Page 108 of The First Chord

Conversation had started off okay, chatting about the future and the ideas for the record company, but over the course of the meal it had degenerated to zit popping videos, talking cats, and currently an argument over the names for Ronnie and Amber’s baby.

“I’m not doing it, Ronnie,” Amber protested with a huge sigh, like she’d had this same argument a thousand times before. “I’m not calling my child Hans if it’s a boy.”

“But it’ll be cool,” he protested. “Hans Dwyer.”

“Are you fucking serious?” I asked. “Is he, Amber? Is he being fucking serious?” The guy was an idiot. How the hell could he be allowed to take care of a kid for the next eighteen years? Dick head!

“Yes, he is.” She sighed, wearily. “He wants to name our child after an electrical appliance found in public toilets.”

“It’s got a double meaning,” Ronnie piped up. “Hans Dwyer, which is cool, but also after Hans Solo.”

“Neither is a good enough reason,” Amber replied with an air of finality.

“I daren’t even ask what you want for a girl?” I shook my head as Ronnie threw his hands in the air, like we were the stupid ones.

“Britney, of course.”

“And that’s not happening either.” Amber addressed all of us with a shake of her head. “I don’t know why we’re even having this conversation, Ronnie, I haven’t had my first scan yet.”

Ronnie had told me she’d been worried because it was still early on in her pregnancy, but she already had quite a bump, so I was sure she’d been fine. Not that I was an expert or would ever tell a woman she’d got a big fucking stomach.

“Because we need to be prepared and everything is going to be fine.” He cupped her face lovingly and kissed her forehead. “Besides, they’re really cool names, both of them.”

“Ron, mate,” Beau said, shooting a glance at Ethan who was on the sofa watching a guitar tutorial on an iPad. “They’re not. They’re shit and you’re not using either of them.” He turned away. End of conversation. Just like he always did when he thought he was right—only this time he was. “Ethan,” he called over to his newly adopted son. “Why don’t you show everyone that song you taught yourself.”

“I need my guitar.” Ethan grinned at his dad, already out of his chair.

“Go and get it then.”

“And Ethan,” Simone called, as he started for the stairs, “Clean your teeth while you’re up there. It’s nearly bedtime.” Beau opened his mouth and Simone didn’t even look at him and said, “No, he’s already stayed up an hour later.”

Beau grinned and wrapped an arm around her neck, pulling her to him and smacked a kiss on her face. “You mean little toad.”

“Yes,” she said with a laugh. “I know.”

“What about you, Amber?” Belle asked, rubbing a hand over her huge baby bump. “What names do you like?”

“Well,” she said, giving Ronnie the side eye. “I like more traditional na—”

“Which means boring,” Ron chipped in.

She ignored him. “I like more traditional names, like Luke, Marcus or Daniel for a boy.”

“Shit, not Marcus,” Beau cried. “Sim’s turd of a brother is called Marcus.”

“Beau!” Belle admonished.

“No, he’s right,” Simone said. “He is a turd.” She looked Amber right in the eye. “Please don’t call one of them Marcus, or Daniel. Ethan goes to school with a boy called Daniel and he puts his fingers up his bum and then smells them.”

“Fucking hell,” I groaned. “And I thought having kids was a nice thing to do.”

Amber rubbed her bump and gazed lovingly at Ronnie. They were so in love it was puke inducing. “It is when it’s with the right person.”

“Thank god we agreed easily,” Elliot said, running a hand over Belle’s head. “Lily was both our first choice for a girl.”

Belle was due to give birth to their baby girl in a few weeks and I knew Elliot would be the total opposite type of parent to Ronnie. He’d be loving and fun, no doubt about it, but that baby would be handled with military precision, seeing as he’d read every book ever printed. Ronnie’s approach to fatherhood was and would be far more haphazard. Plus, fucking Lego and Star Wars were bound to be heavily involved.

“I’ve always liked Kylie as well,” Ronnie mused.

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