Part 4 (2/2)
”My family grew tobacco and cotton, I'll have you know.”
”Oh, on the plantation?”
”Why, yes, I do miss the plantation.” She reached up and ran her fingers across my lips and I nibbled on the tip of her index finger. ”Ow.” She pulled it back quickly.
”There's more where that came from, ma'am.”
”I bet there is.”
”Hey, guys, any chance of dinner anytime soon?” Leo shouted up the stairs and Lucky pulled away from me with a guilty look.
”Oh no, I forgot Leonardo was here.” She looked at me with anxiously. ”I'm such a bad host.”
”No worries, love.” I grinned. She hadn't even remembered Leo was there. I guess he hadn't made a huge impression on her after all. I tried to stop myself from gloating. I needed Lucky to like Leo if I was going to follow my plan. I just wasn't sure if I was making the right decision. One part of me-the part in my brain that was focused on emotions and my worry-told me it was what I needed to do. But the sane part of me-the part that was here with Lucky-told me that I was making a mistake. That I should just appreciate what we had and live life. And I wanted to do that so badly. But I couldn't stop the voice in my head that told me that I was not enough.
”We're coming, Leo. Don't get your panties in a bunch.”
”I'll pretend I didn't hear that.” He laughed and looked past me to talk to Lucky. ”I've been waiting patiently for your lamb. I hope it's nearly ready.”
”Oh, my lamb!” Lucky cried out and ran down the stairs. ”My lamb's going to be dried out. Nooo!” I watched as she ran into the kitchen, and a warm, domestic feeling overwhelmed me. Maybe I was old-fas.h.i.+oned, but I wanted to see Lucky in the kitchen, with a bunch of kids around her. I wanted to watch her grimace when she burnt the cookies and delight when her souffles rose perfectly. I wanted to make s'mores in the fireplace and I wanted to enjoy late night ....
”Zane, can you come and help me, please?” Lucky called out to me and interrupted my daydream.
”Want more wine?” I asked Leo before hurrying to the kitchen.
”I never thought I'd see the day where Zane Beaumont was domesticized.” Leo laughed as he shook his head.
”Shh.” I frowned at him and hurried into the kitchen. ”What's wrong?”
”The potatoes are cold and the lamb has cooked too long.” She looked at me with wide eyes. ”The dinner's going to be awful.”
”It smells and looks good,” I said gently, ignoring the fact that the lamb chop looked like a dried up piece of charcoal.
”Liar,” she mumbled and sighed. ”I just don't believe this.”
”It's okay, Lucky.”
”Argh.”
”Are you okay?” I was starting to think that Lucky was having pregnancy wiles. Maybe that was why she was so emotional? I wasn't even sure if that was a real symptom, and if it was, I didn't know if it would be showing up so quickly.
”No, my dinner is ruined.” She opened the fridge and pulled out a gla.s.s bowl that I vaguely recognized. ”At least the salad is still good.” She lifted up the plastic wrap from the top of the bowl. ”Maybe we can do salad and ...”
”Did someone say that we were having a salad for dinner?” Leo sauntered in. I gave him a look and nodded my head quickly to the counter where the burnt lamb chops sat. I saw him glance over and he winked at me. ”Salad sounds great. I didn't want to tell you before, but I'm trying to avoid meat right now.”
”You are?” Lucky looked at him suspiciously.
”Yes, I'm trying to stick to only veggies on my new diet.” He paused. ”It's a Hollywood thing.”
”Hmm.” Lucky frowned and shrugged her shoulders. ”Oh well, let's have salad for dinner then.” I looked at Leo gratefully and smiled. There was a reason why we were friends. He winked at me again as Lucky got the plates a.s.sembled and I laughed and walked to the fridge. ”Thanks for that. I owe you. Do you want a Blue Moon, Beck's, or a Corona?”
”Corona with lime, please.” Leo grinned and I took two bottles from the fridge.
”What about my wine?” Lucky frowned and then just shook her head. ”Have your beers, you Neanderthals.” She smiled at me. ”Typical men.”
”Hey,” I cried out, pretending to be offended.
”I'm joking. My dad would always drink beer, no matter what the occasion was.” She laughed. ”Even on their anniversary when my mom wanted to do a champagne toast, he'd be drinking Bud.”
”You can't fault good American beer,” Leo laughed.
”Even at nice dinners,” she continued. ”Even at my birthday parties at McDonald's.”
”You can get beer at McDonald's now?” I looked at her in surprise.
”No.” She laughed. ”No, you can't.”
”I used to love McDonald's as a kid.” I smiled at the memory. ”But we only got to go on special occasions.”
”Me too!” Lucky exclaimed. ”My parents said I could only go as a treat for doing a good job in school or birthdays.”
”Noah and I were only allowed to go for a treat as well.” I stared at Lucky in amazement. It seemed like the universe was trying to tell me that this beautiful woman was made for me.
”I hate to break up the McDonald's love-fest, guys. And I'm not going to tell you that their burgers are made with horsemeat, and that they have worms in their milkshakes.” Leo laughed.
”What?” Lucky exclaimed and stared at him.
”I said I'm not going to tell you that.” He grinned. ”But can we please eat? I'm starving.”
”It's coming, Leonardo.” I rolled my eyes at him.
”It's all right for you, Beaumont. You're full of love in your stomach, but my stomach is crying out for a juicy steak.” Leo realized his mistake as soon as the words were out of his mouth and I froze, worried that Lucky was going to start crying or start reacting in some other overly-emotional way.
It was silent for a few seconds before Lucky burst out laughing. ”You should see your faces, guys. Like someone's about to die. I am not that sensitive.” Lucky walked over to me and punched me in the arm. ”I'm not a little kid.” She looked up at me with laughter in her eyes and I felt myself floating in the endless pools of her love. ”Let's eat the salad while we wait for the pizza.”
”What pizza?” I frowned and looked at the oven.
”The one you're about to order.” She grinned and kissed me on the cheek before sauntering into the dining room with the plates and salad bowl.
”That was some great pizza, Lucky.” Leo licked his lips and I watched as Lucky blushed and giggled. I kept a smile on my face, but I was annoyed. Lucky and Leo had been joking around all evening and I didn't appreciate it.
”Well, I tried hard.”
”That pepperoni, ooh la la.”
”I made it by hand.”
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