Page 23 of Broken

“I’d argue with you, but I kind ofdidgo nuts for a while, so I can’t. For the record, there’s nothing wrong with women having their own club.”

“I didn’t say there was, but you’re not joining her club.”

She frowns at me. “I’m not, but if I wanted to, I would. I just happen to be pregnant and have no desire to join.”

“Thank fuck for that. Still, all this shit proves my point. Lottie and this Aspen chick must like you, or they wouldn’t ask you.”

“Not necessarily. They just want a lot of members to add more credibility to what they’re building.”

“You have an answer for everything, don’t you?”

“I wish,” she chuckles quietly.

“How about the fact that I like you, Gabby? Don’t I count at all?”

She looks up at me with sadness. Seriously, her face is so sad that it makes my damn heart clench in my chest. “King, honest to God, you’re probably the only true friend I’ve ever had, but you and I can’t truly exist as friends.”

“Why the fuck not? Especially since we’re already friends.”

“Because of your family. They would never accept me in your life, King.

“Gabby—”

“Even as just your friend. They won’t allow it. I couldn’t handle the looks from them if we were hanging out and ran upon them. I’d be miserable, and you’d get upset on my behalf, maybe even resent me one day. That’s not the life I want.”

“So, you think running away to Denver is the answer? Do you really think you need to move all the way to motherfucking Denver just because of what Dom and T think?”

“It’s not just about me,” she whispers.

“You’re damn straight. It’s about me. I want you in my life, in whatever way that comes out. I want you in it.”

“I don’t want my baby living near people who know he or she was conceived by rape. All it takes is one overheard conversation, one person mentioning that in front of my child, or when he or she is just walking by. Then my baby’s world is destroyed. I can’t stay here, King. I can take whatever anyonewants to say about me, but I’ll be damned if I let them say anything to my child that will make them feel less than, or unwanted. I’m going to protect my baby. You must understand that.”

I tuck some of her hair behind her ear, lean in and kiss her forehead. “How about I carry your stuff inside? Then I will take you to pick up your car. While you come home, I’ll drop by and grab a pizza, and we’ll have dinner together.”

“I’d like that.”

“Good. Let’s get a move on.”

“Okay,” she laughs.

She leads the way to the door. I follow, but I do it with my mind racing. Gabby needs help. I’m just going to have to figure out how to do it without reinforcing this horrible image she has of herself. Somehow, I’m going to have to make her see what I see in her.

I just have no idea how to accomplish that.

Chapter 12

Gabby

I connectthe phone to the speaker and recline back against the headboard. King should be here soon. I actually thought he’d be here before now. They must have had a backup at the pizza place. Moon Doggie Pizza is the best place in town. They do coal fired pizza, and it’s divine. You can choose between almost fifty toppings. Although, I go with the simple three toppings, because I’m not big on a lot of gunk on my pizza. I’m a purist. Pepperoni, sausage, and onions are my favorites. Every now and again I’ll add mushrooms, but that’s basically it. I will probably have to pick half the toppings off whatever King orders, but I don’t mind. I recline back on the bed as I listen to Etta James crooning about a Sunday Kind of Love. I downloaded her At Last album after King introduced me to her. The bad thing about this is that it seems me and Miss Etta have way too much in common. Most of her album can be considered the soundtrack of my life. When I hear the lyric—I’d rather go blind, boy. Than to see you walk away, see you walk away from me—I instantly both cringe and fall in love with the song, because it reminds me of me. Ditto with Anything To Say You’re Mine and My Heart Cries.

Still, you can’t deny her brilliance. She’s much better than Ambrosia—not that I would ever tell King that. His ego is big enough, thank you very much.

I let out a sigh as I rub my stomach. Truth be known, I’m kind of lonely here. At the club, there’s always something happening. I never truly felt like I belonged, but I didn’t feel lonely either. They were all nice to me. I know I’ll get used to being alone again. It will just take a little time. Besides, soon my jellybean will be here, and life will be anything but lonely. That thought makes me smile, and I rub my tummy gently.

I jerk when there’s a knock on the door. “Pizza time,” I murmur to myself. I jog to the door. My big slouchy socks padding softly across the fake wood flooring. I put on my pajama shorts and matching top with my almost completely past the knee, hand knitted black and gray tub socks, made of the softest yarn I’ve ever felt in my life. I found them in a store and had to have them—even if I shouldn’t have wasted the money. They made me smile and few things do that these days, so I splurged. My hair is damp from a quick shower. I pulled it back into a ponytail and left my face devoid of makeup. The old Gabby would be in a panic. The new one doesn’t give a fuck. I have no one to impress. I don’t think I ever will again, and I like it that way. I look through the peephole and smile as I see King. I open the door quickly, grinning at him.

“I was wondering what happened. Moon Doggies must have been packed,” I laugh.

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