Page 232 of The Grand Duel
I’m learning that Charlie’s friends aren’t just chaotic, they are the chaos. It’s not something I think they are fully aware of because they all seem to exist and thrive within it.
Lowerwick Estate is a beautiful property. Maybe a little bigger than anything I could ever live on and manage, but with Mason and Scarlet sharing the home and the sentimental attachments they have to the house, I can understand why they’d choose to stay here. That and the fact it’s set on one of the most breathtaking landscapes I’ve ever seen.
“Stunning, isn’t it?” Lucy says.
I stand next to her on the beautiful new boat that was delivered over the past weekend, Lucy’s arms bundled up with Ellis as he points across the lake.
“Nanna Frey and Pappa house,” he says, pointing.
“Elliot’s parents,” Lucy explains. “With Mason’s parents not being around to see the children grow up, they sort of took on the role.”
I smile. “It’s so nice that they live so close.” My eyes make out the house set back on the other side of the lake. “This is…incredible, honestly.”
“I remember the first time Mason brought us all out here. Our jaws were on the floor.”
“It’s so peaceful.”
“I think it’s the privacy that makes it so special.”
“I special, Luce?” Ellis asks.
She chuckles. “The most special, Ellis.” She kisses his head. “I actually have something to ask you.”
He stares up at her with his full attention.
“Ell,” she calls, cocking her head for him to come over.
He leaves his conversation with Mason and Nina and walks to where we’re standing, wrapping his arm around his fiancée and Ellis. He catches my eye and gives me a wink. “Yes, princess?”
“I thought you’d like to be the one to ask Ellis…”
“Oh,” he says, easing back playfully as if what he has to say is super important. “Well, Auntie Luce and I were thinking about who we’d have as our ring bearer at the wedding, and after hours and hours and hours of talking, we decided there’s no better man for the job than you.” He smooths the hair back from Ellis’s forehead. “What do you say? Will you be our ring bearer, Ellis?”
Ellis looks towards me, his eyes widening.
I frown despite my smile.
He looks back to Elliot and nods his head, and then wiggles in Lucy’s arms to get free.
We watch as he runs to his dad.
Mason lifts him, listening as Ellis speaks into his ear.
Elliot catches Mason’s eye and holds his hands out.
“He thought you were going to ask him to steer the boat home.” Mason grins. “And he’s scared of bears.”
An arm slips around my middle from behind as laughter leaves me. I place my hand over his, smoothing up his arm.
“He’s three, Montgomery. You need to explain it,” Charlie says, his body warming me. “Break it down like we do with you.”
Elliot’s eyes narrow on the man at my back. “Don’t get all Billy big balls on me now because you went throwing haymakers last night.”
“Ell!” Lucy scolds, thwacking his chest.
“What?” he says. “He asked me if my granny bought me this jumper when he first got here.”
Lucy turns on us. “I bought him that jumper, Charles.”