Page 30 of A Royal Arrangement
Colin couldn’t stop fidgeting during dinner. His fork clattered against his plate. Water sloshed over the side of his glass as he set it back on the table.
He simply couldn’t get over the fact that he had a weekly standing date with a woman. Yes, that woman was his wife. And yes, it was only a game of chess. But when it came down to it, he had plans to see her at the same time on the same day every week, and it left him feeling all sorts of confused.
When he finally finished his plate of roasted chicken, asparagus, and rice, Colin gave a lame excuse and rushed from the room. He alternated between working and pacing the floor in his study for two hours, trying to rid his body of the anxious energy it held.
A quick glance at his watch reminded him it was Addie’s bedtime. Colin made an effort to tuck her in every night, since he was the only parent she had left. He wanted to be present in her life and remind her how loved and precious she was.
He took in a steadying breath and left the safety of his study to walk to Addie’s room. His knuckles lightly knocked on the door, but there wasn’t a response.
That’s weird. Luna should still be with Addie.
Through the door, he heard yelling and loud sounds that sent his heart racing. He rushed into the room, worried that something happened to Addie, but the sight before him was a far cry from what he expected.
Addie was standing on top of her mattress, jumping up and down, screaming the lyrics to a song from a Disney movie. Rosalie stood on the floor beside his daughter, holding one of her hands while the other was held to her mouth in a makeshift microphone, singing right along with Addie.
Out of nowhere, Addie jumped off her bed into Rosalie’s arms. Rosalie held her up in the air like she was baby Simba as they continued to sing. Then Addie was on the groundbeside Rosalie, and they were doing a choreographed dance, clapping and shaking their hips to the beat of the song. They ended with one of their hands in the air and the other on their hips, back-to-back.
Despite his best efforts, a smile graced Colin’s lips. A real, genuine smile. He loved seeing Addie like this—joyful and carefree.
He attempted to slip out through the open door before they noticed him, but he was too slow.
“Colin.” Rosalie was slightly out of breath, and her hair was mussed as she walked over to him. She stopped a few feet away, a wry grin on her face as she beckoned him over with her pointer finger.
“I’m good over here. I just came to say goodnight to Addie.”
“Oh, come on, Daddy. Dance wif us.” Addie gave him puppy-dog eyes and a pouty lip.
How was he supposed to say no to that face?
“Fine.”
Rosalie grabbed his forearm and pulled him back over to Addie’s bed. Grabbing her phone, she put on a song from a young boy band that both she and Addie appeared to know the words to. Colin bit back a grimace. Pop tunes were not his thing, but he would do just about anything for Addie.
He stood completely still as the girls lifted their hands in the air and spun around.
“It’s okay to shake what your mama gave ya.” Rosalie shimmied up next to him while making goofy faces that sent Addie into a fit of giggles.
Colin let out a laugh, which he covered by clearing his throat behind his hand.
She gave him a look that said,I know I just made you laugh.
He shot her back one that said,I had a tickle in my throat.
She rolled her eyes.You keep telling yourself that.
Colin didn’t know when they’d started having conversations without words, but he didn’t like it. He needed to go dig up some dirt or spar with a punching bag. Something—anything—to get over this funk he was in and rid his mind of thoughts of Rosalie.
Chapter Ten
Rosalie
Rosalie woke up with a smile on her face. Even the fact that she was currently 0-2 in the chess competition with Colin couldn’t dull the delight she felt this morning.
Today was Addie’s fifth birthday, and Rosalie had gone all out with her plans to celebrate the girl who was quickly capturing her heart. She had secretly been working with Luna, Wes, and Hector to arrange a surprise birthday party for her stepdaughter.
Her heart rate picked up at the thought that Colin might be frustrated he hadn’t been included in the planning process, but she wanted to surprise him too.
Actually, that was a lie.
