Chapter 6 #2
My father takes one step forward, but Maddox puts a hand out, stopping him from moving closer. My father clenches his jaw but doesn’t say a word to him. Yet. No doubt his judgment is coming.
“What are you wearing in public?” my mother asks, her eyes wide, lips parted, her expression horrified.
I glance down and shrug. “Clothes.”
“Workout clothes,” Annabelle adds. “Don’t you keep up with trends, Madeline?”
“Mother!” Aaron snaps. “Stay out of this. Now, Gabriella, we’re leaving tonight and you’re coming with us.”
I blink in surprise. “You usually stay for the season. Why are you leaving when your summer isn’t over?”
“Preston isn’t leaving, we are. But he wanted to be here. We are all tired of this rebellious phase. It’s gone on long enough. Playing house with this…this…” My father stumbles over his words to describe Maddox.
“Bar manager and independent contractor?” I deliberately needle my parents with words they’ll find cringeworthy. “Oh, and I wonder if Preston mentioned that Maddox used to work on Wall Street? I believe you know of my father, Aaron Davenport, right, Maddox?”
Preston narrows his gaze but smartly remains silent.
I glance up at Maddox, hoping he knows I’m doing this performance for myself, yes but also for us. After this, my parents will leave me alone and that is exactly what I want.
“Yes.” Maddox nods. “I used to work at Preston Barrett Jr.’s firm.” He doesn’t elaborate further, nor do I need him to.
My father stares, assessing Maddox. “It doesn’t matter what he does for a living. You are not going to continue living with him.” He turns his angry gaze on me. “Yes, I heard that, too. And I won’t have it. I’m not funding this vacation.” My father’s voice rises, and people around us turn to watch.
My face burns with embarrassment, but I’m determined to see this through. “I don’t need your money. You cut me off weeks ago, and I’ve done just fine.”
“You cannot make enough money cleaning up at this bar to live in the Hamptons,” my mother says, her blue eyes staring at me, daring me to disagree.
Madeline is in for a shock. “Then it’s a good thing I have a job at the gallery since my work here is for free. I help out when things are busy.”
Maddox squeezes my waist. Tipping his head, he whispers, “We’ll need to get you on the books.”
I stifle a laugh at his timing.
“But…” My mother pauses, caught off guard, then seems to collect herself. “Even gallery work won’t keep you in the lifestyle you’re accustomed to, Gabriella.”
“Then it’s a good thing I don’t want that life.”
My mother waves a dismissive hand. “That’s easy to say now.”
Preston turns to my mother. “Don’t worry. Give her more time and she’ll change her mind when she gets tired of living like a peasant.”
I shake my head. “You are such an ass. And I won’t grow tired of anything.” None of them ever understood me at all. “I’m happy here. I love living with Maddox in his house.” I pretty much love the man but don’t think he’s ready to hear those words after not quite one month.
But I reach back and squeeze his hand before continuing.
“For once, I have the freedom to paint, to wear whatever I want…” I shrug off the cardigan, leaving myself in my shorts and sports bra, to the utter horror of my mother, whose mouth gapes open.
“And it feels good to help at the bar and work at the gallery.” This next part isn’t as easy, but it’s true.
“And even if Maddox and I aren’t together for the long term, though I hope we are, I’m not leaving the Hamptons.
” Or the man unless he insists, but that discussion is for us, alone.
“In other words, Mother, Father, you can all go home without me.”
Madeline gasps, probably more for effect. “I raised you better than to talk to us in that tone.” She sniffles but again, it isn’t real. “Mark my words, you will come back eventually, and you’ll be lucky if someone in our social circle is willing to have you.”
I sigh. “I’m not changing my mind, but only time will prove that to you.” I pull in a deep breath. “Oh. And the best news of the night? My paintings are hanging in the gallery in town. In fact, I sold my first one today. So I’m more than certain I’ll survive on my own.”
My grandmother starts to clap, and though I grin, I shake my head.
“One more thing. You are my parents, and though I may not like your views or beliefs you are my family. You know where I am if you ever want a normal, parent-child relationship. One where you accept me for who I am.” I slide my hand into Maddox’s and he grasps mine tight. “And who I choose to be with.”
I ignore Preston. He isn’t worth another breath.
The little girl who always wanted her parents to just be her parents and not wardens with rules and expectations hopes they will come around. But the adult me isn’t counting on them to change. I’ll always have my grandmother and Penelope. With a little luck, Maddox and I will have a future.
My grandmother claps in earnest, and my father huffs, his shoulders stiff.
“Let’s go, Aaron.” My mother’s cheeks are flushed with anger.
“Have a good trip back to the city.” Maddox speaks. “And don’t worry about your daughter.” Without warning, he bends his knees and picks me up, tossing me over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold. “She’s in good hands.”
I let out a shriek but I really don’t mind. And in case he’s worried, I squeeze his ass hard.
“Aaron!” my mother yells. “Get me out of here.”
“You always were a prude, Madeline,” my grandmother says.
