Wrong Question, Right Answer (The Bourbon Street Boys #3) - Elle Casey Page 0,116
Morse code on the baby’s heel. I love you. The idea that we can communicate makes me smile.
The door opens and shuts, and then Ozzie’s heavy footfalls come into the foyer.
“I’m in here.” I brace myself to get up off the couch but then give up when I realize it’s going to be too much effort and too painful. My body aches all over. Eunice did a great job of kicking my ass. Because I was so intent on protecting the babies, I ended up with a split scalp, a broken cheekbone, two cracked ribs, and a bruised vertebra. Several other areas of my body host multiple bruises, but at least there’s nothing broken there. I’m only allowed to take Tylenol, but I’m happy to have it. I’m thrilled to be alive. If Eunice had had her way, I’d be in the ground right now.
“Hey,” Ozzie says, advancing into the room.
“Hey.”
He sits in a chair next to the couch and leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands in front of him.
“Do you want something to drink?”
He shakes his head. “No, I’m fine. I’m not going to stay long. I know you need your rest.”
I lean back on the couch. “Stay as long as you like. Lucky is busy waiting on me hand and foot, so I don’t really have to move anywhere. I’ve been sleeping half the day.”
Ozzie nods. “He’s a good guy.”
My voice softens just thinking about him. “I know.”
“Do you?”
Ozzie doesn’t have to say anything else. I know what he’s asking.
“I do. I know he’s good for me, and I’m done looking for trouble.” I rub my ribs. “I’m too old for this shit.”
His smile is sad. “I wish I could believe that.”
I lean forward, desperate for him to understand, ignoring the pain in my side. “I mean it, Oz.” I put my hand on his and squeeze. “Trust me. I’ve had a lot of time to think about it, and I’ve got a lot of bruises to remind me of my bad decision-making skills. And I’ve got Lucky now. We’ve been talking a lot. We’re going to help each other. Support each other. Commit to our family and each other.”
“What does that mean, exactly?”
I shrug, feeling a little silly talking about this with Ozzie, but glad to be saying it out loud to him at the same time. “We haven’t exactly defined it. I mean, he proposed, but he was being an ass at the time, so I told him to forget it.”
Ozzie gives me a half smile. “Did you call for a do-over?”
I grin back, memories of our younger days flashing through my mind. “Yeah. We both called a do-over. He says he’s going to surprise me, and I’m cool with that.”
Ozzie nods, looking more hopeful. “That’s good. You guys need one another. I don’t want either one of you to screw this up.”
I shake my head. “We won’t. Because it’s not just us now: we have the babies to think about. I think it helps both of us to have something beyond ourselves to worry over.”
He nods. “I get it.”
I give him a weak smile. “How’s everything going with May?”
He doesn’t look very happy. “Okay, I guess. She’s a little pissed at you.”
I cringe. “I know. She has every right to be. Now she’s only got one bridesmaid.”
His eyebrows go up. “Oh, no. She has two bridesmaids. She expects you to be there.”
I point at my face. “Have you seen this?”
He shrugs. “Better buy some makeup. I’m serious. If you don’t show, she’s going to be off-the-charts unhappy.”
I nod, accepting my fate. “Fine. I’ll be there.”
He sighs heavily and leans back in his seat, resting his elbows on the arms of the chair. “I’m sorry. I tried to talk some sense into her, but she’s just kind of out of her head right now. She has bridezilla-itis really bad.”
I find myself giggling as I imagine her making everyone crazy. Apparently, there is one side-benefit to getting one’s ass kicked by a double-chinned granny. “She’s pregnant. Go easy on her.”
“I know, but it’s not just that. She really cares about you. She was so worried that you were going to die. She wouldn’t believe anybody when they said you’re going to be fine. I had to give her a sedative.”
I laugh, but there’s not a whole lot of mirth to it. “I’m so sorry. I can only imagine what you’ve been going through.”