“Trying to steal my fiancée already, Noah?” Zane’s slow drawl was light, but I could hear the warning in his voice. I stifled a laugh at the jealousy in his face. It was hilarious to see that my brother was so whipped.
“Zane.” Lucky ran over to him, and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “You’re back.” She sounded happy and I watched as he kissed her nose before rubbing her belly intimately.
“I couldn’t stand to be away from you,” he purred back at her, and it took everything in me to not demand a DNA test right away. What had happened to my brother? “You’re not feeling cold, bro?” Zane raised an eyebrow at me and gave me a once-over.
“No.” I grinned at him and continued slicing the bread. I suppose it was a bit presumptuous of me to walk around in my boxers and no top, but I really hadn’t thought it was a big deal.
“What are you up to today?”
“I have some stuff to do.” I kept my back to him and cocked my head to look at him. “Want some toast?” I looked into his eyes, and he stared at me for a few moments without speaking. I knew he had questions for me, but I wasn’t ready to answer them yet.
“Yeah, I’ll have two slices.” He continued to stare at me, and I knew he was telling me that he wasn’t going to wait much longer to find out exactly what had gone on. I wasn’t sure how to proceed, though. There was too much I didn’t want him to know.
“So, when is your next doctor’s appointment, Lucky?”
“Not for two weeks.” She chopped the onion up carefully as she spoke. “But everything is going fine so far, so that’s good.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to be an uncle.” I shook my head and then looked at Zane. “And I sure as hell can’t believe that you’re going to be a dad.”
“Well, you’re going to have to watch your language once the babies come.” He gave me a look and then laughed.
“I’m sure I can get away with saying hell for the first few years.” I grinned back at him. “But, I’ll keep my shits and f**ks to a minimum.”
“How sweet of you, bro.” He rolled his eyes at me. “I can already tell you’re going to be the best uncle ever.”
“You know it.”
“My friend Leeza is coming to visit in a few weeks.” Lucky glanced at me, and I could see a blush rising on her face. “I thought maybe you guys could go to lunch one day. Because I was hoping you guys would both be godparents.”
“Oh, no way is Leeza going to be a godparent to my child.” Zane’s voice was loud. “And I’m not having her as a sister-in-law, either.”
“Zane.” Lucky’s face was a deep red now. “Don’t be mean.”
“I’m just being honest.” He shrugged.
“I think Noah might like her.” Lucky pouted at him.
“I think not.” Zane gave her a look. “I’m not having that crazy ho around my brother.”
“Zane!” Lucky poked him in the chest.
“I’m still here, guys.” I raised a hand. “No need to talk about me like I’m not.”
“Well, you never know,” Zane drawled, and I ignored him. “One day you’re here and the next you’re gone.”
“I’d be happy to meet your friend, Lucky, but I’m not on the dating market right now. My heart isn’t really open to loving anyone else at this moment in time.” A dart of pain ripped through my heart and I held on to the counter tightly.
“You okay?” Lucky looked at me in concern.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks.” I turned away from her and nodded. I had to be fine. There was nothing else I could do. Skylar was gone from my life forever. I’d made that decision two months ago when I had walked away. And now—now I was out of that life, and there was no going back. Even though that life had felt more real than anything I’d ever felt before. She had wormed her way in and had never left.
“He most probably had a premonition of what life would be like if he dated Leeza.” Zane patted me on the shoulder and gave me his ‘we need to talk soon’ look.
“Zane, you’re horrible. She’s not that bad.”
“She’s not that bad?” His voice was incredulous. “She’s a snake, and I’m sure she would have bedded me if she could have.”
“She wouldn’t do that to me.”
“Lucky, she would have done me in a heartbeat. She was all over me. I mean, come on, how could she resist?”
“Idiot.” She slapped him on the shoulder and laughed. “I know she hasn’t been the best friend, but I want to give her another chance.”
“Eh.”
“I mean if it wasn’t for her getting me to the party, we might not be together now.”
“I would have thought of something.” Zane stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “There was no way I was going to let you out of my life.” He bent his head and nuzzled on her neck, and I watched as Lucky squirmed in his arms.
“Not now.” She squealed as he squeezed her behind and I took that as a signal to leave the room.
“Hey, guys, call me when it’s ready.” I laughed and Lucky blushed as I walked out of the kitchen and back up the stairs. I smiled as I walked up the stairs. Lucky wasn’t the sort of girl that I thought Zane would end up with, and I was glad. I had long worried that he’d end up with some ice queen who looked stunning but had poison running through her veins. Thank God, he and I had both escaped from Angelique’s clutches. I ran into my room as I heard my phone ringing and grabbed it quickly.
“Hello.”
“Noah?”
“Sidney?”
“Yes. It’s me.” He paused, and I could hear Betty whispering in the background. “Zane told me you were back, but I wasn’t sure. Sorry about the background noise. Betty wanted to know if you were okay.”
“No worries.” I smiled into the phone while listening to my old friend’s voice. “Tell her I’m well.”
“I hope you’ll be telling her in person soon.” Sidney chuckled. “She can’t barely believe you came back from the dead.”
“You didn’t tell Betty?” I was shocked.
“You told me not to tell anyone.”
“But I assumed you would tell Betty.”