I let out a laugh at my grandmother’s antics and the entire bar breaks out in applause that could have been in reaction to Maddox’s caveman routine or my grandmother’s comment. No matter, my family is in for a long ride home, I think, suddenly feeling the jolt of Maddox moving.
I grab onto a belt loop in his jeans, trying to ignore my stomach digging into his shoulder as he walks through the room. Though I can’t see more than his delectable ass, a glance to the side reveals we’re headed to his office.
And since he’s carrying me away for the whole bar to see…I am holding out hope whatever he has to say will bode well for my future.
* * *
Maddox
Gabby’s parents are pieces of work, I think, ignoring the clapping, as I stride through the crowd that parts for me.
It’s a wonder Gabby turned out as sweet and caring as she did.
I suppose I have Annabelle to thank. That and some innate combination of sweetness and a core of steel inside my girl.
One that made her willing to defy expectations and grow into her own person.
I didn’t mean to make a scene. That isn’t my style. But after listening to Gabby stand up to the people who raised her, I want one thing. To get her alone and assure her that yes, I’m in it for the long term, too. And I’m not letting her go.
I step into the office behind the bar and kick the door closed behind me, shutting out the noise. I have one hand around the back of her knees and the other on her ass which I can’t not squeeze. Especially since she wears a skimpy Lycra outfit that outlines her curves and has me drooling.
“Hey! Are you going to put me down?” she asks. I still feel her finger curled into my belt loop.
“Do I have to?”
We haven’t been together long, but I’ve spent most of our time together telling myself I can handle it if she decides to leave, but knowing I’m lying to myself. Now that she’s announced her decision to stay, I want to keep her close.
But I lower her to her feet, holding onto her shoulders, steadying her.
She tips her head up to meet my gaze. And when I look into those gorgeous green eyes, I finally feel like I can breathe.
“Do you have any idea how amazing you are?” I ask.
Her eyes open wide, and her lips part in surprise. “Seriously? Why would you say that?”
How can she not know? “You stood up to your parents and that took courage. You took control of your life and that makes you brave. All in all, you’re amazing.”
Her smile lights up the room and my heart. “Now, I have a confession,” I say.
Her grin slips. “What is it? Because after that caveman display, I kind of hoped you had more in mind for us back here than talking.” She loops her arms around my neck and rubs her breasts against my chest.
I groan at the feel of her nipples digging into my skin beneath the cotton shirt. “We’ll get to that. Soon,” I promise, dipping my head and running my nose along hers.
Her eyes darken, growing hazy with a desire that matches mine. But it has to wait.
“I have to admit, I kept waiting for you to get bored,” I admit.
“I thought you’d resent having to work for a living and decide to go back home.
” I clear my throat. “I knew Preston was an issue, as were your parents’ demands.
But I didn’t want to have my hopes up and my heart broken.
Turns out, I underestimated you.” I hate to admit I didn’t trust her.
“I know.”
“What?” How could she have caught onto my feelings? I kept them well-hidden or so I thought.
She laughs for a second, but her expression quickly sobers. “I knew something was bothering you, but I wasn’t sure if you thought I was overstaying my welcome, or you were worried about…me leaving.” She shrugs. “Based on the things you said when we first met, I knew you didn’t trust easily.”
“Which things?” I ask warily. I confessed to a few hang-ups about us, but not all.
“Oh, me being too young, our experiences being worlds apart…” She waves a dismissive hand through the air.
“You being a virgin,” I go on to add, giving her the rest of what I held back. “And the fact that you’d probably want marriage and kids one day, whereas I swore off both.”
The color drains from her face. “You don’t want marriage or a family?”
“I didn’t.” I keep my hand on her jaw, my thumb brushing her soft skin. “Then I met you. Pretty soon I wanted everything. But you do have a lot of life to live before we dive into a family.”
“And we should still take time to get to learn more and enjoy each other, but I need to know you’re in this just like I am,” she says, staring into my eyes, her expression hopeful.
My heart squeezes tight in my chest. “If being in this means I love you, and I’m not going anywhere, then yeah, I’m in this.”
“You love me?” The hesitation in her voice pulls at me and I press my lips over hers, taking my time to show her my feelings without using words.
I’d rather taste her. Her tongue slides against mine, and her fingers thread through my hair, hanging on to me tight. The kiss goes on, and I never want to let her go.
But I force myself to break our connection.
Drawing a deep breath, I inhale the strawberry scent I do not want to live without and meet her gaze. “Yeah, princess. I love you.”
Tears fill her eyes. “I love you, too.”
“Then why are you crying?” I brush away the moisture on her face.
“Because other than my grandmother and sister, no one’s ever said that to me before. And knowing you feel the same way? That’s everything.”
No, she is everything.
“You deserve to be loved. And I’m going to spend every day proving that to you. Because this isn’t just a one summer thing. You and me? We’re in this for the long term and that includes marriage and kids…”
“And a dog?”
I laugh. “A dog, a cat, a house…anything you want,” I say, and then I go about sealing the deal with our mouths and our bodies. Because she is mine. And if I have my way, it will be for a lifetime.
Thanks for reading! What’s next?