I don’t say anything as my unfriendly stare studies him, noticing his increasing nervousness as his eyes shift from where Sal and Cor have stepped back, and Coco is now resting against my side.Her body feels amazing, if not a little tense.
“Just tell me when I can go home.”I don’t care about anything else.
“Well, the wounds in your legs were mostly superficial, requiring stitches, but otherwise unremarkable.Your shoulder, however, there is some deep-tissue damage.You’ll require physical therapy once you’re healed to regain full range of motion.I’d prefer to keep you here for a few more days to watch out for possible infections.”In his uneasiness, his eyes go to Coco again, frazzling my nerves.
“Hey, doc, if you want to keep your eyeballs, I suggest you stop looking at her.”
His face pales as he looks down at his chart and audibly swallows.Sal and Cor try but fail to hide their amusement.
While the doc speaks, I feel Coco growing increasingly relaxed, indicating that she’s fallen asleep, and they need to leave.Giving Sal a nod, I know he’ll get rid of them.
“Time to go.He’ll stay the night, and his personal doc will be here in the morning to consult with whoever is on shift to work out a treatment plan.”With that, Sal shoves them out the door before they can protest.
“Tell me what’s wrong with her,” I demand, staring between the two men I trust more than anyone else in the world.
“Just some cuts and bruises.Nothing that will scar or last.”I notice their hesitation and stare them down before Cor breaks.“She had a meltdown in the lobby when nobody would give her information on you.”
“What else?”It’s the way they keep looking at each other that gives them away.
“Well, once we convinced her to get checked out more thoroughly, we overheard a nurse tell her that her pregnancy test came back positive.”Sweet Jesus.
Glancing down at the woman in my arms, her face peaceful, hair disheveled, she holds my entire existence in her delicate palms.
“Don’t tell her you told me; I want her to do it.”I can’t take my eyes off Coco, but I know they’ve agreed.“Leave us alone for a while.”
“We’ll bring back some dinner.Her friends, Sabrina and Janet, have been by.They seem worried,” Sal chimes in.
“Bring them when you come back with dinner.She’ll want to see them both.”
Left alone with Coco, I can’t stop staring, memorizing her beauty while she rests.I wonder when I got her pregnant and am curious how she feels about it.
Placing a kiss on her head, I grip her hand in mine as I close my eyes and imagine our life together over the months and years to come.
Epilogue One
COCO
Christmas Eve
Adding the final touches to the sugar cookies before transferring them to a platter, I buzz with excitement over the holidays this year.Christmastime has always been one of my loves—the magic, the joy, the bright lights and snow.But this year is so much better than I ever could have imagined.
All because of Lucca.
And my silly little stockings.
They now decorate the tree sitting in the great room, looking like something from Santa’s wonderland.
When Lucca came home from the hospital, he gave me carte blanche to decorate however I wanted, and I may have gone a bit overboard.While the largest tree stands in the great room, smaller ones adorn every room of the house, and in the entryway is a tall, skinny, green frosted one, with crisp white lights.I smile every time I see it.
Preston and Jason had been averse to helping me at first.Then I pouted, and a few tears sprang to my eyes, and they quickly got on board.I’m not sure if it’s because Lucca threatened them within an inch of their life for upsetting me or becausetheydislike seeing me upset, but they were troopers once they got started.
“Mia amore.” Lucca comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my body, holding me close to his.“We’ll have guests soon, and I need a taste.”
The man is insatiable.Partly because he was banned from physical exertion after the shooting, and now that he’s been given the all-clear, he wants me every minute of the day.In all fairness, the feeling’s mutual.
I check his watch for the time.“You have thirty minutes,” I warn, sneaking out from his hold and racing upstairs.He catches me before I reach the top and picks me up, carrying me bridal style to our room.
“Strip and get on the bed,” he growls as he kicks the door shut and sets me on my feet.
