Feeling empty, he couldn’t help but think of the parents who’d adopted him, offering him the opportunity for a normal childhood. He was lucky when Cooper and Alla adopted him. If everyone thought he was a fuckup now, he could only imagine what would have happened if he had been raised by his biological parents. The unfortunate thing was he had no idea what traits he inherited, and Piper and their child shouldn’t have to be the ones to find out. As shitty as the situation was, it was what it was and now he had brought Piper into it.
If only his entire upbringing had been with Cooper and Alla; things could have been so much different. He would be a better man and would want to be a good husband and father. But seeing what his mother and father went through led him to believe no relationship in the world was worth all of that.
Not even if it was one with Piper Allen.
Oops, he meant Piper Titov.
With a heavy feeling in his chest, Erik left the courtroom to find Piper standing in the parking lot with Phillip. Phillip hugged her tightly and something in Erik’s chest twisted a little. He had no clue what that meant, but he knew he really didn’t like Phillip touching Piper. They both turned as he approached. Piper still looked sad and he could tell she had been crying. Again, his chest did that twisting thing, and Erik started to become annoyed with it. He wasn’t supposed to care if she wanted to hug his best friend, or even if she cried.
“Okay, so I’m going to go back to Phillip’s and pack my stuff, then I’ll be out to your house in a couple of hours.”
Piper nodded. “Okay,” she said, and moved a step away from Phillip. She crossed her arms across her chest, which made the dress she was wearing tighten, showing off the evidence of their night together. Looking away, he heard her say, “I have work and then I’ll be making dinner. Phillip, you’re more than welcome to come over for dinner, if you’d like.”
Phillip smiled.
“No thanks, Piper, it’s you guys’ first night together. I think you need some time to yourselves.”
Erik glanced back at Piper to see her looking at him.
“I don’t think you would have anything to worry about. It’s not like we’re going to have a wedding night or anything.”
Phillip choked back a laugh as Erik held her gaze. With her little nose in the air, she added, “It’s your choice, Phillip, and I’ll see you at home … honey.”
Erik looked over at Phillip to find him laughing.
“Oh, this is going to be great,” Phillip said.
“What do you mean?” Erik asked slowly; he had a bad feeling he knew the answer.
“I think your new missus is going to rock your world.”
Yup, that’s what he was thinking, too. Piper wasn’t going to make this easy for him. And Erik was scared shitless.
* * *
Piper cried the whole way home.
Today was not at all what she’d imagined her wedding day would be like. She was supposed to wear a beautiful gown, with her hair in an even more elegant updo. Her dad was supposed to walk her down the aisle to the altar, where her two beautiful sisters would have been waiting. Her mother would have sat in the front row, crying her eyes out, and when her dad lifted her veil before giving her away, he would have said, “I’ve never seen a bride as beautiful as you.”
She would then be given to the most amazing man in the world. The one who would love her for the rest of her days, a man who would love to make children with her. Instead, she stood in a little yellow dress with yellow flip-flops. Her hair was in a horrible bun, she had no makeup on, and she hadn’t even told her parents. The only people there were Erik’s agent and Phillip—oh, and Erik. Her groom, and now her husband.
What the hell was she thinking?
This was crazy. Who marries a guy who doesn’t even want to be with you? One who won’t even kiss you after the vows are spoken? A guy who hasn’t talked to you, or even acted like you are alive, for the past six months! Or even better, a man who doesn’t want his child? Piper was plain stupid. That was the only explanation. This was by far the biggest mistake she had ever made, and Lord knows she’d made a lot of them.
Piper felt like a zombie as she climbed out of her truck, then made her way into the house and straight to her room. With a sob, she slowly lay down on the bed, snuggling tight into her body pillow. Tears slid down her cheeks onto the bright green pillow as she took in shuddering breaths. She never second-guessed herself; she was always confident and knew what she was doing.
But this, this was purely an act of desperation. Deep down she was hoping that maybe if Erik was around her and the baby, he might actually fall for them. He might want to be a father, maybe even her husband.