Chapter 6 – Runaway

Wednesday, February 14th, 2024

Gabi's POV

Lowering my hands onto my stomach I stroked it as I had a doctors appointment on Friday to confirm the pregnancy with Dr. Molly from my last pregnancy with Logan. My fingers spread over my flat stomach and then I rolled onto my side to face Troy. I couldn't sleep because my mind was constantly racing about the new baby, Logan, and how I was going to spend another season pregnant. I sighed as I rested my chin on Troy's shoulder. He twitched in his sleep and I reached over to kiss him.

He moved a little bit more and I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, "Well good-morning," he mumbled against my lips, I giggled, "Good morning,"

"Happy Valentines Day," he nuzzled my neck gently and I smiled, "You know we don't celebrate."

"We celebrate it with Logan," he corrected, it was our choice not to celebrate it between us but we did celebrate it with Logan. She deserved to know what the holiday was and everything; Troy would normally spoil her endlessly with flowers and candy with a dinner with all three of us.

My birthday was this weekend and Troy normally went all out this weekend for me. He curled me into his arms and I kissed his cheek gently, "I love you,"

"I love you too," he put his hand over my stomach and a smile spread over his face. Everything about him was perfect and I curled up closer to him. I let out a long yawn when Logan came pouncing into the room with a big grin on her face. "Good morning," Troy greeted. She giggled and Troy smiled at her, "You are beautiful," he told her, a boost of confidence into her system. I got up and out of the bed when Logan giggled, "Momma?"

"Yes?" I asked turning around to face her, "Can we go get ice cream today?"

I thought about it for a second, "Hmmm…ice cream?" she nodded, her curls bouncing wildly, "Yes!" she giggled, "I want ice cream!" I smiled and I went over to kiss her forehead, "Since it is Valentines Day then I think we can swing it." Logan grinned and Troy laughed, "You are so much like your mother." Logan giggled as I rolled my eyes, I grabbed some of my stuff to go take a shower when Troy grabbed me by my waist as I laughed, "Where do you think you are going?"

I laughed into his ear and Logan squealed with delight, I smiled kissing Troy on the lips this was perfect.

Friday, February 16th, 2024

I laughed next to Ellie as we were talking about something as Logan was running around the front yard. She was giggling and chasing bubbles as Emerson was planted in Ellie's lap firmly. So tightly that Emerson was never going to be leaving. I grimaced when I heard a car round a corner and my eyes filtered over to Logan who was running back up the hill towards us. I smiled at her and I then focused back on my conversation with Ellie.

"Oh! Did you get the concert tickets?" she asked me, I nodded my head, and "I'll go get them." I pushed off the chair and I went into the house. My eyes lingered on Logan for a second, my guts told me to call her forward but I didn't. I went into the house and around the corner to grab the envelope containing the tickets to a concert downtown. I took a deep breath while I waited here for a minute to regain my balance. My eyes wondered to the wall to see pictures of the family. I smiled as I returned outside.

Slow motion as I saw the car I heard minutes ago and it came flying through, Logan was giggling blowing bubbles in the grass. Her eyes connected with mine when the car swerved. I screamed as I dropped the tickets as they went flying in the wind. "Mom?"

I sat up screaming in bed as Troy shot up alert next to me, my heart rate was rapidly beating as I pushed out of the bed and I was moving down the hallway barely thinking. I stumbled over a toy in the hallway or a shoe, it was something but tears were in my eyes as I opened the bedroom door. My eyes landed on Logan and I waited to see if her chest would move up and down or if that my dream was telling me to go check on my daughter.

"Brie, hey," Troy caught up in the middle of his sleep as he touched my arm gently, I didn't move my eyes away from Logan until I saw her move her arm and roll onto her side. I let out an airy breath and a little sob as Troy pulled me back gently, "What is going on?" he asked me quietly, I was shaking in his grasp as I tried to keep from crying but it finally slipped out of me. My body shaking with sobs as the tears rolled faster from the nightmare.

"She died in front of my eyes, it was so fast,"

"It was a dream baby, it was a dream," he grabbed me in his arms as he leaned back against the couch; he pulled me between his legs and into his arms. "A dream," I wanted to curl into a ball and roll away from him but I just rested against him. My fingers curled into his chest as I only cried, "It's okay," he rubbed my arm gently and he pulled me back slightly and I looked up at him, he stroked my face and wiped my tears away.

