Page 15 of Our Broken Pieces
“I don’t know,” he sighs. “He didn’t say.”
“This is bullshit, Marcus. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, I know.”
“What are you going to do?”
He stares out the windshield, his voice resigned. “I guess I have to find someone to marry.”
Those words hit me like a punch in the gut. If he starts dating, gets married, where does that leave me? It sounds selfish, but I can’t help the thought. There wouldn’t be space for me in his life the way there is now. No more late-night hangouts or spending hours at his place. I would lose him.
“I don’t even know what to say,” I whisper, my voice barely steady.
“You don’t have to say anything.” He shrugs, as if trying to downplay the weight of it. “It’s just something I have to deal with.”
“I’m sorry your dad is such an asshole,” I say, my frustration simmering beneath the surface.
He pulls his keys from the console, his gaze distant. “He’s always been an asshole.” His eyes meet mine, filled with a rare vulnerability. “I hate him, Gigi.”
“It’s hard not to,” I say softly.
“There are times when I just want to say fuck it and walk away,” he admits. “But I know what that business could be withgood leadership. If I take it over, I can leave something better for my kids, break the cycle.”
I nod, my heart heavy for him. “That’s a good way to look at it. But marriage is a huge price to pay to get there.”
He sighs deeply, looking defeated. “I don’t have any other options.”
The sadness in his eyes is hard to watch, so I don’t press further. Instead, I reach over and place my hand on his arm. “Hey, let’s go inside and hold some babies. I’m sure Millie’s wondering where her favorite uncle is.”
At the mention of Millie, his expression softens, the tension easing from his shoulders. “Yeah, let’s go,” he says, the faintest smile returning.
We walk into Audrey and Jax’s penthouse, and the living room is a mess of baby toys. Audrey and Melonie are sitting on the floor with Adam and Millie, while Jax and Linc are in the kitchen, managing pans on the stove.
Audrey gets up to greet us, giving Marcus a fist bump and me a hug. “Hey, you two, I was beginning to wonder where you were.”
“Yeah, sorry, I made us run a little late.”
We walk to the living area, and Marcus kneels down to say hello to Adam, then Millie sees him and her face breaks out in a gummy smile. Her arms reach toward him and he picks her up.
“Hey, Mills.”
Melonie smiles softly. “Hey, Marcus. I guess Millie missed you.”
He chuckles as Millie lays her head against his chest, and she lets out a sigh. It’s enough to make your ovaries explode.
“I missed her, too. Good to see you, Melonie.”
“The guys are finishing up dinner in the kitchen. I can take her if you want to go say hello.”
“I can manage. G, you want a drink?”
“Beer, please.”
“I’ll be right back.” He holds Millie close as he walks to the kitchen, shortly returning with my drink, then he goes back to the kitchen.
Audrey shakes her head. “I love how Millie picked him out of all of us to attach to. Like she knew she needed to fix the grump.”
I laugh. “The universe makes no mistakes.”
