MMA romance

The Pier

Roselyn pov

Rose’s parents hadn’t even left town when her mother called her to tell her that if she didn’t tutor Scott at least once a week then they would not pay for next years tuition. Rose agreed to tutor him on Thursdays nights at the library and hung up on her. They had plans to go to the brunch that the university was having, but Rose would not be going no matter what her parents told her. It was Sunday that meant Olivia would be going home for dinner with her family, hopefully Rose could go. That way she wouldn’t be in the dorm when her parents came knocking.

Olivia normally spent all Sunday with her parents, and left early in the morning. Rose left to go take a shower and by the time she returned Olivia was up and about.

“Morning Rose,” Olivia greeted seeming used to her morning habits by now.

“Hey Olivia, I was hoping if it wasn’t too much trouble I could join you for Sunday dinner?” Rose asked politely. Olivia gave her an odd look,

“Of course you are always welcome, but why do you want to come this weekend?“ Olivia asked them realization crossed her face, “the brunch this morning.” Rose nodded her head and Olivia smiled at her.

“No problem bestie, we will leave shortly.” Rose let out a sigh of relief at being able to escape another event with her parents.

.

Dinner at the Romano family this Sunday this time around was much different. There was only six people around the dinner table this time versus the entire house full that had been present on Rose’s first trip. Joe as well as Julie were at the head of the table, Olivia sat next to her, Kane sat opposite her and some one named Jax sat next to him. It took awhile to place who Jax was, but when Kane mentioned that Jax was his best friend Rose looked Olivia who in returned blushed.

Rose remembered on their first night bonded they played truth or dare and Olivia asked how many people she had slept with. Rose had to admit that she was a virgin while Olivia in return told her she had only slept with one person. Her brothers best friend. Jax. As the friends grew closer they opened up and Olivia confided that she fell in love with Jax, she truly believed he fell in love with her as well. He was just too afraid to come forward with how overprotective Kane was. Rose looked between the two hulking men and didn’t disagree with that sentiment. Rose simply wished Jax would man up soon.

“So Rose!” Joe, Olivia’s father started saying out of the blue startling her. “It’s good to see you back after a couple of weeks. It’s good to know we didn’t scare you away.” Rose looked around at the room and stopped when she saw Julie’s smiling face, she couldn’t help but smiling at the warm woman.

“Well maybe just a little.” Everyone at the table gave a light laugh.

“What did I miss?” Jax asked.

“Grandma Romano was in fine form when Rose visited us,” Kane explained with a scowl on his face. Rose didn’t blame Kane, that woman was awful to his mom.

“Oh ya that woman is scary! I don’t blame you for staying away. When me and Kane were ten she caught us in her purse looking for the old ass candy she shoves down our throats.”

“Language Jax Henson!” Julie interrupted, Jax looked sheepishly at Julie before looking back at the general audience to tell his story.

“Sorry, anyway; she caught us and tanned our backside…we had to eat the lint flavored hard candy anyway,” Jax said with a rueful look. Rose busted out giggling and the whole table peeled out with laughter except the two boys who had felt grandma Romano’s wrath.

“I don’t remember that,” Olivia said when the laughter died down.

“I think you were with me when it all happened sweetheart,” Julie stated.

“The only good part of that story is your mother didn’t come around a couple weeks after that,” Kane commented. The table atmosphere got awkward after that.

“The shrimp scampi is good Mrs. Romano,” Rose complimented and everyone rushed to compliment the chef.

“Thank you everyone.” The dinner went on without anymore awkward moments. Dinner was concluding when Rose felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and she knew it was her parents.

“Please excuse me.” Rose headed to Olivia’s room and her phone was still buzzing like crazy. Honestly she was surprised that her mother had gone this long without calling her, the brunch was hours ago. Her parents must of had a great time to not even realize she was there. Rose pulled out her phone and answered.

“Yes mother.”

.

Kane pov

Kane followed Rose as her phone rang, he couldn’t help himself she looked so upset. Kane could hear muffled voices through the door.

“No I’m not at the dorm.” A pause, “I’m off campus with my friend.” Another pause. “Yes mom I have a friend…Mom why are you upset? I agreed to tutoring Scott, I don’t know why you want me there, we both know I embarrass you.” Another long pause, “okay, drive safe.” Then it was all quite and Kane could hear sniffling from the other side of the door. Kane went back into the living room where he saw Jax and Olivia were sitting comfortably.

“Livy your friend is crying.” Olivia looked up and ran out of the living room. Kane sat down on the couch and Jax stared at him.

“You want to tell me what’s going on with you and that girl?” Kane looked at Jax in the eye,

“You want to tell me what’s going on with you and my sister?” He fired right back, Jax dumbly went back to watching tv. Kane wasn’t dumb, he knew that Jax and Olivia slept together. Hell, Jax most likely loved his sister, but Jax needed to get his s**t together or he wasn’t worthy of her. The men sat down watching football for a half an hour until the Olivia and Rose came out.

“Hey I’m going to take Rose to the Navy Pier, anyone else want to go?” Olivia asked. Kane looked at Rose and while she seemed put together, he could clearly see her eyes had been red from crying.

“I’ll go!” Jax stated to eagerly. Kane looked at his best friend, yeah like he couldn’t tell Jax was in love with his sister. Kane rolled his eyes,

“Sure I’ll go.”

That’s how Kane found himself walking next to Rose while Olivia and Jax walked up ahead talking animatedly. Kane never had a problem talking with girls, but for some reason he had an issue talking to this one. Kane chalked it up due to the fact he knew Roselyn was intimidated by him. Kane didn’t like it, he didn’t want to intimidate people outside of the ring. Maybe it was because Rose didn’t care he was an MMA fighter, that fact seemed to make her shy away from him. That fact made her all more intriguing.

“So why did Olivia feel like we need to come to the Pier today?” Kane asked even though he knew the answer. Rose answered without looking at him.

“She felt like I needed cheering up.”

“Why is that?” Kane probed a little more even though he knew the answer.

“My parents suck.” Rose looked at him for the first time. “You are so lucky your parents care about you.”

“Joe isn’t my dad. My dad left before I even knew him,” Kane said harshly. For once Rose didn’t flinch from his anger, she gave him an odd smile.

“Joe is your father. You have no idea how much I wish I had parents like yours despite how you seem to resent them. At least your parents don’t force you to be in the same room with some one who publicly humiliated you.” Rose said in a huff and walked off.

“What did you do?” Olivia asked and followed her, apparently they both raised their voices enough for random people to hear.

“Dude!” Jax said and punched him in the arm, Kane punch him right back. Rose returned shortly and despite Kane assuming she would make the group leave after having her feelings hurt they stayed at the pier. Rose was clearly miserable, but she watched Olivia and Jax with a smile on her face. Rose was staying so they could enjoy themselves, she truly was a decent person.

That night as he laid down in bed he couldn’t help but replay her words about Joe being his father and resentment toward his parents. God, he hated the fact that she was right. Kane had so much anger in him and he honestly didn’t know why. He could have had it so much worse growing up. Joe came to every single one of his football games, Joe kept him out of trouble, made sure he graduated. Joe was his dad. Now what was he going to do?