"Logan is okay," he said to me, his eyes filling my and I nodded, a hiccup escaping through my lips. "These pregnancy nightmares again huh?" my hands automatically fluttered to my stomach causing a smile to jerk onto Troy's face. His hand went over top of mine and he kissed me softly, "I love you, it is okay," I trembled in his grasp when the bedroom door opened, I looked over Troy's arm to see Logan standing there rubbing her sleepy eyes.

I moved away from Troy and I went to pick her up, I wrapped my arms around her tightly and squeezed her closer to me. "Momma, are you okay?" she mumbled in her tired sleep, "I'm okay," I whispered as I just held her tightly to me. I kissed her cheek and I carried her into her room. I laid her down onto the bed and I followed, Troy leaned in the doorway as I lay with Logan. Troy moved into the room and he bent over to kiss my temple.

"If you need me," I just nodded my head and Troy then kissed Logan's cheek before he left the room. Logan quickly fell back asleep and I stroked her hair gently as she slept. I watched her and I prayed that I would never feel that. I would never feel the painfully loss of a child like I just did in my dream. I pulled my legs underneath of me and I tried to fall back asleep but it kept happening, over and over again. Every time my eyes seemed to flutter shut I saw it again causing my heart to race and my body to sweat.

I tried one last time but I saw Will holding her hand and I shot up in the bed, I didn't have many dreams about Will, almost never since his accident so many years ago in New York. I let it go and moved on but that was disturbing. I got up from her bed as I walked quickly back to our bed, Troy was laying on his stomach but he wasn't asleep. I crawled into the bed and I got as close as possible to him. "You okay?"

"I keep trying to go to sleep and every time I do I see it again and the last time I saw Will holding her hand," Troy rolled onto his side and pulled me into his body. "She is fine," he whispered into my ear, "I promise. We will keep her close to us. I will go get her and put her into our bed if that makes you feel better." I shook my head and Troy kissed me forehead. "She will be okay,"

"I'm not okay,"

"I know, I know,"

"I'm scared Troy,"

"About what?"

I didn't have an answer. I was just scared.

I felt like a zombie as I moved through the motions of the afternoon. I chased Logan around all morning and I was waiting for Troy to be done for our doctor's appointment. Hosmer promised to watch Logan with the help of Zach and Josh. I licked my lips and I settled in a chair because I was exhausted. "You look like a bus hit you," Josh said, I grumbled, as he didn't know where Troy and I were going. Nobody knew and I wasn't about to spill it now.

"We'll your guys," I looked at Logan and Josh nodded his head, "I got her." I went out into the hallway and into an empty room as I shut and locked the door. I called my mom, as I swung around in the chair nervous for this doctors appointment. The pit still in my stomach from all of the nightmares from this morning that lingered around. Every time I looked at Logan a reminder of them flashed back. I settled into the chair and I dialed my mom's number.

"Hello?" a quick response, "Dad?"

"Hi Gabs!"

"Hi daddy,"

"How are you?"

"I'm uh…okay." I said quietly, "I actually need to talk to mom,"

My dad was silenced, "Ella,"

"Daddy, I'm fine. I just need to talk to mom." My dad went to say something else, "If you want to call Troy, go ahead," I told him as I leaned back, "I am fine. I just need to have a mother daughter conversation, okay?"

"How did you guess my next sentence?"

"Please dad, it is always your follow up sentence." He chuckled when I heard my mom, my dad said good-bye and then he handed her the phone. "Gabi?" I already felt the tears in my throat, "Mom,"

"Gabi, sweetie, is everything okay?" I heard my dad say something and I knew Troy would be getting a phone call shortly; he would down play it with him as we had this down to a science. "I just…" I turned to look out at the field, "I'm pregnant mom," she sucked in an air of breath from the other end of the phone. The news of pregnancy in this family wasn't always a thrilled one especially since I had followed her history.

"Oh baby girl," I cleared my throat as I tried to stop my own tears, "We have an appointment today but I am scared. I just can't explain it." My mom was quiet on the other end of the phone as I took a deep breath, "Should I be scared mom?"

"Oh sweetie, you need to go into that appointment ready to hear the heartbeat as loudly as possible. This is a precious gift that you have been looking for. I know it," I felt the knot in my chest loosen a node and I only looked out the window. "I had this nightmare last night about Logan getting killed mom,"

"You haven't had a good twenty-four hours,"

"No, I haven't. I'll be okay though."

