The next day, fighters circle me warily at the gym, as though they saw me letting loose on the bag yesterday and are afraid to get in my way. They don’t need to worry. When I went home last night, half afraid of what I’d find, Ashlin was up and about. She hadn’t gone to work, which meant I didn’t need to remind her of the importance of taking care of herself. She’d also had her friends over. Whatever they said to her had worked magic because she was almost unrecognizable from the previous day. I owe those women my gratitude.
Still, something was off this morning. As I watch Harley and Enya work on pads—each of whom seem thrilled to have the opportunity to train with another female at their level—my mind is on the way Ashlin hustled me out the door, almost as though she was trying to get rid of me. I’m not used to that, and I didn’t like it.
Several rounds pass while I offer suggestions, and when they finish, I direct Enya to the weight bench. For somebody with flawless technique, her strength leaves a lot to be desired. I suspect she’s only come as far as she has because of her speed and tenacity.
I wander the gym floor, correcting strikes and offering advice, but after a while, the place begins to empty. It’s not until I head into my office and return to find Jimmy dashing for the exit, the gym completely abandoned, that I realize I’m not imagining it.
“Oy,” I shout, and startle him into stopping.
“Oh, man.” His cheeks flush the color of beets. “I’m just doing what I’m told.”
“By who?”
He glances at the exit, all jittery. Then, before I can reach him, he darts outside.
“Damn.” I stride across the floor, not in the mood for games. What the fuck is going on? I’m only halfway there when Bruno Mars’ song,Marry You,blasts over the speakers.
What. The. Fuck.
The door opens, and I put my hands on my hips and glare, but then Ashlin appears and all I can think is that she’s walking around in a belly-baring top where anyone could see. It takes me a moment to realize what she’s actually wearing.Fight gear. Her crop top stops above her stomach, which isn’t curved yet. If I didn’t know about the pregnancy, I wouldn’t be able to tell. Her slender legs extend beneath a pair of shorts with the gym’s logo printed on the front. Fuck, it feels right to see her in something that shows her allegiance to me. But the costume doesn’t stop there. Someone has given her the fighter’s jacket, and it hangs from her shoulders. I glance at the wall where it usually stays and find the spot empty. Who’d have dared to remove it?
My gaze journeys down her bare arms to her hands, which are clad in knuckle wraps that leave her fingers free to move. I meet her gaze, and she smiles tremulously, as though unsure of her reception. She moves across the floor toward me, freeing space in the doorway, and Harley appears behind her, followed by Jase, Devon, and Gabe. Harley has a bucket clasped in her grip. That’s when it hits me. They’re role playing. Acting as though Ashlin is about to enter the ring, and they’re in her corner. The song echoes in my head, the words bouncing around.
What the hell is going on here?
I stay exactly where I am, curious to see where this little act is going. Ashlin stops in front of me, and the music cuts out.
“Hi, Seth.”
“Hey, baby. Want to tell me what’s happening?”
Her lips curve up. “Can’t you guess? I’m fighting for us.” There’s so much to unload in that statement, but before I have a chance, she continues. “I was worried I wasn’t strong enough to be with you. That’d I’d fall back into the dark place I was before. The other day, I thought I’d confirmed all of my fears.”
Unable to help myself, I brush a loose strand of hair from her forehead and tuck it behind her ear, letting my fingers linger on her skin.
“I was blind,” she says. “I expected things to go badly, so that’s how I interpreted them. My friends helped me realize that I am strong. Maybe I don’t always feel it, but nobody does. It’s my actions that matter.”
“You’re so strong,” I tell her. “Most people wouldn’t be brave enough to approach their ex for help.”
“You’re right.” Her lips curve in a slight smile, and her dark eyes search mine. “I’m sorry if I hurt you when I pulled away. I can’t guarantee I won’t do it again if I get overwhelmed, but I can promise I’ll always come around because I love you, and our relationship is worth everything.”
She turns to Harley, who reaches into the bucket and passes her something—it happens so quickly I don’t see what it is—but then Ashlin sinks to one knee and opens her palm to reveal a jewelry box. She pops the lid open and a pair of rings sparkle up at me. Ones that are very familiar, because she used to wear them every day.
“I’m sorry I haven’t got yours,” she says. “I tried to find it in your condo, but I didn’t have any luck.” She sucks in a breath, her expression giving away her nerves. “Will you marry me again?”
Oh, my God. Is this actually happening?
My pregnant ex-wife is down on one knee, proposing.
“Isn’t that my job?” I ask.
She shrugs. “Technically, you already asked, but your timing wasn’t ideal. I’m just hoping the offer still stands.”
She doesn’t seem bothered that I haven’t answered yet. It’s like now that she’s put everything on the line, she’s not afraid anymore. Fuck, that’s hot.
“The reason you couldn’t find my ring is because it’s in my pocket.” I draw the box out and open it, then drop to one knee, so we’re both kneeling on the ground, more or less at eye level if you ignore the fact she’s several inches shorter than me. “I’ve been carrying it around, waiting for the moment I can put it back on.”
Her face lights up, and my heart grows wings. I want to make her smile like that every day for the rest of our lives.
