16. Chapter 16 Margot
Chapter sixteen
As happy as I am about graduating from Harvard— cum laude, thank you very much— and as beautiful as this party is, I think my mother invited everyone who’s ever known a single Sinclair.
I would have been much happier with just the family having a quiet movie night in, like the old days, but Mom’s right—certain things are expected to be celebrated a certain way in society.
It’s fine. I’ve been promised time with just the five of us soon, but everyone is so busy these days.
Mom is always on the go, Henry has Daddy’s whole empire to run now, and Ledger and Jack are still in the midst of their wildly successful club’s first year.
I’ve always had a knack for conjuring Jack with my thoughts, and sure enough, before I know it, he’s holding two drinks and a small basket and looking up at my hiding spot where I sit in my favorite tree.
“Why are you sitting in my least favorite tree, Princess?” he says, handing me the drinks and the basket and climbing up to sit next to me on my branch.
“Because it’s my favorite tree, of course.” I laugh, sipping the champagne he’s brought me in a plastic cup and opening the basket to see he’s grabbed a selection of sweets from the dessert table inside.
“This tree broke your leg!” he exclaims. “I fought hard to have it cut down after that.”
“I know you did,” I say, still laughing, “but I cried, and you gave that fight up immediately. This tree builds character. Every bone it’s broken has been well deserved by an idiot kid.”
Stealing one of my cookies, he shakes his head. “I still think if we could’ve kept you bubble wrapped until you turned eighteen, it would have solved a whole lot of problems.”
“Well, I survived, and look at me now, a whole-ass college graduate. And not just any college, Hahvard, dahling ,” I joke, using the affected waspy accent we heard once during the admissions process and found so funny that I don’t think Jack has said the word Harvard normally since.
My joking tone dies as I realize he’s taken my suggestion seriously and is indeed looking at me.
Jack has been the member of our family who has always seen me, but I’ve had a sense in the past few years that there have been times he’s looked , too.
I wonder what he sees as his eyes rake across me, sitting in my tree with my champagne and snacks.
I think I look polished tonight, wearing a pale pink silk-draped top I made with my favorite jeans.
My hair is in my favorite voluminous curls, the side closest to him pulled back with a crystal clip he gave me for Valentine’s Day last year.
Earrings from a set he gave me a few years ago complete my relatively simple look, and I wish, not for the first time, that I could read his mind.
When he finally finishes his perusal, I’m surprised to see tears not only forming in his eyes but also streaking down his face.
He takes a moment and sniffles before grasping my hand and pressing a long kiss to my knuckles.
“You are a whole-ass college graduate, Princess. I’m so damn proud of you.
The past four years have been so tough. You’ve lost your dad, had to deal with my sorry ass.
I don’t know what any of us would do without you, Margot.
You’re the glue that holds us all together. ”
He’s still holding my hand, and I realize what I should have already known. Jack’s approval probably means the most to me of anyone in the world. Now I’m crying, and we’re still holding hands and blubbering like a couple of losers in a tree.
“Jack, you know I’m proud of you too, right?” I sniffle, wiping my eyes on the sleeve of his dress shirt and making him playfully shove me off. “Your club is doing well, and you’re so healthy now, running and working out and drinking your nasty green smoothies.”
“Hey! Those smoothies are delicious, and you know it. I put apples and pineapples in them, not just spinach!”
Laughing, I punch at his shoulder, feeling even more muscle than the last time I saw him, which doesn’t seem possible. “The taste is all spinach, and you know it.”
I lean my head on his shoulder and sigh. “Seriously, Jack. I’m so proud of you. You’re adulting goals these days. I need to get on your level when I move to New York, or I’ll never be able to keep up with classes.”
My reminder that I’m moving in a few short weeks sobers the mood as we both enjoy a few moments of silence before we hear my mom calling my name from the house.
Jack turns his head to kiss the top of mine. “You’ll take the city by storm. I’m gonna miss the hell out of you, though. You have to text me more. I can’t keep finding out about your accolades and escapades only from the group chat.”
I laugh, the mood sufficiently lightened as we make our way down the tree. “I promise to text more. You’ll get so sick of my life updates that you’ll mute me.”
“No chance. Now I want a pinky promise on that.” He reaches up and puts his hands around my waist to help me to the ground, gripping my pinky with his.
His gaze catches on my mouth, and he smirks, reaching to wipe the corner of my lip.
“You somehow manage to always have chocolate on your lips, even now.”
“As long as you’re always there to wipe it off for me, Jackie.”
“Whatever you want, Princess.”