Chapter Six
Oaklynn
S ITTING AT THE clubhouse , I look around the backyard as everyone stands or sits in groups. Today is the club’s annual Fourth of July party and Melissa begged me to show up to hang out with Homicide, her, and the twins for the day. It’s not like I haven’t been staying at the clubhouse for the last week since those two assholes attacked me in the bathroom. Thankfully, today is the first day I’ve been able to get out of bed without having a headache from the second my eyes open. It’s a relief and I’ve been waiting for this day to come. Even knowing those two girls aren’t here hasn’t been enough to give me joy. Omen isn’t happy with me, but I got my way thanks to Rooster and Marie.
The day of the attack, the guys had church once I got discharged from the hospital. They made the decision to let Marie and Kimber beat the fuck out of the girls before they got kicked out of the clubhouse for good. They won’t be allowed back and none of the club’s businesses will help them either. I’m glad they won’t be around the clubhouse since Omen and I have so much to figure out as we move forward. While I wasn’t able to go to the room with the women while they beat the hell out of my attackers, the two were paraded in front of me after Marie and Kimber were done. I laughed out loud and earned glares from them. Both girls were bruised on every inch of skin they had visible while several cuts and blood covered their bodies. Their clothing was ripped and Rooster yelled that they weren’t allowed to take any of their belongings with them when they left. Darian screamed and hollered about how unfair it was they were taking my side over theirs while Meisha cried like a baby as she was led from the clubhouse. I didn’t lose my smile for a second until I was taken to bed by Omen so I could get more rest.
Omen has only left my side when he’s had to go to work each day. I don’t know what’s changed with him, but he’s been up my ass and doesn’t let me do much of anything. He’s been getting me food, drinks, making sure I have things to do while he’s gone each day, and everything else he can think of. He rarely says a word to me and we don’t talk about the baby at all. He’s only asked me how I’m feeling each day to make sure I don’t need to go to the hospital or the obstetrician.
Marie has also been spending time each day with me. She’s chosen not to go into work to stay home with me. No one wants me alone and the only one I haven’t seen is Melissa. She calls me every single day, but is on a tight deadline with her next book so she can’t get too far from her computer. Plus, with her pregnancy, she’s sick as hell and doesn’t leave the house very much. I can’t really blame her. I didn’t really suffer from morning sickness, but I witnessed Melissa’s when she was pregnant with the twins. It was horrible and I felt so bad for her. To know she’s going through the same thing again breaks my heart because nothing helps her. She’s tried every tip and trick known and just ends up getting sicker.
Jace is also spending time with me when he’s not working. Omen can’t stand him being with me, but I don’t really care right now. We aren’t together and he’s given me no indication that he wants to change our status. So, until something changes between us, Omen is going to have to deal with the fact that Jace is one of my best friends. With everything we went through years ago with Melissa, we got close and have been that way ever since. I don’t see Jace as anything more than a friend, almost like the brother I never had if I’m being honest. Every single time Omen sees us together, I watch as anger fills his eyes and his entire body goes tight with tension. The first few days he said something to me until I started yelling at him and then gave him the silent treatment. He doesn’t like either of those things happening so now he doesn’t say anything about the two of us spending time together. It’s kind of funny to watch him bite his tongue and walk away when Jace is sitting with me. Jace loves it too and tries to flaunt us spending time together to Omen. He’s an asshole sometimes.
Yesterday was the first time I’ve been alone with no one other than the Prospects to hang out with me. Well, they don’t really hang out with me because Omen has threatened them. They make sure I have what I need during the day but maintain a distance from me. Once the guys, Marie, and Kimber get back to the clubhouse from their day at work, the Prospects leave me alone unless someone specifically tells them to get me something to eat or drink. Now, I’m sitting with Melissa, Marie, and Kimber behind the clubhouse as everyone hangs out and has a great day.
