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I had given Mason the day off, sticking Boston with the duty of guarding the door, which he seemed ever vigilantly determined to do. Either he was very concerned about keeping me safe, or he was trying to distance himself from the abundance of bows and ruffles that seemed to explode out of every package. He remained distant and quiet, and I completely understood. Kinda wished we could switch places.
Ollie never left my side, helping me cut the ribbons and speaking when I didn’t have the guts to answer the harder questions. He was the buffer between the Brits and our people, his professional manners reminding our friends to be cool.
When the formalities ended, Ezra introduced himself to each of our friends, letting me answer when Beto asked how we knew him. “Ezra’s my new stepdad. He was Bev’s fiancé. And Mariang’s my new sister.”
That was all it took for Ezra’s grin to brighten his face, close the gap between us and kiss both my cheeks. “I’m honored to be your father.”
Ezra, Danny, Mariang and Lynna said their goodbyes after the ceremony of the baby shower was over, leaving us to our devices. Darius took that as his easy exit, leaving while things were still smooth, and before anyone could get in a jab too glib to be ignored. I hadn’t seen our friends in several months, and when it was just the regular crew sitting around the tables we pushed together, the questions didn’t stop coming.
“Who’s the baby-daddy?” Jordan asked, as usual, unaware of the layers of discomfort laced throughout that question. After the presents were opened and dinner was eaten, the ties came off and the company manners were tossed under the table. Jordan sat back in his chair, sizing me up like I had suddenly grown a dinosaur head. “I mean, the last we saw you, you were normal. Now you’re our little Bait, with child.”
“It’s Von,” Ollie answered when I clammed up. “You met him a couple times. He’s overseas visiting his family before the baby comes. He wishes he could be here, though.” It was a sweet lie, and I knew in that simple explanation that Ollie was hoping for Von to return. It was nice to know that after everything, some part of Ollie existed that was an unjaded romantic.
Katrina’s head snapped in my direction, the queen bee inside of her coming out swinging. “Von? British hottie, leaves before sunrise, got a joke for everything, Von? My Von?”
My elbows rested on the round table we’d pulled chairs around so we could all sit together. I blew my breath out through pursed lips. “Yup. Just like how Jessica’s with my Beto, and none of you said a thing to me while it was going on behind my back. Von and I got together months after you two had your thing.” I cast Beto an apologetic look for throwing him under the bus, but really, he was getting off pretty easy.
Katrina was livid, which wasn’t a good color on her when it was aimed at me. I’d always stayed off her vindictive girl wrath radar because I never drew the eyes of her conquests, but somehow I found myself in the crosshairs now. “You’re seven months pregnant, Bait. Von was in my bed two months ago. Don’t tell me there wasn’t any overlap. I mean, we weren’t exclusive, but still.”
My mouth dropped open, my skin cold and clammy. When I finally spoke, my voice was meek, and barely above a whisper. “You saw Von two months ago? You had sex with Von?”
Jordan, Beto and Nick scooted their chairs back in unison, eyes wide and hands up to make sure everyone knew they were not getting involved in the ensuing catfight.
Katrina nodded, clearly angry. “He was pissy and barely looked at me the whole time. We tried to do our usual thing, but he couldn’t get it up. Then he was gone. I knew something was going on, but I didn’t think a baby was the something.” She touched her forehead. “He seriously got you pregnant?”
I nodded. “It’s complicated. We’re not together. Obviously. I mean, he’s sleeping with other people. It’s fine.”
Ollie draped his arm around the back of my chair and stared Katrina down. “Now that you know, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t sleep with Von anymore. It’s very complicated, and October will never tell you how hard this all is for her. And no offense, but baby trumps your burning loins, so if he comes back for more, send him home to his responsibilities.”
I wasn’t the love of Von’s life. I was Von’s responsibility.
Katrina didn’t start anything, but I could tell she was still miffed at being told point blank to put the lid on her cookie jar. Whatever. “I guess that’s fine. Happy for you, Bait. Wow, though. I didn’t think he was the raise a child type. Didn’t think you were, either.”
“They both are.” Ollie jumped in before I could admit that Von wasn’t the type, and he wouldn’t be raising the girl with me. “Von’s been great with the whole pregnancy.” He held my hand under the table, and I squeezed it, wishing his lies were true.
I could feel Boston’s eyes on me from the doorway across the room. He was starting to pay attention to our conversation, and my notice of him drew a few of my girlfriends’ eyes to where he stood. “Who’s the brooding hottie?” Rachel asked. I could already see a plan for takedown formulating in her mind, raring to get to the fresh meat before Katrina sunk her hooks into the new guy.
“That’s Boston, Von’s brother.”
Rachel put her drink down and winked at us. “Watch and learn, ladies.” She made her way over to him, her hips exaggerating her walk as her smile turned coy. Rachel wasn’t coy, so that look always came out forced on her. She was a tiger, taking what she wanted so Katrina didn’t snatch it away. It didn’t leave a whole lot of room for shyness.
Boston rolled his eyes at me, as if I’d sent her over to annoy him. I shrugged in innocence, watching her touch his arm, laugh at the joke I know he didn’t make and do her best to break him out of his stoic demeanor. I felt bad for her; had this been a few months ago, she wouldn’t have to work so hard, or at all. Boston had been such a perv. Now his spirit was broken. I guess that wasn’t a bad thing in terms of annoying the women of the world, but there was a tragic glass-shattering sadness about seeing a brash eagle’s wings get clipped all the same.
“I’m on duty,” he explained without really explaining. He removed Rachel’s hand from his chest like it was an annoying bug.
Her nose crinkled. “On duty? Do you work for the banquet hall?”
“No, for October. I’m her guard.”
I sank in my chair, knowing there would be less intrigue if he’d called himself a male stripper. All eyes turned to me for confirmation. “Boston, come sit down. Yeah, guys. He’s sort of my guard. Ezra’s the overprotective type. No big deal.”
Katrina balked. “No big deal? You locked down Von, and this handsome hulk of a man is your Kevin Costner bodyguard? Man, Bait. You hit the jackpot.”
Jessica was kind and made the first attempt to draw Boston into the group without hitting on him. “Where are you from?”
“London. I’m Von’s youngest brother.” He settled in beside me, running his hand down my back to give me a good pull, which I’m sure made us look more like a couple than guard and charge. Some things couldn’t be helped, though. “What’d you call October? Bait?”
Jordan laughed, taking a drink from his long-necked beer. “Yeah. Jailbait. She’s been in the group since before she was legal. Ollie warned us all we couldn’t date her until she was eighteen. It was a long couple of years, Bait,” he said, winking at me. “The name only got funnier when she started working at the prison.”
Boston let out a snigger, and though it was at my expense, it was good to see him smile. He leaned back in his chair, signaling to the bartender to get him a beer.
The more the alcohol flowed into Boston, the more his old self he became. He even managed to give Katrina a good leer, which mollified her frustration at being passed over for the asexual kid of the group. It was nice to see him let go a little.
Boston let go a little more, and a little more, until his eyes were red and lidded, his laugh obnoxious, and Boston was stone drunk.