Chapter Nine
Gigi
I t’s Friday evening, and as I walk out of my apartment, I feel the crisp air of early evening settle around me. Marcus is already waiting downstairs to pick me up. Audrey wanted to get us all together for dinner tonight, and with Lewis tied up at a work event, Marcus offered me a ride. It’s only a ten-minute drive to Audrey and Jax’s place, but it’s nice not having to worry about driving or catching an Uber.
I open the door to Marcus’s truck and hop up into the seat. He reaches out to steady me, his hand warm around mine.
“Hey,” he says, giving me a half-smile.
“Hi,” I reply, settling into the seat. “Thanks for picking me up.”
“No worries. How was your day?”
“Busy. I made schedules and saw a few clients, but it went by pretty fast. What about you? Did you build any skyscrapers today?” I turn toward him, teasing.
He laughs, his deep voice filling the cab of the truck. “No skyscrapers. I spent most of the day in Providence, actually. We opened the new office yesterday, just wrapping up some loose ends.”
I raise an eyebrow, surprised. “You didn’t tell me it opened yesterday! Marcus, that’s amazing!”
He shrugs, keeping his eyes on the road. “Yeah, I’m glad it’s done. Now I can monitor things from here and only have to make the drive up a couple of times a month.”
“Well, I’m proud of you, prince,” I say softly, watching him out of the corner of my eye.
He glances over at me, giving me a small grin, but something feels off. He’s been distant for a couple of weeks now, and that faint smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Anything else happen this week?” I ask, trying to gauge what’s going on in his head.
“Just the usual bullshit,” he mutters, his tone flat.
I pause before treading carefully. “Has your dad said anything about the Providence project?”
His silence fills the truck, and I instantly regret bringing it up. Damn it, Gigi, why did you have to mention his dad?
We pull into the parking garage of Audrey’s building, and Marcus finds a spot, easing the truck into park. He runs a hand through his dark curls, letting out a long, tired sigh.
“I didn’t tell you this,” he says quietly, staring straight ahead, “but he’s ready to hand the business down to me.”
“Marcus, that’s incredible! Finally!”
His expression stays flat. “It’s not that incredible, G.”
The way he says it makes my stomach knot. “What is he making you do now?”
He leans back in his seat, tipping his head against the headrest, eyes closed as if trying to gather the strength to speak. “He told me he won’t hand over the business unless I get married.”
I blink, stunned. “Are you serious?”
He nods, jaw tight. “Dead serious. And he gave me one year to do it.”
My mind reels. “What happens if you don’t get married in a year?”
“I don’t know,” he sighs. “He didn’t say.”
“This is bullshit, Marcus. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, I know.”
“What are you going to do?”
He stares out the windshield, his voice resigned. “I guess I have to find someone to marry.”
Those words hit me like a punch in the gut. If he starts dating, gets married, where does that leave me? It sounds selfish, but I can’t help the thought. There wouldn’t be space for me in his life the way there is now. No more late-night hangouts or spending hours at his place. I would lose him.
“I don’t even know what to say,” I whisper, my voice barely steady.
“You don’t have to say anything.” He shrugs, as if trying to downplay the weight of it. “It’s just something I have to deal with.”
“I’m sorry your dad is such an asshole,” I say, my frustration simmering beneath the surface.
He pulls his keys from the console, his gaze distant. “He’s always been an asshole.” His eyes meet mine, filled with a rare vulnerability. “I hate him, Gigi.”
“It’s hard not to,” I say softly.
“There are times when I just want to say fuck it and walk away,” he admits. “But I know what that business could be with good leadership. If I take it over, I can leave something better for my kids, break the cycle.”
I nod, my heart heavy for him. “That’s a good way to look at it. But marriage is a huge price to pay to get there.”
He sighs deeply, looking defeated. “I don’t have any other options.”
The sadness in his eyes is hard to watch, so I don’t press further. Instead, I reach over and place my hand on his arm. “Hey, let’s go inside and hold some babies. I’m sure Millie’s wondering where her favorite uncle is.”
At the mention of Millie, his expression softens, the tension easing from his shoulders. “Yeah, let’s go,” he says, the faintest smile returning.
We walk into Audrey and Jax’s penthouse, and the living room is a mess of baby toys. Audrey and Melonie are sitting on the floor with Adam and Millie, while Jax and Linc are in the kitchen, managing pans on the stove.
Audrey gets up to greet us, giving Marcus a fist bump and me a hug. “Hey, you two, I was beginning to wonder where you were.”
“Yeah, sorry, I made us run a little late.”
We walk to the living area, and Marcus kneels down to say hello to Adam, then Millie sees him and her face breaks out in a gummy smile. Her arms reach toward him and he picks her up.
“Hey, Mills.”
Melonie smiles softly. “Hey, Marcus. I guess Millie missed you.”
He chuckles as Millie lays her head against his chest, and she lets out a sigh. It’s enough to make your ovaries explode.
“I missed her, too. Good to see you, Melonie.”
“The guys are finishing up dinner in the kitchen. I can take her if you want to go say hello.”
“I can manage. G, you want a drink?”
“Beer, please.”
“I’ll be right back.” He holds Millie close as he walks to the kitchen, shortly returning with my drink, then he goes back to the kitchen.
Audrey shakes her head. “I love how Millie picked him out of all of us to attach to. Like she knew she needed to fix the grump.”
I laugh. “The universe makes no mistakes.”