Page 28 of Stick to the Deal (Friendship Springs Romance #3)

Impromptu Boys' Night

T he door closes behind Nic and I’m dropped into silence. Not exactly how I saw the evening going in my head. I wouldn’t say I was expecting her to jump into my arms when I showed up at her door, but her slack-jawed expression was like a punch to the gut.

I don’t know what I was thinking when I booked that ticket to Florida instead of New York. It just felt like the right thing to do. Of course, she had plans already.

At least it’s not a date. That’s what I first assumed when I saw her with a packed bag by the door. Jealousy had flared, hot and violent. A new feeling, but one I’m experiencing more often in my marriage. Why did I agree to that stupid open relationship clause?

Because, for once in my life, I was totally sure about what I wanted in life. I grabbed it with both hands and I’d be damned if I’d let it go.

With a sigh, I set about canceling the dinner reservations I’d made earlier that day. Then unpack my meager belongings into the spaces she’d indicated. With nothing better to do, I try out her luxury shower, claiming part of the shelf for myself.

Clean and with no other distractions, I face the silent apartment.

What time will she be back? My stomach growls, reminding me it’s been hours since I last ate.

The fridge is bare, and the pantry shows an array of microwave ready soups and pastas.

As I’m debating between white cheddar mac and cheese and chicken noodle soup, a knock at the door draws my attention.

Did Nic take pity on me and send food?

Instead of a delivery man, the door reveals a man with a giant bag and—is that a baby strapped to his chest? He grins at me, revealing a long dimple. “Ah, so you would be the husband?”

I try to conceal my surprise at the blunt non-greeting. Who the bloody hell is this? The jealousy and doubt from earlier comes rushing back. Maybe she does have a local boyfriend after all.

But who brings his baby on dates?

“Colin, can you wait to interrogate the guy until we get inside? This shit is hot.” A taller man steps closer, heavily muscled arms bulging as he holds two aluminum trays.

“After all the shite Nic gave me when I first came to town? Don’t I deserve to enjoy this a bit more?” With a dramatic sigh, he turns back to me. “Right. Well, are you going to let us in? We brought food, and knowing Nic, the pantry is empty.”

Numbly, I step back, and follow them to the kitchen.

Silently, they work in tandem, obviously familiar with the apartment.

Dimples puts a case of beer in the fridge.

The big one uncovers trays, revealing tantalizing scents, then grabs three plates from the cabinet.

I still have no idea who the fuck they are.

Undeterred, the big one loads a plate up with wings, sliders, onion rings, and something that looks like an egg roll. He holds the plate out to me, then builds a second for himself.

I take a tentative bite of the egg roll, finding it filled with spicy chicken, tangy ranch, and crisp, shredded carrots. The wings are in various flavors: garlic Parmesan, Korean BBQ, and one that’s both sweet and tangy. I groan slightly with each new flavor. “This is delicious.”

The giant smiles proudly. “My Bella’s a hell of a cook. We stopped by the restaurant on the way here.”

My eyes dart to the paper takeout bag next to the trays of food. Pop. The restaurant Nic owns with her friends. Suddenly it clicks. “You must be David then. Which would make you Bree’s husband?”

“The baby didn’t give it away?” He sways to the side, and I catch a glimpse of copper curls and rosy cheeks. “Figured we could have a little boys’ night to welcome you to the crazy. ”

“Not that the girls know we’re here,” David adds. “They think this one is driving around to lull the baby to sleep. Instead, he grabbed me and convinced Asher to pack up food. He would have joined us, but he’s in charge when Annabel isn’t in the kitchen.”

“Hey now, I told my wife I’d see if you wanted to grab some coffee.

Didn’t mention it would be at Nic’s apartment, or that it would include Nic’s secret husband.

” He turns to me and his green eyes sparkle with intelligence and interest. “So, how did you manage to tie down that one?” With practiced motions, he unclips the carrier and starts feeding the baby from a nearby bottle.

“How much do you know?” I’m stalling.

