It Ain't Over til It's Over // Lenny Kravitz

"Hey, Brax, you in?"

I yell out to the guy who's working on April's upholstery from the empty work room at the back of the building, cringing at the sound of my voice.

"Warehouse!" he calls back seconds later.

I'm covered in sweat from two hours at the dojo doing bag rolls and drills while picturing Matt's face. Two hours that didn't even make a crack in the fury that's still under the surface. If it weren't for the fact that I'd promised Brax my time, I wouldn't be here. Maybe I'd be running the track, although that would put me back on that dickhead's territory so probably not. Knowing me, I'd be working on an engine and tossing my tools around. My tools don't deserve the disservice.

I move through the work area where April's car is stationed, keeping my eyes off of the paint job and chrome. My chest aches just walking by, no way I can get an eyeful and remember the pain I saw in her eyes just hours ago. When I exit the work room and enter the cavernous main warehouse, I see Brax kneeling next to a pristine vintage Harley, a little girl sitting on the floor with a doll right next to him.

"Hey, looks like you've got your hands full." I smile at the little girl with brown curls framing her face and big brown eyes. Brax stands slowly then turns around to look me in the eye. I'm surprised to see him cradling a baby in his inked arms.

"Nico. Right on time." He glances down to the little girl while patting the butt of the baby. "This is my little girl, Daisy, and my son, Robby." The look on his face is pure joy when he takes in his kids. "My wife had a last-minute meeting at school so I've got the kids until she can come pick them up."

"Ah, no worries. Should we work on this later?" I run a hand through my hair, almost hoping he says yes. Working on this car for April isn't the distraction I need today. I already had Angel and Danny give the girls a ride home because I knew in my state of mind, I shouldn't be driving anyone else. I feel violent, have for the past few hours.

Ever since I saw evidence of how people look at the girl I've fallen for.

Ever since I watched her die a little inside because I saw it.

Ever since I realized that she'd hidden it from me because she still feels shame.

"Nah, we're good. Savanna should be here in about ten minutes. Then we can get started." Brax returns his attention to his little girl who happens to be babbling to him about her dolly.

I look on but don't really see them. My brain has gone back to two hours ago when all I could see was red and all I could feel was blind rage.

I wanted to hurt someone. I wanted to hurt Matt. With pain. Lots and lots of fucking pain. I fully intended to inflict said pain and didn't care where the hell I did it. But reality set in. Faculty and staff showed up. Students were waiting for a fight. Like actively waiting for me to show up. It only took thirty seconds for me to read the situation for what it was. A set up. One I did not understand. How the hell did half of the school know I'd just seen those pictures?

Danny shoved his phone under my nose, and I saw the posts that have been share repeatedly, calling my girl a whore. I had no idea my anger could reach those levels. Off the charts furious. I stormed up to Matt, showing him how fucking pissed off I was in no uncertain terms. I kept my fists at my side, clenched my jaw and stared him down. The only satisfaction I had was seeing him twitch just a little. Other than that, he didn't react.

"Watch your step, Matt. Because from now on, that's what I'll be doing. Watching every. fucking. step."

He lifted his chin in acknowledgement, then said the words that have been burning in my brain ever since.

"You play in the gutter, things get dirty."

Fuck him.

I have never been so mad as I have been today. The only time that came anywhere close was the day I was jumped in the bathroom by those asshole seniors. Who jumps a freshman? Even then, defending myself against them in an unprovoked attack, I wasn't this mad. That was just me defending myself. This is next level. This is me defending my heart, my entire soul. But because of my past, my hands are tied behind my back, or they would be if I acted on my impulse to end that guy.

Jail isn't a theory for me. It would be a fact. I have a record, so any altercations, especially with an asshole like Matt, would end up with me behind bars. A second chance for someone like me is all I get. The sentence wouldn't be juvie, it would be prison, and for a lot longer than a few months.

I realize I'm unconsciously stomping my feet around the warehouse as I check out the art deco look of the place, my footfalls echoing against the hard surface of the space, when Brax clears his throat.

"Everything okay, man?" He has one eyebrow raised at me, bouncing the baby in his arms.

I just shrug, not wanting to lie but not wanting to get into it right now. I turn back to face him. He's a tough looking guy, tats and muscles covered with just a hint of grease. I feel a kinship with him from the grease alone. But he also looks completely content, holding his kids with a sense of satisfaction in life. Peace.

It hits me like a fucking truck. Peace is what I don't have. Not just today. Not just with April and this fiasco. But since my dad died there hasn't been a sense of peace.

My mouth drops open—to say what, I have no idea—but no words come out. The main door to the warehouse opens and a beautiful brunette walks in.

"There's my babies!" she says while kneeling to scoop up the little girl. "Were you good for daddy?" She covers the girl with kisses pulling giggles out of her daughter with each one.

"She's probably ready for a nap," Brax says while handing the baby to his wife. "This guy, too."

Savanna kisses Brax and snuggles the baby close. They are total opposites on the surface, Savanna sweet and simple while Brax exudes an edge of strength. What brings them together is the admiration for each other shining through, the love they share for their kids. Peace. I rub the back of my neck, slightly uncomfortable witnessing their little family, but also gutted. I want this, so freaking bad. And I want it with April.

"Tell daddy bye-bye, baby. We'll see him at home later." Brax waves his family off home then turns back to me, rubbing his hands together.

