Page 44 of Stick to the Deal
He only rolls his eyes and keeps up the little leg pumps. Suddenly, a deep gurgling noise, like an old-fashioned coffee percolator, vibrates against the table. A series of wet squelches and an unholy odor comes from the tiny baby. All three of us yell and gag.
“There you go, daddy. I think Nora needs a change.”
Nora looks up at the three of us, a tiny dimple on her cheek as she wiggles.
Colin looks down at the now happy baby with wide eyes, his grin absent for the first time. “I hope I brought enough wipes. That sounded like a blowout.” He gets to work pulling out supplies and changing the baby like she’s a ticking bomb. David chats away about gripe water and football holds the whole time. Unsure how I fit in, I search the kitchen for disinfectant for the table. And a candle.
“David, you know what you’re doing. Do you have kids?” I ask as I wipe down the surface.
“No,” he shakes his head, “and not fixing to any time soon. Bella and I spent a lot of time taking care of her little brothers growing up. Kids are great, but we need time just the two of us for once.”
“You planning on getting yourself one of these?” Colin cuddles the now clean, happy, and sleepy baby to his chest. I will admit they make quite the picture.
“Eventually. An earl’s first priority is to secure the family legacy, after all.” The words taste sour.
“That’s right. Do we have to call you ‘my lord’ or some shit? What’s that like?” David leans forward with interest. Colin simply relaxes, grin firmly back in place. It’s always the Americans who are intrigued by the title thing.
“Please don’t. It’s nice escaping all that when I’m in America.” I take a deep breath, considering my next words. “It’s actually a difficult question. Being the heir is all I know. It’d rather be like asking what it’s like to be Southern, or Irish. I have no basis of comparison.” The cold glass of the empty bottle between my hands lulls by the sense of familiarity I go on, “I will say, it’s not as glamorous as the novels and movies makeit look.”
“You meanBridgertonis fake?“ David pushes a fresh beer towards me, and I take it with a grateful nod.
“You do realize that’s set hundreds of years ago, right?” Colin drolls.
“Wait, you watch it too?”
“Um yeah, I preferGilded Agecurrently. Though nothing compares toDownton Abbey.“ We both turn to Colin slack-jawed. “What? TV happens to help keep me awake while I’m rocking a screaming baby all night and I happen to like cuddling with my wife and watching her shows makes her happy.”
I chuckle into the mouth of my beer. These two are obviously close, they banter more like friends of years rather than months. What would it be like to be part of this circle? To have couple friends to see movies or play games with. Little kids running around on holidays. It sounds idyllic, and so different from the life I grew up living.
“Sorry, you were saying, Bancroft? So no fancy schools and parties?”
“Oh, there are tons of fancy schools and parties, but none that a child wants to be at. I learned which of the silver spoons to use at the age of five—by a nanny, of course, because my parents were too busy managing charities and traveling. The parties aren’t for fun. They’re for networking, and showing status, and bolstering your family name through archaic traditions that won’t die out. Believe me, it can be more dystopian than romance novel.”
“Wow, that sucks, man,” David says. They both look grim. “I guess the grass really isn’t greener. We struggled growing up. My mom was always working after my dad left, but she never let that impact my childhood. We had a community full of love and support ready to pitch in. I’m sorry.”
“I probably shouldn’t complain. The perks are nice—usually. I’m not into the social games like my family. Nic helps a lot. She’s much better at the politics and charming a room than me. Still, if I could, I’d leave it all behind for a normal life. Like Nic tried to do.” They both give me quizzical looks as I sip my beer. “She’s from one of the richest families in London. She grew up with all the same glitz and glam I did. You didn’t know?”
“We knew she had a trust fund and family in England, but she’s very tight-lipped about her past.”
Nodding, I grip the cool glass in my hand. “Well, I suspect we both saw something of a kindred spirit in the other. Pressure from family for an acceptable match in a sea of wholly undesirable partners. I jumped at the chance of a spouse as disillusioned with the glitter as I am.”
David clinks his beer to mine, startling me. “Welcome to the family, brother. Here’s to more time here and less at the Ritz.”
“Thank you.” My cheeks ache slightly, and I realize I’m smiling, the feeling completely foreign on my face.
“The girls are crazy, but they’re our crazy.” Colin glances down at the dozing baby. “Speaking of girls, I should take this one home. We’re all meeting up at the restaurant tomorrow to paint. You should join us. Meet some of the other guys.”
“That sounds nice,” I say, and I mean it.
Chapter 23
Down the Rabbit Hole
Iclean up the bottles and take-away containers, mulling over the surprising evening. I like them. To be welcomed so wholly to their group based on Nic’s stamp of approval is amazing.
The door opens with a thud. Nic stands in the entrance, swatting away an amused David who is following closely, hands out as if she’s about to fall.
As she takes two wobbly steps inside, I understand why. “Hands off, soldier boy, I’m perfectly fine.”
