Page 56 of Might as Well

“Sure.”

A moment after we’ve retrieved the gifts and we’re situated back on the couch, Zane hands me a small box with shiny silver wrapping paper. I tear at the paper to find a jewelry box, which holds the most gorgeous pair of diamond earrings.

“Zane,” I breathe. “This is too much.”

“Do you like them?” he asks, ignoring my comment.

I nod and place them in my ears. Guilt rises within me because his gifts seem so lame now. I hand him the first one. He grins and seems genuinely excited at the sight of the cookbook I bought him. After he gives me a quick kiss in thanks, I hand him my open wallet.

“Seems silly, but this was one surprise I had for you.”

His brows furrow as he takes it and looks over its contents. After a moment, he sees it. A smile lights up his entire face.

“Mrs. Landry,” he says, looking over at me. “This is definitely a nice surprise.”

He returns my wallet and I set it aside. It feels like forever ago since I went to change my name, but it wasn’t all that long ago.

After a beat, he asks, “When will we tell people about the baby?”

I shrug. “Cassie, Sydney, and Kayla already know. There’s really only Graham and your parents. Tell whoever whenever.”

Zane throws a grin my way. Today was a really good day overall. Things felt normal again, despite the heaviness that has followed us around the past few weeks.

“Are you happy?” I blurt out.

With my question, Zane grabs my hand and pulls me to straddle him again. “All I’ve ever wanted, Vi, was someone to spend my life with. Someone to love and who would love me back. You’ve given me that times two.” His hand rests over my stomach. “I’ve never been happier.”

I rest my forehead against his. “Me too,” I admit.

Ah, be still my heart. There’s that boyish smile again. Zane kisses me, softly at first. But then it’s like our bodies remember how long it’s been since we’ve devoured one another and suddenly, it’s too hot. There’s too many clothes.

My skin tingles as his hand sneaks beneath my shirt.

“I’ve missed you and this body so much, babe,” he murmurs against my skin. “I was prepared to grovel on my knees.” Zane removes my shirt quickly and hums in contentment as his hands finds my breasts. “Iwillget down on my knees next time I fuck up.” He moves me to sit on the couch and he kneels before me.

His eyes find mine and his hands pause their movements. “I will worship the ground you walk on, Violet. I will do whatever it takes to make you happy. I will make the good times overshadow the bad. And I will work to my dying breath to be worthy of you. Just remember that when I mess up, okay?”

When I nod, too overcome with emotion to speak, Zane gives me a wicked grin before spreading my legs. Something tells me the make-up sex is going to blow my mind.

CHAPTER 18

ZANE

They’ve been throwing cheap shots at us all night. Normally, it’s pretty hard to get under my skin. I’m a little on edge, though.

Maybe it’s because of Violet’s parents showing up out of the blue twice when they are clearly bad news.

Maybe because the stakes are now so much higher between Violet and me when there’s going to be a baby. Ababy. I still can’t believe it.

But when this motherfuckeraccidentallyhigh sticks me, I lose my shit. The pain to my mouth barely registers, nor does the coppery tang of blood on my tongue. My stick falls to the ice. The gloves fly off my hands and I grab the neck of his jersey to pull him closer.

My fist connects with his face before he can react. I get in at least four before he goes to swing on me and his skate slips out from underneath him and sends us tumbling to the ice. Adrenaline still pumps through my veins but I take a breath as we’re separated. The crowd boos as I’m escorted over to the penalty box.

When Ian joins me a moment later, I chuckle and glance up at the monitor overhead to watch the replay on his own penalty.

“It’s not often you join me in here,” he says as he plops down next to me.

“Today’s your lucky day, I guess.”

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