"Let's get this started. Ready to try your hand with piping?" He smirks.

"I guess so."

He leads me back into the workroom and pulls out long strips of hot pink leather. My stomach drops at the sight. I need to get to April, check on her. I can't believe I left her like that, but I knew I was no good to her until I got this anger under control.

"Garrett's design was pretty kick ass. Is he always that good?" Brax pulls out more supplies as I just stand there and watch.

"Yeah. He's kind of a genius when it comes to the designs."

"I might have to pull him on board someday."

I huff a laugh. "Yeah, good luck. He's remote and the guy doesn't do anything except texting." I'd give my right leg to have G back in town. Today would have been a good day to have him in my corner. "Are you looking for a designer on a specific job?"

"Not yet. But I'm planning to turn the warehouse into a showroom for classics. We even have some car shows scheduled. Owners bring their classics to show off or sell to the right bidder. But they always have the next project lined up. Someone might need a fresh look."

I nod. "Sounds cool. I haven't heard of anything like that around here."

"And that's why I'm doing it. Got tired of just fixing and restoring the old junkers. Need to get the next adventure started. This is much steadier. I've got some connections now, it's the right time."

Our conversation about his future plans tapers off as he starts demonstrating the process to create the hot pink piping for April's car. It's pretty simple, but time consuming to wrap the leather around the cord and seal it in by running it through an industrial looking machine.

As our time runs out, I realize my mind had been consumed by the task and now I'm much calmer. The anger isn't nearly as sharp, although if I came across Matt in a dark alley, all bets are off regarding what I would do to him.

"Tomorrow, same time? We'll prep the templates for the back bench, then modify it to fit the front. Once all the pieces are cut, the process goes much faster."

"Sure. Sounds good." I shake his hand and exit through the back where I parked my Challenger.

"Nice ride. You fix this one up?" Brax leans against the back door of his space and eyes my car.

"Me and my dad, yeah." It's the first time I've been able to say that without a lump in my throat. "First car we ever worked on together."

Brax nods. "My Harley was my old man's. Nice to have something to remember them by."

I realize Edgar must have filled Brax in on my dad. It's fine. Better that I don't have to.

"Took a while for me to get behind the wheel again." I confess.

"I hear you, man. Took me twelve years. And a lot of shit in between. But I've made my peace with it. You will, too."

I take his words for what they are and hope he's right. Today has been a total shit show since lunch, so my hope is thin. But I have to hang onto it like a lifeline. I have to deal with my anger, my loss, and my lack of peace. And I need April by my side to do it.

That's where I'm headed now. Because as much as I need April, she has to be needing me more. I'm finally in the mindset to be what she needs, rather than the caveman I've been for the past half day. I just want my arms around her. Then everything else will fade away and be fine.

It has to.

The ride from the warehouse to April's house is ten minutes that feel like forever. My anticipation is strong, so I jump out of the car and race to her front door. With one hand braced on the doorframe, I knock. Her place is small. I know she'll hear me. I didn't bother texting before I came by because I didn't want to waste the seconds it would take to do so. Now I'm wondering if that was a mistake. No one has come to the door, yet.

Just as I pull my phone out to text April, the door swings open. I look up to see my girl standing on the other side of the torn screen door...with a blank expression. My heart starts to race with anxiety because a blank expression on April's face is worse than an angry one. If she's blank, she's stuffed it all. That could mean I'm too late to fix the mess I made.

"April, I'm so-

"Don't." She cuts me off with just one word.

My mouth is hanging open, but I don't want to piss her off by saying the wrong thing. I shut my trap, shove my phone in my back pocket and wait.

"You've said enough, Nico. I got the message. You can leave now."

"What message?" I'm not playing dumb. I really am just that stupid. I have no idea what message I was sending other than pissed the fuck off. But not at her. Never at her.

"Listen, I have enough to deal with. I can't babysit your issues, too. I warned you that I came with a rep. It's not my problem that you can't deal with it."

"Deal with... What? April, what are you talking about? Do you have any idea how much I wanted to murder Matt for putting you through that? I had to walk away. I had to get out of there before I made a really stupid mistake."

April narrows her gaze. She stays silent behind the screen, but I feel every word she isn't saying. Every single one. Somehow while trying to avoid a mistake, it seems like I made a really big one.

I abandoned her without even realizing it.

"God, baby, no," I say as I reach for the screen door.

With the strongest thread of anger I've ever heard from April, she finally speaks again.

"Don't call me baby."

Then she slams the door in my face.

A bit tragic but like the song says, it ain't over til it's over. Don't lose hope yet! Also, BRAX!!! Ah my sweet man with his babies...If you haven't read Brax and Savanna's story, check out inevitable to read all about it! He will be popping back into Nico's story soon. After all, they have a Mustang to cherry! Also, if you've read More Than This, you probably recognized the Warehouse in this one! Yes, it is the car museum/art deco location for so many key moments in that book. And now you have the backstory!

Next up will be April. I haven't written it yet, but I know where it's going. There will be a moment, people! It will be classic, just like her car! (at least I hope so...she might take me somewhere I wasn't planning on going.)

This song is a message to you all. I would never leave readers with a broken heart, I am an HEA writer all the way. However, that doesn't mean the road to happily ever after isn't paved with pot holes!

https://youtu.be/TmENMZFUU_0