“Oh, they’re doing well,” he began, voice casual but edged with that familiar flair. “Still the same good ol’ them… though, maybe a little worse now.” He shook his head, letting out a soft, amused chuckle.
Eleanor raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in her voice. “What do you mean?”
Nick leaned back slightly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Well… they heard about Damien’s love life,” he said, letting the words hang for effect. “And now they’ve got me on my case even more than before. Can you imagine?”
The table let out a ripple of easy, genuine laughter. Eleanor shook her head, a fond smile tugging at her lips. “You’re such a brat, Nicholas,” Eleanor said, wagging a finger playfully, though her smile betrayed her amusement.
Moments later, James and Lee arrived, the faint chill of
