Sam looked displeased.
I ignored that (kind of) and hurried after Hap.
I caught up halfway down the walkway and I knew I was right to agree to Luci’s demand when I saw her standing in the drive wearing her heart right on her sleeve.
Oh God. I hoped this worked out right however that right would be.
“Luc, babe, this is not –” Hap started immediately when he stopped three feet from her but I put my hand up and interrupted.
“Nope, no,” I stated then looked between a stony-faced Hap and an unhappy, visibly scared Luci. “Ground rules,” I declared and looked at Luci. “I love you. He loves you.” I jerked a thumb at Hap. “Sam loves you. And Sam told me once no matter how beautiful you are, Luci, and how Luci you are, he would never go there. Never. Because of Gordo. And he meant it, sweetie. It wasn’t an option and if that’s what Hap tells you now, you need to deal with it, process it and accept it. For Hap. And then you have to find it inside you to move on with him in your life the way he used to be.”
The tears started shimmering in her eyes again and when she opened her mouth to speak, I turned to Hap.
“And you,” I began. “You only have this life and the woman who’s standing here right now goes to bed thinking of you, she wakes up thinking of you, she thinks you’re handsome, a good kisser, gentle and you make her laugh. Travis Gordon was a good man and I know you loved him. But do not do something right now that you’re going to regret for the rest of your life because you’re intent on honoring the memory of a dead man. Or because you might be worried about what your buddies might think. Regret is the worst feeling you can feel and that would be compounded knowing the decision you’re about to make will make someone you love feel the same for the rest of hers.”
Hap stared at me, face still stony, jaw still hard but his eyes were heated and I knew I got in there.
Just a little bit.
My work was done.
“All right,” I finished. “This conversation is between the two of you. Have it. Make your decisions based on that and that alone. Whatever happens next, nothing changes for anyone else except you two.” I sucked in breath then ordered, “Commence.”
Then, without looking at either of them, I walked away.
I saw Sam standing at the top of the walkway, arms crossed on his chest, feet planted, eyes on me, face a little bit scary.
I got close to him and instantly tried to push him to the deck.
“What the f**k?” he asked, staying planted, solid, not budging an inch.
I gave up and told him, “Luci and Hap need some privacy.”
Sam’s more than a little bit scary eyes tipped down to me.
“Again, baby, what… the… fuck?”
“Sam –” I started.
“Talk,” he bit off.
“They’re in love,” I whispered and Sam blinked.
Then he declared, “They are f**kin’ not.”
Oh man.
“Yes, honey, they are.”
“They are not.”
“Sam!” I snapped.
“Hap would not do that to Gordo,” Sam announced.
“Sometimes, shit happens,” I said gently.
“Hap… would not… do that… to Gordo,” Sam stated definitively.
I sucked in breath.
Then I whispered, “Gordo’s not here, honey.”
Sam scowled at me then his eyes cut down the walk. I turned to stand by his side and started biting my lip.
Hap had his arms crossed on his chest, legs planted just like Sam making it appear like Sam was right.
Luci was looking beautiful and gorgeously beseeching, leaning into Hap, her fingers curled on his forearm making me hope Luci could pull this off.
Hap shook his head.
Okay, shit, maybe Luci couldn’t pull this off.
Luci leaned closer and said something.
Hap’s body went visibly still and he shook his head again.
Crap.
Even from a distance, I saw a tear fall from Luci’s eye as she said something else.
Oh God.
Hap shook his head again.
Oh God!
Luci stared at him. Then she nodded and stepped away. Then my heart squeezed as she studied him a half a second, turned on her foot and ran away.
“Fuck,” Sam whispered.
I stopped breathing.
Hap didn’t move.
I forced myself to breathe.
Hap still didn’t move.
I stopped myself from finding something to pick up and throw at him.
Hap dropped his head and looked at his feet.
“Fuck,” Sam repeated, still whispering.
“Go after her,” I whispered to a Hap who couldn’t hear me but I didn’t care. “Go, go, go, go, go after her,” I kept whispering, ending by doing it fiercely.
Hap didn’t move.
Not for awhile.
Then he lifted his head and stared at where Luci last was seen.
That was when my breath started coming fast.
Then he started walking that way.
I pressed my lips together and locked my body to stop myself from jumping up and down and shouting with glee.
“Fuck,” Sam whispered again.
Hap disappeared around the house.
I turned to my husband and lifted my finger to his face.
“Whatever comes of this, you’ll accept it,” I ordered.
His hand shot up, his fingers wrapping around my entire hand including the finger I was wagging in his face and he pulled it down and pressed it to his chest.
He studied me. I glared at him.
Then his lips twitched and he muttered, “Bossy.”
There it was. He was giving in. For me and for his friends.
Thank you, God.
I grinned and leaned into him.
Then I made a decision so I leaned further into him and wrapped my arm around his waist. He let my hand go so he could wrap both his arms around me. My freed hand went up to curl around his neck.
Then I said, “Right, so, drama which could mean good or bad things to the Cooper Household. We won’t know until that plays out.” I jerked my head back to indicate the walkway. “So, now, you want something that could only mean good things to the Cooper Household?”
Sam’s brows drew together.
“Baby, seriously? You’re askin’ that shit?”
I grinned and decided, “I’ll take that as a yes.”
“After bad drama, good drama or uncertain drama, I’m all for learnin’ anything that means good things for the Cooper Household,” he pointed out the obvious making it clear he was irritated yet amused he was pointing out the obvious.
“Right then, I’m pregnant.”