Page 36 of Rock Chick Bonus Tracks

“Yeah, normally you don’t make your friends have to feel happy you’re alive. They just take that for granted.”

“Do you think Roxie should feel guilt for being beat to shit and abducted?”

“No.”

“Do you think Jet should feel shit because her dad’s loan sharks focused on her to get him to pay, and some asshole was incapable of a blow to his manhood, so he wanted to make her pay?”

“No, of course not, Vance, but?—”

“Listen, Princess, I’m down with you not wanting anyone to know for a few weeks. But you’re fit. You’re healed. Roam’s fit. Him and Sniff are in a good home, being looked after by a good woman. They’re even in school. Our shit times are over.” He rolled her to her back and spread his hand over her belly. “Now it’s about making babies, getting married, and raising our family.”

She stared up at him through the moonlight. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

“Kid’s gonna have my name when he comes out every way that can be, Jules. Legally. Whatever god you pray to. All that shit. And if I’m your husband, they’ll probably give me the birth certificate to fill out, so I can put in the right name.”

She narrowed his eyes at him. “So you want to marry me so you’ll win on the name?”

He knew she was bickering because that was what they did. It was playful and it was loving, and it was them.

But when he answered, he was dead serious.

“No. I’m gonna marry you because I love you. I’m gonna marry you because you’re not only the best woman I’ve ever met, you’re the best person. I’m gonna marry you because my heart doesn’t beat right when I’m not with you. I’m gonna marry you because we’re going to make beautiful babies. You’re gonna be an amazing mother. And you’re going to teach me how to be a good dad. I’m going to marry you because I want to spend every Thanksgiving and Christmas and birthday with you until I die. I’m going to marry you because you’remine. I want that legal. I want that binding. In the eyes of the law and whatever gods there are out there to pray to. So tomorrow, I’m going to get you a ring you won’t ever want to take off. And as soon as we can manage it, I’m going to add a band to it. And for the rest of our days, you’re at my side and in my life, Jules, as my woman, the mother of my children, and my wife.”

The unshed tears in her eyes that were shining in the moonlight glimmered at him as she whispered, “Your heart doesn’t beat right without me?”

“Does yours without me?”

Her whisper was even quieter when she gave him the answer he knew.

“No.”

“So we doin’ this?”

“Yes.”

He kissed her. He did it a long time.

And when he was done, they were face-to-face, heads on the pillows, bathed in moonlight.

Boo came up and settled by draping himself across their ankles.

“You don’t need me to teach you to be a good dad, Vance. You’re very patient.”

“We’ll see.”

“You are. You’re great with Roam and Sniff. They love you.”

They loved her. He just came with the bargain.

She cupped his cheek. “They love you, Crowe.”

“Whatever you say, Princess.”

She grinned at him. “And my baby pug loves you too. He thinks you’re the shit.”

Vance chuckled.

“Not to mention,” she went on. “You’ve kinda stolen Boo.”

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