Where We Belong

Chapter 131

The name still gave me a bad taste in my mouth. In fact I hadn't seen him since that night. But her name rang a bell in my head. Months back when he received a text from someone named Sasha. This was her his cousin.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

"Oh no please tell me he didnt" She cringed rubbing a hand over her face.

"Oh but he did" I replied grabbing my beer and taking a sip "Does he always do shit like that?".

"Dukes always been the same. He's very protective of family especially Blaze but he's not a bad person" She shrugged signalling for Kelsey so she could get a drink. "He's always looked out for Blaze I don't agree with what he did to you but Blaze cutting ties with him was pretty deep. They're family". She sighed.

What?

"I- I didn't know" I stuttered feeling the guilt settle in the pit of my stomach. I didn't want him to fall out with family. Family was everything.

Lifting her drink from the bar she took a sip "Nice to finally meet you Ava. He may not show it all the time but he's fucking crazy about you. I'll see you later I've got a man of my own to finally catch" She winked making her way toward Jared.

Now I felt shitty and didn't want to be here. My earlier mood was gone and I felt nothing but guilt. Why didn't he tell me?

"You look like you need this" Pushed towards me was a glass filled with brown liquor. "What's up with you kid?" Tommy asked taking a seat next to

me.

"I'm good" I lied causing him to chuckle "I'll leave you to it" That's what I loved about Tommy. He didn't push me into talking when I didn't want to and he left me alone when I needed it.

The laughter coming from the entrance knocked me out of my thoughts. Blaze and Cage were doubled over each other the sight bringing a smile to my face.

"You're a sick bastard" Cage laughed patting him on the back. "Glad that didn't happen to me".

As he approached he pulled me off my seat and sat down placing me on his lap.

"They want to be part of the MC" Blaze shrugged his hands resting on the tops of my thighs.

"I don't even want to know" I sighed my mind occupied by what Sasha told me.

"Catch you two later I gotta pick up the wife" Cage grinned leaving us alone.

"I met Sasha" Feeling him tense beneath me told me he knew that I knew about Duke. "She seems like a nice girl".

"What did she tell you?" He asked "Because that girl can't keep her mouth shut".

Turning around in his lap so I could face him I wrapped my arms around his neck. "Fix things with Duke". He scowled at me. "Seriously Blaze fix things with him he's family".

"Yeah and one day you'll be my wife. The fucker needs to realise that he can't disrespect you the way he did. I'm an idiot for not doing something about it sooner. So he-..."

"Please" I begged cutting him off "Make things right don't cut ties with him over what happened". Playing with the hair at the nape of his neck I tugged slightly "For once listen to your woman" I smirked. Gripping my ass he got to his feet a laugh falling from my lips as I tightened my legs around his waist.

"I'll fix it but first I'm taking you home to fuck you dirty"

Sipping my coffee I pushed the shopping cart down the sweetie aisle. 4. 30am and here I was at Wal-Mart because I couldn't sleep. I had managed to slip out without waking Blaze and not receiving a phone call told me he was still sleeping. Food shopping at this time always cleared my head. Thinking about last night, meeting Sasha and then finding out about Duke.

Blaze fought my corner, he stuck up for me and finally took my side. But Duke was family and I wasn't prepared to break them apart for what had happened. Yes he took it to far and a part of me will always be cautious of him but I couldn't stand by and watch him cut him out. Placing some eggs and bacon into my cart I wasn't paying attention to where I was going until it was too late.

"Ava?"

"This is like deja vu" I smiled remembering the last time we bumped into each other in the supermarket. "How have you been Nate?".

"Except last time I took you home" He winked "I'm good Ava. Finally settled down in that big house of mine".

Why did I feel awkward?

"It's about time" I grinned "Its a beautiful house Nate it would be a shame not to live in it".

Rubbing a hand over the back of his neck I knew he felt the awkwardness between us.

"Do you feel as awkward as I do?" I asked sinking my teeth into my bottom lip. It had never been awkward then again the last time we spoke was at the hospital and if I remember correctly I was the one that told him to leave.

"Little bit" He shrugged "It's been a whirlwind these past few months. I can't seem to wrap my head around how it all turned out".

I think I had an idea where he was trying to take this conversation and having it in the middle of Wal-Mart was not the place. I know I treated him badly and unfairly but I couldn't be with him knowing my heart belonged to someone else, I couldn't kid myself. As cheesy as that sounded it was true. Blaze had his faults but we all had them. I didn't want him to be bitter about it but I couldn't blame him for being that way. I was the one in the wrong and I know I couldn't apologise enough for it.

"I'm sorry" I didn't know where it came from but I felt I had to say it. Nate was a good and genuine guy he just wasn't the one for me.

"No need to apologise Ava I knew deep down you were his. You always were I guess I was hoping I could have changed your mind but you'd have to be blind not to see how much you love him".

"I do" I whispered my gaze falling to the floor.

"How is he? Last time I heard he discharged himself from the hospital" Shaking his head he rubbed a hand over his face. He looked exhausted and worn out.

"Last time you heard?" I asked frowning. How did he know?

"He hates my guts we all know that but it doesn't mean I'll stop looking after him".

I was confused.

"Medical bills Ava. He was in hospital for a good few months".

"Why?" I asked. If he knew there was no relationship between them then why would he continue to look after him? Blaze was a grown ass man who could defiantly take care of himself.

"He's still my baby brother and-"....

"Guilt" I blurted out cutting him off. "You feel guilty don't you". Brother or not the relationship was one sided and I had no idea if they could ever fix it. Hanging his head in shame he gave me a nod.

"Money can't fix things Nate and if you want to have a relationship with him again then you have to work for it".

"He won't give me the time of day and the club won't welcome me. I don't just look after him because feel guilty I like to know he's doing okay and if I transfer money every month then I know he's at least taking care of himself".

"Has he ever used it?" I already knew he hadn't because I knew how strongwilled he was. He was too proud to use money he didn't earn.

"No and I've been transferring it since the day he turned 21".

What?

"I basically stole his chance to grow up. He was inside for a while and that was my fault".

Feeling my phone vibrate from my inside pocket I pulled it out.

You buying that store??

Be home soon xx

After texting him back I slipped my phone into my handbag. He obviously got the note I left him. I wonder how much he was panicking before he

found it.

"I have to go was nice seeing you Nate".

"Do you fancy coffee tomorrow

around 1?" He asked just as I started

moving off. "It's just coffee Ava, don't look so shocked. You still have

my number text me if you fancy it". Grabbing a hold of his cart he pulled it around and headed off in the other direction.

"That's not a good idea" I called out making him stop. I liked Nate but I knew it wasn't a good idea for us to hang out even if it was just coffee.

"Bring Blaze too, maybe this can be the start of me trying to fix it"..

Now I could see what he was planning.

"You can't make things right with Blaze through me. Like I said you have to work at it, fight for his forgiveness but don't try and use me to do it". I didn't give him the chance to reply.