Page 87 of Broken

"That woman knows everything, I swear." I laughed.

I took a deep breath and set her back down on her feet "Well, what do you want? What do you want to do? I will stand by and support you no matter what."

She hesitated to answer. I wish I knew what went through her mind. It was so different from when we were kids. She talked to me back then. She told me what she thought whenever the thought entered her mind. Now, when we talk, I have to practically beg her to tell me what she thought.

"Sin, baby. Everything is okay. What's got you so worried?"

"Do you want a baby, Kai? Would you hate me if I wanted to keep the baby?" She cried. What the? She worried that I would hate her if she kept the baby.

"Sinclair. Look at me." I pulled her back. "I could never hate you. Ever. If you want to keep the baby, I will be thrilled. I want a family with you, I want more children. But, if you choose not to keep it, I will support you one hundred and ten percent."

I pulled her into my arms again. I needed her body close to mine, I needed her to feel me and see that I loved her more than anything. "Sin, most importantly, I love you, I want you and I want you to be happy."

"I want the baby, Kai. But I don't want to ruin your future." She sobbed into my chest.

"Sin, you are my future. You, Aine, and any other children we have together. Even this one." I put my hand on her flat stomach. She was barely pregnant, so there would be no outer signs of the baby.

"I love you, Kai." Sinclair wrapped me tightly in her arms and rested her head against my chest. It was the most amazing feeling in the world. Knowing she loved me, and she wasn't going to run away. I had my family.

fifty-one

Sinclair

"Babes!Whydidn'tyoutell me you were coming into town?' Mia exclaimed into the phone almost immediately after I answered her call.

I laughed. I loved Mia, and her carefree energy. My best friend, my sister. "Mi, who told you I was in town?"

"Who do you think? Now, are you going to tell me why you didn't

tell me why you didn't say anything?"

I sighed. I obviously hurt Mia. I planned to call her, but I needed to talk to Kai before I did anything else. "Okay, for one, I'm going to kill

Noah. For two, I wanted to surprise you. I swear."

Mia started to giggle into the phone. "Babes, I'm just glad you're here, and you brought Aine."

I swore to her once that I'd never return to Lakewood or bring Aine here. I sighed; I did that a lot lately. "I know Mi. I didn't think I could come back, but everyone Aine and I love is here. We both felt empty without you guys."

"You mean Kai?" Mia asked.

She was right, we came back because of Kai, and the baby. But also, because of our family, our real family. Not the people whose genetic codes created me. They weren't my family. Mia and Tess were my sisters. Mr. and Mrs. Carter healed my wounds when I got hurt.

Daisy and Orion, Mia's parents. They took me in when I needed a safe place. Noah was the big brother I never had but was always there when I needed him. Callum, always around to help me cause trouble and be a friend. I knew what it was to be truly loved because of Kai.

"Yeah Mi, because of Kai, but also because our family is here, and as long as you guys are all here, this is home."

"I'm glad to hear it, babes. I love you."

"I love you too, Mi."

As we talked, I explained that I took an extended leave of absence from work. Mia took that as an invitation to plan out a full itinerary of activities for me and Aine over the next few days. I just went with it. I was too tired to say no now.

I agreed to meet her for breakfast, and we hung up. It was late, and I had a long day. I needed to sleep. I needed to make sure Aine got settled in bed first though. I found my daughter curled up on the couch with her grandmother. She had fallen asleep while the older woman read to her.

"I haven't seen my mom this happy since before my dad died," Kai whispered in my ear as he walked up behind me, wrapping his strong arms around my waist, his steady hands settled on my tummy. "Thank you for giving her this."

Kai kissed my neck and let me go. I watched as he walked over to where Aine slept with her grandmother, and he lifted our daughter and carried her to his old bedroom.

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