Page 5 of My Heart Belongs to You

My nostrils flared as I fought back tears. I’d never been good at taking losses. Since losing my father in my early twenties, I struggled with accepting what was out of my control.

I had fallen hard for Vanessa and her daughter Avery, who was just one year old when we met. I stepped up as Avery’s father figure, deciding she deserved the world. I was willing to give her that and more. After years of doing my own thing, I welcomed family life. To have her taken away from me was like a punch to the gut. Until today, Vanessa and I discussed everything pertaining to Avery’s wellbeing. I never considered having her taken away from me. I blamed myself for not considering legal guardianship. I was waiting for marriage before moving forward with it all.

After a minute of hugging, Robyn released me. Her small hands cupped my face as she said to me, “Everything’s gonna be okay. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

The warmth in her eyes reminded me of why we were best friends. The sincerity in her words was a testament to her empathy and compassion.

“Come on,” she said, taking me by hand. “Let me warm you a bowl of my abuelita's chicken stew.”

I smiled while following her to the kitchen. I didn’t know what the future would hold for me, but I was certain Robyn would be there through it all.

CHAPTER

ONE

ONE YEAR LATER

The throbbing in my temples was unrelenting. While pinching the bridge of my nose, I squeezed my eyes tightly and pushed out a sigh. Something had to give. I opened my eyes, refocusing on my computer screen. I winced as another wave of pain spread across my forehead. Brushing my hand across it, I attempted to relieve the ache. When that didn’t work, I pulled my dreads from the haphazard bun I’d put them in this morning.

I massaged my scalp while expelling a deep, gruff sigh. Reaching in the drawer of my desk, I blindly searched for an aspirin. Once I found the bottle, I washed down a pill with water, then turned up the music humming from my Bluetooth speaker. Miles Davis and his trumpet crooned throughout my office as I finished my closing duties for the night.

“You wanna talk about it?”

Summer stood in my doorway with her hand propped on her hip.

“Talk about what?” I replied while returning my attention to the closing reports on my screen. After relaxing my eyebrows and straightening my posture, I changed the subject. “I thought I asked you to leave?”

“Don’t deflect,” she told me with a slight smirk.

“No, don’t you deflect.”

“Nadir,” she whined, and I bit back a chuckle.

I was impervious to her pouting. When we were younger, it was annoying and I’d give in just to shut her up. Now, it was adorable, especially since her lips and cheeks were fuller thanks to my nephew.

“Come and sit down at least.” I chuckled as she waddled over to my desk while rubbing her belly. “What are you still doing here?”

It was a quarter to three, which was well past the time I told her to leave.

“Don’t worry about all that.”

“Sunny,” I groused, but left it at that.

I was exhausted—mentally and physically—and couldn’t waste energy on trivial arguments, especially not with my childhood best friend. She didn’t deserve the stress either. A yawn fell from my lips, earning a side eye from Summer. Last night, I slept all of four hours. My mind raced as I refused to accept my current reality.

After greeting patrons, and putting out a couple of fires, I came to my office to finish reviewing financial documents from last quarter, which eventually led me to reviewing the closing reports. I’d been running on fumes all day and had gone into autopilot around ten when the lounge was its busiest. There were a few interruptions from my staff, but nothing pressing enough to pull me from my desk.

“You need anything else before I leave?” Summer asked moments later.

I chuckled while shaking my head. I tore my eyes from the laptop screen long enough to look at her. My gaze bounced from her protruding belly to her tired, copper-colored orbs.

“Nope. I told you to leave three hours ago,” I said.

She smiled while rubbing her belly. My Sunny was having a baby.

I was still tripping off the news, even though she’d told me months ago. Witnessing one of my closest friends on her journey to becoming a mom was surreal. I remembered the days when she used to play with dolls, imitating her mom’s gentle nature. She forced me to play the dad, showing me how to hold them properly. I feigned annoyance whenever she brought them around, but eventually I just went along with it.

There was no doubt in my mind that she would be a great mom.