"I want you to call me tonight and tell me everything about it okay?" I just nodded my head, "Thank you mom,"

"I love you Gabriella,"

"I love you too mom,"

Troy's POV

My phone buzzed on the top shelf of my locker as Logan spun around in my chair; I reached for my phone to see Alex calling me. "Answer the phone," I instructed to Logan, she took the phone and slid the button over and she put the phone to her ear.

"Hello?"

She giggled and a smile brought over her face, "Papi!" she sat down on her butt as I changed into a dry shirt and I folded the waistband of my shorts once more. Logan giggled on the phone and talked back to her grandfather as my eyes looked around for Gabi. "She went into an empty conference room." Zach said I turned to look at him with a frown. "She seems kind of out of it. Is she okay?" Zach asked, I sighed and I leaned back against the wall.

I looked at Logan who was still chatting away and I took a step closer to Zach as I leaned closer to him, "She's pregnant." Zach's eyes went wide and he smiled, "Dude," I shook my head, "It is exciting right?" Zach questioned, I nodded my head, "Yes, I mean, kind of. I mean she is maybe tops six weeks pregnant. That is six weeks of her freaking out. She is already freaking out. Her dad called me. She must have called her mom."

"Oh man, I forgot." I nodded my head as I let a rush of air out of my mouth, "I wish I could forget. She had a crazy nightmare last night and I don't know." Zach patted my back, "You guys will get through it." I thanked him as Logan pulled on my shirt. "Daddy, Papi wants to talk to you." I nodded as I took the phone from her hand, "Hello?" I put my phone between my ear and shoulder and held it there. "Troy how is Gabi?"

"What do you know?"

"Is she pregnant?"

"Yes," I answered, "She is freaked."

"Of course. She has every right to be freaked out."

"She is upset."

"I know," I countered, "I am with Logan right now though."

"She doesn't know,"

"Won't know until we are in the clear."

"Troy,"

"I'm okay Alex,"

"You mentioned the elbow thing, a lot is going on right now,"

"I'm fine. I have to go, I need to go find her."

"Thank you,"

"More than welcome," I hung up the phone and I looked at Logan, "Are you ready to spend the afternoon with Uncle Zach and Uncle Josh?" She nodded her head with a giggle; I picked her up and kissed her cheek. "Josh, you got her?" Josh nodded his head, "Of course. Good luck," I nodded my head as I walked out with my bag. Walking down a few doors, I looked in to see her just staring outside. I moved inside the room and she looked at me. I walked over and I tipped her chin backwards, "Are you okay?"

"I'm tired,"

"I bet." I leaned over to kiss her forehead gently, "I love you," she looked back up at me, "Your dad called me." She nodded, "I know."

Gabi's POV

I tapped my foot up and down while we waited outside in the lobby, Troy rubbed my knee gently and I looked at him. "Troy,"

"Yes?"

"What if,"

"We aren't playing that game." Troy said shutting the sports magazine he was reading, "We are going to go in there and see how it goes. You are so pregnant, I just have this feeling." He rubbed my stomach gently and I leaned against him, "Are you sure?" I asked him, my knot had come back and the timid feeling of being scared echoed back as well. I had this deep down gut feeling that something wasn't right but I had this hopefully sense to me.

I crawled onto Troy's lap like I was Logan; he laughed wrapping his arms around me tightly. "Are you okay?" he whispered, the fifteenth million for the day. "I'll be fine once I hear the heartbeat okay?"

"Jacob just ran your tests, you are pregnant."

I just leaned into him too tired to keep the fight up, exhausted. His fingers interlaced with mine, "If it is a girl I think we should name her Callie,"

"Callie?" I questioned, he nodded, "I don't know, I like it. Callie and Logan,"

"Sounds like a couple,"

Troy laughed, "Issues with naming our daughter Logan,"

"I think if we have a boy it should be Troy Jr." Troy busted out laughing, "Hell no, I will never have a junior," I smiled against his arm, "I never want a junior either." I laughed quietly as he tucked my closer to him, "What about Sam?" Troy asked, "For a boy?"

"Yea."

"We are really screwing our kids up here," Troy smiled, "Sam is a boys name as well as a girls name. We kind of did take Logan in our own direction though." I rubbed his leg and I looked up to see a nurse pop through the doors. "Gabriella Bolton?" I stood up off Troy's lap and he stood up to follow me. His hand eased into my as we went back. She took my height, weight, and blood pressure. She then lead us back to the room where I gave her the paperwork that confirmed my pregnancy and she gave me paperwork to fill out. She laid a gown on the table and I tried not to groan but it slipped through my lips.

