“She awake?” Nate asks, walking through the door, with yup, his shirt tucked into the back of his gym shorts. Sweat pelts off his chest as he tosses his water bottle across the room, onto the small two-seat sofa that’s in the corner.
I clear my throat. “Yeah.”
He ignores me, going straight for her. I have to fight myself not to snap at him and tell him to fuck off because I still want cuddles with her, but he nudges his head toward the door. “Mom made breakfast. Kings are here.”
I don’t move, mainly because I don’t know what to do. What does he--
“Tillie, that means go downstairs and I’ll be right behind you with her.”
“Oh,” I whisper, running my fingers through my hair and tying it into a ponytail on the top of my head. With another rubber band, I tie a knot in the front of Nate’s shirt that I’m wearing so it doesn’t look all that ridiculous. This makes it ride above my belly button now, his boxer briefs remain rolled up to sit below my hips. I wait for him near the door while he changes Micaela’s diaper. Yes. Nate Riverside-Malum is changing his daughter’s diaper. Again, I have to keep my swoon in check. This man hates—no, despises me. I cannot and will not swoon over that. Why should a woman swoon over a man doing his fatherly duty anyway?
When he finally turns, dirty diaper crumpled in his hand and ready to take downstairs, the smile he was giving Micaela falls.
“What!” I snap, my hands on my hips.
His eyes rake over my body. “When the fuck did that just happen?”
“What?” I repeat because I’m flat out confused.
“Never mind,” he grumbles, walking straight past me and heading down the hallway.
I’m behind him taking the stairs, confused again when Elena greets us from the bottom. Her face lights up in glee when she sees Micaela.
“Nate, give me her.”
“No,” he says, hugging her away from his overbearing mother.
Elena huffs. “Nate, now. Please. Oh my gosh, I never thought I could love someone more than I do you, Nate, but she has changed that…”
I chuckle, pulling my bottom lip into my mouth to hide the smile that wants to take over.
“I ain’t even mad,” Nate grins, finally putting his mother out of her misery and gently handing her Micaela.
Elena’s eyes light up and then she looks to me, sharing that same smile. “Morning, Tillie. I made pancakes and waffles. You might want to dig in before the army of hungry wolves scarf it all down.”
I flash her a small smile. “Thank you. You really didn’t have to do that.” My stomach grumbles, as if to say yeah, yeah she really did, bitch now go eat. I can’t remember when the last time I ate was, so I slowly make my way into the kitchen as Elena takes Micaela into the sitting room to cuddle with Joseph. I’m still watching them when I enter the kitchen, ignoring the very crowded dining table on the right side of me.
Joseph grins down at Micaela, and I’m almost certain she just smiled back. My heart sinks. Seeing the three of them together hurts me and I can’t fathom why.
“Tillie,” Nate bites, and I finally turn to face him, but freeze when I take in all the bodies. Yes. They’re all here. Not only The Kings, but Madison too (of course), and…Tate.
“What?” I act as if it’s no big deal, but it is a lot to take in. Just one of them exudes enough power to make a girl uncomfortable. Imagine having all ten of them plus a girl who is, generally speaking, one of my best friends who just so happens to be in love with my ex—whatever he is-slash-baby-daddy.
I really hate drama. Did I mention that? Yet, this world is like a soap opera gone wrong, you know, if Quentin Tarantino directed said soap opera.
“Eat,” Nate orders, gesturing down to the table. The size of the dining table is obviously fit to cater around thirty people because there are still a few empty seats scattered around, yet, Nate yanks out the one directly beside him, his eyes pointedly staring at me.
Everyone is silent.
I clench my jaw, keeping eye contact with him while thinking whether or not I should purposely sit somewhere else. Maybe beside Brantley.
I decide I can’t be bothered fighting this early in the morning and take the seat beside him. I swear I hear a few exhales of breath as I do so.
I start piling waffles onto my plate and then spoon fresh fruit on top.
“So!” Cash interrupts, clapping his hands together hard enough for the heavy Rolex to hit the Cuban gold chain around his wrist. It’s not as thick as the one Nate wears around his neck, but I’m almost certain it has diamonds encrusted into the design.
I take a big bite out of my waffle, yanking it between my teeth. These people have too much money.
“What are we doing today? I need to get laid, it’s been a while, so I was thinking we could go out tonight.”
“Yeah,” Brantley says, and my eyes go to him. Surprise shoots through me briefly when I find him already watching me. “Ditto. You know how murder makes me horny.” He says all of that while not moving his eyes from mine. I cough, choking on my waffle.
“You okay, babe?” Madison coos, rubbing my back.
I look up at her as I take a sip of Nate’s juice. Her eyes twinkle with knowledge. I should have known she would catch the little moment between Brantley and I. Nothing gets past her. Unless you’re Bishop. Oh no. I know that look.
