Free Broken (Broken #1) by A. E. Murphy Page B

thoughts churning
and gives me a little shake, “I hate to pull this card…”
    “ What
card?”
    He rubs his hands over his face
and flips us over so I’m on my back, “If you don’t marry me then
I’ll think you don’t love me.”
    Drama. “Stop being an
idiot.”
    His face falls, I see the
desperation in his eyes. “Please Gwenny. Please.”
    Now I’m really panicked,
“What’s going on Caleb?”
    “ Nothing…”
    “ Don’t lie to
me.”
    “ I had a
dream,” he blurts and pecks me on the lips. “I had a really bad
dream and I can’t remember it but I know I want to marry you and I
don’t want to waste another minute.”
    “ Damn it,” I
groan and turn my head. “Fine. Fine. Wednesday we’ll get
married.”
    “ You
swear?”
    “ Ugh.”
    “ Swear it,
Gwenny or I’m never eating you again.”
    My mouth falls open in horror,
“You bastard.”
    “ Swear
it.”
    “ Okay, okay,
I swear it!”
    The smile that lights up his
face is mesmerising, he kisses me deeply before rolling back onto
his back and pulling me tightly to him. “Love you Gwenny.”
    “ Love you
too.” Even though we’ve agreed, something in my gut just isn’t
right. There’s something going on here and I want to ask him but
I’ll give him time to get better first. He looks exhausted, sounds
exhausted and is clearly unwell even if his temperature has
broken.
    “ Let’s just
stay in bed until we get married,” he murmurs, his lids hooded and
sleepy looking. “How does that sound?”
    I nod, “I still have to work
your shift though.”
    “ Ask someone
to cover it. Don’t leave my side for a second.”
    I’m about to ask what he’s
talking about but I’m distracted by a strange thumping sensation in
my stomach. My heart accelerates along with my excitement. “He’s
kicking,” I whisper and press Caleb’s hand to my stomach.
    We wait and just when I think
it’s not going to happen, I feel him tap. “Oh my god,” Caleb laughs
and looks at my stomach in wonder. “That’s…” he moves down the bed
and rests his cheek on my naval. “He just did it again.”
    “ Yeah,” Tears
fill Caleb’s eyes, his lips pinch together as if suppressing them.
He looks up at me, his eyes full of hurt and sorrow. “What’s wrong
baby?” I ask and hug him as tight as possible. His body starts to
shake and a sob escapes him. Now he’s crying it’s almost like I can
feel his pain, my own eyes begin to tingle and burn. “Talk to
me.”
    He shakes his head, “I’m just
so happy.”
    “ That’s a
lie, I know you and I know these aren’t happy tears.”
    “ I’m so
sorry, Gwenny.”
    “ Sorry?”
    “ Oh god,” he
chokes out and sobs tear through him. Sobs of the likes I’ve never
heard. They torture my very soul.
    His arms hold me tighter with
each second and my chest becomes wet from his tears. My own tears
stain my face as I try to figure out what’s wrong with him but
nothing comes to mind. “Talk to me,” I beg, closing my eyes to push
out another tear. “Please baby. Talk to me.”
    “ Don’t ever
lose yourself okay?” He whispers. “Promise me.”
    “ What are you
talking about? You’re scaring me.”
    “ You’re
perfect the way you are. Don’t ever change. Never leave me. Never.
I know it’s selfish but I…”
    “ Hey,” I
soothe him and stroke my fingers through his hair. “I’ll never
leave you I swear it.”

    ******

    Sasha and Tommy have agreed to
be our witnesses for the wedding tomorrow. I’m nervous and excited
and nervous and even more excited. Caleb hasn’t brought up last
night and I daren’t. Seeing him so tortured has killed me. Maybe
everything has just gotten on top of him at last. He wasn’t
bothered when his parents disowned him, or maybe he was and he just
bottled it up. He’s always so happy. To see him so devastated… it
makes me sick just thinking about it.
    I never want to see him like
that again. My heart can’t stand it.
    Now I know what he means when
he says