Chapter Eight - Gage

All night, I lay awake staring at the ceiling thinking about my girls. Dear, God. Every time I even think the words ‘ my girls’ my heart squeezes.

In a matter of days, I’ve turned into a marshmallow. They have become my everything. Their happiness is my happiness.

There’s also a part of me that has turned feral. If someone looks at one of my girls the wrong way, I’m taking care of business. No questions asked.

If there’s something my girls need, I’m going to scorch the earth until I find it.

As long as there’s breathe in my body, they will never want or need for anything. I will protect, provide, shelter and love them until my heart stops beating.

Shit.

I sit up clutching my chest.

I’m in love.

Intensely, resoundingly, maniacally in love.

I love Lilah.

I love Darla.

I have Lilah. She’s my daughter and there isn’t anything that will ever change that.

However, I don’t have Darla.

I want till-death-do-us-part with her. And I want it now. There’s just one thing standing in my way…she has to want it too.

With a renewed sense of purpose, I bound out of bed and head for the shower. I am going to give Darla Gray every reason to fall in love with me again. I want her to know that I was the man for her, I am the man for her, and I will always be the man for her. I want her to know it, to feel it and to never doubt it.

The reason she didn’t tell me about her pregnancy was because she did doubt my love for her which means somehow, I missed the mark. For her to believe my career was more important than she was, that it was more important than my own flesh and blood, I had failed.

But I will not fail again.

I am going to sweep Darla off of her feet.

I am going to earn her love.

And I am never going to let her go.