We asked Rebel to be his Godmother not long after he was born. He doesn’t have a Godfather, instead the poor kid has another two Godmothers. None of us are even religious, but I was told it was a ‘thing’ by the woman I plan to spend the rest of my life with, and quite frankly, after watching what Darcy went through to give birth to our son, I’d have agreed to pretty much anything she wanted – three Godmothers included.
“How about you come back and have a turn at about three in the morning when he’s screaming his head off,” I offer.
“Firm no,” she retorts with a glare. “Now hand him over.”
“I’d give him up, biker boy, she’ll scratch your eyes out,” Darcy says with a giggle.
Rebel and Darcy meet eyes and exchange a look that is full of knowing, understanding and amusement.
I never thought I’d see the day, but it’s here – they’re friends – really friends. I don’t know what went on between the two of them when Rebel visited us in the hospital nearly a week ago, but when I left them alone, things were tense and awkward, and by the time I returned, they were laughing like old friends.
Whatever was said between the two of them, I’m grateful for it. Nothing makes me happier than seeing all the people I love and care about most, all under one roof.
I walk towards Rebel and carefully, if not a little awkwardly, hand Carter over. I’ve had sweet fuck all experience with babies, so this has been a massive learning curve for me. Not Darcy though, she’s an absolute natural.
I don’t know how she does it, but she’s totally in tune with him and his needs. I could change his nappy, feed him, and hug him to try and settle him, but she’ll be the one who knows instantly that he’s crying because he has wind.
She amazes me more and more with every passing hour of our new lives.
“You take him in there for a bit, I want to show Darcy something,” I tell Rebel as I grab Darcy’s hand.
“Where are we going?” she quizzes me as I lead her down the hallway towards our bedroom.
“I didn’t have time to get you a real push present… especially after the car situation,” I admit sheepishly, “but I did get you this.”
Darcy nearly killed me when she found out I’d bought her a brand-new car. She loves it, but she was adamant it was far too much. Silly woman still doesn’t realise that nothing is ever too much when it comes to her.
I turn her by the shoulders and point at the framed picture on the wall of our bedroom.
“Oh my god, it’s not.” She laughs.
I chuckle. “Sure is, princess, our one-way ticket to hell, right here in the flesh.”
She crosses the space and runs a finger over the glass housing our signed agreement, on the ripped-out page of the bible.
“I can’t believe you kept that.”
“I can’t believe you said we were going to hell,” I tease.
“I can’t believe we broke every one of those rules.”
I turn her to face me and wrap her up in my arms. “I had my fingers crossed the entire time.”
“Dirty rotten cheat.” She giggles.
“I would do anything if it meant keeping you, Darcy Shearer.”
“You’re lucky I already agreed to forever then, right?” she says, my ring glistening on her finger.
Lucky doesn’t even cover it.
There aren’t words. I could arrange every letter of the alphabet into every possible combination of words and phrases, and I still would find the right words, but I’ll settle for being called lucky.
The luckiest man in the world.
Thank You!
Thank you for reading The First Rule, I hope you enjoyed it.
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Please remember:
This book has been written using UK English and may contain euphemisms and slang words that form part of the New Zealand spoken word.
Please remember that the words are not misspelled. They are slang terms and form part of everyday, New Zealand vernacular.
I.e: I’m from New Zealand and sometimes we say weird things down here… please try and be cool about it.
Thanks again!
Also by Nicole S. Goodin
Love Like Yours Series
Rushed – Book 1
Pierced – Book 2
Hunted – Book 3
Chased – Book 4
Love like Yours Box Set – Books 1-4
Rock Games Novels
Paper, Scissors, Rock: Vol. 1
Hide and Seek: Vol. 2
My Heart Duet
My Heart Needs
My Heart Wants
Every Last Beat – The Heart Duet Box Set – Books 1 & 2
Calendar Boys
Mr. January
Mr. February
Mr. March
Mr. April
Mr. May
Mr. June
Mr. July
Mr. August
Mr. September
Mr. October
Mr. November
Mr. December
Calendar Boys Box Set – Books 1-4
Calendar Boys Box Set – Books 5-8
Calendar Boys Box Set – Books 9-12
Acknowledgments
Playlist
Fix a Heart – Demi Lovato
Sunday Morning – Mitch James
Chose You – Stan Walker
You should be sad – Halsey
I Found You – Andy Grammer
The Good Ones – Gabby Barrett
I Am Yours – Andy Grammer
July – Noah Cyrus
Favorite Part Of Me – Astrid S
You & Me – James TW
Rise Up – Andra Day
Fast Car – Taio Cruz
Still Falling For You – Ellie Goulding
The Bones – Maren Morris & Hozier
Like This – Jake Scott
Keep Holding On – Avril Lavigne
I Choose You – Ryann Darling
Never Seen Anything “Quite Like You” – The Script
I Could Get Used To This – Becky Hill & WEISS
I’m Ready – Sam Smith & Demi Lovato
Times Like These – Live Lounge Allstars
Passport Home – JP Cooper
Feel Good – Gryffin, ILLENIUM & Daya
Back To You – Selena Gomez
Should’ve Been Me – Naughty Boy, Kyla & Popcaan
False Alarm – Matoma & Becky Hill
I Can’t Make You Love Me – Teddy Swims
Selfish – Future & Rihanna
No One Compares To You – Jack & Jack
World of Our Own – Westlife
Run to You – Lea Michelle
No Judgement – Niall Horan
Wonder – Shawn Mendes
Falling Like The Stars – James Arthur
All I Want – Kodaline
Wherever You Are – Kodaline
Dancing On My Own – Calum Scott
Next To You – Chris Brown & Justin Bieber
Next To Me – Imagine Dragons
Marry Me – Jason Derulo
Holding You – Ginny Blackmore & Stan Walker
Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur
Unwritten – Natasha Beddingfield
Meant to Be – Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
Fallin’ – Jassica Mauboy
Who Knew – P!nk
Don’t Hold Your Breath – Nicole Scherzinger
Come See About Me – Nicki Minaj
WITHOUT YOU – The Kid LAROI & Miley Cyrus
Space For Two – Mr. Probz
All These Years – Camila Cabello
Teenager in Love – Madison Beer
Unsteady – X Ambassadors
Take Care – Drake & Rihanna
enough for you – Olivia Rodrigo
Remember – Becky Hill & David Guetta
About the Author
NICOLE S. GOODIN is a romance author and mother of two from Taranaki in the North Island of New Zealand.
In mid-2015, she started to write about a group of characters who wouldn’t get out of her head. Her first book, Rushed, was published in mid-2016.
Nicole enjoys long walks on the beach, pillow fights and braiding her friends’ hair. She dislikes clichés, talking about herself in the third person, and people who don’t understand her sense of humour.
Please feel free to contact her either via her website, email, Instagram, Twitter or on her Facebook page, she would love to hear your feedback. If you’re feeling really game, you can even sign up for her newsletter HERE.
UPCOMING TITLES
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The First Rule: A Standalone Second Chance Romance Page 22