Afflicted (23 page)

“Just promise me that you’ll think about it.”

I nodded and climbed into the back of the car. Jake stopped at In-N-Out Burger on the way home and bought us lunch. My appetite still hadn’t returned so I picked at mine. Aubrey said we needed to start preparations for tomorrow when we got back home. I grumbled making her smile. She was going to have me waxed, shaved, and buffed whether I wanted to be or not.

After f
alling asleep early again, I dreamed that I told Blake,
and
he was ecstatic. He wanted us to be a family,
and
we lived happily ever after. When I opened my eyes reality came crashing back. I realized it was just a dream, and today was the day that I was going to have to tell him. Aubrey and I were going shopping for the perfect outfit this morning. I was dreading going since I loathed shopping, but she insisted and I knew I didn’t really have a choice, so I agreed.

Spending the rest of the day getting ready
, we waited for Brett to show up and take us to the club. I felt ridiculous dressed in a pair of outrageously high, black wedge shoes and a one shouldered, black, lace dress. No doubt that my feet were going to kill me by the end of the night. Aubrey teased my hair pinning half of it up and leaving the other half down flowing past my shoulders. She applied enough black eye shadow for a small nation before applying a coat of red lipstick claiming I was presentable.

When we pulled up
BATTLESCARS was up on the marquee in big, black letters, announcing their album release party. My palms started getting sweaty,
and
the pictures felt like bricks in my purse. He didn’t know that I was coming and I almost felt unwelcome, even though I knew that Jake and Aubrey would have wanted me here regardless.

We snuck
into the back of the club away from the crowd and out of view. Blake was standing over by the jukebox looking every bit the sexy rock star he was with his hand in his pocket talking to Rowan. Wearing a pair of black, motorcycle boots with the laces untied and tight, black t-shirt with faded, ripped jeans that clung low on his chiseled waist. He was looking like a bad boy fantasy come to life.

My heart dropped as he lea
ned in and kissed the top of Rowan’s head before going over to take a seat at the table that had been set up for the interview. She gave him a farewell smack to the ass making him turn around and give her a dimpled grin full of things to come.

Brett grabbed Aubrey and I
some chairs and blocked us from the bands view. Jake made his way over to where the rest of the band was to do a radio interview.

“Vinny D here, I’m
hollering out to the airwaves tonight, hanging out here at Vengence on Vine in DTLA. We’re here with Battlescars celebrating the release of their highly anticipated new album ‘Coming Clean’. I’m here with the guys Jake, Blake, Kevin and Derek. How are you guys doing?”

“We’re doing good man. Thanks f
or having us on the
air
.” Jake said, enthusiastically.

“
I have some questions that your fans submitted, care to give them some answers?”

“Shoot.” Derek said.

“The most asked question is… will there be a tour for this album?”

“I think that’s pretty much a no
brainer. We love to tour. One of the best parts of our job is getting to go out and meet our fans. So yes, there will be a tour. We don’t have any exact dates yet, but you can check our website for more details once they become available, but I’m thinking probably sometime this spring.” Jake answered.

“Blake, we saw some photos pop up of you with a mysterious blonde
. Care to tell us
who
she is?”

Looking over at Rowan and smiling he answered. “That would be my longtime girlfriend
, Rowan. We’re just friends now, but she’s here supporting me tonight.”

“I can’t say I’d blame you
, She. Is. Smokin’.” He said, separating each word.

“Yes
, she is.” Blake winked at her and she blew him a kiss. He caught it and gave her a small wave. Looking stunning in a tight, silver strapless dress that clung to her every curve and a pair of sky-high, strappy stilettos that tied up her long legs she looked like the rock star’s girlfriend. Making me feel even more out of place.

Aubrey rubbed my back trying to comfort me
, but it wasn’t helping. They obviously had something going on again, which pretty much knocked my confidence down to negative ninety-nine.

“Next, what’s your favorite song off the new album? Each of you can answer.”

“
Mine
’s, Enough.” Derek answered.

“Me too.” Kevin replied.

“I like Mirrors.” Jake said.

“Mine i
s Piper’s song. It’s different from our other songs, kind of more like a ballad.” Blake said with a shrug.

“Thanks for your time tonight guys. For those of you at home be sure to go pick up Batt
lescars’ newest album, ‘Coming Clean’ dropping this Tuesday at a store near you.”

Standing up they took their places on stage as the lights dimmed. Jake stepped up to the mic as Blake started playing his bass
. Kevin started strumming while Derek was tapping on his drums. They broke into their new song ‘Mirrors’. Everyone in the crowd that had a lighter lit it up, making it look like stars from where we were standing. I was trying my best to stay out of view until they were done, knowing that if he saw me chances are it would ruin their performance.

After wrapping up the song the crowd burst into applause. Jake placed the mic back in the stand
thanking the crowd. He turned and whispered something to Derek who nodded and went to go talk to Blake. Walking over to us Jake smiled and kissed Aubrey. Feeling the third wheel was starting to get really old and I just wanted to go home and go to bed. Jake put his hand on my back and led us over to the far end of the bar. He helped me
climb up
onto a barstool and asked me if I was okay. I nodded, feeling like I swallowed a baseball and was slowly suffocating to death. He stood blocking me from view in the dim light.

A couple minutes later
, the rest of the band and Rowan came over. They were talking about how good it felt to get back on stage. Jake was really happy with how the crowd reacted to the song and was hopeful the album would do well. I saw Blake kiss the side of Rowan’s head thanking her for coming with him tonight. My world was slowly crashing down. Five minutes went by without him even noticing that I was sitting there. Jake stepped to the side leaving me out in the open. As soon as he saw me his smile faded.