I watch the twins run around the yard while everyone watches them. They’re having the best time laughing and dodging the guys as they try to tickle them and capture the kids. Zeke and Delilah are causing all kinds of chaos as they race through the yard and they love it. Especially when Brock, Brick and Kimber’s son, joins them. Brock is just a little bit older than the twins but he loves hanging out with them. Already we’ve seen signs of him protecting Delilah just as the guys protect the women of the club. Zeke is doing the same thing as he watches all of us and Brock. The kid is a damn sponge and soaks up information just like his dad. Homicide always watches his kids with a soft smile on his face and pride when they learn to do something new. He’s a great dad and I can’t be happier for my best friend considering this is the life she’s always wanted to live. Melissa got her happily ever after but I don’t believe it’s in the cards for me. Omen will never step up to be a dad to our child or give me anything more than the night I spent in his bed with him.
“Are you okay, Oaklynn?” Melissa asks me, making me give her my attention instead of watching the kids.
“I’m as okay as I can be. Just got a lot on my mind right now,” I answer her honestly.
If there’s anyone here who will know when I’m not telling the full truth, it would be Melissa. She knows me better than anyone else and will rat me out the first chance she gets. Especially if she thinks something is wrong from the attack and I’m not opening my mouth about it to anyone around me.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?” she questions me, her voice going softer so no one else overhears our conversation as I look to see Marie and Kimber talking amongst themselves.
“That I’m happy for you. You’ve got the happily ever after you deserve. I knew from the second you and Zeke started hanging out that you’d end up loving one another for the rest of your lives. Now, I’m pregnant and gonna be a mom, but I won’t get the happily ever after like you. Omen won’t step up to be a dad or have anything to do with me. Hell, he can barely talk to me other than to make sure I’m okay and don’t need to be taken back to the hospital or doctor,” I tell her honestly as Marie and Kimber look over at me and listen to our conversation.
“You don’t know that. Omen’s known for like a week that he’s gonna be a dad after spending one night with you. He’s confused as hell and doesn’t know what the hell to do with everything he feels. He’s talked to Homicide about the situation and still doesn’t know what to do,” my best friend informs me as I realize I haven’t been paying attention to the man I’ve wanted for months.
“I’m the one he should be talking to, Melissa. This situation involves the two of us. Yeah, I’m happy he’s talked to Homicide about it. However, it does nothing to make me feel any less confused about the shit between the two of us. I’m the one left waiting in the wings with no insight into what’s going on in his head. He has a picture of the baby from the last ultrasound. I know this because I counted the pictures when I was handed them and one is missing from the end. I’ve known from day one that he doesn’t want an ol’ lady or kids. I’m not asking him to make me his ol’ lady. All I’m asking for is to know what he’s gonna do when the baby comes. I don’t even have anything for him or her at this point and I’m running out of time,” I state, my voice breaking with emotion as tears fill my eyes. “Fucking hormones.”
Yes, I’m trying to play off how upset I am about this situation. I’m hurting and no one needs to know about the extent of my feelings. I’ve had to sit in the clubhouse for the last week and watch as women throw themselves at Omen and he does nothing to turn their attention away. He hasn’t taken them to his room while I’m watching, but I know him well enough to understand he’s not going without sex. The man is insatiable and hasn’t ever gone without sex since he started having it when he was a teenager. I’ve heard more than enough stories from Jace and Homicide to know how much of a manwhore Omen is.
“Sweetheart, I know my son is a stubborn asshole every single day of his life. I blame his daddy for that,” Marie begins, laughing with the rest of us as she throws her man under the bus with her son. “Anyway, I’ve never seen him react to a woman the way he reacts to you. He’s done nothing but think of you and want you since the day of Melissa and Homicide’s wedding. You’ve got Kellan so fucking lost inside his own head he doesn’t know how the fuck to get out again. Plus, you’re pregnant with his son or daughter. He’s lost, Oaklynn. Give him some time to get his shit straight.”
“Marie, I’m never gonna force him to do anything he doesn’t want to do. I told him about the baby because he has the right to know as the father. If he chooses not to be in his child’s life, I won’t ever force him to take on that role. I’ll be the best mom and dad to this little one as I can without him at my side,” I say, rubbing a hand over my stomach as the baby starts to move and warp my stomach with each flip and roll they do. “Omen is a grown man and can make his own decisions. What I need to do is move home to give him the space he clearly needs. Tomorrow morning I’ll be heading to the cabin I got before moving here. I’ll keep everyone updated on how I’m feeling, but I’m doing much better and need to get my house in order before I even think about getting anything for the baby.”
