Looking pleased, Aidan says, “Yeah, she is. She’s still not like she used to be, but during every visit, she tells me some of the experiences she’s remembered. She seems almost serene now for the first time since I’ve known her. You know, she always had a sort of wired energy that you knew was just beneath the surface. If you said something that she took the wrong way, she was quick to explode. After the first few times, I learned to mind my words unless I was in the mood to argue. I don’t feel that anymore, though. I would have never imagined she could be as relaxed as she is now.”

“Could be a result of the medication,” I add. “Her father never got her the help she needed back then. I know she took some anti-depressants, but they weren’t that effective.”

“My parents want me to cut ties and walk away from her. They feel I’m never going to find a good girl like Lia as long as I’m helping Cassie.” Dropping his cigarette, he stomps it out before rolling his eyes at me. “Thanks to your upcoming marriage, they’re suddenly dissatisfied with my single status. I believe their last words were, ‘Please find someone who you can actually bring home to meet us.’”

Wincing, I say, “Ouch, that’s pretty rough for them.” I love Aidan’s parents. I spent a lot of time there during my childhood. His mother was always involved in every school function and his father was the Cub Scout leader for years. They dote on their only son and I can only imagine what their opinion would be of Monique. I can also understand why they would feel the way they do about Cassie.

Grinning, he adds, “I guess they’re getting tired of my casual relationships. I’ve never brought anyone home before and they obviously know why. Do you think they’d be satisfied if I adopted a dog?”

Chuckling, I shake my head. “Not unless it can bark grandma. Seriously though, don’t you think Monique was kind of a waste of time?”

He shrugs. “It was just uncomplicated sex, bro. She knew I wasn’t going to propose and she never tried to change my mind. I have too much shit going on without worrying about that shit. Sometimes you just want your dick sucked without having to work for it.” The smirk on his face says that he’s joking—at least partly. For his sake, I hope a lot.

“I have no idea why you’re not married.” I try to keep a straight face. Fuck, I have no room to talk. I liked an uncomplicated dick-sucking myself at one time. We talk for another few moments before we go our separate ways. I’m whistling as I walk to the elevator while Aidan is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Cassie—always fucking Cassie.

Chapter Eighteen

Lucian

I wake in the dark, my hand automatically seeking Lia. Her place next to me is rumpled but cold. With less than a month of her pregnancy left, she is having a hard time getting comfortable enough to sleep. Since my subconscious always alerts me when she’s gone, I inevitably wake and then go looking for her. Sometimes she’s asleep on the sofa and other times she’s on some late-night cleaning spree.

Throwing the covers aside, I slip from the bed and walk down the hallway to the spare bedroom. We’ve been working on the baby’s room for the last few weeks so I’m not surprised to find her curled in the rocking chair while she looks at a magazine. I lean against the doorframe, taking in the scene before me. Her blond hair is tousled and hanging in waves around her shoulders. A grin tugs at my lips as I see that she’s using her stomach for a table, with what looks like carrots lying on it. She picks up one, munching on it as she turns a page. She’s quietly humming a tune I can’t identify and she looks so peaceful it brings moisture to my eyes.

I look around the room for probably the hundredth time since it’s been painted. The walls are a pale green and the trim is off-white. But what really catches the eye is the large cherry blossom tree adorning one wall. The lines of the tree and the varying shades of pink lend an almost mystical air to the surroundings. Like Lia, I find myself coming in here just to relax. It’s soothing and serene—the perfect place for our daughter.

“I knew you’d come for me,” I hear Lia say softly as my gaze flicks to her.

“Always,” I reply simply. “You know I can’t sleep when you aren’t next to me.” I cross to her chair, going down on my haunches to drop a kiss on her bare shoulder.

“I love you, Luc,” she murmurs before rubbing her swollen belly. “Can you believe the wedding is this weekend and then shortly after, the baby will be here?”

“It’s been a busy year.” I laugh. “We’re probably going to need to have twins next year if we want to top this one.”

“Don’t even joke about that,” she groans. “I think we’ll just be a small family for a while until I see how well you handle dirty diapers.”

I smile, not freaked out in the least. I can’t imagine anything I won’t do for my child. I’m not saying that some things might not be more pleasant than others, but I’m in, regardless. “We still need to decide on a name,” I remind her. “I don’t want her to be called Baby Quinn when she’s born.” Lia has picked at least ten names, only to discount them overnight and frantically begin searching through her huge book of baby names. “I’m still partial to Leo—you know how many good memories we have there.”

Rolling her eyes, she slaps at my arm. “We’re not naming our daughter Leo. But…I do have another idea." I wave my hand for her to proceed, hoping it’s not another trendy name, when she says, “How about Lara Anne?”