Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 113332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Beast sighed. “Might be. He did say something’s coming our way.”
The silence that continued until they drove up to the huge truck was heavy on Laurent’s shoulders, but the crowd standing by the open back of the vehicle quickly consumed all of his attention. Knight and Joker were laughing so hard the latter stumbled to the asphalt after pointing Laurent’s way.
Beast left the car first and headed straight toward them. “What’s going on?”
Laurent was right behind him, desperate not to be left out.
Knight wiped a tear out of his eye but still bent in half as his body released another bout of laughter. “The prince’s carriage has arrived.”
Laurent sped up to see what was inside, but the moment he looked into the truck, he just cocked his head, unable to understand what he was seeing. Furniture smothered in golden paint was carefully covered in bubble wrap, endless boxes monogrammed with MM filled every gap, and the confused drivers were in the process of unloading a crib that imitated a tiny carriage, all gold, pearl and intricate carvings worthy of a prince.
And to add a droplet of even more absurdity, Shadow emerged from the back of the truck hugging a massive, human-sized teddy bear and called out to Gray, who watched it all with a smirk. “Look, it’s taller than you! Isn’t that amazing? What a lucky baby. We should get a decorated bed like that for our room. But bigger, so we can have sex in it!”
Joker dragged his hands down his tear-stained cheeks. “Beast, you might have to give up your living room and bedroom to the kid if you want to fit it all in.”
Beast watched in silence, but the twitch in his eyelid told Laurent exactly what he thought. This wasn’t good at all. Laurent hated seeing him so tired or crushed by the magnitude of chores he needed to attend to. He’d deal with this for him.
Laurent was careful when choosing Magpie’s number on his new phone. He’d once accidentally called their favorite Chinese restaurant, and he had to order something out of embarrassment. He wasn’t in the mood for General Tso’s chicken right now.
“Good afternoon, Jasper,” Laurent said once Magpie picked up the call, since Beast had told him Magpie wanted to be on a first name basis with them. “I think there’s some kind of misunderstanding.”
Magpie laughed in apparent delight. “Oh, Laurent? You two couldn’t decide on the interior colors, so I assumed, white, gray, and gold would be the perfect neutrals for Marcel’s chamber. You don’t need to thank me, I thoroughly enjoyed the shopping.”
Beast looked back at Laurent, and the moment he spotted the phone at his ear, he approached, ignoring the other guys, who kept mocking them without mercy. In fact, more people were on their way, as if whoever arrived here first had alerted the whole clubhouse.
“Is that him? Put it on speakerphone,” he said, and when he realized Laurent had no idea what he was asking for, he took the smartphone and tapped it. “What were you thinking? Our kid’s room isn’t big enough for all that stuff!”
Magpie gave a deep sigh. “Then you have clearly not planned things well. Do I have to think about everything? I hope there is still time. I will send a crew of builders to expand your lodgings. Marcel will need the space to play freely.”
“I don’t think it necessary right now,” Laurent said, but he didn’t want to offend a man of such means. To be fair, he did appreciate the gold coating on the crib and the intricate woodwork of the canopy.
Beast didn’t censor himself, though. “No. This is our child. Mine and Laurent’s. And we will decide how to decorate his room and what toys to buy him. I thought I made myself clear enough last time.”
Magpie was silent for a moment, and when he spoke, his tone was a tad higher than usual. “I see.”
Laurent wished to put out the fire of Beast’s words quickly. The last thing they needed now was to antagonize their benefactor and partner. “But we greatly appreciate all the thought put into the gifts. It’s just that it would be better if you consulted them with us next time.”
Magpie hung up.
Laurent ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “Beast. A tad more diplomacy wouldn’t hurt. I too think this is excessive, but there is no need to quarrel with him over such matters when Magpie would make such a good godfather for Marcel.”
Beast frowned. “Since when are you religious?”
“Excuse me? I might not be the most pious of men, but the demons we are dealing with should only be more reason to remember God’s existence.”
“Don’t you think you should have talked to me about this? And if Marcel absolutely needs to be christened, wouldn’t it make more sense to ask one of our actual friends?” Beast asked, pointing toward the group of bikers in time to see Knight throw a barely-clothed Nao over his shoulder and run off for a reason Laurent had missed.