Page 35 of Broken

“Just a small point here. I think it may be illegal to mention the goddess that is Etta James in the same sentence as seventies porn.”

“Duly noted.” He laughs, and despite my fear, I find a smile. His hand comes over mine and he stops me from wringing my hands. “I don’t know where this thing between us is going to go. I know you have a lot of healing to do. I know you’re not ready. I also don’t know what I’m equipped to give right now. All I’m asking is that we give us time to see what there is between us.”

“What there is between us?” I squeak, pretty sure I know what he’s saying but needing him to make itreallyclear.

“Tell me you don’t feel what’s between us. Straight up, Gabby. If you don’t, then I will pull back. I’m not pressuring you. No matter what happens between us, I don’t want to lose you in my life. I will be here for jellybean, and I will always find a way to be here for you. That’s my promise to you, and I mean that shit.”

“Okay,” I reply, because that sounds good.Really good.I can’t imagine not having King in my life. The last couple of days with him have been the best in my life. That’s not even an exaggeration. I feel more me when he’s around. I don’t feel empty or dirty. I feel … almost normal. He’s still holding my hands, so I give him a squeeze.

“Okay, what?”

I bite my bottom lip. I know what he wants me to say. I’m not sure I can give him that.

“King, I’m moving to Denver.”

“Bullshit.”

“It’s not!” I argue, feeling close to panic again.

“How about we give this time to see what’s between us? If it works out, you try staying here with me. If you’re unhappy, but we’re still good, I’ll go with you.”

“I … You can’t be serious. Why would you move to Colorado? Everything you love and know is here!”

“Gabby, if things work out between us, everything I love is right in front of me right now.”

“I think that hit the scale on freak outs that are allowed in one night,” I tell him.

“Just one more thing.”

“King,” I beg.

“Just admit you feel this pull between us, too. If you can do that. We’ll take it slow and see where we’re at by the time jellybean is born. If you can’t do that, then all of this is just on my part, and I’ll deal with that. You won’t feel the burn of it. I won’t allow you to.”

I believe him. King would keep on being here for me. Even if it hurt him, he’d still do it. I want to lie to him. It would be better for him. His family will never accept anything between us. There’s a big chance that he’ll regret anything and everything that happens, because I’ll never be whole enough to give King what he deserves. The only thing is, I never want to lie to King. I never want to lie to anyone again. I don’t want to slip off the road that I’ve started on. So, instead of doing what every instinct I have is telling me to do, I look up at King and give him three little words that I know—I freaking know—will change my life forever.

“I feel it, too.”

I watch as relief floods his features. He leans down and presses his lips to mine. It’s a closed mouth kiss. He doesn’t push for more. Yet somehow, in just that simple lip touch, it’s more potent than anything I’ve ever felt before.

I think I’m in trouble …

Chapter 17

King

If it’spossible to be excited and worried at the same time, that’s me. I meant every word I said to Gabby.Every single word.That doesn’t mean I’m not worried about how it will go. I was sure of Shelby in the beginning, too. Although, if I’m honest with myself, my feelings for Gabby feel more powerful. There’s potential behind them that I never felt with Shelby. With Shelby, I was settled. I could see the life I wanted, and I thought we could work together to build that. With Gabby, I don’t see a future we can build. It’s not like that. With her, I’m enjoying the fuck out of the here and now and I’m doing it in a way that I want to live it every day. If we continue, and this feeling doesn’t fade, I want to live it until the day I die.

“What’s going on?” she whispers as we pull into her drive.

“Looks like the club is here to see your new place,” I explain, as I park and turn the truck off. Gabby comes around and she looks so panicked, I reach out and grab her hand. “Relax, Sunshine. It’s all okay.”

“Easy for you to say,” she breathes.

“Gabby!” Dani comes running out, enveloping her in a hug and, unfortunately, dislodging her hand from mine.

“What is all this?” Gabby asks, returning her hug.

“The club wanted to surprise you. We thought you might need a few things, then, since we were here, we thought we’d have dinner.”

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