Page 34 of Broken

“What?” I screech. “How could you even think that? Of the two of us, I’m the one you should be worried about being linked to. I can just hear them all talk now. They’ll tell you I’m working through your whole family. Remind you of all the shit I pulled on Dom and T. That’s the last thing you need in your life, King.I’mthe last thing you need in your life. You think Shelby took you for a ride? The nightmare your family would send you on if you were ever linked with me would make that look like a walk in the park.”

I barely get the words out before he pulls to the side of the road. We’re not five minutes from my house, but apparently, he plans on making a point. I wring my hands together and try to brace. I don’t think I’m prepared nearly enough and that becomes even clearer when King opens his mouth.

“Do I look like a kid to you, Gabby?”

“Huh?”

“Do I look like a kid who is worried about what his parents—who aren’texactlymy parents—think?”

“Well, I mean, Dragon is kind of your dad. So, you’re kind of wrong.”

“No. He’s a fixture in my life. Maybe a friend at times, but he didn’t raise me. He didn’t buy me one damn thing, and I owe him nothing. I think I like him and Nicole, but that’s the sum of what our relationship is. Now, I’m going to ask again, do I look like the kind of man who gives a fuck what they think about my life?”

“Um … No, I guess not—at least not at this juncture.”

“At this juncture? What kind of bullshit is that?”

“It’s not bullshit,” she argues. “You like him. You’re mostly friends now. Nicole is a sweetheart. You can’tnotlike her. I think it’s impossible. You’re bound to grow closer to them, so that’s when it will matter.”

“Christ,” he curses, then turns to look at me. “I know I’m older than you are, but you’ve been through enough shit, Sunshine. That’s how I know you can grasp this. There comes a point in your life when you have to live for yourself. Push what the fuck everyone thinks away and just make your own decisions and stand by them.”

“O … Kay,” I finally say, dragging the word out and taking a deep breath to be able to say it. I can feel myself trembling and I’m not even sure why I’m scared. This is King. He’s the one man—who I know deep inside—that will never hurt me. Still, this is fear that is creeping up on me.I just don’t know what I’m afraid of.

“What I’m saying, sweetheart. My life is my own. If people can’t accept my choices, they don’t get to be in it.”

“King?”

“Yeah?”

“Um … Why are you telling me all this?”

“Are you shitting me right now, woman?”

“I don’t think so?” I whisper.

“Gabby, I know you’re not ready for more than friendship.”

Oh God. What’s happening right now?“I … I’m pregnant,” I point out.

“And straight up, I hate the way it happened, but the fact you’re standing by your child is fucking beautiful and it doesn’t factor into our relationship at all, other than I want to step up and be here for both of you.”

“You’re … you’re freaking me out again.”

“Good, Sunshine, because I’m a little freaked about it, too. If you remember, I just got chewed up and spit out by one woman. I’m not all fired up to do it again.”

I nod, because that’s an emotion that I can whole heartedly agree on. “Yeah.”

“I’m also going to tell you something else that’s going to freak you out worse, so you need to prepare.”

“I don’t think I’m equipped to do that at the moment,” I argue and for some strange reason, his face that was taut with emotion softens and he smiles.

He reaches out and puts some of my hair behind my ear. “You’re the strongest person I’ve met. I think you can handle it. In fact, I know you can.”

I take a breath that somehow shudders through me. There are vehicles on the main road passing us, but they fade away as I stare into his eyes. King thinks I’m strong. I think I even see pride in his eyes. This man knows all my dirty secrets and instead of running away and never speaking to me again, he’s remained a friend and helped me to survive. I don’t know what all this means, but I know that if he thinks I’m strong, then I’m somehow going to find a way to live up to what he sees in me.

“Hit me,” I invite, hoping I hide the terror I’m feeling.

“I like you, Gabby. I like the way you shine a light into my world when I’m around you. I love the way you make me laugh. I love that you and I can talk about anything from Etta James to seventies porn and do it in a way that is natural, fun, and hilarious.”

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