It had broken his damn heart to see it. To his amazement, Reagan hadn’t let him go. She’d let him hold her and rock her while she cried it out. He’d almost cried with her because having her lean on him, trusting him to comfort her, had sent this surge of tenderness for Rae through him. He’d found himself wishing he could always be there for her to provide a shoulder or comforting words if she needed them.
Oakley blinked, her eyes a little misty. “I hate that she had to see any of that. I would’ve never tried to provoke him if I’d known she was there.”
Pike stilled. “Wait, you provoked him on purpose?”
“He was threatening to file for custody. I needed proof on paper that he was a threat. He’d never hit me before, but I’ve seen him lose his temper with other people and get into fights. I knew what buttons to push and hoped he’d take the bait.”
Pike shook his head. “Jesus, Oakley. What did you tell him?”
At that she smirked. “I basically told him how much better you were in bed than he was. Then I called him a pathetic pedophile who preyed on a kid because he couldn’t get a real woman.”
“Fuck,” Pike breathed. “You’ve got some balls, Oakley Easton. He could’ve done a whole lot worse. Punched you or attacked you.”
“I didn’t need balls. I had my instincts. I was with Liam for too long. I know he’s all hat and no cattle. He wouldn’t have done anything that would’ve landed him in jail for real. He knows he’d never survive it.”
Pike frowned. “I’m so
sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”
She shrugged. “I think it was for the best that I took the hit. Gives us proof. I’d take that backhand ten times over if it means I can keep him away from Reagan. Hopefully the one hit was enough.”
Pike ran the backs of his fingers over her cheek. “We’ll get you a lawyer. Jace’s friend Reid is an attorney at the Women’s Center. He’ll help us out. With all the back child support Liam would owe and the explaining he’d have to do about how he got a teenager pregnant, it’d be a tough one for him to win.”
“Thanks. I doubt he’ll really pursue anything. He was pulling that card to intimidate me. But I don’t want to take any chances.”
“I’d kill him before I’d let him near you or Rae. Jail would be worth it,” he said, meaning it. When he’d stepped onto Oakley’s porch and caught sight of the argument through the window, all he’d seen was red. Then Liam had hauled up and hit Oakley in a way he’d seen his mother hit too many times before, like he’d been hit as a kid—the backhand. The move that said the person on the receiving end wasn’t worth a shit, that he or she was just some trash to smack around. Pike had never felt rage like that. It’d gone beyond when Red had broken his hand. It’d tapped into that protective part of him that blocked out all other logic. Knowing Oakley had been subjected to Liam, that her youth had been stolen from her, that her dreams had been taken. All because of this scumbag. It had opened up that ugly, dangerous side of him. If she hadn’t been there to stop him, he probably would’ve beaten the guy bloody.
She rolled onto her back, peering up at him. “I’m so sorry you got dragged into all of this. Told you I suck at hookups.”
He smiled down at her. “Yes. You totally do. Being all awesome and stuff. Making it impossible for me not to come back for more. I’m completely addicted.”
Her gaze went to the ceiling, a distant look coming over her face. “Guess it’s good the tour’s about to start then. You can detox. We both can.”
His smile sagged.
She looked over and reached out to cup his jaw. “Don’t do that. I didn’t mean it as a dig, just stating the facts. We can’t keep pretending that it’s not happening.”
“I’m not pretending.” He put his hand over hers, the decision he’d made a few days ago slipping out. “If you’re pregnant, I’m not going.”
She sat up. “Wait, what?”
He shifted to be face to face with her. “I’m not going to leave for months while you’re pregnant with my baby, Oakley. I’ll find a drummer to fill my spot on the tour.”
Her expression turned horrified. “Pike, that’s … crazy. And completely unnecessary. I appreciate the gesture, but I can handle this on my own. You’re not turning that opportunity down for this. I won’t let you.”
His jaw flexed. “It’s not your call to make.”
“Yes, it is,” she said firmly. “I don’t want that. You’re going.”
The way she said it stung. Cold. Final. “You don’t want that or you don’t want me?”
“Don’t do that. Don’t twist my words around.” She sent him a warning look. “Last time I got pregnant, I walked away from my dream. If it happens this time, I’m not letting you compromise yours. I told you that if there’s a baby, you can be part of his or her life, but I don’t need you here holding my hand just because I’m pregnant.”
“And what about being part of your life?”
She closed her eyes and rubbed the spot between her eyes. “I’m not going to pretend I don’t have feelings for you. I think that’s painfully obvious by now. But we knew going into this that our lives aren’t compatible. You need to be on the road. I need to be here.”
“You could come with me, you and Rae, as soon as she’s out of school for the summer. Take a leave from work. I can cover whatever you need. Rae could see the country. That would give us three months together.”