“So, when is your next doctor’s appointment, Lucky?”

“Not for two weeks.” She chopped the onion up carefully as she spoke. “But everything is going fine so far, so that’s good.”

“I can’t believe I’m going to be an uncle.” I shook my head and then looked at Zane. “And I sure as hell can’t believe that you’re going to be a dad.”

“Well, you’re going to have to watch your language once the babies come.” He gave me a look and then laughed.

“I’m sure I can get away with saying hell for the first few years.” I grinned back at him. “But, I’ll keep my shits and fucks to a minimum.”

“How sweet of you, bro.” He rolled his eyes at me. “I can already tell you’re going to be the best uncle ever.”

“You know it.”

“My friend Leeza is coming to visit in a few weeks.” Lucky glanced at me, and I could see a blush rising on her face. “I thought maybe you guys could go to lunch one day. Because I was hoping you guys would both be godparents.”

“Oh, no way is Leeza going to be a godparent to my child.” Zane’s voice was loud. “And I’m not having her as a sister-in-law, either.”

“Zane.” Lucky’s face was a deep red now. “Don’t be mean.”

“I’m just being honest.” He shrugged.

“I think Noah might like her.” Lucky pouted at him.

“I think not.” Zane gave her a look. “I’m not having that crazy ho around my brother.”

“Zane!” Lucky poked him in the chest.

“I’m still here, guys.” I raised a hand. “No need to talk about me like I’m not.”

“Well, you never know,” Zane drawled, and I ignored him. “One day you’re here and the next you’re gone.”

“I’d be happy to meet your friend, Lucky, but I’m not on the dating market right now. My heart isn’t really open to loving anyone else at this moment in time.” A dart of pain ripped through my heart and I held on to the counter tightly.

“You okay?” Lucky looked at me in concern.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks.” I turned away from her and nodded. I had to be fine. There was nothing else I could do. Skylar was gone from my life forever. I’d made that decision two months ago when I had walked away. And now—now I was out of that life, and there was no going back. Even though that life had felt more real than anything I’d ever felt before. She had wormed her way in and had never left.

“He most probably had a premonition of what life would be like if he dated Leeza.” Zane patted me on the shoulder and gave me his ‘we need to talk soon’ look.

“Zane, you’re horrible. She’s not that bad.”

“She’s not that bad?” His voice was incredulous. “She’s a snake, and I’m sure she would have bedded me if she could have.”

“She wouldn’t do that to me.”

“Lucky, she would have done me in a heartbeat. She was all over me. I mean, come on, how could she resist?”

“Idiot.” She slapped him on the shoulder and laughed. “I know she hasn’t been the best friend, but I want to give her another chance.”

“Eh.”

“I mean if it wasn’t for her getting me to the party, we might not be together now.”

“I would have thought of something.” Zane stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “There was no way I was going to let you out of my life.” He bent his head and nuzzled on her neck, and I watched as Lucky squirmed in his arms.

“Not now.” She squealed as he squeezed her behind and I took that as a signal to leave the room.

“Hey, guys, call me when it’s ready.” I laughed and Lucky blushed as I walked out of the kitchen and back up the stairs. I smiled as I walked up the stairs. Lucky wasn’t the sort of girl that I thought Zane would end up with, and I was glad. I had long worried that he’d end up with some ice queen who looked stunning but had poison running through her veins. Thank God, he and I had both escaped from Angelique’s clutches. I ran into my room as I heard my phone ringing and grabbed it quickly.

“Hello.”

“Noah?”

“Sidney?”

“Yes. It’s me.” He paused, and I could hear Betty whispering in the background. “Zane told me you were back, but I wasn’t sure. Sorry about the background noise. Betty wanted to know if you were okay.”

“No worries.” I smiled into the phone while listening to my old friend’s voice. “Tell her I’m well.”

“I hope you’ll be telling her in person soon.” Sidney chuckled. “She can’t barely believe you came back from the dead.”

“You didn’t tell Betty?” I was shocked.

“You told me not to tell anyone.”

“But I assumed you would tell Betty.”

“I wanted to, but Betty likes to talk. You know women, I didn’t want to ruin anything.”

“Oh, Sidney,” I sat on my bed, and closed my eyes. “Thank you.”

“I’m glad you’re safe. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too.” I felt emotional. Sidney Johnson had become like a father to me. He was the only person who knew most of my secrets. There was no one who knew all of them but he was the closest.

“I’ve still got your papers.” He spoke in a low voice. “Are you going to tell Zane?”

“He doesn’t need to know.” I lowered my voice as well.

“He went to France.”

“I heard.”

“She turned him away.”

“She shouldn’t have done that.” I was angry. “I’ll have to call her.”

“You sure you want to do that?”

“No, not really.” I lay back and rubbed my temples. I was starting to get a headache. “But I need to know what she said to him.”

“You should tell him.”

“No.” I shook my head vehemently. “He’s in a good place now. I don’t want to disturb that.”

“Noah, I know you think you’re protecting him, but he has a right to know. And honestly, I don’t think he’s going to just let it go. He has a right to know the truth about his past.”

“I’ll tell him something.” I cleared my throat. “Anyways, how have you been? I heard Lucky has been working on the documentary with you.”

“I’ve been good. Better since Lucky and Zane been coming over; made me not worry about you so much. Lucky’s a good girl.” Sidney sighed. “I like her a lot, she’s good for your brother. She really loves him.”

“I know. I’m glad he met her.”

“What about you? You got anyone?”

“No.” Not anymore.

“What about where you were hidden out?”

“I dated. Nothing too serious.” Liar.

“You’re still young. Plenty of fish in the sea.”

“Yeah. I’m not too worried.”

“What about the girl you mentioned to me? When you first got there?” Sidney talked slowly. “The one I told you to be careful with.”

“You were right to warn me to be careful.” I sighed deeply. “Things got complicated. Her life was complicated.”

“Were you one of the complications?”

“I became one of them.” I stared at the wall as I spoke. “My presence ended up hurting someone.”

“Nothing bad, I hope.”

“I hope not.” I lowered my voice. “I was going to ask you later, but I need you to speak to your son for me. The family attorney. I have some questions.”

“You in trouble?”

“No.” I shook my head as I bit my lip. “Not yet.”

“You’re scaring me. Why do you sound like you’re about to leave us again, Noah? You should be happy, you just got back.”

“I’m back, but everything isn’t the same as it was before, Sidney. My life didn’t stop when I went away. Life continued for you and for me. New complications arose. I guess there are troubles to be left and to be found.”

“Where did you go?”

“I can’t say.”

“You mean you won’t say.”

“Yeah.” There was no need to lie to Sidney; he knew the deal. “I’ll talk about it later. I don’t want to think about it now.”

“Lucky got some good ideas for the documentary. She’s a history buff like you. She knows a lot about civil rights.” Sidney changed the subject and I smiled to myself. He always knew how to read me.

“I’m excited to hear them.”

“Yes. It will be good to get your life back on track.” Sidney paused again. “I’m glad you’re back, you know.”

“I know.” I couldn’t stop myself from smiling into the phone, even though I knew he couldn’t see me. “I’m glad to be back as well.” I hung up and looked up slowly to see Lucky staring at me from the doorway with a half-smile.