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I avert my attention back to Matthias. "I know this is a hard question, but how are you doing?"
The pain this young man has gone through has to be excruciating.
"It's been a hard journey. I loved Nate. He wasn't the man I thought he was, but it doesn't stop the fact that I loved him, but I know you're still recovering, so I won't keep you. I can't thank you enough for what you did for us and for saving Sandra. She's the heart of our company."
I get that because she's the heart of us too.
"Thanks for coming by, Matt. And you're always welcome at our home."
He imparts a shy smile my way and waves as he and Curtis leave, shutting the door behind them.
"Poor kid," Jeremiah begins, closing the magazine.
"Yeah, I feel sorry for him. But was it odd that Curtis Shane was with him? Why would he need his lawyer?"
"I've seen it in big profile cases. He's here if something comes up. I expect a civil suit, or they have the grounds for it, at least. There's always some legality, but he's not hard on the eyes."
"Who?" I ask.
"The lawyer. I've seen him down at the station before. He's hot. And everyone that swings his way will tell you that. He really took Sandra out on a date?" he asks.
"I'd be careful, don't start to gloat," I warn. "But, if you're interested, why not make a move?"
"You gotta be kidding me. Lawyers don't go for lowly cops. Anyway, I'm too busy to date."
I don't ask what he's busy with, but he is always on the move; he's barely home if he's not working. If he wanted me to know, he would have told me.
"But, I will say, as shitty as Matthias Hennessy has had it, the game launch has been the most successful in history,” he explains, and it’s the first time I’ve heard about the release. “It's flying off the shelves. And that’s just presales. It doesn’t release until Friday. Not like that makes up for his loss, though.”
"You realize Matt is only a couple years younger than us, right?" I ask.
"He looks so young, but hell, if he's close to my age, I guess I can acknowledge that he, too, is rather cute."
I shake my head at my friend.
"You know, Dom. You're a lucky mother fucker. Only a few have what you have with Sandra. I hope you make it official and fucking soon."
He's not wrong. And I won't waste another minute regarding my future and the woman I’ll marry. Just not one day, but soon. Very fucking soon.
thirty-six
SANDRA
It’s been a week since Dom was released into my care. He’s a stubborn son of a bitch. Instead of resting in bed, he insists on taking care of me. I’m pregnant, not disabled. Women function every day with their pregnancies, but try telling him this.
Case in point, I wake to a snoring being in our bed, and it’s not Dom but the little turkey, Otis.
“Dominic Anthony Torano, I swear to the heavens above, you little fuck. If you’re up doing stuff, no sex—ever.”
I can hear his laugh float from the living room and into our bedroom. I call it ours because we’re never sleeping apart again. And is that pots and pans I hear him wrestling with this early in the morning?
I’ve taken the next month off work. And though I’ll never abandon my boys, and their love for toys and games, I know my sixty-hour work weeks will come to an end soon. And working from home will be my new normal.
I push out of bed. “Come on, Otis. It looks like your daddy is in big trouble.” I round the corner, and my plan to bring downthe hammer is foiled because he’s so fucking cute, holding a packed picnic basket and the leash and harness out for Otis, who doesn’t miss that we’re going bye-bye.
“I have a surprise for you. I was hoping we could take a little trip and maybe discuss our future. A future that includes you and me, our kids, and this little guy.”
Otis is jumping when Dom bends down to get him ready. “You have ten minutes to change and brush your teeth,” he orders, and as always, I do as he asks, because there’s not a man I trust more than him.