“I think we should give them a couple minutes alone so they can talk.” Aubrey said
.

Everyone scurried away
, except for Rowan, who stood there looking at Blake. He gave a small nod and she went to go talk to Derek. Leaving just him and I sitting in the corner.

“Hi
.” I whispered, not knowing what else to say.

“What are you doing here?” He snapped.

“Trust me, I didn’t want to come. I practically got kidnapped. But, we do need to talk. It’s kind of important, and I want you to know that however you feel about what I’m going to tell you is fine. I just want you to know.”

“Well, what is it?”
He pressed.

Reaching into my purse I pulled out the ultrasound photos and handed them to him.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me…” He took the pictures and put a hand behind his neck.

“I’m sorry
, Blake. I didn’t mean for it to happen.” Tears were pricking my eyes, stinging.

“Well it did. God, Piper what the hell were you thinking? Did you plan this?”

“Of course not!” I shrieked.

He threw his hands up in the air.
“I loved you,
and
you broke my fucking heart. FUCK!”

“
You may have loved me, but the last time you saw me all I got was indifference, which is the opposite of love.” I spat, venomously.

“Are you fucking kidding me? Are you blind or something? Did you not see how much pain I was in? How I fucking pretended the entire time to be happy on
Thanksgiving and how much it killed me to leave!” He started getting loud, forcing Jake to come over and intervene.

“Get your fucking hands off me Jake, or I swear on all that’s holy I’ll knock you out.” Jake backed off
,
but stayed close by.

“You’re an evil angel sent from my own personal hell to torture me over and over again. As soon as I’m getting over you here you are again. Until when Pipe, huh? How long until you run off again?”
He said crumbling the pictures and tossing them at me.

“Blake
, stop lashing out. You’re acting like an asshole!” Aubrey yelled.

“I threw myself in front of you
, time and time again. I tried to be there. I tried to understand, but no matter what I did you shut me out. This cannot be fucking happening!” He stormed out through the backdoor kicking it closed with the back of his black boot.

Rowan
came over and looked at me apologetically. “I’ll try and talk to him.”

“I can honestly say I wasn’t expecting him to act like a lunatic.
I’m sorry Pipe, he’ll come around once it sinks in.” Aubrey said, hugging me as the tears started falling.

“I
told you it was a bad idea for me to come tonight. Now he’s in a bad mood and probably won’t come back inside for the rest of the release. Can I go home now?” I cried.

Jake motioned for Brett
, who called over another one of the bodyguards on staff to take me home. Feeling utterly defeated and so far from home I climbed into the back of the car and headed back to the beach house. I decided I had no choice but to leave everything I’ve ever known and start over for real this time.

Heading straight to the bathroom I pulled out a make-up remover wipe and swiped it over my eyes taking off the hideous eye shadow. When I was done I scrubbed the rest of the make-up off
and stripped out of the dress. I grabbed a pair of black leggings and a light blue hoodie out of my bag. Tying my chucks, I called for a cab to take me to the nearest bus station. I scribbled a note to Aubrey and Jake.

Aubs
,

I’m sorry it didn’t work out like you wanted. I’ll be fine
, but I just can’t go back to Smithville. There’s nothing left there for me now except pain and bad memories. I promise I’ll call you once I figure out where I’m going and get settled. Tell Jake thanks for everything. Please tell Blake not to look for me. I don’t want to see him.

I love you my sister from another mister.

Piper

Looking down at the crumbed picture
s of my baby, our baby, I wiped my cheek with the back of my hand ignoring the cabbie peering at me in the rearview mirror. Sitting all alone inside my head probably wasn’t the best thing right now, but I was strong enough to do this on my own. I gave the driver a twenty and picked my bag up off the seat walking into the station. Destination anywhere but here…

Blake

After all the bullshit she put me through she comes and drops this fucking bomb on me. Looking down at the picture that I ripped off the strip she gave me before I tossed the rest in her face I felt like throwing up. I was feeling an onslaught of emotions… sad, angry, scared, happy and anxious just to name a few.

How could she expect me to be okay with Cole raising my kid? What about me? Was I going to get the occasional visit and maybe summers when the kid got older? Thoughts were racing through my head like lightning.

Leaning my wrist on the brick wall I kicked it repeatedly.

Feeling a hand on my shoulder I looked over to see Rowan standing there with an apologetic look on her face. “What did the poor wall ever do to you?”

Not even cracking a smile, I leaned my head back on my forearm. “I just need some time alone right now.” I snapped.

“You acted like a real son of a bitch in there. I know you’re still hurting
,
and
a little pissed at her, but she didn’t deserve that. She just told you you’re going to be a dad for fucks sake, Blake. You need to find her and beg for forgiveness before it’s too late.”

“And do what, Rowan? I’m going to have a kid
and I’m not even going to have a chance to know him or her! How would you feel?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Do you think that Cole’s going to be okay with us having a relationship? He’s fucking bat shit crazy, so no, he isn’t. This cannot be happening!”

The door opened and Jake came out looking disheveled.

“What the fuck was that about?” He said, pushing my shoulder.

“Don’t.” I warned.

“Or what?” He said getting in my face. “She’s a broken fucking mess, and you just shattered the last part of her! I had to threaten Cole with life and limb to get the fuck out before we got back because he was so angry about her being pregnant. We found her on the bathroom floor when we went to pick her up. She hasn’t wanted to be there the entire time whether she knew it or not, and this baby gave her the out she needed, and you just fucking blew it like an asshole! I wouldn’t be surprised if she doesn’t want anything to do with you now. Worse than that, you’re on Aubrey’s shit list, and there’s a good chance she’s going to kill you.”