She smiled, "I know, I know, not the most exciting visit of the lifetime." Troy settled into a chair as I handed him the paperwork to fill out the basic information while I changed. I slipped my shirt off and wiggled my Nike shorts off; when I reached for the gown I felt his eyes on me. I turned to look at him and he smiled, "What?"

He shrugged, "Nothing." I rolled my eyes and continued to slip the gown on over top of my head; I settled onto the bed and took my underwear off. Troy continued to read off the information and I would answer it as he went, I smiled thinking that everything was going to be okay. That we would get to name our new baby and be parents all over again. This quietness settled between both of us as he asked a question and I answered a question.

A knock on the door interrupted us and I looked over at Troy, he smiled as he tightened his hand around mine. Dr. Molly walked in and she grinned, "Hello!" she greeted, I smiled and she wrapped her arms around me in a giant hug. "How is that beautiful baby of yours?" she asked, I smiled and I reached for my phone to show her a picture of the growing Logan. "Oh my goodness, how beautiful!" I thanked her and she introduced herself to Troy.

Troy thanked her for taking care of me last time, such a gentleman, and she smiled knowing how beautiful life was. "When did you find out?"

"Last week, the club ran some extra tests on Logan and I just to do our physicals and apparently I was pregnant." Molly smiled, "A surprise baby?"

"Well…no. We have been trying for a year," Molly's face shifted into a frown, "Oh," she recovered, "Well I am glad it finally happened!" I nodded and she started to set things up and my body tightened up with nerves again. I hated nerves because they either come out happy or sad. The emotions of nerves are like riding a roller coaster and when you get to the end you are highly disappointed or so happy you wish to do it all over again.

I was highly disappointed.

I furiously packed my suitcase, Troy tightlipped watched me as silent tears streamed down my face. "Brie," his voice cracked in the middle and I just shook my head as the tears continued. I kept throwing more things into my bag that I would need for the flight home. I couldn't be here. I couldn't do this. I moved into Logan's room, she is still with Josh and Zach. "Gabi," he was breathless and I didn't look at him.

I couldn't look at him. I put only the bare minimum to what we would need to get us home. I needed to go home. "Stop," Troy grabbed my elbow and I ripped it away from him, "I can't be here!" my voice shook and it was loud. I felt my fingers vibrant as Troy only pressed his lips tighter together. "You can't run away from this."

"I just need to go home."

"Gabi, I'm here."

"Troy, I just need to go home." It seemed to be the only words I could say, I need to go home. I need to go home. I need to go home. I repeated it over and over again in my head praying that I would just magically fall into my own bed and sob away the rest of the month away. "I can't just go with you!" Troy's voice was rising with anger, my fingers shook more, "I don't want you to come with me Troy, and I just need to be alone."

"Why are you taking Logan?"

I spun around on my heels, I flinched when I saw his face but my gut tightened, "I don't think your schedule allows her to stay Troy,"

"And you are able to deal with her while you fly home to be fucking alone?"

"My dad, Alyssa, Ellie, Mallory, Becca, Cody, we have a thousand people at home. I need to go home." He only shook his head as he turned to walk away from me. I hurried to grab more of Logan's objects grabbing all of the things that she absolutely had to have. I pulled up my phone and I went to Southwest's pages and I quickly booked to tickets back to Kansas City. My eyes blurred over with tears but I choked them back to do the final buttons and making sure that I did everything right.

"You can't fall apart on me," Troy's voice was weak and it made my heart rip in two, "Troy, it will be better if I just go home for a little bit." My voice barely made it above a whisper as I picked up Logan's backpack and my own. He grabbed my hand and he pulled me close to him, his arms wrapping me up in a hug. "You run to me. Not away from me." I grimaced from his words, as I knew I was breaking his heart but if I stayed I would break it further. Logan needed other people right now and I just couldn't be here.

"I'll come back, I just need time."

"You have so much time here." His finger brushed my face and I shook my head pulling away from him, "I don't. I have to play the happy wife here Troy and I am not happy. I just need to leave. I need to go home." I need to go home. I need to go home. I need to go home. The words went over and over again in my head praying that he just let me go. I just wanted him to let me go so I could go home.

