Page 106 of My Five Daddies

“The Wife fucking Consort, eh,” Scotty says, leaning against me. He’s clearlywasted.

“Hi Scotty. Are you losing inKubb?”

“That bastard Andrew can’t toss worth shit,” he says, slurring his words. Scotty is a Scottish man whose parents were royalty a long time ago. They came to Polovia to try and rejoin the royal court, though mostly they’reoutsiders.

“Sorry about him.” A tall, blonde girl comes over and steers Scotty away fromme.

“Jessie?” Iask.

“The one and only,” shesays.

I hug and kiss her cheek. “It’s been ages,” I say, laughing. “This is Hazel, my wife. Hazel, this is Jessie. We grew uptogether.”

“Didn’t think anyone could get this man to settle,” she says to Hazel, hugging and kissing her cheek. “But I can see why he likesyou.”

“Uhm, thank you,” Hazel says,laughing.

“Come on, let’s get a drink,” I say to Hazel. We walk over to one of the tables and I pour both of us a beer. She sips hers andsmiles.

“I love this stuff,” shesays.

“You’re a beerdrinker?”

“Of course. Hard not to behere.”

I grin at her. “I knew I made a goodchoice.”

She smiles back at me and I steer her back over to the Kubb game. We chat idly with Jessie about her life as the guys finish their game. Every time a team misses a toss, they have to sip their drink, and that’s why Scotty and Andrew are plastered. They stink atKubb.

Meanwhile, Jessie talks about getting married and having children. She shows us pictures of her two kids, both of them adorable and blonde, just like their mother. I feel a little strange, hearing about how she has a family. I still feel like we’re just little kids, running around and playing Hide andSeek.

“Scotty has a kid now too, you know,” Jessiesays.

“Really?” I askher.

“Born just a month ago. Cute littlebugger.”

“Boy orgirl?”

“Girl,” she says. “And he’ssmitten.”

“Of course,” I answer. “Scotty is a bigsoftie.”

She laughs and tells me more about the other nobles and their families. As I listen, I realize twothings.

First, I’m so far behind these people. I have no children, no family, no big job. Yes, I’m the prince, but I may not even get the crown. I realize that Hazel is the first good decision I’ve evermade.

Second, and probably more importantly, I haven’t kept up with everyone. That’s pretty shitty of me. I’ve been too busy living my own life outside of the court that I forgot how many people I really like are still back here in the castle, living the lives ofnobles.

Eventually the Kubb game ends, and Andrew and Scotty are the losers. Hazel and I step up to play next, and while it’s really fun, I feel like I’m not entirely into it. Jessie stays nearby, telling Hazel stories from when we were kids, and although I should be embarrassed, I don’t mind. I want Hazel to learn about me. I want her to know everything there is to know, which isn’t something I’ve ever feltbefore.

“Let me steal this girl away for a second,” Jessie says suddenly, handing me the Kubb sticks. “I think you can handleyourself.”

I glance at Hazel and she just shrugs. “Be nice to her,” Isay.

“Always am.” Jessie winks and steers Hazel over toward the drinkstable.

I sigh and turn back toward the game, although I keep an eye on Jessie and Hazel. I don’t know what Jessie is telling her, and honestly I’m a little worried. Jessie knows some stories about me from when I was younger, stories I don’t necessarily want to relive. I’m not exactly ashamed of anything, but it’s typical teenager shit. Believe it or not, I wasn’t always the sophisticated prince that I amtoday.

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