Marie just looks at me with a sad smile on her face as I stand from my chair with Kimber’s help. Without another word, I make my way over to the tent with all the food and drinks that have been prepared for today’s picnic. Music is blaring from the speakers that have been set up outside and I hum along to the current song playing. I smile hello to the men who greet me as I pass and feel Omen’s eyes on me as I make my way through the buffet style set up of food. By the time I’m done, my plate is piled high and I feel a warmth at my back and immediately know it’s Omen. The smell of leather and oil surrounds me as well as the scent that’s uniquely his.
“Let me carry this to the table for ya,” he says, his deep voice washing over me as his breath fans out across the back of my neck since my hair is up in a messy bun.
Omen doesn’t give me the chance to tell him yes or no as he takes my plate from me and starts walking toward the table without looking back. I watch and follow behind him as he takes my plate to the picnic table where we’ve been sitting all day and adjusts the umbrella that’s jutting out from the middle of the table to protect us from the sun. He doesn’t want me to get sunburned and made the Prospects go out and buy this for today the second he realized I’d be out here hanging out with the ol’ ladies of the club. Homicide has joined us as I make my way carefully over to the table and sit down behind where Omen’s set my plate. Instead of hanging out to talk with his best friend, Omen turns and leaves the table once again. I don’t watch him walk away as I take my seat and dig into the food that I’ve been smelling all day long. I’m honestly surprised no one else made me eat before now.
***
S tifling another yawn , I take my seat on the blanket Jace laid out for me. My back is killing me from sitting at the picnic table all day long and I’m honestly ready to head inside and go to bed. Melissa talked me into remaining outside with everyone until the fireworks display is over. Instead of turning down my best friend’s pleas, I gave in to her and am now sitting between her and Homicide and Rooster and Marie. Omen is somewhere in the backyard as Jace walks over to where a few of the Slayer Slits are standing. He’s getting ready to choose his fuck of the night and I’m not about to get in his way of sex. So, I remain quiet as I sit back against the pillows one of the Prospects brought out for me to lean against after Omen saw me rubbing my back the best I could.
“Are you okay?” Marie asks me, seeing me try to stretch out my body again while groaning at the discomfort I’m currently experiencing.
“Just sore. Sat at the picnic table too long. I’ll be going inside to bed once the fireworks are over,” I try to assure her despite me not being sure it’s the complete truth with the pain I’m currently in.
“If it gets worse, let me know,” she demands while Rooster looks over at me with concern filling his face.
“I will,” I promise her as I try to lean back even more so I can get comfortable.
The first firework goes off and I look up at the sky with everyone else. Delilah crawls into my lap with her little thumb in her mouth and rests against my stomach. It’s not helping my back, but I’m not about to turn away this little girl. She captured my heart from the second she was born and I’ve never been able to turn down anything her or Zeke want. These kids are loved by so many people and I’m grateful I’m one of the lucky ones to be in their lives. Both of them have me wrapped around their little fingers and I will always do anything they need or want.
I point out the colors to Delilah as I see both couples on either side of me kiss under the sky lit up with various colors and jealousy fills me. This is how I want to be instead of sitting here alone. My gaze roams the backyard until they land on Omen. He’s staring at me from across the yard and I can’t tell what the look on his face means. Omen lifts his cup to his lips as more fireworks burst in the sky above us. His eyes take in Delilah being in my lap as I hold her close to my body in protection of something happening to her. While I want him to make his way over to me and wrap me in his arms to hold me close to his body, I don’t move or say a word to anyone. It takes everything in me, but I manage to tear my eyes from the man I want as mine to pay attention to the girl I love like my niece and the colorful display above us. At the same time I try to push down the jealousy and hurt filling me with the knowledge that this will always be my life. I won’t have time to date or get to know a man once the baby is here and I’d never randomly bring a guy into the life of my child. Even if I don’t know what the future holds for me, I do know that much with certainty.