“Your number one job should be to protect yourself. I need you here with me, okay? Our baby needs you here. In one piece. Promise me you’ll fight smart tonight.”
“I promise. I’ve learned my lesson, Lucy. I wouldn’t be going into this match if I wasn’t sure I could beat Valentine.”
“How are you so sure?”
“I don’t know how to explain it, I just feel it inside. I think maybe…maybe its Joe. I think that maybe he’s watching out for me.”
I swallow down the emotion that’s suddenly choking me. “I’m sure he is.”
“And I’ve got Tristan this time. He was pretty upset after the Crawford fight. He was pissed, actually.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. He said he plans on being around a long time and doesn’t want to see me punch-drunk either. He wants me to fight smarter.”
I smile softly. “Because he loves you too.”
“Yeah, he does. So I’m pretty damn lucky to have him in my corner tonight.”
I nod against his chest and sigh. “I’m sorry I can’t be there.”
“What are you talking about? You know you’ll be there.” He presses my hand to his chest over his heart. “You’re in there deep. Where I go, you go.”
I smile over the fear that’s pulsing through my veins. “I love you, Sam Cole.”
“I love you too, Lucy Cole.”
I laugh and shake my head. “Not yet.”
“See, I’ve been thinking about that, and I’m not sure I’m okay with it anymore.”
“Sam, if you think I’m putting on a wedding dress before this baby is born, you have another thing coming.”
“I’m not asking for a wedding.”
“Well what are you asking for?”
“Lucy, I don’t want our baby’s last name to be Cole if yours isn’t.”
I smile softly. “The baby won’t know the difference.”
“I want us to be a family.” He rubs his hand over my tight stomach. “The Cole family.”
“You want me to change my name?”
“I want to get married, Lamb. We don’t need a wedding. I don’t care about that.”
“Me neither,” I say, wrapping my hand behind his neck. “I never even wanted a wedding.”
“Well, it’s settled then.” He holds my face and rubs his thumb across my cheek. “We’re getting married.”
I smile and drop my forehead to his. “Nothing would make me happier.”
“Sam, you up there?” Miles calls from downstairs.
“You know, I really thought we’d take the keys away when we moved,” I say, shaking my head.
Sam kisses me and stands up, bringing me to my feet with him. “We’re getting married!” He swats my bottom and it makes me laugh. “Miles,” he calls down the hall, “we’re getting married!”
I follow him downstairs, but not nearly as fast. By the time I get there, he’s already outside talking to Tristan. “Hey, Miles.”
Miles holds his hands out and looks at me. “Luc, you’re getting bigger every time I see you.”
“Gee, thanks, Miles.”
“I meant the baby,” he says, pulling me into a hug. “Come on.”
“Did I hear somebody say they’re getting married?” Tristan asks, walking through the front door with Sam.
“Hey, Tris.” I laugh. “I guess so.”
“When exactly is this happening?” Miles asks.
“Tomorrow. As soon as we’re back,” Sam says excitedly.
“How about next weekend? We need to find somebody to do it.”
“Okay. Next weekend it is.”
“Now that we’ve got that worked out, you want to go get your bag?” Miles asks, looking at his watch. “We gotta go.”
Sam gives me a firm kiss, then he bends down and kisses my belly. “I’ve got to go, baby.”
I laugh and watch him run up the stairs to get his bag. But as soon as he’s gone, the fear returns, weighting my shoulders. I look at Tristan and Miles and plead, “Please don’t let this be a repeat of last time.”
“Lucy, you don’t have anything to worry about,” Miles says unconvincingly.
“Are you kidding me right now, Miles?”
“Lucy, I’ve known you and Sam most of my life,” Tristan says, putting his hands on my shoulders. “I love you both. I am not going to let that happen, okay?”
I duck my head and blink back tears that I’ve been holding in all morning.
“Come here,” he says, wrapping his strong arms around me, and I’m comforted to know that he’s in good health again.
“Are you sure you’re ready?” I ask him.
“I’m more than ready. Tonight’s our night, Luc.” He holds up his fist. “This one’s for Joe.”
* * *
My phone rings on the kitchen table a few a feet away from me, but I’m too busy gripping the kitchen counter to care. I inhale a slow, deep breath as a contraction passes, and turn off the faucet over the sink, which I abandoned when the contraction snuck up on me. I turn around and lean against the counter and close my eyes, but my phone rings again, demanding my attention. I go grab it and answer it. “Hey, Bas.”
“Are you going to come answer the door? I’ve been standing here knocking.”
“Yeah,” I say, making my way across the house.
I hang up and open the front door. Sebastian is standing on my front porch in the dark, lit by the glow of the carriage lights. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you knocking.”
He bats away a bug and grips the takeout in his hands. “Well I suppose it’s hard to hear all the way across your giant house.”
“Ha. Ha.” I step aside and he walks into the foyer.
“You okay?” he asks, giving me a concerned look. “You look flushed.”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I close the door behind him and lock it.
“Well, I hope you’re hungry.” He holds up the bag in his hand. “I brought Indian.”
“Hunger is sort of a constant state with me these days,” I say, following him to the kitchen. “So…yeah.”
He laughs and puts the bag down on the kitchen island. “Have you talked to Sam?” he asks excitedly.
“Yeah, just a few minutes ago. But the commissioner was coming in so he had to go.”
“Oh, my God,” he groans, squeezing his eyes shut. “This could be the last fight of his career. I can’t believe we’re not there.”
“This is the last fight of his career,” I confirm. “And please don’t rub it in. I’ve been stressed about it all afternoon.”
“Sorry.” He gives me a small shrug, “I won’t mention it again. This is a stress-free zone,” he says, waving his hands over the counter and food. “It’s not good for the baby, remember?”
I inhale a deep breath and blow it out slowly. “I know.”
“He’s going to be fine.”
“Yeah,” I say, trying to convince myself.