He sat down and he lowered his head into his hands, "I can't follow you Gabi, if that is what you want I can't." I turned around to look at him, "I do not want you to follow me Troy. I don't need you to follow me. I just need space from all of this. I need space from this life. I need space from us." A pained look came across his face like I had slapped him, "Don't shut me out now Gabs," I shook my head as I picked up the car keys and he just looked at me.

I bit down on my lip when a knock came at the door. I dropped the bags and Troy got up, his eyes never leaving me as he answered the door. "Daddy!" Logan launched herself onto Troy as Josh said something to him, Troy responded as Logan came into the room. She smiled and then she didn't once she saw me. "Mommy," I bent over as I kissed the top of her head, "Do you want to go home for a couple of days?"

She grinned, "Do I get to see Grandpa?" I nodded, "You do." She looked at me, "Mommy, what's wrong?" I shook my head biting down on my lip, "I'm okay sweetie, and we have to get going though."

"Is Daddy going?" I shook my head, Logan rarely went ever without Troy or I. "No, he has to stay and work." She looked over at Troy who was pressed against a wall. I need to go home. I need to go home. I need to go home. Logan went over to him and he crouched down so she folded into his arms. He whispered something to her as I slipped my backpack on and carried Logan's. I walked over to the door and Troy slipped his hand over my wrist.

"Brie, please," I shook my head, "I can't." I told him, my voice breaking in half. "Why can't you just stay?"

"I need space. I need to be able to breathe, I need to take care of everything." His eyes were sad and he finally just nodded his head, "Fine."

I didn't watch him walk away because if I did then I would fall apart and the motto in my head would change to I need Troy.

Troy's POV

Once the door closed my knees weakened from underneath of me and I quickly grabbed my cell phone. I dialed Alex's number and he answered, "You have to meet her at the airport," I bellowed, my gut tight on the inside and scared because I wasn't sure of Gabi's mental state.

"What?"

"She left, her and Logan just walked out the door to catch a flight to Kansas City,"

"Oh no." I nodded my head as I covered my mouth with my hands, "She just walked out of the door and is on her way to Kansas City."

"Troy,"

I heard him say something but my mind was shutting down, my body was shutting down, I couldn't comprehend all of this information. I couldn't do this right now. "Alex, I'll call you tomorrow to check on her. Just meet her please? I need you to be there for her."

"Of course Troy,"

I rubbed my hands over my face and I hung up the phone, my gut shuddered and I sank into the couch. I rolled onto my back, as the only person I wanted to talk to was Cody. I dialed his phone number, my mind blank with pain as he answered laughing. "Anna," he echoed and then he sobered up, "Hey,"

I couldn't think of anything to say, "Troy? You okay?"

I shook my head as I listened to his voice; no words were coming out of my mouth, "Troy?"

"No, I'm not okay."

"Dude, what's wrong?" I didn't want to cry, I wasn't going to cry, "Gabi had another miscarriage," the words were bitter against my tongue and I knew the tears were coming. They rolled down my cheeks as I felt like a wimp but how the events of the day unfolded were awful. "Oh God, Troy,"

"Then she packed up her shit and she left. She is going home and I couldn't convince her to stay." Anger came instead of tears; it was sheer anger towards her for just leaving. "She left? Where is she?"

"On her way home."

"Maybe she needs to get away," Cody reckoned, "Cody, we have to deal with this together and we can't be together. I can't just come home."

"This is her?"

"Third," I finished, I didn't want any other words being said, "And you have been trying for how long?"

"A year," I said quietly, "She is devastated Troy,"

"I am devastated. This isn't just her!"

"You getting angry at her aren't going to help. Give her the space and then try to talk to her. You get some space. Focus on baseball for a couple of days until she gets back,"

I didn't say anything while I looked outside at the Arizona Mountain, "What if she doesn't come back?"

"What do you mean?"

I stayed quiet for another moment, "She said she needed a break from us,"

"You know she didn't mean it in that way."

"I don't know how she meant it Cody,"

"Do you want me to fly out there?" he asked me, my stomach clinched because I wanted to say yes, "No, I need you to help with Logan."

"I will. Call me if you need something okay?"

"I will."

After hanging up the phone I looked at the clock and knew I had the rest of the night to myself. I grabbed my jacket and I walked down the hallway where Zach was with Josh. I knocked on the door and when I entered I noticed Josh lying on the couch and Zach was talking on the phone. They both looked at me and I tossed my keys to Josh. "I need a DD," Zach narrowed his eyes and told somebody he had to go as he looked at me.

