“Do you want me, Jules?” Zan asked.
She let go of the curtain that she was holding back to look out the window at Lucky. “How can you even ask me that, Zan?” she asked. “Of course, I want you. But I haven’t stopped wanting Lucky just because he’s been acting like an ass.”
“Good to know,” Lucky said, pushing his way through the door, carrying a huge bouquet of flowers. “Because I have been acting like an ass. I own both of you an apology.” Zan crossed his arms over his chest and Jules did the same.
“We’re waiting,” Jules said, staring him down.
“First, I think that I need to apologize to you, Zan. I should have trusted that you had your reasons for not telling us about being a part of the Gallo organization when you were a kid. You had nothing to be ashamed about, and I’m sorry that I wasn’t more understanding. I’m no better—hell, I’m still a member of that fucking family and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get out. You deserved a better partner, and I’ve failed you. I told you that I would always have your back when it came to Jules, and I let you down. I let both of you down,” he breathed. Lucky held out the flowers to Jules and she hesitated, but took them, still waiting for her apology.
“You deserve better Jules,” Lucky insisted. “When Gabe called me to say that you and Zan were getting married, my first instinct was to get into my car and drive over here, but then, I thought about it. You deserve a guy like Zan. He’s got his life together. He was in a bad situation, and he got out. I haven’t been able to do that, and I might never be able to. You deserve to be married to a man like Zan.”
“That’s bullshit,” Jules spat. She tossed the flowers to the sofa and crossed the room. Lucky at least had the nerve to stand his ground, even though Jules looked like she wanted to murder him. “You can get out of the Gallo family whenever you want to. You just are too much of a chicken.”
“If you don’t remember, honey, my last name is Gallo,” he reminded.
“I don’t give a fuck,” she challenged. “Change your fucking name then, if it means that much to you. Hell, we can all decide on which last name we want to use so that all our kids will have the same last name.”
“Kids,” Zan and Lucky said in unison.
“You didn’t say anything about any kids, honey,” Zan said.
“That’s because I didn’t realize that I was pregnant until two days ago. It’s why I’ve been so moody and weepy. I took a test and I’m pregnant, and none of that matters if you two can’t get your shit together. You’re both going to be fathers and this kid will need both of you. Do you really think that he or she will give a fuck about what your last name is?” she asked Lucky.
“You’re really going to have to cut out the cussing around our kid, honey,” Lucky teased. Jules’s little frustrated growl filled the room and Zan couldn’t help his chuckle.
“All I know is—one or both of you better man up and marry me, or I’m going to raise this baby on my own,” Jules threatened.
“That won’t be necessary, will it, Lucky?” Zan asked.
“No,” Lucky agreed. “Marry me, Jules,” he asked. “I know that I’m not perfect, but you’re right, this baby deserves the best of both Zan and me. Let us prove that we can be what you need—together.”
She looked between the two of them and Zan pulled her into his arms. “I’ve already asked you to marry me, but he’s right. I’m not perfect either, but I want to try to be the perfect husband and father to our kid. Marry both of us, honey.” Zan finally felt as though the three of them had come full circle. All they needed now was a “Yes,” from Jules and he’d have everything he ever wanted.
“I guess I can marry both of you,” she agreed. “As long as you both take my brother up on his offer and go into business with him.”
“You mean, start a security firm with Gabe?” Lucky asked.
“Yes,” she said.
“Well, that’s already a done deal,” Lucky said. “You see, I called him on the way over here and told him that I wanted out of the Gallo organization. He’s already having the contracts drawn up to put Zan and me on the company.”
“No shit,” Zan said.
“Nope, and you’re going to have to stop cussing around the baby too,” Lucky challenged.
“He or she doesn’t even have ears yet,” Jules insisted.
“How about we pack up and head back to Chicago?” Zan asked.
“I’m all for that plan,” Lucky agreed. “I miss having real pizza. The stuff out here doesn’t compare.”
“Pizza sounds so good,” Jules agreed. “I’m going to start packing.”
“Great, we’ll leave in the morning,” Zan said.
“I’ll start packing in a minute,” Lucky said. “I need to call Gabe and tell him to have everything ready for when we get home.”
“What does he have to get ready?” Jules asked.