Page 6 of Our Broken Pieces
I laugh. “I had a good example of what a relationship shouldn’t look like.”
She doesn’t know the environment I grew up in. Hell, no one in our group does. I don’t need people’s sympathy or to have them pity me. It’s easier not to tell anyone.
Her lips form a tight smile. “Can I hug you?”
“Yeah.”
Gigi is the only person in my life that has understood to ask consent before touching me. Linc, Melonie, Jax, and Audrey are allowed to hug me. I know that’s how they express themselves, so it doesn’t bother me as much as it used to. But even though Gigi knows she can touch me, when she asks first, I feel like she gets me.
She shuffles across the couch and wraps her arms around my shoulders, resting her head on my chest. She smells like all the expensive creams and oils she uses at her spa. I wrap my arms around her and feel her chest rise and fall.
I have always liked how small she is, a contrast to myself. I’m six-foot-three and two-hundred-twenty pounds, she can’t weigh more than one-thirty. Feeling her small frame against me makes me want to protect her, but that’s not my place. I’m just the one that hears the stories and tries to give advice. I’m just a friend.
Chapter Four
Gigi
“You give the best hugs. Thanks for listening.”
“Anytime, princess.”
I push off the solid wall of muscle, otherwise known as Marcus’ chest. “Let’s watch the rest of the game.”
He picks up the remote and turns the volume up while I return to my side of the couch.
“Let’s play Gin.” The game ended twenty minutes ago, and I’m on my second glass of whiskey. Considering I haven’t eaten since lunch, I probably should have stopped at one with Marcus’ heavy pour.
“G, it’s ten-thirty.” He finishes his water.
I grab the deck of cards from the drawer in the end table. “Just one game. We’ll stop at eleven.”
“Alright, but at eleven, I need to go to bed.”
“You got it, prince.”
I down the rest of what’s in my glass and shuffle the cards. After I deal, we’re arranging our hands, and Marcus starts the game.
“Pass.”
I take the card on top of the discard pile and lay one down in its place.
“You aren’t planning on driving, are you?” Marcus takes my card and shuffles his hand around, discarding a king of spades.
“No.” My nose is feeling funny. Damn it, I’m tipsy.
“You’re rubbing your nose, you’re cut off.”
“Sorry, I might have drank too much.”
“I’m not judging. You’re a big girl. I’m just worried about what Lewis will think of you coming home tipsy.”
“I don’t really care if it bothers him.”
“Gigi, that’s not nice.” He smirks at me. Damn him and his smirk. His full lips upturned in a mischievous way. I only get small glimpses of his smiles, so I stare at him a little longer than I should while I have the chance.
“Your turn.”
“Yeah.” I play my turn.
