Page 184 of Tied to You
“Jack?”
“Right.” He grins, turning to face me. “Wedding bells, mate.”
My eyes whizz back to him. “Fuck off,” I say in disbelief. “With Red? Bloody hell.” Don’t get me wrong, I’m fucking happy for the guy, butRed? I still can’t believe it.
“She came full circle, mate. Sounds like she makes him happy. They’re living their best life. Bought a van and are exploring the country. Even bought a dog.”
“Fucking Christ. You going to go to the wedding?”
He smiles impishly. “And miss a chance to give him hell about marrying an ex-club whore?”
I laugh, taking a sip of beer.
“Anyway, what about you. Where’s Mollie?”
I’ve been wondering the same thing. “Not sure. She can’t be far.”
“Dadda! Dadda!” Grace comes running over, Mads not too far behind. “Dadda, ig, ig!” She takes his arm, pulling, wanting him to go with her.
“Sorry,” Mads huffs out of breath. “She’s bloody fast.” Her hands rest on her knees. “Grace, don’t wake your broth—”
Too late.
With a poke to his back, courtesy of his big sis, Finlay screams, his little lungs packing a powerful punch for something so small.
We all wince.
“Shitting hell,” Dean says, rocking Fin on his chest but not managing to calm the little man.
“Dadda!” Grace screams giving Fin another poke.
“Grace!” Mads and Dean yell simultaneously, forcing her to cry.
Oh, Jesus. It went from chilled to fucking wild in a heartbeat. My eyesare frantically jumping between the four of them. “Here, let me take him,” I offer over the screams, holding out my hands.
Mads and Dean look at me confused.
I look at my hand holding my beer and place it down, my hand immediately going back out. Neither of them move. “What?” I ask, my own confusion making my eyes scrunch.
“It’s okay,” Dean says, another raucous scream leaving Finlay.
“Honestly, anything to stop the noise,” I say over a fake, loving smile. “Come on, hand him over. You go see the pigs.”
He looks at me a little weirdly. Okay, so I’ve never actually offered to hold Finlay. It took me until Grace was one before I felt comfortable enough. She still felt small, but I didn’t feel like I was going to break her.
I don’t miss the look they exchange before Dean sits up, passing me the bundle of joy currently resembling a foghorn.
Mads calms Grace down, lifting her into her arms, dipping up and down with her legs, bouncing her in her arms.
I stand, my arms braced, watching what she’s doing and copying the motion.
Dean fusses with a clean muslin cloth, smothering it by Finlay’s face as I continue moving. “This will help settle him.”
“You can’t put itonhis face,” I scold, instantly removing it. “Poor thing won’t be able to breathe.” I’ve never done this, but even I know that’s a stupid fucking idea. Putting a cloth on a baby’s face. Is he mad?
He smiles, the look on his face, irritating. “Okay,” he sings. “I’ll leave you to it.”
“Yeah,” I look down at Finlay who’s still giving it some welly. “I’ve got this.”
