Page 16 of Our Broken Pieces
Chapter Ten
Marcus
Linc opens my beer for me as I stand in the kitchen holding Mills. After the talk that Gigi and I had, having her in my arms is a calm that I need. Her little hand grips my t-shirt as she makes her happy noises. Sometimes I wonder if babies can read what people need better than adults.
“How was your week?” Jax grabs a large bowl of salad from the fridge.
“It was alright.”
“Yeah? You barely responded to anything in the group chat.”
“Just busy.”
Linc eyes me. “If that’s your story, okay.”
My shoulders deflate, and I take a sip of my beer. “I told Lauren I can’t see her anymore.”
Jax leans against the counter. “You seem down about that. Thought she was just a hookup?”
I shrug. “We were hanging out for two years. I can be down about it.”
Linc squeezes my shoulder. “Sorry you’re in this situation. That you had to give up someone that you connected to.”
“It is what it is. Now I guess I’m free to do what I have to do.”
“How did she take it?”
“She understood why. She’s always been mature beyond her age. Just sucked.”
Millie reaches for my chin and I smile down at her. Her blue eyes sparkle and she purses her lips, tapping my face, then a noise comes from her. “Mmm. Mmmm.”
Linc’s eyes go wide. “Did she just try to say your name? Oh my god.”
“Linc, she hummed. Not my name.”
“Mel! Millie said Marcus’ name!” he yells as he runs to the living area. When he returns, he’s dragging Melonie behind him and comes over to us.
“Millie, who is this?” He taps my chest.
Millie looks around at all of us like we’re idiots. I love her.
“Linc, I don’t think she’s going to know his name yet. She’s only seven months old.” Melonie laughs.
“I swear, Mel, she looked at him and said, mmmm. Like Mmmm-arcus. She’s the smartest baby ever.”
“I swear, if you cry over her humming, I’m leaving.” I shake my head.
“Why am I the only one freaking out about this? Marcus, how are you not excited?”
I grab my beer. “Come on, Mills, let’s go play and leave your father to his delusions.”
As I walk out of the kitchen, she swats my chest with her fist and quietly says “mmm” again. I like to think that she’s saying my name, but I won’t let Linc know it.
Chapter Eleven
Gigi
Marcus drove me home after we left dinner with the crew, watching me walk into my building before driving away. We didn’t stay too late; the babies were both ready for bedtime not long after we were done eating. He was pretty quiet the whole evening, more quiet than usual. And he wouldn’t put Millie down until she eventually fell asleep on his chest. Easy to understand that he’s quiet or looking for comfort, with the pressure his dad is putting on him, but it just felt like there was something else bothering him.