"No," I only nodded my head, "I need to get drunk."

"Shouldn't you be with her?"

"She left." I said with a shrug, "I need to get drunk."

I need to get drunk. I need to get drunk. I need to get drunk.

If I didn't get drunk then my mind would change, I need to follow her.

Gabi's POV

I held myself together on the plane. I held myself together when Logan asked me a thousand questions. I held myself together when I said good-bye to Troy. I was holding myself together but when I stepped outside of the gate in Kansas City and I saw my mom everything inside of me crumbled into absolutely nothing.

I took my backpack off and she wrapped her arms around me tightly as I started to sob into her shoulder. "Oh sweetheart," I heard my dad take Logan across the way as he was entertaining her and keeping her eyes off of me. She rubbed my cheek softly; her almost twenty-nine year old daughter couldn't keep herself together. "You're okay," she said, "You are going to stay at our house tonight." I shook my head, "No, I need to go home."

"Gabi,"

"You can stay at my house but Logan needs normal, she isn't even supposed to be back in Kansas City. She is freaked out. If we are staying at your house she is going to ask more questions." My mom nodded, "I'm staying with you," I nodded my head, "That's fine." She hugged me again and I just held on. "We will talk about the next step okay?" I just nodded my head when my dad came over, I looked at him and I saw the same pain I saw behind Troy's eyes.

I looked away from him as we walked out of the airport and towards my mom's car. We all shuffled in as I wondered where Lilly and Cam were. My dad and mom spoke softly up front while I sat in the back with Logan. I completely forgot about her car seat and I felt like a terrible mom. I was in and out of sleep through the town and when we pulled over the bumps in the driveway I felt a breath of fresh air. Opening the door to the car, Logan was half asleep and my dad got out to take care of her.

I picked up her backpack and my parents filtered into the house with me, my dad took Logan to her room and when he came back he looked at me, I looked at him and he ran his hands through his hair. "I am going to go turn the water back on." I just nodded and my mom came into the room, she sat down next to me and rubbed my back as I was left with my thoughts for a moment. I heard the water filter through the house and the heat kicked on as I shivered underneath my coat.

I curled up on my side while I started shaking, my mom was talking to me but I couldn't comprehend what she was trying to say to me. Nothing seemed clear as tears blurred my vision and I had nothing left inside of me. I couldn't hold myself together anymore. I couldn't do this anymore. I broke into sobs that made my body shake violently, I broke into sobs that made my chest throb and nothing was coming from my throat.

Air seemed incredibly hard to come by, as the sobs grew more vicious. Hands and people speaking, I didn't feel or hear any of it. I felt nothing. I felt absolutely nothing.

Alex's POV

Coming back upstairs I saw Kylie trying to talk to Gabi and she wasn't responding to anything, she was crying, and then she was sobbing her body was shaking so hard that I was concerned she was going to hurt herself. I moved across the room in half of the time it would normally take me as I scooped her up into my arms. My chest tearing with each sob that bellowed from her chest. She gasped for air and I held her close trying to calm her down.

She started to breathe again and I wondered if it was because she passed out from lack of oxygen. Her eyes were closed probably from exhaustion. I got up with her and I took her to her room in the back. I laid her down and she let go curling onto her side. I covered her with the blanket as she trembled. Kylie came into the room and I moved out of there quickly. My heart was racing as I slammed my hand against a wall in the kitchen.

"Alex," Kylie hissed, I turned around to face her, "How in the hell are we supposed to deal with that?"

"She needs to grieve,"

"She needs to be with Troy,"

"Alex,"

"You never left me when this happened."

"I'm not her. You know she has issues with this because of us. You know that she just shuts down."

"Troy always drove her out of that. She should still be with him because she is killing me. Her heart is broken and she is devastated." Kylie frowned, "She doesn't need her husband to be okay."

I frowned, "She needs him to be okay, those two make it better. Troy is upset. She is upset."

