Author's warning for more bad Portugese!
***
3 years later....
Anyone that passed would have thought they were a couple. They walked passed the shops on Market street arm and arm, laughing and smiling at a thousand inside jokes. As they walked the crisp fall leaves crunched under their feet as if to chorus their easy conversation. An eavesdropper would have been surprised to learn they were actually discussing the man's wedding to another woman.
"Well, are you ready? One woman forever ever ever?" Sanaii teased bumping Lucas's hip with hers.
"Jesus, I hope so. Of course, when you say it like that I want to shit myself!"
"You're going to be fine! It's normal to feel a little nervous the week before your wedding."
"Well, you should know Mrs. Montevido."
8 months almost to the day after her car broke down, Jared had proposed to Sanaii and being unequivocally in love with the sexy, kind, exotic man Sanaii accepted.
It hadn't been an easy ride for her and Luc from the moment she had broken off their sexual relationship to form a commitment to Jared. It was awkward and painful for the two to be in the same room with each other constantly battling the strong sexual chemistry that had been the interweaving part of their friendship over the years. They both committed to making it work, for each other and for the baby
There was almost bloodshed the first time Jared and Luc met- the day of their son Etienne's birth. Sanaii had had to have an emergency procedure and while she was recovering, Luc and Jared had almost come to blows in the waiting room as the staff nurse told her. Apparently, the nursing staff had watched with rapt nail biting attention with one hand on the security phone as the two hunks traded barbs, insults, and glares. Things had gotten as far as Luc unwisely getting in Jared's face when a brave nurse informed Lucas and Jared that they could see the baby.
Lucas later told Sanaii that everything changed for him at that moment. He said he had never felt more love for anything in his life than the face of that little baby and he knew his personal bullshit and jealousy had to take a back seat. Lucas relayed that he looked over at Jared and a moment of perfect understanding seemed to pass between them. An uneasy truce was born that day with the two men. Sanaii was glad she slept through the fireworks. She had eyes only for one man at that moment- her beautiful baby boy with his curly copper hair and lightening eyes. Etienne Jason Somerfield.
Sanaii and Luc had come a long way since then. They put their responsibilities as parents first and foremost. Luc still lived part time in Europe, the home of his fiancée and mother, but most of his time in the states was spent in easy access to Philly to be with Tee. Luc looked forward to the time when Tee was old enough to fly on his own and then he could spend more time with him in Europe.
Even after Sanaii and Jared got married, Luc never abdicated fatherhood to Jared.
Jared may have won Sanaii, but Luc would be damned if Tee called anybody daddy except him. To his credit, Jared was a stand-up guy and while he was undeniably crazy about Tee he didn't seek to obstruct Luc forming a bond with Tee and didn't interfere in the decisions Sanaii and Luc made as parents. It couldn't have been easy for him, Luc knew, since it would have irked the shit out of him if every time he turned around his woman's ex was knocking on the door. Jared bore it well.
As Sanaii and Luc built their relationship as parents, they were able to mend their friendship too. There was a different depth of warmth and sincerity to it in the absence of the sexual fireworks that had characterized it in the past...but the chemistry was still there quietly simmering under the surface rather than boiling over the pot. Somehow it had been transformed into a fun, easy flirtatiousness between the two that lightened the intensity of it.
Jared saw it. He couldn't help but notice as he Sanaii, Luc, and Etienne had dinner in Jared and Sanaii's center city brownstone. He and Luc had never formed a friendship, but they respected each other and that was the only thing keeping his foot out of Luc's face as he flirted with Sanaii. Sanaii did not take it seriously and urged Jared not to either noting Luc always like to tease and talk shit, but it still made Jared want to go a little psycho. He knew when another man was checking out his woman's ass and that was no joke.
"So golden boy, you up for a game of dominoes or no?"
Luc smirked at the man sitting across from him at the kitchen table. He knew he was getting under Jared's skin whenever he called him golden boy. Luc still got a sick pleasure from being a pain in Jared's ass. First he did it to punish him for making himself at home in Sanaii's heart, and then it was just too damn much fun to stop.
"Good idea," said Sanaii bouncing a cranky Tee on her hip, "Somebody's sleepy sleepy." she comforted, "Say 'night night daddy, night night Jay."
Luc stood to kiss his baby, promised him daddy would see him in the morning, and even though it was normal and natural and a beautiful thing Jared still felt a little sinking feeling in his heart seeing the woman he loved and the baby he loved and raised like his own so obviously connected to another man. After kissing the baby's chubby hand, a tense Jared went to get the dominoes.
Lucas was helping himself to another cold beer when Jared returned.
"I haven't said congratulations to you yet, golden boy," he said placing out the stacks.
"Thanks, man. I appreciate it. It'll be nice having you, Sanaii, and little Tee there. I think you'll like Switzerland."
"Todo biem," said Jared pushing some of the stacks Lucas's way. "You nervous?"
Lucas paused, his drink halfway to his mouth then shrugged.
"Maybe a little. I don't exactly come from a happy home. I don't know shit about being a good husband."
"What's to know?" said Jared, popping the cap on his own beer, "You love your woman, you listen to her, take good care of her. Let her know she never has to worry about anything long as you there- happy marriage. Simple."
"Like you and Sanaii?"
Jared smiled broadly.
"Exactly."
Luc tapped the table.
"You two seem to have a really good thing."
"Si, muito bon. Sanaii's a good woman."
"You don't have to tell me that, Jay," Luc said feeling unexpectedly raw listening to Jared discuss his married life with Sanaii, "I know exactly how good a woman Sanaii is."
Jared arched his eyebrow menacingly, and Luc knew he had hit his target and crossed the line in a big way. No husband wanted to be reminded that another man knew how good his wife's pussy was.
Contrite, Luc smiled trying to lighten the tension. "I hope Alisa and I do half as well as you and Sanaii."
Jared smirked and flipped his stack.
"I hope so too, Luc. Maybe then you will stop staring at my wife's ass?"
Luc laughed out loud.
"I'll do my best, but you must admit it's a damn fine ass."
Unexpectedly, Jared laughed then too.
"Very fine indeed. Your deal, golden boy."
Later, Sanaii walked Lucas out to his car.
"You sure you won't stay the night. There's plenty of room." she said.
Lucas leaned against his driver's door facing Sanaii. He shook his head in the negative.
"And listen to Mr. Brazil fuck the hell out of you all night just to prove to me you're his woman? No thanks."
"Luc!" Sanaii rolled her eyes.
