Malum: Part 1 (The Elite King's Club 4)

“I’m sorry,” she repeats, and I hate it. I hate how everyone feels sorry for me because of how Nate is.

I ignore her this time. I will just have to show them how his actions do not affect me. He’s becoming an amazing father, and that is all I care about. “So, um, I think Madison wants us to—”

“—Yes!” Elena claps her hands and shoots up from the sofa.

“Wait, how did you even know what I was going to ask?” She’s adorable.

Elena smiles a full tooth grin at me. One that somewhat resembles her son’s. “I want to babysit every day. Yes. I mean it, Tillie. Live your life, you’re young. You have me and Joseph to support you. Use us.”

I lick my lips, exhaling. “Thank you.”

Then she steps forward. “Want me to feed her?”

“It’s okay.” I smile, needing some Micaela cuddles while silently cursing myself for bitching out on breastfeeding. “I can do it and then I guess you could take her?”

She nods in glee, her lips curled under her teeth to stop a big smile.

Jesus. I’m not sure if it’s normal for grandparents to act this way or not, but Elena is adorably intense with Micaela.

“Oh, Tillie?” She calls just before I enter the kitchen.

I turn back around.

“We will go shopping tomorrow to grab some things for the pool house?”

“Oh, there’s no need. I don’t mind—”

She shakes her head. “—Please.”

Jesus.

“Okay.”

I excuse myself quickly before she asks me anything else and make my way into the kitchen.

“Her bottle is in the warmer. Nate made it up before leaving,” Madison says, taking Micaela off me.

I remove the lid off the warmer and shake it vigorously. “Well. I guess I should be thankful.”

We make our way back to the dining table. The guys have all disappeared, nothing but the faint mist of their cologne hangs in the air. Madison watches me.

“They all left for Brantley’s. We all decided that the party house can no longer be this house because of the princess of the princess,” Madison teases the Princess nickname. “And since you know, Brantley is all alone in that big freaky house…”

I nod, taking Micaela out of Madison’s arms and pushing the teet to her mouth. “Tills. Are you okay with this whole Nate and Tate thing? I’m sorry. Like seriously, they stopped for a while and I don’t know what they were playing at this morning or why they took off together just then, but—” Her words die out. God. I’m sick of it.

I shake my head. “Madison, I really don’t want to talk about those two right now. Tate can do what she wants. If she likes being treated like a piece of ass, then by all means, be his piece of ass.” I ignore the way my stomach sinks at my own words. “I really wish people would stop feeling sorry for me.”

I hate that my options are limited and Nate acts like the puppeteer. I really need a plan. I can stay in the pool house, at least I don’t have to watch all of the girls he brings home, but I do need a long-term plan.

My phone dings. We were supposed to meet up!

“Shit.” I start typing out a reply with one hand.

Madison nudges her head. “Who is it?”

“Ridge,” I murmur, hitting send on my message.

T: So sorry. Life has been crazy.

“Invite him tonight!” Madison’s eyes beam in mischief.

“What?” I snort, ignoring the next text that comes through. “I thought it was a girl’s night?” Micaela finishes up with her bottle and Madison puts her hands out, eager to burp her. I place her in Madison’s arms, sitting back down on my seat.

“Well it is, but he is your friend. He can come here and pre-drink with us in the pool house while we get ready, then he can meet this adorable little soul.” Madison squeezes Micaela’s cheeks.

“True,” I agree. “Hey, I was wondering,” I look around the room, and then my eyes come to hers. “If you would want to be Micaela’s godmother?”

Madison’s eyes glisten a little, and then her face breaks out into the cheesiest smile. “I don’t know what that means but yes!”

“It—well I don’t know what it means, but I’m gathering it means that you will pretty much always look out for her. Like a real-life angel. I was going to ask Ridge to be her godfather, but pretty sure Nate will want to choose that role and pretty sure it will be Bishop.”

Madison chuckles, putting the bottle onto the table and lifting Micaela up to pat her back. “You’re really good at this.” I gesture to Micaela.

Madison laughs, her face falling. “I guess it’s just something that comes naturally.”

Hmmm. We will need to talk about that face drop, but I know Madz. She needs to be drunk before the truth starts spilling out all over the place. I open Ridge’s text.