15. Knight #2
She snorted. “I hate to say it, but when you walk through a lobby, no one’s looking at your hair.
Thanks for letting me be sad with you. I feel better now.
Stronger. Ready to own this motherhood thing.
I’ve always wanted kids. They’re crazy, but they’re just so honest. And kids just make sense.
Not that I’ll probably have more than the one.
It’s a miracle I was able to get pregnant.
Anyway, thanks Horse. You’re a good neighbor. ”
What could I say to that? Nothing, or I might burst into tears.
“Any time. What are neighbors for?”
She sped up as we took off down the highway.
I tightened my hands around her waist, sliding over her stomach like it was sacred ground.
She was smaller than I expected. When she looked you in the eye, she seemed like an Amazonian, capable of tearing you limb from limb, but holding her, she practically disappeared in my arms. She didn’t shove me off her, just leaned against me like spooning on the bike was part of the plan.
The drive should have been cold as darkness fell on the desert, but the forty-five minutes went by with my heart pounding against her back until she pulled into the hotel parking garage.
She parked in my bike’s place, but it took a minute to let go of her.
Maybe it was because of stiffness; maybe it was because touching Trix was something I spent a lot of time not thinking about.
Not thinking about something took a lot of energy.
Her hair smelled so good, and her stomach was so soft.
She took her time getting off the bike, but when she did, she scowled at me, arms crossed like the scowl wasn’t a clear enough message.
I smiled at her. “Do you want a rebound? I’ll make you forget him for as long as you want me to.”
Her scowl softened as she studied me, almost as if she was considering the offer.
I scooted up on the bike and turned it on. “Later, Trixie.” I drove away fast before I could change my mind. I mean, before I could change her mind. My mind was made up. It was just wrong.
Nix cornered me before the next race at the twenty track. He eyed me more evilly than usual, the evening light picking up the glint in his blue eyes.
“Death-Hammer,” I said, nodding at him. Was he taking care of Trixie? This was a corner between the trucks and the track where there wasn’t any video. That was auspicious.
“Trix told me that you knocked her up.”
He might as well have nailed me in the gut.
I was speechless. She was telling people that I was the father?
What did that mean? If that’s what she wanted me to be, I didn’t walk away from a challenge.
It took me a second, but when I got it together, I lifted my chin and grinned. “Are you going to congratulate me?”
His lips curled. “Are you going to pay for it?”
I shrugged. “Trix isn’t really the kind to ask for handouts.”
“Which is why I’m asking you if you’re going to take care of the kid, whether she wants you to or not.”
“I would pay for my child.”
“Are you saying that you doubt she knows who the father is?”
I shook my head. “She knows. Like I know. It’s just not any of your concern unless she asks you to make it yours.
” But she’d asked me, which made it my business.
And now she was telling Nix I was the father of her adorable baby bump?
Not that she had a bump yet, but there was a psychological bump, and it was the cutest thing ever.
He growled. “You were seen in the garage on your bike cuddling with her. Trixie doesn’t cuddle. Add that to the breakfast last week, the one where you were feeding her toast, and the picture is pretty clear.”
Was it? That explained why I was so excited about maternity shopping with her. “I guess it is, so clear there’s no need to talk about it.” Not that the situation was clear to me, but if she wanted me to step up as her fictional baby dad, I was all over that.
His eyes narrowed. “Is that right?” His soft drawl was the only warning I had before he threw the first punch. It was enough of a warning. I’d been fighting Nix for a long time.
I ducked and threw my own left, knocking him back into the fencing. He roared and nailed my kidneys. I needed my kidneys! What if the kid had kidney failure and needed a donor?
I roared and threw him across the gravel, him dragging me with him.
We fought until Trix was there, hooking her arm around my throat while Oscar and Dirk got Nix’s arms.
“What’s your problem, Nix?” Trixie’s voice was loud in my ear.
Her soft body pressed against my back. She felt so good.
The second she touched me, the fight was gone.
“And you.” She nipped my ear while her voice was an evil hiss and she tightened her arm on my throat.
She’d bitten my ear and named me her fictional babe dad? We were definitely flirting.
I growled, “I’m not fighting your boss, but you’re still clinging to me. I can’t blame you. I’m sinfully sexy.” She was also strangling me. I liked that so much.
She let go of me like I was hot coals. Sadly, but Nix thought I was her baby’s daddy, so this day couldn’t be too sad. And she’d bitten my ear. Best day ever.
I should ask her about how she wanted to role-play this, but she turned and stalked off to check over her orange off-road beast.
“We’ll finish this conversation later,” Nix said, wiping blood off his lip.
I grinned at him. “Anytime.” I went back to watching her.
She looked tired. Was she getting enough to eat?
She needed to stay hydrated. She glanced over her shoulder at me, and I saw the heat in those eyes.
She hadn’t hated strangling me either. Or she was just furious.
Probably the latter. Come to think of it, she hated lying, and letting people think that I was her baby’s daddy went against her core principles. So why was she doing it?
The race went. Pixel beat Oscar, her extra, and so Jerome was happy.
Trixie didn’t stay for the whole thing, probably because Nix put an arm over her shoulder and told her to go home.
Jezebel wasn’t there. Off-season events weren’t serious, just kept the audience warm.
But Jezebel should be there for her friend.
Maybe I should text Trixie about this baby daddy thing. But what if she hated texting? I could call her, but what if she hated that even more? What if…
I’d let her move when she was ready. If she ever wanted to talk, I’d be right here, in the same hotel she was in. For as long as the sun burned in the sky.