Fight For Us

Chapter Two

-Present-

    Great, Dylan is here. Why is he in this town, after he swore he would never come back here again. I tried to make myself be brave, but yet here I am being a coward and hiding hoping that he doesn't see me.

    Seeing him at his father's funeral was hard enough. Even though we didn't talk, I could feel him staring at me the whole time. I couldn't help but stand there watching him and his brothers and seeing the looks of relief they each wore. He was even more handsome then what he was when he broke my heart. His brown hair fell back, but he didn't wear it slicked back like he did when he was younger. He filled out his suit like it was made for him, and knowing Dylan Allwood it probably was. I might've been asking for punishment but I kept up with his career and he has impressed me with how well he has done for himself.

    I still can't find it in my heart to forgive him or even talk to him. He hurt me so much. He broke my heart that night, but each day he stayed away or even refused to make any contact with me had decimated that organ beyond repair.

    I lean down, grab a flower that was growing along side the building I was hiding by, as I'm holding it I remembering how he used to make me feel. He promised me at the end of college, we'd find a way.

    That was two years ago.

    Two years my ass.

    I throw the flower down on the ground. It's funny that's what he made me want to do with my life when he told me he was leaving and never coming back. He made me want to throw my life away. I felt like I was just drifting, allowing the wind to take me where ever it leads me to.

    You would think after all of the years, I would be over it. I was in ways. I went ahead and got my law degree, I am also a volunteer fireman, and have some of the most wonderful friends, but there's still this gaping hole in my chest where a stupid boy cut out my heart and never gave it back to me. Maybe that stupid boy threw my heart on the ground and stomped on it. 

    Now, that stupid boy is back in town and everything that I buried is starting to bubble up again. I don't know if I'm strong enough to deal with stupid boy being back in town.

    My phone rings, and it's Sallie, my best friend who is like a sister to me, and also the one that I have been avoiding since Dylan came back into town.

    "Hi," I say lightly as I can.

    "Are you not coming to the party?"

    I bite my lip and try to think of a way that I could break it to her without upsetting her to much and I know that it can't be done. "I'm sorry, I can't."

    "Don't tell me it's because he is here?"

    Maybe. "No."

    "Then why, Hailee is asking where you are. She told us that you said you would be right back, and that was over three hours ago. She won't let us sing happy birthday, eat cake, open the presents, or do anything without her Auntie Amie here."

    I am such a damn coward. When I dropped  Hailee off, I made sure she made it inside and then I ran away. I'm not ready to be in the same town with him let alone the same room. It will be to awkward and too normal like it use to be.

    I can't disappoint Hailee. "I'm on my way. Just...if it get's to much..."

    "Don't worry I got your back," Sallie finishes what i wasn't able to say.

    "Thanks."

    "Just get here before she drives us all crazier than she already has."

    As I'm walking back I try to recall all the bad things. If I'm angry, I won't feel like some lovesick i***t around him. I think about the night that he told me we were done, The weeks after where I begged him to come back to me so that we could work this out. All the heartache I endured, hoping that he would change his mind.

    He never did.

    He dropped me as though I were nothing and never gave me any reason.

    Asshole.

    I walk through the field, passing the tree-mansion Chase had built for Hailee. Seriously, that kid doesn't have him wrapped around her little finger but around her whole hand. It's cute though, and it's made me wonder if I'm being stupid by letting my dating life fall to the wayside.

    I gave up on finding true love. I've seen guys, but it was nothing that has had any true meaning. All because the fear of having my heart broken has been stronger than the desire to love again. Dylan didn't break my heart though-no he stole it from my chest.

    I trudge up the steps, holding onto the anger and the resentment he put in my heart, and open the door.

    As soon as I turn, he's there.

    "Amies."

    "Asshole," I reply and cross my arms.

    He runs his hands though his thick hair pushing it away from his face, and then looks down at me. "I guess I deserved that."

    "We have something that we agree on then."

    He looks at me from under his thick lashes, which is should be against the law for any man to possess, and gives me that devilish grin of his. "You look good."

    So do you.

    No, no, Amie. He does not look good. He looks like the devil who broke your heart and never looked back.

    I have to remember all that. If I don't I might not be able to ignore the way that he still makes my heart sputter or the fact that I have never felt more secure in another's arm. Not that I've spent eight-f*****g-years trying to find a man even half as perfect as Dylan Allwood. More than that, is that I have to keep some distance between us so he's won't get the wrong idea and start think that there is a snowball's chance in hell of us working this out.

