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“That’s definitely a boy in there,” I say, like I know what I’m talking about—when I have no earthly clue.

It succeeds in making Gabby laugh, just as I feel another kick.

I find my hand rubbing over the spot and leaning down.

“Woah there, little one. You have to take it easy on your momma.” In response, there’s another kick and I swear this one is harder.

“I don’t think jellybean likes my voice,” I murmur.

“He or she is just extra active this time of night.”

“What do you do to calm the baby down?” I ask.

She looks up at me and I drink her in. Her smile is slight but definitely there. “I usually just lay down and play music. Sometimes I tell stories, old nursery rhymes or the like. It varies, but it seems to work.”

“You’re too tired to read and the stories I know might not be suitable,” I inform her with a smirk, causing her to laugh again.

She’s really quite beautiful when she laughs.

It’s a look I want to see on her more—one to replace the pain and sadness that is always present.

“Do you play music on a computer?” I ask, not seeing a stereo or anything of the like.

Those are old-fashioned these days, but I like them.

She reaches over to her nightstand and grabs her phone. “You might not like my playlist,” she warns me.

“I think I’ll survive,” I laugh.

“Okay, just a warning, though. This is my favorite classic rock playlist. If you throw off on it, our friendship may suffer.”

“Duly noted.” I’m seeing something from Gabby that I didn’t before.

She was too broken then. Now, there are hints of her personality coming through.

She can be both sweet and funny. It’s a side I like.

I remember her from when I was following Grunt while he was distracted by Jazz and not getting the job done.

The Gabby I saw from a distance is not the woman on this bed with me.

The change is a fucking good one. Whoever sees Gabby through her shit while she heals will be lucky as hell.

I’ll have to stay close to her to make sure whoever she finally lets into her heart is worth it.

She’s been through too much not to taste anything but sweet from here on out.

I know better than anyone how people hide who they are.

Shelby was all sweet when we first met. Then slowly, that sweet was all saccharin.

In other words—fake as hell. Underneath, there was nothing but sour.

It was fed to me in the form of lies and bitchy replies that left me wondering where my woman had disappeared to.

Little did I know it was another man’s bed.

I’m pulled from my thoughts when some men come through the Bluetooth speaker on the nightstand singing about sunrise. I look over at her. Gabby’s looking at me from under her lashes. There’s a smile on her face and she’s clearly fighting her laughter. “Don’t start, King,” she murmurs.

“Woman, this is not music.”

“Lies! This is one of the best songs in the history of songs.”

“Say what?” I bark, trying to figure out if she’s playing me or somehow has lost all her brain cells and believes the shit she’s spewing.

“This is Ambrosia! They’re one of the most underrated bands ever,” she huffs, her eyes round with disbelief.

I grin at her. I like seeing her get fired up. It wouldn’t surprise me if her eyes start shooting lasers at me—such is her dedication to this damn song. “Is underrated code for ear piercing?”

“King! I can’t believe you said that. Try to check your alpha-machoism at the door and just listen to the words of the song. It’s beautiful.”

I shake my head. “It’s a chick song.”

“What?”

“Gabby, the shit they’re singing is total crap made to sell to women. It’s not real.”

She opens her mouth as if she wants to say something but shuts it quickly. Then, slowly, I see some of the light that had shone in her eyes leave. Now, I’m kicking myself for fucking all this up. I start rubbing her stomach to distract her thoughts.

“Maybe you’re wrong,” she whispers. “My mom and dad have always shared this powerful love. He always said from the moment he saw her, she was it for him. She says the same thing about him. If you need more proof, look at Dragon and Nicole, or Dani and Crusher. I think it’s possible.

Maybe it’s not meant for someone like me, but it still exists and when I close my eyes, I like to imagine it all around me, shining a light just like the song says so that it can guide me into safer waters.

That kind of love is what I’m going to show my baby.

I may have never experienced it, but my baby will. I’m going to see to it.”

As I listen to her, my damn throat gets tight.

I don’t even think. I pull her into me so that her head rests on my chest and I kiss the top of her head.

“Someday, Sunshine, you’ll give that love to your daughter, and jellybean will give it all back to you.

You just have to hold on. You’ll get that beautiful life, sweetheart. ”

I feel the wet drops of her tears against my chest. I just hold her tighter, silently willing her to believe me—and I hope like hell she does.

I really do.