Page 93 of Our Broken Pieces
Gigi props herself up on her elbows. “Marcus, we all wanted to hit him. You just had the courage to actually do it.”
“What if I’m no better than my father?”
“What are you talking about?”
“My dad used to use his hands when words weren’t enough for him. I don’t want to be like that. Like him.”
Gigi pushes up and moves her body over mine, laying her head on my chest. “Marcus, you’re nothing like him.”
“I didn’t feel that way tonight.”
“You’re one of the most caring men I’ve ever met. You love hard, you work hard, you help others. You helpme.You’re a completely different man than he is.”
I pause, collecting my thoughts. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that I am.
“Gigi?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for always sticking by my side.”
“I’ll always be here, Marcus. I’ll be by your side as long as you’ll let me.”
I hug her. She presses up on my chest and her lips meet mine in the darkness. I cover us with the duvet, and it doesn’t take long until I hear her breaths slow. I lay awake, holding her to me, finally closing my eyes as the sun was coming up.
Chapter Sixty-Five
Gigi
“Idon’t want a white dress.”
Melonie, Audrey, and I are flipping through racks of dresses, trying to find something that catches my eye.
“I’m going to get someone to help us.” Melonie huffs and walks away to find an employee.
Audrey and I give up and sit on a couch in the middle of the boutique.
“How has Marcus been, after what went down last weekend?”
“He was upset with himself with what happened. I tried to tell him we all wanted to beat the shit out of Lewis. I think he knew that, but he was still upset with himself. He said he’s going to see a therapist.”
“That’s a healthy response to how he’s feeling, though. And he spoke about it with you, that’s good.”
“Audrey?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m rethinking our situation.”
“In what way?”
“I don’t know that I want it to be fake anymore.”
“I know.”
Melonie approaches with an attendant to help. I tell her I don’t want simple white. Something with a full gown and off the shoulder. She nods with excitement and scurries away to grab a few things.
“What did I miss?” Melonie asks once it’s just us.
