Abandoned But Not Alone

abandoned but not aloneSPARK OF HOPEBOOK 4 NICOLE DYKES Copyright © 2023 by Nicole Dykes All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. contents Playlist1. Felix2. Henry3. Felix4. Henry5. Felix6. Henry7. Felix8. Henry9. Felix10. Henry11. Felix12. Henry13. Felix14. Henry15. Felix16. Henry17. Felix18. Henry19. Felix20. Henry21. Felix22. Henry23. Felix24. Henry25. Felix26. Henry27. Felix28. Henry29. Felix30. Henry31. Felix32. Henry33. Felix34. Henry35. Henry36. FelixEpilogueNote from the Author:Stalker LinksHostileBruised But Not BrokenAll of my MM Books We’ve all felt alone in our lives before, and it’s a scary feeling. I want everyone to know you aren’t alone. There’s good in this world, and there are people you can reach out to. You matter. Please don’t ever forget it. Even if you’ve been abandoned by people you thought loved you, you are never alone. playlist Home Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros The Way It Goes Gillian Welch Here With Me d4vd Nothing Else Matters Miley Cyrus CHAPTER ONEfelix “Hey, I know you.” The man with a baby looks thoroughly freaked-out as he clutches the infant to his chest, his wide eyes fixed on me. “What?” I offer him a friendly smile, hoping I can brighten his day a little. “You were at the meeting the other day. Well, at least for a little bit.” He came rushing out of there pretty damn fast, and Andrew looked awfully sad when he practically ran out of the gym. “I, uh . . .” He looks around, dark circles under his eyes. “Yeah. I shouldn’t have come back.” I shake my head at him, placing my hands on my hips and keeping my smile in place. “No, you definitely should have. Spark of Hope is great.” “Yeah? You attend?” “No, but I don’t really need to. For those who have trauma, though, it’s the absolute best.” “How do you know I have trauma?” he asks, his brows pulling together with irritation. “Oh, honey. It’s written all over your face.” Your stupidly handsome, tired face. He only frowns at me more. But he doesn’t argue. That’s a start. It’s late and chilly out. Ben, my boss at the gym, is getting ready to go home, but I’m working the late shift tonight. “You two need somewhere to stay tonight?” The man’s eyes meet mine, distrust filling his expression as he holds his baby to his chest. “We’re fine.” They’re so not. But he’s inside the gym, at least, and not sitting out on the street. He has a diaper bag draped over his shoulder, but that’s it. He looks so lost, and call it a hunch, but I don’t think they have a place to stay. “Right.” I look over at the front desk, where Ben eyes us carefully, then back at the handsome stranger. “There’s a great lounge that has smoothies and some snacks. It’s back that way . . .” I motion in the direction of the lounge. “Why don’t you go in there and warm up. It’s chilly tonight.” He looks conflicted, like a caged animal that wants to bolt, but then he looks down at his baby’s sleeping face and nods, not arguing as he heads to the lounge. I stride to the front desk to Ben, who, I swear, always has a look of concern on his face. “Is that the guy from the meeting the other day?” I nod, sifting through some papers on the desk and feeling a little nervous over what I’m about to ask . . . but not too much. I don’t really hold back. What’s the point in that? “I think he and his baby need a place to stay.” Ben’s dark eyebrow raises slowly. “He say that?” I shake my head, not one to lie. “Nope. But I know he does. And he has a baby, Ben. A baby.” I frown when Ben shakes his head at me, waving me off as he stands up from his desk and heads into his office. Well, that didn’t go how I wanted. I guess I could bring the stranger and his baby back to my studio apartment, but that might be a little cramped. It’ll be fine though. My random thoughts abruptly stop when Ben returns and lays a key down on the desk. “He can stay as long as he needs to.” I beam up at my boss—the forever hero. The guy loves to rescue people. I mean, hell, that’s how he met his husband. Colby came in one late, rainy night, and Ben gave him a job and a place to stay. Their story is epic, and I nearly get lost in thinking about it—my eyes all googly—before Ben clears his throat and nudges me in the direction of the lounge. Oh, right. “Thanks, Ben.” I grab the key. “Not a problem. He looks tough though. Not sure even your sunshine can break through that cloud.” I laugh at that because I have a habit of trying to cheer everyone up. Life doesn’t have to be so damn gloomy all the time. It should be full of sun and rainbows, damn it. Lots and lots of rainbows. “Never underestimate my shine, Ben.” I wink at him, and he chuckles, shaking his head. “Don’t forget to lock up tonight. Be safe. See you tomorrow.” “Night, Ben.” I wave at him and his big-brother speech as I move to the lounge, key in hand, and he heads out for the night. I open the door to the lounge, where the man is feeding the baby a bottle, rocking her gently. His eyes may be cold and distrusting when he’s looking anywhere else, but not when he looks at her. No. That’s complete love there. I place the key on the table, and he looks up at me, his gaze shifting back to