32. Zane

He couldn’t help his pacing. The thought of Ruby going to her parents’ anniversary party all alone made his stomach hurt. He wanted to be there to protect her. Fuck being social, he just wanted to be there to shield her from her parents.

When they’d talked to her about one of them going with her, she’d shut them down. She told them that bringing one of them would create questions and possibly make things more awkward than they already would be. So she’d compromised with them and agreed to allow them to drop her off and pick her up from the party.

“You need to calm down. You’re going to get her all worked up if you’re all worked up,” Jace said calmly.

Stopping in his tracks, he glared at his friend. “I just have a bad fucking feeling about her going and I don’t like it.”

Jace looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t. Instead, he nodded because as much as he wasn’t outwardly showing it, Zane knew Jace was feeling just as anxious.

They’d put Ruby down for a nap in their bed and were now standing inside Zane’s bedroom talking so they didn’t wake her. The party was supposed to go until midnight, so they’d insisted on a nap, which she’d argued about, and then had to spend ten minutes in the corner for sticking her tongue out at Jace when he got firm with her about it.

Their sweet Little girl. Zane had a feeling she’d always be a firecracker and that was just fine with him.

“We need to be positive while we help her get ready. It won’t help if she goes there in a bad mindset. So whatever feelings you have toward her parents, suck it up and bitch to me about it later when she’s gone,” Jace said.

Zane grunted but nodded his head. Yeah, he needed to keep his attitude in check for their little girl. And as soon as she was home, he planned to snuggle the hell out of her until she couldn’t stand it any longer.

Addie had helped Ruby pick out a pair of black heels to go with her dress and a clutch, which was another word for a small purse, apparently. Zane had a feeling that Addie and Ruby would be asking to hang out again soon. He was glad to see their Little girl hitting it off with another Little. He suspected she needed some friends.

“We need to wake her up so we can get her in the bath,” Jace said.

Following his friend into the master bedroom, they sat on either side of her and started rubbing her back to gently wake her.

“It’s time to wake up, baby girl,” Zane said.

“No, thanks. No wake-up,” she mumbled as she clutched her stuffed kangaroo tighter.

Both men chuckled.

“Yes, wake up, baby girl. We need to give you a bath and start helping you get ready,” Jace told her.

She let out a long dramatic sigh and rolled over onto her back, looking up at both of them.

“Do I really have to go to this?” she asked.

“Fuck no, you don’t have to go. We’d rather you stay here with us,” Zane blurted.

Jace gave him a look, and he barely refrained from rolling his eyes at his friend. He knew Jace felt the same way, Zane just wasn’t one to sugarcoat it.

“Baby girl, you don’t have to go if you don’t want to. We’ll never force you to do something you don’t want to do. Well, except maybe eat your vegetables and go to the doctor regularly. It’s up to you, baby. Whatever you decide, your Daddies will always support you and have your back,” Jace explained.

She glanced from Jace to Zane and sighed. “How did I get lucky enough to meet you guys?”

Zane chuckled. “You acted like a brat and we punished you. That’s how.”

The sweet giggle that escaped her lips made him relax slightly, but only just slightly.

“I need to go. I feel obligated to go. They’ll disown me and take everything away from me if I don’t.”

Anger bubbled inside him again, but he swallowed it down and took a breath before he spoke.

“Baby girl, just because they’re your parents doesn’t mean you owe them a single thing. If they want to cut you off, let them, because Daddy and I will happily take care of everything you need. Okay?” Zane asked.

Staring up at him, she reached up and ran her hand along the stubble on his jaw, something he was quickly learning was a calming thing for her.

“When did you get so smart, Zaddy? And here I just thought you were all good looks and a big dick.”

Jace burst out laughing while Zane stared at her in shock. After a few beats, he laughed and then reached out and started tickling her.

“You are such a little troublemaker,” he said as she squealed and squirmed under his fingers.

“Mercy! Zaddy, it was a compliment!”

He stopped tickling her and leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips.

“Don’t ever stop being your silly, sassy, bratty self, little one. You keep me on my toes,” he said gently.

She nodded. “Don’t worry, Zaddy. I have no intention of calming down my charm.”

“Do you want Zaddy to do your hair, baby?” he asked when she’d finished her makeup.

She eyed him in the reflection of the mirror.

