Page 24 of Broken

“Take the pizza and the six-pack, Sunshine. I got a few things I picked up for you in the truck.”

“What did you pick up for me?” I ask, confused.

“It’s a surprise. Go on. Set us up. I’ll be right in.”

“Okay …” I murmur, feeling weird. I hope he didn’t do something stupid I will have to kill him for. King has a constant need to fix things for people. I’ve seen it up close and I don’twant to take anything from him. I’m grateful for his friendship. He’s so gentle with me. He doesn’t know it, because I can’t find the words to explain, but there are times he keeps me going. King is the perfect reminder that there are good people in this world.

I carry the pizza to my bed that I’ve covered with a beach towel. In all of my great planning, I forgot that the only sheets I’ve been using have been owned by the club. I’ll have to pick some of those up tomorrow as well. I’ll grab some cheap ones at Walmart. Tonight, I can make do with my comfy throws. I have three. One can be over the mattress where I lay and the other two will be a pillow and a cover. It’s not perfect, but it will work.

I’m pulled away from my thoughts when I hear this weird noise coming from the living room area. I walk back quickly. It sounds like an air pump. Though why King would need one of those, I can’t guess.

I stop when I see what King’s doing. He’s blowing up an inflatable … couch. He bought me a couch. “King?” I whisper, feeling like I can’t breathe.

“You needed someplace to sit—other than the damn floor. It’s not spectacular, but it’s wide and a pretty good size. It will hold two of me, which is like forty of you, even with growing another human inside your belly. It’s big enough so you can stretch out if you want to and before you ask, it was damn cheap. Which means I still owe you another housewarming gift. So shut it.”

“I don’t want a housewarming gift. You bought pizza and beer.”

“Oh shit. Be right back,” he says, then takes off for the front door.

“What in the world?” I question, watching as he disappears back outside. It takes a few minutes, but he comes back in with three bags of groceries. “Oh my God! What did you do?”

“It’s not much. I grabbed some paper plates and towels. Then, I thought you’d need some bread and lunchmeat. I got ham. Everyone likes ham. Also, mayo. You need that for a sandwich. That led to some lettuce and tomato, which kind of led to bacon, because BLTs popped in my head. Then you liked banana pudding, so I bought you the snack pack ones in that flavor. It probably won’t taste anything like Nicole’s, but if jellybean gets a hankering, it might work in a pinch.”

“What’s the milk for?” I ask, as I watch him unload all his crap. I’m kind of surprised he got it all to fit in three bags.

“It helps develop healthy bones and shit. It’s good for you. I got you some Pepsi, too. Cause I saw you drinking that the other day. Though, woman, that’s not exactly healthy.”

“Neither is trying to take away my caffeine. Remember that, or our friendship won’t survive.”

“So, noted,” he says, his lips tipped up into a half smile that looks really good on him.

“I can’t believe you did all this.”

“Does this mean you aren’t pissed?” he asks, sounding hopeful.

“I probably should be, but I can’t find it in me to be. Truly, King, thank you for thinking of me.”

“You’re more than welcome, Gabby. Our friendship is special to me. I hope you know that.”

“It’s special to me, too. You know?”

He smiles at me, but it deepens as his eyes twinkle. “Since you’re not mad, I think it’s safe to reveal this!”

“Oh my God! You got me a Keurig?” I squeal.

“It’s only the general single cup one. Not one of the fancy, frou-frou shit girls normally love. Istartedto get that one, but I didn’t want to hear your bitching if I did,” he complains, making me laugh.

“Frou-frou?”

“Don’t start,”

“I didn’t even know that word was in the badass-alpha-biker lingo book,” I joke.

“It was just added,” he quips. “We’re trying to expand our horizons.”

“Good thinking,” I snort.

“I know coffee might not be good for you, but I bought you some decaf. There’s also some hot chocolate shit in there and tea. I don’t know if you drink tea, but some girls do. So, there you go. There’s a lavender tea. I think the girl said it was supposed to help you sleep.”

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