"She needs space. I remember asking for space and during spring training? She is supposed to be happy and she doesn't need to be distracting Troy further. Logan has more people here to help her; we need to support her choices. She needs some space," Kylie headed to her room and I sank into the couch as I let out a breath, my fingers covering my mouth as I looked up to see Logan looking at me. "Lo,"

"Why is mommy crying?" her bottom lip trembled and maybe Kylie was right, Gabi needed to be closer to us so Logan had somebody to support her. "Come here," Logan came over and I wrapped her into my arms. Logan started to cry, "I want Daddy," she whimpered, I glanced at my phone as Troy was probably at a bar right now. Exactly where I would be in his situation. "Daddy is busy," I told her, "I'm right here though."

"Mommy is sad,"

"She is,"

"Why?" I sighed, "She just is," I told her hoping that she would drop it, "Why couldn't daddy come?" she asked me, I sighed, "Lolo," she started to cry and I stood up and rocked her like Gabi would. "I don't like it when mommy is sad," I agreed with her as she buried her face into my chest, I held her close to me like I did with Gabi when Kylie went through this. My phone rang and I reached into my pocket to see our babysitter calling about Lilly and Cam.

"Yes?" I answered impatiently, "Are you guys coming back soon? I have to be at this tutoring place soon for my other job." I groaned, "My other daughter is having a moment and she needs help. Is there any way you can call in sick?"

"No, I can't." she said flatly, I looked down at Logan because I knew Gabi wanted her at the house but staying over at Grandpa's house was something that was common. It happened almost once a week and Gabi was in no state of mind to even have her here. "I'll be home soon." I answered as I ended the call, I got up with Logan and I took her to my car, which did have a car seat that Gabi forgot about. Logan held on to my shirt tightly but I eased her into the car seat. "Do you want to go cuddle with Aunt Lilly?" she nodded her head, "We'll come see mommy tomorrow okay?"

She nodded when I buckled her in I went to the front, Kylie came out of the garage and she put her hands on her hips. "Angie was calling, she has to go. I am going to take Logan over she can stay the night. Gabi doesn't need the distraction right now, okay? I got her." Kylie looked at me and I could see the painful look in her eyes because she went right back to the many times we did this with Gabi. I would make sure she was okay and then I would take Gabi out to distract her until Kylie was feeling better.

"I'll be back once I get the kids off to school tomorrow." Kylie nodded and disappeared inside the house again while I backed out of the driveway with Logan who was still upset.

Sunday, February 18th, 2024

Troy's POV

I looked at my cell phone and I prayed that he name would show up. I rubbed my face, as she hadn't called even once since she left. I called her a couple of times and I got nothing in return. I pressed my palms into my eyes when the apartment door opened. I looked up to see Zach walk in, he gave me a sad smile, "Dude you kind of look like hell," I grunted in response when I slid off of the counter, "Have you heard from her?"

"Nothing,"

"I'm sorry," I shrugged my shoulders, "I didn't think it would tear her apart this much. She is devastated."

"You are talking to her dad?"

"Every day twice a day." I mumbled, I ran my hands through my hair, "I haven't even talked to Logan, I miss the hell out of her."

"Call and see if you can at least talk to her,"

"Good idea," I took my phone and I called Alex, he answered, "She has barely moved."

I sighed, "I kind of want to talk to Logan,"

"Oh, shit, I keep forgetting that she needs to talk to you. She keeps asking for you but you are normally doing baseball shit," I nodded, "She keeps asking for me?" Alex sighed, "Every day. She knows Gabi is upset over something and she wants you."

"I can't believe she just took her."

"Troy," his voice was a warning and I sighed, "Can I talk to my daughter?"

"FaceTime me,"

I agreed and I pressed a couple of buttons and we switched to FaceTime, the camera was moving around and then Logan held it steady, "Daddy!" she smiled and I couldn't help but let the emotion get caught in my chest. "Hi princess," she giggled, "I miss you daddy,"

"I miss you too baby girl," Logan got quiet and she looked away, "Daddy, mommy is sad." I sucked in a breath, "I know she is sweetie,"

"Why aren't you here to fix it?" a straight shot to the gut, "Lolo, I have to play baseball."

"Mommy is sad," she protested, I felt my chest tighten, "Logan, I have to go. I love you baby girl,"

"I love you too daddy,"

I hung up and I lowered my head into my arms while I tried to gain control of my emotions. I couldn't fucking do this.

Gabi's POV

Monday, February 19th, 2024

My fingers tied in my sheets as I looked at the clock, my phone buzzed on the nightstand to see Troy calling me – again. I tried to breathe but I hadn't talked to him since I left that night. I left so I didn't ruin him. I left so he didn't watch me fall into a black hole because it hurt like hell.

