Page 52 of Broken

“What are you doing here?” Shelby asks.

I let my gaze move over her. I don’t know what I expected, but she hasn’t changed. If anything, she’s gotten prettier. Shelby was always beautiful. As I look closer, I can see the changes. You can see the subtle body changes. Her hips are fuller, breasts—which were full last time—are bigger. It looks good on her, and maybe I’d tell her that if she hadn’t treated me like shit.

“It’s a public place, Shelby,” I finally answer. My gaze rakes to the man standing beside her. They’re standing close, but his hand is not on her. Of course, Shelby always marched in a room like she owned it. She didn’t need a man to take her lead. It’s then I realize Shelby never wanted a man who took charge. She didn’t want protected. Like a stupid fucking fool, I waded in trying to give her and her family a good life—one I couldn’t give my mother.

“Still as sweet as ever,” Shelby huffs.

“I’m not doing this with you. I’m having a good fucking night with my woman. I don’t need this.”

“Good to know you haven’t changed. Still making scenes in public, cursing, and acting like a neanderthal.”

It’s stupid, I know it is. I don’t love her. At this point, I’ve been wondering why I even tried with her. I can see clearly that who I thought she was, is definitelynotwho she is. The man she wanted isclearlynot me. That doesn’t bother me. Still, her words do wound something inside of me. I guess the kid who felt dirty and never good enough still lives inside me somewhere. If that doesn’t make me sound like a pussy, I don’t know what would.

“Stop it,” Gabby hisses, and it’s then I realize her entire body is vibrating with emotion. Her hand is squeezing mine so tight that it surprises me she has that strength in her. “I don’t know you. I don’t know the road you’re traveling?—”

“I’m—”

“I don’tcareto know,” Gabby snaps, her voice sounding like steel when Shelby tries to interrupt her.

“What Idoknow is that King is the best man I’ve ever met?—”

“Sunshine,” I whisper, her words hitting me with the force of a hammer, but sweet at the same time.

“I was married to him. I believe I know better than some?—”

“You may have married him, but you didn’t allow yourself to know him. If you did, you wouldn’t be beside the guy you’re with. You’d be on your knees thanking God for having King’s devotion, because that’s what he does. Hedevoteshimself to the woman he claims. I would like to thank you, though. Because if you hadn’t made your choices, I would never have known in myentirelife the magnificence of being completely and totally safe with a good man.”

“Good,” she scoffs.

“Yes. Good. Trust me, Iknow. I know the difference. King is good down to the damn bone. He gives his all. He’s driven to care and protect because that’s who he is. That’s who life has made him to be, and that’s what he gives to people he cares about.”

“Sunshine, don’t. It’s not worth it.”

“It is,” she insists, turning to focus her attention on me. There’s so much emotion on her face that it feels like I could drown in it. Tears are shining in her eyes, not quite breaking free. One of her hands is still in mine, but the other is grasping my shirt as she steps into me. “It is,” she whispers again. “I won’t have her saying anything against you. No one gets to say anything bad about you. I won’t allow it. You’re beautiful inside and out, King.”

“This is ridiculous. Let’s go, Sean,” I hear Shelby say, but my focus is on Gabby.

“You’re right, itisridiculous,” she agrees, her attention going back to focus on Shelby. “King puts in long hours rebuilding his family’s property that was destroyed by floods. It’s a hundred degrees during the day lately, and yet he still does it. That’s after he gets up at the crack of dawn, making sure me and our jellybean have a good breakfast. It doesn’t matter his work is more taxing than mine. The very minute I come home, there’s dinner waiting for me to eat. He puts my feet in his lap and massages them. He talks to the child I’m carrying just to tell him or her about his day. He does all of this and expects nothing! All of it!”

“You’re pregnant?” Shelby hisses. “I can’t believe you! Is this one of those club girls you cheated on me with? You knocked up some little whor?—”

“Man, you claimed her as yours before she even had my ring off her finger. You control her now, or swear to God, it won’t go well for any of us,” I bite out, and notice he grabs Shelby,pressing his fingers into her stomach and hiding her mostly behind him—at least what she will allow. “And you, bitch. Who in the hell do you think you are? You’ve just had this man’s kid and you’re yelling at me because my old lady is pregnant? I didn’t touch another woman—not once—untilafterour divorce was final. You can’t say that shit. Hell, I still thought you were coming home to me when you’d already moved in with this guy. So, save your shit.” I dismiss Shelby, who is hissing, muttering and griping to her new man. She’s not worth my time anymore. I don’t guess she ever was. The promise of her lured me. I shake my head. “Come on, Sunshine, let’s go. I suddenly have the powerful urge to let your light shine all over me and wash away the shit we’ve been wading through here.”

Gabby goes up on the tips of her toes and presses her lips against mine. “Okay, King.”

I look in her eyes for a minute, then lead her away. My heart is beating hard against my chest. I don’t know if Gabby realizes the steps she’s made tonight, but she’s claimed me and there’s no going back. She has all of me now and she’s going to take me, and she’ll have to accept it. I’m not giving her a choice. To use her own words, that’s the kind of man I am, and that’s exactly who she needs.

She needs mealmostas much as I need her.

Chapter 25

King

“Your ex is a bitch,”Gabby whispers, her head on my chest, her fingers stroking against my skin.

It’s late. I’m not sure of the time, but after we left the restaurant, I didn’t really feel like going into the casino. I wanted to be alone with Gabby. We came up to our room. I ordered us dessert—Italian Cream Cake—then we vegged out on the bed while looking out the large window that overlooked the mountains as the sun sank below the horizon. We talked some, but mostly we just zoned out. I think it might be the best night of my life. We’ve carefully avoided all conversation of Shelby and what happened until now.

“I don’t know who she is, Sunshine. Hell, I don’t think I ever knew who she was. The woman I put my ring on was not the bitter woman who was staring back at me today—that’s for sure.”

---