“Not much. Bree made the story sound like something out of a rom-com. The whole situation is so out of character for Nic.”

“How so?” I try for casual but I’m dying of curiosity.

“Nic doesn’t do relationships.” Colin shrugs casually as he continues to feed the baby.

I grit my teeth, “Friend of hers or not, careful how you speak about my wife.”

“Colin, that was a bit harsh,” the big one adds.

“It’s true though. She’s always seemed happiest in a crowded room or completely alone. No boyfriends—serious, casual, or otherwise. So why now? Why you?”

“Is this the part where you threaten me?” I stare him down as I take another bite of the egg roll.

He laughs. “The first time I met Nic, she threatened to bury me where no one would find the body. No, the girl doesn’t need protecting.”

“Maybe you don’t know her as well as you think.

” I’m not sure where the words come from, or why I feel so strongly defensive.

Deep down, I know he’s mistaken. Nic is in need of protection.

The attitude, the clothing, it’s all armor to protect her delicate core.

In her I see another lost soul just as desperate for human connection and as alone in a crowd of people like me.

“If you keep trying to scare him away, Col, I’m going to start thinking you miss having the girls all to yourself.”

“Oh, aye, I miss having Anna’s cooking all to myself.” He shoots a dimpled grin at the taller man, before his thoughtful look returns to me. “I’m an engineer. It’s my nature to take things apart and see how they work. And this relationship is fascinating. ”

“Well, leave the guy alone. I’m looking forward to a third player for cards. Damn tired of Go Fish.”

We sit around the dining room table and David shuffles a deck from his jacket pocket. “So y’all met on a plane? Or through a matchmaker? Damned confusing putting together the info through the girls.”

I open my mouth to respond, but then pause. This is all unfamiliar to me. Besides Daniel, I never had many friends. Definitely no new ones as an adult. They seem nice enough, but anyone can sell you out to the tabloids these days, and that Wendy has been relentless with her obsession with us.

David’s eyes pinch momentarily, then smooth with understanding.

“Sorry, I grew up in a small town, so I’m used to everyone being in each other’s business.

And this one,” he jerks his thumb at Colin who is patting a wide-eyed baby on the back, “he’s practically been one of the girls for two years now and doesn’t remember how overwhelming it can be at first.”

“Appreciate it, mate. So how did you all…” I trail off unsure of the right word.

“Join the circus?” David supplies, drawing chuckles from us. “I grew up with Anna—childhood sweethearts. But I fucked it up and went off to join the Marines before finally getting my head out of my ass earlier this year.”

“How did you manage that?”

Colin snickers. “A lot of begging.” David flicks a card at him. Colin ducks to the side, his hand protectively covering his daughter’s head. “Careful! Precious cargo here.”

“Pretty sure there’s video evidence of your begging,” David dryly adds.

I lift a brow at Colin, waiting for the story. He doesn’t disappoint.

“Bree and I met at work on a project. Things were going well until there was a slight misunderstanding…”

David snorts, interrupting Colin, who glares at him in return. “A naked woman in your hotel room is a misunderstanding?”

“I wasn’t in the room, now was I, eejit? Anyway, then Anna helped me make a grand gesture and win back my girl.”

“He’s skipping the part where he proposed and she said no. The whole thing is up on social media. I’ll send it to you.”

“She said yes eventually,” Colin grumbles.

We play a few hands of poker. It’s not a serious game, repeatedly interrupted by Nora’s cries .

After the tenth time, David scoops the baby out of Colin’s hold. The infant looking incredibly small in his thick arms. “Does she cry like this often?”

Colin runs his hands through his ruddy hair, the slight curls standing up. “All the time lately. Poor thing just screams all night long.”

David lays a burp cloth on the table and then settles the baby on her back. He pumps her little legs and makes silly faces at her.

“Isn’t she a little young for leg day, Dave?” Colin quips.

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 make it look. ”

“You mean Bridgerton is 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 prefer Gilded Age currently. Though nothing compares to Downton 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.