The Last Husband (Forever Love #2)(58)
Author: J.S. Cooper

“Yeah.” I wasn’t really listening to him anymore, because I was feeling shocked at the realization I had just made.

“I promise it’ll work out my dear. It’s like my mother used to say, just when you think you’re down to your last bag of rice, Jesus gon’ come and make a miracle.”

“Thanks Sidney. I’ll talk to you later.” I hung up the phone and buried my head in my hands, half-happy and half-shocked.

I made a mental checklist, I was feeling sickly, I had weird food cravings, my br**sts felt swollen and tender. I had to be pregnant. But it didn’t make sense. I got my period. Just because you got your period doesn’t mean you couldn’t still be pregnant, a little voice in me cried out. You should have done a test. I grabbed ahold of my stomach and I suddenly knew. I just knew. I didn’t even need to go to the doctor.

I heard the front door opening and I stilled. Zane was home and I wasn’t sure how he was going to feel. With all the emotional turmoil he had been through recently, I wasn’t sure if he was in a good place to be a father. I didn’t want it all to be too much too soon. I stood there debating what to do when I heard a car pull up in the driveway. As I heard his footsteps, I looked up, ready to tell him that I thought we were going to have a baby, but no words came out of my mouth.

Zane was standing at the front door staring at me, but my eyes weren’t on him, they were on the man standing next to him. The man who looked so much like Zane, only different. The man who looked like I imagined his brother would look. I rubbed my eyes, not knowing if I was hallucinating or what.

“Lucky,” Zane walked towards me slowly. “I’d like you to meet my brother, Noah.” His words tripped out of his mouth smoothly and innocently, and as I stared at the other man’s familiar, wide smile, I felt myself feeling woozy and then fell to the ground.

***

“Shit, man, is she okay?” I heard a male voice say, but I was unable to open my eyes.

“I’m sure she just went into shock.” Zane’s voice was worried. “Help me pick her up.”

“I would have thought you’d be the one to faint, not the girlfriend.” The voice was silky and warm. “And bro, you never told me she was hot.”

“Eyes off, Noah.” Zane’s voice held a warning.

“Come on now, bro.” The guy laughed. “I’ve been back a day, I don’t think I’m going to try and steal your girlfriend.”

“You couldn’t steal her even if you tried.” Zane laughed. “And what do you mean a day? Why did I only find out today?”

“Paperwork.” The guy sighed. “You know how it is.”

I felt two sets of arms pick me up and carry me. “Shit bro, what’s this on the couch?”

“I don’t know.” Zane’s tone sounded worried again. “Fuck, maybe I should call the doctor. Maybe she’s sick.”

“Yeah. You don’t want to take a chance.” The other voice sounded worried as well. “Where should we take her? She’s not exactly a feather.”

“Upstairs.” Zane’s voice was firm and I slowly opened my eyes.

“Hi.” I stared up and he was looking down at me with an extremely concerned expression.

“Lucky, are you okay?” He continued staring at me as they walked up the stairs.

I nodded slowly. “I think I fainted.” I looked towards my legs and saw the other voice smiling at me. “Are you, Noah?”

“Indeed, I am.” He grinned at me and I saw that he had the same blue eyes as Zane, only his hair was darker and he was bigger built.

“But you’re dead.” My voice was accusing. “How can you be here?”

“Don’t upset yourself, Lucky.” Zane looked at me and pursed his lips as they set me down on the bed.

“So this is real?” I propped myself up on the pillows and looked at them standing together. “I’m not in some weird funky dream of yours.”

“This is real.” Zane nodded and came and sat down next to me on the bed. “This is my brother, Noah.”

“But how?”

“I guess this is where I come in?” Noah walked towards the bed and looked down at me. “I was in witness protection.”

“Huh?” My head was aching and I stared at him in confusion. “I thought you jumped off of a roof?”

“Have you met Angelique?” He grimaced and I nodded. “Do you think anyone would kill themselves over her?”

I laughed slightly, but saw Zane’s furious expression and I knew he didn’t think it was a joking matter. “But that’s what Braydon said, and the police and even Angelique believed that, and—and even Zane.”

“That’s what I needed everyone to believe.” Noah looked at his brother slightly and then back at me. “We needed everyone to believe I was dead.”

“You should have told me, Noah.” Zane’s tone was angry and he stared at his brother. “You should have f**king told me. Do you know what I’ve been through?”

“Dude, I couldn’t tell you.” Noah looked miserable. “It wouldn’t have worked if you had known.”

“I would have gotten the information.” Zane’s face was obstinate and he shook his head. “You f**king don’t pull that shit on me, Noah. You don’t make me think you’re dead.”

“It was the only way. It wasn’t my choice.” Noah pleaded with his brother and I held my hand up and waved it.

“Sorry to interrupt the love-fest, but I have no idea what you guys are talking about.” I frowned. “And I very much want to know.”

“Yes, Noah, why don’t you tell Lucky your little story.” Zane stood up and walked to the door. “I’m going to go and get myself a stiff drink. Anyone want anything?”

“I’ll have some whiskey, on the rocks.” Noah nodded and I shook my head.

“You sure, Lucky? No wine?” Zane studied my face and I shook my head.

“No thanks.”

“Okay.” He left the room and Noah looked at me awkwardly.

“Do you mind if I have a seat?” He patted the side of the bed and I shook my head, not believing that I was seeing Noah, alive in the flesh.

“I’m glad you don’t take any nonsense from my brother.” He grinned at me and I stared at him in astonishment, surprised at his words.

“Zane’s always been a bit of a worrier, he won’t admit it, but he is. He’s overprotective and thinks he knows everything. He needs a strong woman like you.”