“I know when your dad left us what that did to you.”
“I’d rather not talk about him right now. He has nothing to do with what’s happening.”
She scoffs. “Are you kidding me? He has everything to do with what’s going on. So she ran? I can’t imagine finding out that I married a stranger in Vegas. If she was sitting in bed with you right now, I’d probably be skeptical of her and her intentions with my baby boy.”
I didn’t imagine that my mom’s advice would actually make sense. Usually her advice is more along the lines of ‘listen to your gut, the universe is working for you, not against you, this crystal will bring you healing.’
“The fact that she’s not there with you now and that she thinks that becoming your wife might’ve been a bad decision says she might just be the girl for you.” Another slurp of her tea.
“Seriously? You think she’s the girl for me because she doesn’t want to be with me?” Maybe I was wrong. Maybe my mom has lost it.
“If the girl had stuck around, she would’ve been with you for the wrong reasons. I see those girls when I go to your fights. The ones who hang off you and try to use their bodies to sway you into doing their bidding. You need someone who’s going to challenge you.”
My mom is right. Something about talking with Nikki last night stirred something deep inside me. I have a vague memory of us talking on the balcony before too many drinks blur the rest of the night, but I do remember enjoying myself for the first time in a long time. And the fact that she never backed down about hating my profession, telling me how barbaric it was, was a total turn-on and shows she won’t cater to whatever I say.
“What do you expect me to do?” I ask my mom.
“Well, surely you know her name.”
Yeah, and the fact that she lives in Alaska. Who lives in Alaska besides moose and bear?
“Yeah, it’s Nikki Greene.”
“Nikki—I like it. And where is my daughter-in-law from?”
I lean back into the couch and push a hand through my hair. “A small town in Alaska.”
She laughs. “Alaska?”
“Yep.”
“I’ve never been to Alaska.” Here we go. She’s going to try to swindle me into bringing her if I decide to go up there.
“What do you expect me to do? Am I supposed to go up there and get on my knees and beg her to stay married to me?” Just the thought of me showing up in her town and having the press discover it, only to return home alone… just no. Who the hell wants their heartbroken face all over every media page?
“I don’t think that’s such a bad idea.”
“I’m Logan Stone. Why on Earth should I beg a practical stranger to be my wife?”
“So she should just bow down to you and say how lucky she is? Come back down to reality, Log. You know better than anyone that sometimes you have to fight to get what you want.”
My mom has a point. I got out of the neighborhood by putting every ounce of myself into my fighting. I got to be on the leaderboard of the MMA by continuing on that stride. And I remain on top because I never accept no. So why now, when that same gut feeling is tugging at me, the one I’ve never ignored before, am I not fighting to win her over?
I stare at the ring I’m twirling around my finger.
“Oh… I think you’re thinking about booking the flight to Alaska,” she singsongs.
“Thinking about it.” I have ninety days before my next fight. Maybe in that time frame, I should see exactly what I can do to make sure that Nikki Greene stays Nikki Stone.
“I’ll catch a flight and be up right after you.”
I knew she wanted to go with me. She can be protective.
“Just give me at least a couple days on my own.”
If there’s one thing I figured out about Nikki last night, it’s that she’s not going to be running back into my arms—she might just knee me in the nuts.
“Why? Are you embarrassed by me?”
“I’ll call you when things quiet down.” I dodge the question. I’m not embarrassed of my mom, but I’m not sure how she’ll fit in up in Alaska either.
“I’m proud of you, son. You’re doing the right thing. Following your heart.”
Once she puts it like that, I want to stomp my foot down on the brakes. Following your heart usually leads to heartbreak. And I don’t want that.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Call me as soon as I can come up and meet her.”
“I will. I’m not sure when that will be.” I’ll let Mom think it’ll only be a little while. She has a hard time staying in the back seat when I’m driving my own life sometimes, but she means well always.
“I love you.”
“And I love you. Be safe.”
I hang up and twirl the silver wedding band around my finger. My mom is right that I have to go after her, if only to find out why I married her in the first place.
Chapter Five
“I want to get to know you.”
Nikki
Since Molly and I returned to Sunset Bay this afternoon, I’ve been holed up in my house. All my siblings are at Truth or Dare Brewery since it’s the night before tourist season kicks off. Everyone in town uses the excuse to party before our small town gets inundated with tourists. I have to make an appearance, but the fact that my mom has already called me twice and left voice messages to call her as soon as possible tells me she knows. It couldn’t be a worse time for this news to come out since the entire family will be together tonight.
My phone dings again.
Molly: Marla’s on the hunt.
I blow out a breath and stare at myself in the mirror. I’ve done my hair, my makeup, and I don’t look any different than when we left for our girls’ trip. But I am different. I’m someone’s wife.
Me: Coming.
Molly: The Greene bunch are all here and accounted for. Fair warning.
Me: Anyone saying anything?
Molly: Nope, but Adam keeps asking me questions about our trip.
Adam doesn’t do gossip, so I’m sure he has no idea. Probably just making conversation so everyone doesn’t hound him and Lucy about their honeymoon. They just returned as well.
Me: Leaving in a few.
I put my purse crossways over my body and step outside of the house I rent with my sisters and stepsister. It’s across the street from where my mom and stepdad live—the big house on the hill that was passed down to them by Ethel Greene, my step-grandma. I say step, but she’s more my grandma than my own Greene grandma down in Arizona.
Our house is also right outside the downtown area of our small town, so I’m able to walk everywhere, even to work at the radio station. I don’t want to think about returning there tomorrow morning and possibly facing the news about my impromptu wedding.
Couldn’t I have at least married someone who wasn’t famous? If I had, I could’ve slid it under the rug and no one would’ve known a thing. A quickie annulment later and I’d have moved on with my life. Something tells me this mess I’m in won’t make it that easy.