favorite person. I avoid her gaze and go to the fridge for salad dressing. “I’m not mad,” she adds.

I exhale and turn around, facing her. “It’s none of my business,” I say, feeling uncomfortable. As the instigator of the drama that kept Battle and Tucker apart, she should be mad—at herself.

“It is your business if you care about Battle, which from what I hear, you do.”

“I do,” I say and drop the salad dressing off at the table. Next, I straighten napkins, and fidget with utensils, hoping she’ll take a hint. I don’t care to discuss Battle with her. Her eyes stay on me, waiting, and I finally look at her. “I don’t need the details. It sounds like the three of you worked through it, and I’m happy for you.”

“I want to thank you.” Her lips lift to a bright, friendly smile.

I hadn’t anticipated her gratitude. The sincerity in her voice tells me she truly means it. “You don’t have to thank me.”

“I do. I was hurt, and I made a huge mistake. So many times I wanted to make it right, but then I got pregnant, and I was scared Tuck would leave me.”

I may not understand her actions, but I can relate to her fear.

“Stacy, you don’t have to explain. I’m not here to judge you, and I don’t harbor any ill feelins’. People make mistakes. I’m happy Battle and Tucker are friends again, and if I have anything to say to you, it’s to learn somethin’ from your mistake and move on. Tucker also made mistakes, but I think he’s a good guy and a great father. As far as you and I go, I’d like it if we could be friends.”

"You are as sweet as Battle said you were.” She smiles again, this one different, more secretive. “And I’d like to be friends, too.”

“Good,” I say, feeling better about Stacy. I return her smile. “He told you I was sweet?”

“Girl, that man is smitten on you. I never thought I would see him fall in love.”

Her words blindside me and nearly knock me off my feet. “You think he loves me?”

“He hasn’t told you?” she asks, as though truly surprised.

I shake my head. “Did he tell you?”

“He didn’t have to. It’s obvious.”

My hope fizzles. She sees him making an effort with a woman as love, but I know the truth about his feelings. He’s not anywhere close to falling in love with me, yet he utterly consumes me. I’m definitely in love with him. Each time he stares at me for any length of time, I try to see his requital reflecting back at me, but all I see is conflict. I see pain and suffering and unwillingness to try. He says he’s trying. I believe him, but his heart is in charge, and it’s not ready to trust me.

The middle is much harder than I anticipated.

Roy barks when the doorbell rings. Battle enters the kitchen with our friends behind him and Ryder still in his arms, which sends another pang of emotion through my heart. I ignore the compression and hug Marty and Ginger.

Austin lifts me up in the air, grabbing my ass, which thankfully I know him well enough now that I’m not offended. It isn’t sexual. JT hugs me like a polite gentleman. My friends being here puts my worries on the back burner for now. I’ve missed them, and I drag them into the backyard to catch up.