One that was just getting started as the ship sailed into the horizon...
FOR THE NEXT TWENTY minutes or so, Nick and I were continually assaulted by every single person who had managed to snag that exclusive ticket onto the ship. The compliments and congratulations were endless, but at the same time—they couldn’t hide their shock.
I couldn’t tell you how many times a glittering, high profile couple would glance discreetly down at my stomach—convinced that I had to be carrying his child. To counter that suspicion (and to settle my crippling nerves) I downed glass after glass of champagne. Keeping up with even Nick, who eventually regarded my efforts with a twinkling smile.
“Self-medicating, are we?”
I set down my empty flute on a passing tray, and picked up another. “Does everyone on the ship think that you’re pregnant?”
“...probably not.”
“That’s what I thought.” I tossed back my hair with a little grin, automatically tilting my head toward him as another flashbulb lit up the sky. “Think of it as a personal compliment.”
“A compliment?” He chuckled, and leaned instinctively down to twice kiss the cheeks of an elderly German ambassador. “And how is that, exactly?”
I did the same with the German ambassador’s husband.
“With every glass of champagne I drink, the world knows that I’m not just marrying you because you happened to get me pregnant,” I said practically. “Now they think I’m just marrying you for your money, your looks, and your international celebrity. Problem solved.”
He bit his lip to keep from laughing. A task that was made much easier, when a portly man came barreling out of nowhere and practically lifted him off his feet.
“Nicholas, my boy!”
Nick took a second to find his breath and his balance, before gazing down in shock.
“Headmaster Paxton?”
The man was as tall as he was round, and when he gave Nick an extra-exuberant embrace, I saw the latter bite back a grimace.
“In the flesh!” He pulled back with a jovial laugh, showering the two of us in a spray of spit. “You didn’t think I’d miss an opportunity like this, did you?”
Nick laughed rather nervously, wiped his face, and pulled me closer.
“Abby, allow me to introduce Bryce Paxton—he was my headmaster back at Rooks.”
An elite boarding school for only the best of the best. One that was just as notorious for its Draconian disciplinary system, as it was for the wild parties the boys threw to rebel.
“So...” I shook his hand with a teasing smile. “You’re the guy who dropped the ball.”
The joke went over a little too well. A second later, Nick and I were forced to wipe our faces yet again. His hand closed around mine, and pulled me clear of the splash zone.
“Yes, I’m afraid I did. Never could get it through that thick head,” he jabbed a stubby finger at Nick’s golden hair, “that rules are meant to be followed. We never had such a charming little trouble-maker at Rooks, and I doubt we will again.”
As Nick blushed apologetically, I nestled my head on his shoulder with a smile.
“Well thank goodness for that. Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t be standing here.”
Nick shot me a grateful smile, while the headmaster erupted again. It was becoming quickly clear that he man had consumed almost as much champagne as I had myself.
“Quite right! Quite right, indeed!” He gave Nick an almost stern look, before gesturing to me. “You’ve found yourself a keeper, son. Don’t do anything to spoil it.”
With just a touch of anxiety, Nick laughed lightly and lifted my hand to his lips for a fleeting kiss. “Trying to seal the deal right now, sir.”
“Atta boy.”
Without another word, the man ambled away through the crowd—oblivious to the hordes of people that only managed to leap out of the way just in time. Nick and I stared after him for a long moment, each lost to our thoughts.
“So...a bit of a handful at school, were you?”