Tucker stood and walked over to his husband pulling him into his arms. “You’re not responsible for Gianni’s actions. There was nothing you could have done to save that guy and his family; the blame lies with the man who denied what he was doing and put his family in danger.”
“I know you’re trying to ease my guilt . . .”
“I’m not,” Tucker said interrupting him. “You were there to do a job, and if you had done anything to stop Gianni, he might have killed you for defending the guy.”
“You might be right,” Lucas said sighing, sinking weepily into their embrace. “I still wish there was something I could have done.”
“You did, and that was the job you went there to do.”
“Yeah, maybe,” Lucas said sounding unconvinced.
“We all have to do things that we don’t like, baby, sometimes things work out for the best and sometimes they don’t. But that was one time you had to put yourself first.” Tucker rested his chin on the crown of Lucas’ head and sighed in relief when Lucas relaxed. Not wanting to break the mood between them, but there was still something that he needed to address with his husband. “Speaking of safety, why didn’t you tell me your mother came to see you?”
“I thought you knew she was coming?”
“Nope, I found out earlier before the whole Gianni thing. She could have put you both in danger.”
“I’m sorry about that; sometimes she oversteps the boundaries in her need to fix things.”
Tucker nodded. “It's over now, but I wouldn’t have forgiven her if something had happened to you or Zoi.”
Lucas turned fully and stared in his face. “You’re not afraid of upsetting my mother, are you?”
“Am I supposed to be?”
“No, it’s just most people let her do what she wants because they don’t want to hurt her feelings.” Tucker took one of Lucas’ hands. “I get that she has a big heart and wants to make everyone around her happy, I can’t fault her for that. But sometimes she needs to back off and let things happen on their own. I get the nicknamesmothernow, and I know how much her family means to her, but my only priorities are you, Zoi, and the babies, no one else.”
“You’re right, and I will talk to her about it, but I can’t promise she will listen.”
“Good,” Tucker said cupping one of his cheeks.
Lucas leaned in and kissed Tucker. “You are so fucking sexy,” he said against his lips.
“Why? Because I’m not afraid of your mom?”
“No, because I find it seriously hot that you want to fight my battles for me.”
“I want to do more than fight your battles,” Tucker said making his voice go deeper.
Lucas quirked an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”
“Yes, really,” he said kissing his husband’s lips, cutting off all conversation. He was talked out at that moment and all he wanted to do was show his husband how much he loved him.
* * *
“You knowwe don’t have to do this,” Tucker said looking at him and then back to his parents’ home.
They had gotten back the night before just in time for a Sunday family dinner. Lucas was still a little upset with his father and not ready to talk about things. He didn’t miss the hypocrisy that he’d already forgiven his mother but not his father. He knew the longer they put things off it would only give him more time to be angry. “No, I think we should do this now.”
“All right, let’s go,” Tucker said getting out of the car, then getting Zoi. Together they entered his parents’ home and were surprised to see Seth sitting on the sofa with two beautiful women he’d never seen before.
Seth stood, walked over to him and pulled him into a hug. “This wasn’t my idea,” he whispered. Nodding, he patted Seth on his back still not sure how to take his new brother.
“It’s fine,” he whispered. He knew exactly whose idea this was. “Introduce me to your parents.”
They separated, and Seth went to stand between the two beautiful women. “Mum and Mother, I’d like you to meet Lucas and his husband, Tucker,” he said turning to the two women who were now standing. “Guys, I’d like for you to meet my parents, Helen and Ann-Marie Harrison.”
Why do those names sound familiar to me?
