Page 12

Gabby

“I thought Lottie was going to pick me up,” I murmur, looking out the window as we drive past the stores downtown.

Apparently, King stayed with me last night until I fell asleep.

Then, before I even finished getting ready for work, he was at my door this morning telling me he was my ride.

This evening, he was there when I got off work.

I don’t know what to make of all this, and it’s kind of freaking me out.

Last night was a lot, but it was mostly good.

Yet the fact I fell asleep on King crying leaves me feeling vulnerable and more than a little lost. I can’t deal with everything hitting me right now, so I’m shoving it down into the dark recesses of my mind.

I’ll think about it later— or maybe never .

“There was no need. I was free, and this way I can make sure you have dinner.”

“King, you’re only visiting Tennessee for a small window of time. You’re supposed to be spending time with the club and with Dragon, not trying to nursemaid me,” I complain, starting to get very defensive.

“I’m doing what I want to do. Why is that so wrong?”

“You want to spend your evening moving me into my new place and force feeding me?”

“Sunshine, right now, I couldn’t think of anything I’d like better.”

“Then maybe you should go to the doctor. It’s possible you hit your head or something,” I grumble, ignoring that he’s called me Sunshine twice and I’m not sure how I feel about it. Except I know if he keeps it up, I’ll need to make him stop.

He laughs and reaches over to turn his radio on. He changes the source to his phone and music begins to flow through the speakers. “Hey! I know this song.”

“I figured you would. It’s soft music like that weird-ass song you picked, but at least it’s by a man who can sing.”

“It’s on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. Everyone knows this song,” I explain.

“What in the hell are you going on about? That’s an Otis Redding song. It stands on its own.”

“Dirty Dancing is one of the best movies ever. That song made the movie come alive,” I press on, ignoring him.

“Jesus, you white people are crazy when it comes to music.”

“That’s not a nice thing to say. Besides, in my case, it’s not true.”

“It is. Your genes are more your mom, not your dad’s and your taste in music …” he breaks off to shake his head and give me a superior look that makes me want to kick him for some reason. “Woman, it’s not good. Dubious at best.”

“You’re a jerk,” I grumble.

“I like you, too, Gabby.”

I roll my eyes at him, and he gives me that big grin of his. I try to fight my own but have trouble containing it. “Did you bring my stuff for the house?”

“Yeah, although—just to be clear—I do not like you leaving the clubhouse right now.”

“Noted, but I like it and it’s my life. So, you’re just going to have to suck it up, big guy. Who sings this song?” I ask, effectively changing the subject.

“You don’t know?”

“If I knew, I wouldn’t ask,” I point out, when he looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“That’s Etta James, Sunshine. And I’m pretty sure it’s like a felony in at least forty states not to know she sings At Last.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“That’s the damn truth,” he agrees. “After we meet your landlord, we’ll unpack your shit and go get your car. I’ll pick up a pizza.”

“You know you don’t need to be doing all this,” I tell him.

“How about this is what friends do for one another, Gabby? Is that a hard concept for you to grab?”

“Well, the only friend I’ve truly had was Jazz, and well, she didn’t exactly talk to me after I fucked up Dom's and T’s lives.”

“Did I miss something?” he asks, sparing me a glance before he turns his attention back to the road.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I know T and Lyla are damn good. So, aren’t Dom and Thea happy?”

“Well, yeah. I mean, I don’t keep up with them. Last time I spoke to her and Dom in person was when I apologized and told them I hope they have every happiness and congratulations on their baby. They were good then.”

“You apologized?”

“Yeah. I’ve been going through therapy. I can’t get past how twisted I had become.

The therapist said I needed to find closure and put my relationship with Dom and Thomas behind me.

Apologizing was my somewhat lame attempt to try,” I mutter with a shrug, my attention going back to the window and the buildings we pass.

“I apologized to Lyla and Thomas, too. I like her. She’s perfect for him. ”

“Yeah, she is. I imagine none of them made that easy for you,” he says quietly, his hand coming over to squeeze mine.

I give an attempt at a smile. “They weren’t bad, honestly.

If you think about it, they could have spit in my face.

I deserved that, or worse. Thea was nicer than any of them, which surprised me.

She was better to me than I deserve. She still texts me now and then to check on me and see how I’m dealing with Diego’s death. ”

“That’s good, sweetheart.”

“It is,” I answer, ignoring his throwaway endearment. “I know it’s weird, but it has helped me push my past behind me a little more.” King doesn’t respond, but he squeezes my hand again.

I go quiet as he pulls into the drive of my rental.

Excitement fills me. This will be my first home for me and my child.

I don’t know how to express all the feelings that I have surging inside of me.

It feels like I’m finally taking control of my life.

I’m not going to be beholden to anyone any longer.

The future ahead of me and my jellybean will be what I make it.

When King shuts off the truck, I quickly open my door and step outside.

The first thing I do is take a deep breath as I smile at my new landlord, who is on the front porch. As oxygen fills me, I taste it.

Freedom and new beginnings.

Nothing has ever been so sweet.