“You know how to do hair?” she asked.

He shrugged. “I’ve been watching videos on women with hair similar to yours so I’d know how to do it.”

Turning around so her bottom was pressed against the counter, she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down to her mouth.

He kissed her deeply, using his tongue to part her lips so he could explore her. When he finally lifted his head, Jace was standing next to them. Turning her head toward Jace, Ruby reached for him and pulled him down to her lips. Zane sucked in a breath as he watched them kissing as passionately as he’d just kissed her.

If any other man tried to make a move on Ruby, he would kill them, but he couldn’t describe how happy it made him that he got to share the woman he loved with his best friend. Zane knew Jace would protect her just as fiercely as he would.

When Jace lifted his head, she looked up at both of them with a soft smile.

“I love you guys,” she whispered.

Feeling his entire body tense, Zane blinked and then blinked again. Had he heard what he thought he had?

“Say it again,” Jace said.

A blush rose to her cheeks. “I love you both so much.”

Those sweet little words. The best words they could have ever hoped to hear from her.

“I love you too, baby,” Zane replied.

Jace nodded. “We both love you so damn much, Ruby.”

Tears filled her eyes and Zane moved quickly to grab a tissue before her makeup got ruined. He gently dabbed at her eyes.

“You guys really love me?” she asked.

Both of them nodded.

“We love you so much, little one. When we told you that you were meant to be ours, we meant it. You’re going to be our girl forever if you’ll have us,” Zane told her.

“We love you endlessly, Ruby. Our love will never be conditional, and we promise we’ll always take care of you and give you everything you need. I know you’re scared and have your insecurities, and we do, too, but you’re it for us,” Jace added.

She let out a sob and wrapped her arms around both their waists as they crowded her to hug her back. Her makeup was most likely ruined, but they would help her with whatever she needed to fix it.

Relief filled him as he stood there hugging his best friend and the love of his life. Zane had always blamed himself for their past relationships not working out. Jace was more easygoing, more fun, more flexible, while Zane was none of those things. He’d never figured out how not to be overbearing and overprotective. How not to be strict and demanding. And while Jace had told him repeatedly that it wasn’t his fault, he’d always carried a lot of the blame within him.

Now, they’d found a woman who balanced them out and needed each of them for who they were and what they provided, and Zane would do everything in his power to keep the three of them together forever.

Ruby pulled back and both men eyed her wearily as streaks of black mascara trailed down her cheeks.

“Shit. I need to fix my makeup,” she said, looking at herself in the mirror.

“You fix your makeup real quick and then come sit in front of me so I can do your hair,” Zane said, motioning toward the bedroom.

“I look like Elsa from Frozen, but with dark hair,” Ruby said, running her hand down the French braid that Zane had managed to do.

It was a bit messy, but Ruby helped him with pulling out strands of hair in random places to make it look purposely messy. She told him messy braids were classy and sophisticated. He didn’t give a shit what they were as long as she liked it. And he thought it turned out pretty dang good, considering it was his first time.

“You look beautiful, Ruby,” Jace said.

Zane nodded and went to the dresser, pulling out a flat box.

“Daddy and I got something for you to go with your dress,” Zane told her.

She eyed the box and then looked up at both of them with new tears filling her eyes.

“Baby, you’ve got to stop crying,” Jace laughed.

“I can’t help it! You guys are so damn sweet!” she replied with a giggle as she brushed the tears away.

Opening the box, he smiled when she gasped. It was just a white gold chain with a single ruby pendant surrounded by small white diamonds. The moment they’d seen it, they knew they wanted her to have it.

“Oh, my gosh, this is beautiful. Oh, it’s the most beautiful necklace I’ve ever seen,” she said.

He smiled down at her and knew she was being genuine. They knew she’d probably seen some of the rarest and most expensive diamonds and gems in the world, but they meant nothing to her because they hadn’t come with love. Ruby didn’t want or need material things. She needed things that came from love.

“Can you put it on me?” she asked, looking up at Zane.

He nodded and pulled the necklace from the box. Once it was secured around her neck, she stood in front of the full-length mirror touching it with a look of wonder.

“I love this so much. It’s the best gift anyone has ever given me,” she said as she turned to both of them.

“And you’re the best gift we’ve ever been given,” Zane answered.