He shakes his head with a gruff laugh. “No…not really. I asked Penny to get you some bits and some baby essentials we don’t have. Like nappies and all that stuff, and Arabella got involved.” He says her name loudly. “So obviously it’s all been blown out of proportion. You can tell them to get out and leave you alone.”
“D
on’t you have somewhere to be with all the other twats?” Georgina calls at him.
“How desperate are you to have your fuck buddy’s face pummelled?” he retorts at Georgina, leaning closer to me. “Fucking Freddie thinks he’s off the hook…”
Casper kisses me unabashedly, something we’ve never done in front of anyone, and then he trails his lips to my ear, whispering, “My trouble.”
“You know that the room still smells of…us, right?”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“Yeah, good. It’s a pity that not all the other dickheads are here.”
“You’re fucking insane.”
“Don’t forget it,” he chuckles, kissing my cheek quickly before he straightens and heads for the stairs where Francis is waiting for him.
Once they’re out of sight and my heart is racing in my chest, missing Casper already and apprehensive of what is going to happen, I turn back into the room. Four sets of wide eyes are on me.
“What?” I ask, standing in front of them trying to push the odd feeling that’s creeping inside me.
“He’s got it so fucking bad,” Georgina laughs, throwing herself back on the bed.
“About time,” Arabella adds with a shrug.
“So now that they’re gone”—Cassie stands—“we can spoil you and that baby rotten. I’m so excited!”
“When are the strippers getting here? I love a…ummm…male dancer.”
“Seriously, George? You expected strippers at a baby shower?” Arabella rolls her eyes, and standing beside me, she wraps her arm around me.
“Isn’t that what happens at these things?”
“No.” Penny shakes her head, admonishing her. “That’s not how these things go.”
Beatriz and Mercia walk in with a few more bags and a silver ice bucket in hand. The maid that took my things follows behind them with a tray of snacks, and another brings a tray of glasses.
“I’m sorry,” Arabella murmurs. “I asked my grandmother for something, and she organised this when she realised you hadn’t had a shower. It’s kind of a thing in our family. At least you don’t have the whole family tree showing up.”
“Imagine that.”
“You don’t want to.” Arabella takes my hand, threading her fingers with mine. “About earlier…”
“I meant it.”
“I know.”
“Good.”
“You’re starting to sound like my brother, you know that?”
I smile at that. Liking it more than I think I should.
Chapter 30