Page 41 of Broken

I see her blanch at my words, but now is not the time to go easy, however. I need her to know I understand how badly she’s fucked up her life and tried to mess with others. I can’t hide that from her, and I don’t want to. At the same time, I need to somehow make her see she’s not the same person, and the people she hurt played their part in all of it. Plus, they’re happy, living a good life. Gabby deserves the same.

And fuck if I don’t want to be the man that gets the shot at being the man that does it.

“Then you shouldn’t be thinking of staying the night. You should be going back to the club. Actually, you should be running to get away from me. Not purchasing televisions to leave here for when you visit,” she answers, pushing through the pain I know my words wrought.

“Sweetheart, you need to get this. Nothing you’ve said fazes me, other than you still thinking I give a fuck what anyone thinks of my choices and who I let into my life.”

“You say that now, but what if?—”

“Stop doubting me, Gabby. I’m here in front of you, telling you how I feel. After Pez and I did my shopping, I swung by the club and picked up my stuff. It’s in your living room. I didn’t bring a lot with me here, but we’re not that far away from Cherokee. I’ll be getting the rest of my shit and when I do, I’m bringing it here, too. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

She bites her lip, but nods yes as an answer.

“Now, I want you to go get into your pajamas. We’re going to relax the rest of the night. You’ve had an emotional day and a big part of that is my fault for pushing you into something you weren’t ready for.”

“King—”

“No, Gabby. I need you to hearmeand not your doubts. I know I said I’d pull back, but I don’t think that’s what you truly want, baby. Iknowit’s not what I want. So, here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to go through this together, minute by minute, hour by hour, and day by day. We’re going to see where the ride takes us and we’re going to leave the past in the past.”

“That’s easier said than done.”

“No, it’s not. We just do it. It pops up, we talk it out, and we push it behind us again. Other people want to bring it up, then I’ll lock them down. I’m not fucking around here. I think you get this, but I’ll say it again. You are important to me. You mean something to me and by extension, little jellybean meanssomething to me. I want you both in my life. I don’t have the power to see what the future holds, but I will share with you I feel settled in a way I never have before, so I’m thinking good things.”

“Can I share that I’m still feeling freaked?” she asks.

“You can, but you do it while promising that when you get too freaked you come to me, call me, hold on to me, whatever you can do at that point, and let me talk you off the ledge. Can you do that for me?”

“I think so, yeah.”

“Good. Now, go get comfortable and meet me in the kitchen. If you freak out again while you’re in there, call out and I’ll come pull you out of your head. Deal?”

“You’re a remarkable man, King.”

“I happen to think you’re the remarkable one, Gabby. You can’t see it, but I don’t think I’ve ever met a stronger person than you’ve been forced to be. And woman, I know you don’t like it, but you’re shining brighter than the sun as you do it, so I’m always going to call you Sunshine.”

“You used to call me Wildcat. When did it change to Sunshine?”

That question has two reasons, but I can’t share with her that I didn’t want to call her wildcat, because it seemed too brass after her rape. It bothered me a lot after I thought about everything she went through. I don’t even want to attempt to bring her attack up. Gabby doesn’t need more reasons to disappear on me. So, instead, I give her the second reason I’ve changed her nickname.

“When my heart became involved, baby. When my heart became involved.”

I lean down and kiss her forehead and then walk into the kitchen, leaving her with more to think about and praying shetakes what I’ve said in and understands just how deep I’m in this with her.

Chapter 20

Gabby

“When my heart became involved,baby. When my heart became involved.”

I jerk awake, hearing King’s voice over and over in my head. I blink as I try to focus in the dark room.

“You okay, Sunshine?” King’s sleepy voice comes at me.

I turn my head to look behind me and see him staring at me, his face showing concern. My heart stumbles mid-beat. I swallow and force down the emotion that threatens to choke me. “Yeah, sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

I settle back down on the bed, giving King my back. I’m under the cover. He’s on top, wearing a pair of faded blue of cotton joggers and an old T-shirt. His arm is slung over me and he’s spooning me, but that’s it. He’s not pushing for more and he’s doing it in a way he doesn’t make me feel awkward.

I feel his lips press against the back of my neck. “Bad dream?” he questions softly.

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