Page 94 of Broken

Kai just stared at me, a little shocked. I hoped it was a good shock. I wanted him to be close to our children, and maybe even work on our relationship. “Is that okay with you? I don’t want to upset your life, Kai.”

“Are you kidding me? Of course, it’s okay. It’s better than okay.” He came around from the other side of the bar and wrapped me in his arms. This was my home; it had always been my home.

“I need to find a place and a new job. But I have time.” I smiled up at him. His blue eyes were filled with so much love. Love for me, our daughter, and the possibility of a future together.

“Ahem. Hello. Realtor here. I did sell your last house for you.” Noah butted in before Kai could say anything.

I giggled when I saw the expression on Kais’s face. He looked like his brother had just slapped him. “Fuck off. She has a house already. She’s moving in with me.”

“Kai,” I said softly.

“I mean if you want to. If you don’t, that’s okay. You can move in with mom for as long as you want, too.”

I laughed and laid my head on his chest. I wanted to move in with him. I wanted us to be a real family. “It isn’t too soon? Don’t you think we are moving too fast?”

“Babes.” Mia lifted an eyebrow at me. She didn’t have to say another word. We’d been friends so long I was sure I could guess what she was thinking.

“You told her?” Kai asked.

“Yeah. I had to. She’s my best friend. I tell her everything.” I shrugged and Mia laughed.

Noah pulled out beers for everyone, except me. He handed me a bottle of sparkling water. “A toast. To our Sinny coming home.”

Our little group let out a round of cheers. I gave Noah a glare, “I’ve always hated it when you called me that.”

Noah just winked and tipped his beer to me. I stared down at my water and took a sip. I was glad he didn’t hand me a beer. It hit me then that he had been giving me sparkling water all night, without my asking.

“Kai, did you tell Noah?”

“I had to. He would have figured it out eventually. Or Mia would have told him.”

I sighed. It was pointless to keep secrets in our tight-knit group. I needed to tell Tess soon, and I was sure Callum would hear about it from his mother or Noah. But it was a worry for another night. Tonight, was about being together and having fun.

fifty-six

Sinclair

Itwaswellpasttwo am when we finally made our way out of the bar. Kai and I were going to drop Noah and Mia off at her house. None of us liked the idea of Millie being alone after the night she had, so Cal volunteered to stay the night with her.

Mia and Noah were already in the parking lot, by my car, when Tess, Millie, and I walked out of the bar. It was dark and hard to see past the outer lights of the building. None of us saw the person standing in the shadows so close to the entrance.

“It took you long enough.” The disembodied voice growled from the darkness. It was a voice I recognized well, even after my first and only encounter with him earlier in the evening.

The wreak of booze coming off his breath sent goosebumps across my skin. I didn’t realize how close he was at first. It took all the strength I had to not puke all over the place. “Joey, you need to go,” Millie said quietly.

“I fucking told you; I’m not leaving without you.” He growled at her.

Tess was right there, taking Millie by the hand and pulling her towards the car. “She said she doesn’t want to come with you, jackass.

Leave her alone.”

I didn’t say a word, I refused to give him the satisfaction of an acknowledgment. I just walked ahead. Noah and Mia didn’t notice anything going on from where they stood by the car. I sent a text to Kai letting him know Joey was back.

Right as I was hitting the send button, Joey reached for Millies’s arm, pushing his way between us.

“Millie, enough of this shit. I’m tired of the games. Let’s go.” He moved to pull her to him.

“She said you need to leave.” I came to her defense, shoving him back and away from her. It was dark and I didn’t see his other hand until he swung, and his open palm connected with my cheek.

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