Page 285 of Tease Me


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He read me well. “Honestly, no. What I really want to do is find a beach somewhere and hide away for a while, doing nothing.”

Luc’s laughter roared through the room. “Don’t we all? Add a woman to the picture, and you’d have a great time, wouldn’t you?” The man known as a former playboy winked at me. From what I heard, though, Emily kept him rather exclusively occupied these days. They traveled the world together, championing not only his billion-dollar construction business but their many good causes in philanthropy as well.

Jace spoke up. “College isn’t always the answer. Boston PD loves recruiting former military into the academy. I could put a good word in for you.” Despite having the Delfino fortune, he used his military background to his benefit in police detective work, successfully ridding the streets of Boston from a bad ring of thieves and drug gangs, and gaining accolades in the news.

His look was intimidating as fuck, thanks to scarring leftover from saving his best friend Travis from an incoming missile during their tour of duty. But you’d not find a better man to help you out in any situation. He’d found love too, in Lily, a woman who could look beyond his scars.

Would I ever measure up to my cousins? Success and confidence oozed from their veins. “I’ll stick to the plan. See how this spring semester goes. I just don’t want to let anyone down.”

“Nonsense. You answer to you now. While it’d be a great honor to see you finish your degree, if something else comes up, so be it.” Luc poured himself another shot while giving us the sage wisdom we knew him for. “Every man has to come to terms with who they are and what they stand for. If you can do that, hold yourself high to your own standards. That’s all we can ask.” He downed the shot, then poured another, filling the gold liquid to the top.

Jace eyed his brother. “Uh. . .You okay?”

Emily shuffled over then, still cooing at the baby in her arms. “No, he’s not okay, after I shared the news with him this morning that I’m pregnant.”

“What?” Lily and Bella dropped what they were doing and rushed over, their faces lit up. The momentary silence as everyone stared between the couple proved awkward.

Finally, Luc held out a hand for Emily, bringing her and the baby to sit across his lap. “It’s true. I admit I’ve been shell-shocked by the news all day, but, Emily, my crazy girl, you’ve made me the happiest man in the world. Everyone, the Delfino family is about to get a little bigger.”

He finished with his hand on her belly and kissed her forehead, beaming with pride. Of course, the women went nuts with a chorus of “Aww.”

Bella smiled and took baby Roman from her arms. “Em, I couldn’t be happier for you two. Cass and I just had babies the past year and now you will in the new year? Wait, do Mom and Dad know yet?”

“Luc is taking me out to Cape Cod this weekend to visit them so we can share the news. I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to have another grandchild on the way.”

“Jace and I have another litter of kitties arriving in about a month.” Lily smiled.

“Yep, that we do. And we’re just fine with fur babies–for now. I’m happy for you, though, brother.” Jace slapped his back. But the look on his face seemed otherwise, like he regretted the fur baby decision.

“Marry me,” Luc blurted out to Emily. The room stilled into silence once again. All of us knew Luc had made clear for years, his stance on never marrying again. A baby for Luc and Emily? Okay. But marriage too? Luc was definitely leaving his past behind and moving forward.

Emily stammered, “Are-are you sure you’re ready for such a commitment? I mean, you once told me because of your past, your difficulty believing in marriage—”

“Kids, marriage, what’s the difference—it’s all one big commitment. Do you want to marry me or not? Because I’m only asking once. And here, try this ring on for size.” Luc produced a ring out of his shirt pocket.

“Then—hell yes, I’ll marry you, Luc Delfino.” Emily cried and threw her arms around his neck. They kissed in front of us, as everyone exclaimed, happy for them. She tried on the ring, admiring the glow of the enormous diamond under the chandelier light. “I’m sorry, Theo, for turning your welcome home party into our engagement party. But you know Luc, when he wants something, he goes all the way.”

“Yeah, I know him. It’s fine by me.” But the scene rocked me. To see my older cousins taking on new roles as husbands and fathers was like seeing all the other baby birds leave the nest when you were the runt and stayed behind.

I’d had little time to think about dating, let alone marrying. But now I had plenty of time to figure out my life and my future. First things first, though. I’d start college courses next week, and with any luck, might reenter the civilian dating pool again.

Somehow, with all the celebration going on in the room, little Roman ended up in my arms. He peered up at me with big eyes like Hank’s, full of innocence and wonder. I’d started out that way once. What happened between then and now took a lot of reconciling still. But I was here and ready, and wasn’t about to let life pass me by this time.

2

MIA

“We’re so glad you could make time to have dinner with us each week, my Bebita.” Mama still called me her baby girl, even though I turned thirty later this year, held a doctorate in English Literature, and a full-time job as a professor’s assistant at Glendale College. “Of course, we’re so glad you’re here too, Diego.”

I hated how her words came across as dismissive to my younger brother, but he kept a good sense of humor about it. Chuckling and whispering at my side. “Yeah, but we know who they really want to see every Sunday—baby girl.”

I snarled back under my breath. “Please, that’s Doctor Reyes to you.” I’d worked hard to earn my doctorate in English Lit last year, and while I didn’t yet have a professorship, someone like my brother may as well use my title. Although Mama never used it; she couldn’t comprehend why I’d be called a doctor when I didn’t operate on people or run a clinic.

“God knows, your older brother surely couldn’t come home for a visit that often. You would think since Cruz was away in the military so long, he’d be thankful to come around his family again, but no, he’s not.” Mama repeated the same disgruntlement every Sunday evening at our family meal.

Papa attempted smoothing things over with distraction and praise. “Otra vez, Mary. Again? Don’t start tonight. Look at all this delicious food on the table you prepared. Let’s enjoy it. Eat everyone, please.”

“Mama, you know Cruz would be here if he could. I’ll text him this week and find out when his next leave is.” Now I was the one who sounded like a parrot squawking the same thing repeatedly every Sunday.

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