It all hurt like hell.

My mom came into the room with a thing of roses, she planted them in front of my face but I turned over onto my back. My eyes bored into the ceiling and my mom moved next to me. "I don't want to celebrate." I mumbled, "Then we won't celebrate. It is your last year in your twenties," I groaned, "You had to point that out why?" my mom smiled and I leaned on her. "Troy has called your dad quite possibly one hundred times. You honestly need to talk to him."

I didn't answer, I didn't move.

"Gabi,"

"I don't want to hear it," I grumbled, I rolled away from her and she sighed, "Sweetie,"

"I want to be alone."

"Have you gotten out of bed?" I shook my head and she wrapped her arms around me, "Gabi,"

"Mom,"

"Is this why you didn't stay in Surprise?"

"If Troy knew,"

"If Troy knew it would be hard."

"It's your birthday Gabi, you need to at least talk to him today."

"Logan has talked to him right?"

"Of course."

I picked up the card from the flowers and I felt my stomach cringe because I haven't spent my birthday without Troy since I turned seventeen, how in the world had it come this far without being with each other? I let out a deep breath and I opened the card.

B –

Happy Birthday – can you please call me? I miss you. I need to hear your voice. I love you.

My chest went tight and I reached for my cell phone, I missed him and I owed him that much I guess. I dialed his cell phone; "Hello?" his voice was quick, "Hi,"

"Gabi," he breathed, "Are you okay?"

"In what way could I be Troy?"

"Stupid question,"

"Kind of,"

He let out a long sigh, "When are you coming back?"

"I don't know,"

"You said this was going to be short."

"I don't know Troy, I don't know when I'll be able to stand on my feet and not feel like my world is crashing from underneath of me."

"You have Logan, I miss my daughter."

"Troy, I don't have the energy for this right now,"

"What have you been doing that is making you so tired? I don't understand, you have been laying in a bed since you fucking left here."

"I'm miscarrying your child Troy, sounds like a lot of work to me."

Troy went silent from the other end of the phone, "I have to go," I mumbled, "Gabi,"

"No, I think we are done with this conversation." I hung up the phone and automatically shutting it off knowing Troy Bolton wasn't done calling me.

Troy's POV

I called her again and again. It went straight to voicemail quickly every single time singling that she turned her phone off and she had every right too. Everything that fell out of my mouth was stupid as hell. Scooping my hands through my hair I pushed everything away and I called Cody.

He answered, "She is angry Troy,"

"Angry?"

"She is pissed at the world right now. She is pissed at God. She is pissed at you. She is just flat out pissed off."

"But,"

"Give her the space."

"I am thousand miles away Cody, what the hell kind of space should I be giving her?"

"How many times have you called her?"

I didn't answer the question, "That isn't the point. She is my wife. My wife who is supposed to stay with me and not just run off when it hurts." I bit down on my lip and Cody sighed, "Troy, she is better off here than she is with you in Arizona."

"How the fuck is that?"

Cody groaned, "She has her mom who knows what she is feeling, her dad can watch Logan or I can watch Logan. Maybe she should be down there in Arizona so she can lay in an apartment bed all day and mourn over the fact while you are playing baseball."

"I'm playing like complete shit,"

"Then maybe you should take the space Gabi offered up and go from there. She'll talk to you when she is ready to talk to you. Understood?" I didn't respond I just hung up.

Gabi's POV

A knock came at the door and I didn't say anything as I just stared at the wall. It opened and I finally was able to open my mouth, "Go away," I mumbled, "Happy Birthday." Cody's voice entered the room and I sucked in a deep breath, "What?" I uttered, he sighed, "Gabs, you do know your husband is flipping out right?" I only nodded my head, "I can't talk to him."

"Why?"

"I just can't Cody."

He came to sit on the edge of the bed, "I'm sorry," I shook my head, "I just need some time alone."

"Logan is kind of freaked out as well."

"I know."

He sighed, "You should talk to him. Work this out. I have never heard him so distraught."

"Really?"

"Well…actually I have and some how it is always about you. Gabs," I shook my head, "I need time Cody, I will be fine it was hard and horrible and you don't understand." Cody sighed and he rubbed my knee gently, "You are going to be alright Gabs, I just don't want to see this destroy you."

"I just need some time," I argued again, my head burying deeper into the pillow hoping for everything to just fall away, run away, and to never feel again.

Well…it is never easy.

Yea.

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