    Screw me once, shame on you. Screw me twice, shame on me.

    "I'm sure we also agree that we don't really need to do this. We have six months to get through, and then we can go back to pretending the other doesn't exist."

    Dylan moves a bit closer, and the cologne, the same cologne he has worn since he was fifteen years old, creeps around me. I bought him his first bottle for Christmas. It was musky and strong, which was how I felt about him. My heart aches with the knowledge that he still wears it.

    "That's not what I have been doing."

    I shake my head not willing to listen to the lies. "Six months, Dylan. I'm asking you to avoid me, pretend I don't live here, or that you don't know me for the six months you're stuck here."

    "I hate my father for this."

    We all hate his father. When he died, his five sons should've inherited the Allwood homestead. They should've been able to sell it and move on with their lives. His father was a cruel and selfish bastard even in death. The stipulation in the will was that each of the five brothers must live on the farm for six months. After each brother took their turn they all five had to live there together before deciding what they want to do with the property.

   That means that, even after they swore they'd never come back here, they have no choice if they wanted their inheritance. Now I have to see the man who I never gotten over.

    "Regardless, you owe me this much."

    There's a flash of hurt in his eyes. He looks away. "You always have been beautiful and irresistible when you don't hold back."    

    Yeah right sure I am. Enough that he could leave me so damn easily. I'm not going to let my heart read more into it. I have to protect myself because loving Dylan has never been my issue. I've spent my entire life doing it naturally as breathing. 

    I straightened my shoulders, and I glare at him. "Well, I'm sure my boyfriend will appreciate you thinking so. If you'll excuse me, I have a birthday cake to consume."

    I shoulder past him and pray that my knees don't buckle.    

    When I turn the corner, all hell breaks loose, and I don't have to worry about my legs because I'm lifted into the air.

    "Amie!" Jayson grabs me, turning me around in his arms. "You f*****g gorgeous woman. Look at you."

    I smile. Here's another Allwood I can like. "And look at you!" I slap his shoulder playfully. "You're all famous and shit."

    Then Shane is there. "Give me that girl." His deep voice is filled with warmth. "I've missed you, Amie."

    I wrap my arms around him and squeeze. "I've missed you guys too-some of you."

    Shane and Jayson both laugh. "The better brothers at least."

    We all laugh, and they both wrap an arm around me, tucking me into their protective embrace. I had forgotten how much I loved them. They were loyal and had adopted me as the sister they never had.

    When my father ran out on us, it was these guys that took up the role of protector.

    "You came back!" Hailee rushes forward. a big smile on her face.

    "Of course I did! I just needed to get your present."

    "Did you know that Uncle Dylan promised to get me a pony'?" She screams the last word with bright eyes.

    I wanted to say a biting remark about the man not honoring promises, but I keep my mouth shut. Hailee doesn't deserve it, and my opinion is shrouded in years of bitterness. Plus, if I'm going to keep up the fake boyfriend bullshit, I need to appear like I don't care.

    "That's wonderful. I hope it's a really expensive one. You ask him for two. Horses want a friend."

    "I hope that it's white and has long hair and loves to go for rides and maybe can fit in my tree house." She giggles.    

    Chase comes up from behind her and rests a hand on her shoulder. "We're going to talk about the pony." 

    Hailee looks up at him from over her shoulder, lip jutted out while batting her eyelashes. "Daddy, I really want it."

    He's so f****d, and she called him daddy.

    Tears fill my eyes. "Give her the damn pony, Chase."

    He smiles at me. We both know he's never going to deny her a thing.

    Then Sallie comes out of the kitchen holding the cake. "No pony. Not now, at least."

    He winks at Hailee.

    "Okay, Mommy. Not now." That girl knows what she's doing.

    "Can I Help with anything?" I ask loudly, making my way to Sallie. I need to keep moving and avoid him like the plague.

    "An hour ago, sure, but now, we're good."

    I glare at her as she smirks.

    "Is your boyfriend coming, Amie?" Dylan's voice causes my stomach to drop.

    Chase and Sallie look to me, and I shake my head with a soft smile. "No, he's working today."

    Sallie watches me, eyes saying what her voice doesn't: We're so going to talk about this.

    My favorite kid who ever lived jumps up when she sees the cake. "Time for cake!"

    And I'm saved from having to expand my stupid lie.