Page 36 of Forever King

13

Marius

With Lily in tow,I walk into my brother’s house to find him sitting with his daughter Elizabeth in his arms. He smiles at me and tilts his head to silently offer me a seat.

“What’s going on here?” I ask as I sit down and set Lily in her baby carrier on the floor next to me.

“Nothing. We’re just hanging out having some daddy-daughter time. Same as you, I see.”

I try to smile, but it’s no use. I haven’t been able to actually muster enough happiness to achieve one since Duck walked out of the house last night.

“You okay? Let me tell you, little brother, if you can’t handle one tiny baby, you’re bush league.”

Sighing, I say, “I think I’m worse than that.”

Matthias cranes his neck to look down at Lily now asleep in her carrier. He studies her for a few seconds and then looks at me. “She looks fine. What could be the problem?”

Surprised he hasn’t heard anything from Ava, I ask, “Your wife hasn’t told you?”

I know Eden talked to Ava last night. They’re best friends. Of course, Ava knows all about what’s been going on between us.

My brother shakes his head. “No. What’s to tell? Does this have to do with why she needed to go out last night with ice cream and poundcake?”

A laugh escapes from my throat. “Sounds like Ava. Probably a care package for my wife since she left me last night.”

I know the effect of my words immediately when Matthias raises his eyebrows way up into his forehead. “What’s that? Left you? Like left you, left you?”

The more he says those words, the worse they sound. I hated them coming out of my mouth. Coming out of his is infinitely worse and so damn shameful.

“Technically. She said she needed time to think. We had a fight about the wedding plans because of her mother, which is nothing new, but last night, she packed a bag and walked out. Since then, Lily and I have been hanging out alone. She may not know what’s going on, but I do.”

I stop for a moment and correct myself. “Actually, I don’t know what the hell is going on. What seemed like a normal fight about the guest list blew up into her packing a suitcase with enough clothes to go on vacation and her leaving.”

Matthias doesn’t seem to know what to say. “Damn, Marius. I’m sorry. I’m sure you two will get things patched up, though. You guys are crazy about each other.”

“Before she got pregnant, I would have said that, but things have been rough for a while. Lily gave her a run for her money for nine months, and since she had her, she’s been different. I can’t explain it.”

“Different how?”

I glare at him and shake my head. “What about I can’t explain it is confusing to you?”

He gives me a tepid smile, nodding at my clapback’s accuracy. “Sorry. I meant different how as in has she been sick?”

“Not that I know of. Hey, do you have any coffee made? I’ve been up all night. I’m exhausted.”

Tilting his head toward the counter, he answers, “Help yourself. I’d get you some, but Elizabeth is asleep, and I don’t want to wake her up.”

“You want any?” I ask as I make my way across the kitchen to pour myself a much-needed cup of coffee.

“Nah, but thanks. So Lily still isn’t sleeping through the night? That’s tough. I can’t remember if it was Theo or Matty, but one of them kept us up night after night for ages.”

I take my first sip of coffee and feel better instantly. “Actually, she slept through the night for the first time last night. I’m not sure why. I was up the whole time, and to be honest, it was the only night since she was born that I would have liked her to be awake so I had some company.”

As I sit down at the table again, he chuckles. “Kids never do things on the schedule we’d like them to have. I had to accept that a long time ago. You’ll get used to it.”

“Listen to you. You’re a seasoned veteran at this fatherhood thing.”

That makes Matthias smile. “Well, thank you. I think if you want a veteran, you’d be better off having talked to Dad back in the day. I only have three.”