Page 21 of Unruly
“But it’s not a yes, either.”
Catherine peered up at the ceiling, and let out a slow breath. “I’m barely home as it is, Cross. You just told me to make sure I would be home for our anniversary, and to work something out for December. I come and go, and when it’s just us, that’s okay. We can handle it. And right now you want to talk about adding a little person to that equation, too?”
“Yep,” Cross said, not missing a beat.
“Isn’t that a little selfish?”
“Probably.”
Catherine shot him a look. “Cross.”
“We would figure it out, wouldn’t we? Don’t we always figure shit out, Catty?”
“Yeah, but—”
“Do you not want kids yet, or … at all?”
“I want kids,” she rushed to say. “With you, of course I do, Cross.”
He hid his smile into his next drink of wine.
“Compromise, then?” Cross asked.
“Try me.”
“You’re already gone a lot as it is. So it could take a while to hit the right time, couldn’t it?”
“It could.” Catherine’s gaze narrowed. “Keep going.”
“What if we didn’t actively prevent anything from happening? It comes when it comes.”
“If I canceled the appointment for my shot in two weeks, I know exactly what would happen.” Catherine snorted. “You’ll have me knocked up before Christmas, Cross.”
He smirked. “So be it.”
“You’re terrible.”
“You didn’t say no.”
“Nope,” Catherine replied, “I didn’t.”
After that one conversation, Cross learned a lot of things about his wife and marriage. One, he needed to speak the hell up when he wanted something from her. Two, years of not drinking or buying wine meant that Catherine couldn’t pick out good liquor to save her life. And three, Catherine always kept her word.
“Cross, my man. How long has it been?”
Standing at the sight of the Guzzi family’s underboss, Cross took the handshake and returned Marcus Guzzi’s smile. “It’s been a while. How’ve you been?”
“Tired, busy, praying, working,” Marcus said, “and you know, the good stuff, too.”
Cross laughed. “Tell me about it. I thought your father was coming to meet with me today.”
“Gian got tied up in a meeting with some guys. He didn’t think you would mind me showing up instead.”
“Or, your father is finally handing some responsibility over.”
Marcus shrugged. “Could be. Who’s to say?”
Cross would say it.
