Page 35 of The Complication
“Fuuuudge…” Byron drawled out as his eyes snapped to Joy and he caught himself. “I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No, thank you. I’m still sorting things out with the insurance company and figuring out the next steps. For now, Declan has commissioned me to paint some murals in his house.”
“You’re an artist?” Byron cringed the second those words were out of his mouth. “Really…I’m sorry.” He opened his eyes, looking so pained. “I’m not normally this awkward. Ever since Rome announced Declan was dating someone, Sebastian has been in a rush to meet you, but he can be…a bit much. Particularly with Declan. I volunteered to come check you out, because Iusuallyhave the ability to be more subtle. Unfortunately, I’ve convinced you that I’m a moron.”
Joy shouted and made some fussy noises. It was likely she was bored with sitting in her chair. I leaned over and pulled her out of her chair, flying her through the air above my head. Her grumpy noises turned into happy raspberries and giggles.
“I think Joy could use a snack. Want to join us for a snack?” I offered. While Byron had come to Declan’s for a nosy purpose, he seemed like a nice guy and he was a friend of Declan’s. I could at least be polite.
“That sounds great.” We stood, and Byron walked with me as we wandered through the massive house to the kitchen.
“I’ll never get used to a house this size,” Byron murmured as he strolled with me, smiling and waving at the restless baby in my arms. “I moved in with Sebastian last month, and his house is as big as this. Before that, my apartment was smaller than the master bedroom. He makes fun of me for putting sticky notes on some of the doors as reminders of what is or isn’t in a particular room.”
Well, that was interesting. So Byron came from common stock, like me.
“It is definitely bigger than my old apartment,” I agreed.
“Is your…wife…husband adjusting to this big house okay?” Byron asked, a little haltingly. I lifted an eyebrow at him, and he sighed. “Yeah, that sounded as horrible as it did in my head.”
“I’m single,” I said with a smirk. “Don’t worry. I can guess what your marching orders were. Find out who I am, if I’m dating Declan, am I taking advantage of him, and where did the baby come from?”
“Pretty much.”
When we reached the kitchen, Chef Donovan had Joy’sbottle waiting with a wide grin. Donovan was a sweet, somewhat chubby man with round cheeks that begged to be pinched and a deep barrel laugh that sounded like he was trying out to be Santa. I adored him, and not just because he made the best meals. He was relentlessly thoughtful and kind, taking such good care of us, but then so was Franks. If I’d learned anything while living with Declan, it was that his employees spoiled him.
Joy stretched her little hands out to him, seeming ready to jump right out of my arms.
“Baby girl, you’re crushing my ego here,” I complained.
“I’m sure she’ll love you again after her snack,” Byron teased.
“So true.”
“Can I get either of you anything to drink or eat?” Chef Donovan inquired as Joy drank her bottle as though I were starving the poor child.Way to make me look like a bad father, kid!
“Iced water would be great,” Byron said.
I nodded. “Same.”
“If you would like to continue your chat in the lounge, I’ll bring your waters and a light snack,” Donovan volunteered.
“Sir, would you like me to take Miss Joy?” Franks offered. It was like he swept in from some secret hiding place. “I can hold her while she finishes her snack. Afterward, I can change her. That would give you a chance to wash your hands and chat with Mr. Graham.”
I lifted an eyebrow at Franks. He’d never offered to take Joy in the past. “Are you sure? I know for a fact that babysitting is not in your job description.”
“Not part of my job, but it would be my pleasure.” Franks led the way to the lounge, which was a fancy way of describing the large living room with the enormous windows. He scooped up a willing Joy and directed me to the nearest bathroom. He had a point, though, in suggesting the swap.There were so many shades of green on my hands that I looked like I’d jacked off the Jolly Green Giant.
I washed my hands, getting most of the color from my fingers prior to joining Byron in the lounge, where our drinks and a tray of cheese, crackers, fruit, and nuts had been served.
“Does Sebastian have a chef too?” I inquired as I dropped into the black wingback chair while Byron sat on the white sofa.
“He does, and I’ve gained three pounds in the past month. But I can’t say I miss cooking. Carol is so much better at it than me.”
At least I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t say no to delicious food. I grabbed my drink and took a long, deep swallow. Leaning forward, I set my glass on the table again and remained with my elbows on my knees. Might as well jump right in with the cold, hard facts.
The entire time I’d been washing my hands, all I could think was that I couldn’t keep up the pretense that Declan and I were platonic friends, and he was just helping an old buddy. Besides, I knew Byron’s secrets because he’d had the bad luck of having them blasted across social media. It wasn’t fair that he didn’t know the truth about me.
“I think it would be best if we laid all our cards on the table; I knew who you were before you came in.”
