Page 54 of Shameless With Him

“You guys are insane. I’m really glad that I’m marrying into the family, though,” Tucker said.

“You can’t help it. You’ve always wanted to be one of us,” Devin said.

“Hey, speaking of family. How’s Evan?” I asked about Tucker’s son.

Tucker hadn’t known he was a father until recently, and neither had Tucker’s ex. Everyone assumed that the kid was her husband’s, not the man that she had been with before him—Tucker. The news had broken when Evan got sick and needed bone marrow. But, apparently, the family was working on making firm connections, and Amelia was going to be a stepmother. It was pretty fucking cool, even if sometimes I couldn’t get my head around it.

“He’s doing much better. The treatments are working. Thank God.”

“Good. That kid deserves happiness,” Dimitri said from my side.

“So, wait, that means we’re uncles,” I said as it hit me. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before.”

“Because I’m not exactly married to your sister yet. However, the kid’s got a huge-ass family now.”

“Bigger if he wants to include all of Thea’s relatives,” Dimitri said, laughing.

“Dear God, we’re not adding all of them,” I said, humor in my voice.

“Don’t know why you’re scared of so many Montgomerys.” Dimitri shook his head.

“They should be scared of the Carrs,” Devin said. “We’re starting to multiply.”

“Speaking of multiplying,” Dimitri said, and I froze.

“We’re talking about Thea, right?” I asked casually.

“I was actually thinking about you and Zoey. Anything you want to tell us?”

I narrowed my eyes at Devin, who held up his hands.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“A-ha,” Tucker exclaimed. “So, there is something to say.”

“Don’t say a-ha, weirdo. There’s nothing to say. We’re just…seeing how things go.”

“Do the girls know?” Dimitri asked. “Because I think we all noticed, but I don’t believe Zoey has mentioned anything to them yet.

“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “I’m sure she will. We’re not exactly keeping it a secret, but we’re not going to talk about it either. It’s new. We’re figuring it out.”

“Okay, just don’t fuck it up because then I’m going to have to hear about it from Amelia,” Tucker said, rolling his eyes. I threw a celery stick at him, but the guy caught it and then crunched down. “Would’ve been better with blue cheese,” Tucker said.

“Like we said, blasphemer,” I said, shaking my head. “And stop thinking I’m going to hurt her. I kind of hate that.”

“I can’t help it. You guys were all assholes to me, so I get to be an asshole to you.” Tucker winked, and I reached for a carrot to throw, but Dimitri held my hand back.

“Stop throwing vegetables. We’re adults here. If you’re going to do it, throw wings.”

“Don’t you dare stain my fucking couch,” Devin growled. “And we’re not going to talk about women tonight. This is men and wings and some kind of sporting event. What’s playing tonight?” Devin asked.

I groaned. “Are we that focused on work that we’ve forgotten games?”

Devin shrugged. “Work, the aforementioned women that we’re not mentioning, and upcoming babies. Apparently, that takes a lot of time.”

I shook my head and leaned back against the couch, munching on wings as we turned on a college game and just had man night. I didn’t think things would stay this way, what with kids and babies and weddings coming, but it was nice just to be for a little bit. Because even as my head started to hurt again, and my stomach roiled, I knew that I had to hold on to what was normal.

What was sane.

And maybe, just maybe, Zoey could be that.

If, like the guys had said, I didn’t fuck it up.

---