Chapter 7
Maddie Grace
My cabin door flies open and in walks my best friend.
“Jesus, finally!” I snap as Addie waltzes in like she owns the place. I need her to help me get ready for lunch with Nate’s family.
I’m kinda losing it over here.
“You know, I’ve learned something about you.” Addie walks through my cabin, grabbing my Diet Coke, before lying down on Ashley’s bed. “My sweet Southern girl is a bit of a drama queen and is freaking grouchy when she’s stressed.”
“Ew, don’t lay on her side.”
Addie waggles her brows. “Why? Think your brother snuck in here for a little late-night fun?”
I throw my hands over my ears in disgust. “Shut up. What’s wrong with you?”
She cackles, completely unbothered. “Relax, your brother isn’t hitting that anymore.”
“I know. I saw her running after him yesterday like a lovesick puppy. It was pathetic.” I smirk. “Mason would never talk to someone who’s been mean to me.”
Addie hums as she takes another sip. “Too bad I’m not into muscle-head jocks. Your brother’s good peeps.”
I gasp, whirling around. “Ads! We could be sisters!”
She snorts, “Nah. Your brother couldn’t handle me. He might be a ho, but deep down? He’s a good boy.”
I point at her. “Truth. What about Leo?” I waggle my brows. “And don’t you dare lie and say he’s ugly.”
It’s hard to tell from across the room, but I’m positive there is a slight blush on her cheeks. “He’s all right.”
“All right?” Is she kidding me? I watch her take another sip of my drink. “And why are you drinking my Diet Coke?”
She looks down at the can as if it just appeared in her hand. “Yeah, why am I drinking this? It’s warm as shit.” She puts it down and opens my fridge for a new one.
I can’t hold in my laughter. “You’re one of a kind, Adelaide.”
She grins, eyeing me up and down. “What are you wearing? It looks like my grandmother’s tablecloth.”
Great. “It’s not that bad, is it?” I look in the mirror, smoothing down my dress.
It’s the only nice dress I have besides the Little House on the Prairie number I wore on day one.
I wasn’t expecting to be going to a fancy lunch at a country club with my boyfriend’s wealthy parents.
“It is, but this isn’t.” She hands me a colorful slip dress straight out of a fashion magazine.
I hold it up, frowning when I see how low-cut it is. “I don’t think this is appropriate.”
She hands me a cardigan. “You can wear this over it to dress it down, Miss Modest. It’s fine, I promise.”
I hesitate.
She sighs. “Maddie Grace, you think this is inappropriate because of how you grew up. Trust me, this dress is completely normal. Wear it. And look, there’s some blurple in it.”
I roll my eyes when she laughs at how funny she isn’t.
When I stand unmoving, still staring at the dress, Addie, being Addie, takes charge and begins undressing me, which snaps me out of it.
“Okay, okay!” I say, batting her hands away. “I’ll try it on.”
She flops back down on the bed. “So I was thinking—”
“Did it hurt?” I smirk over my shoulder.
“You’re hilarious,” she deadpans. “Anyway, I was thinking…I should go to USC, too.”
I whip around, half-dressed, not caring that my boobs are practically hanging out of the dress. “What did you just say?”
She shrugs, and I don’t give her a minute to answer. I run over to Ashley’s bed and jump on top of her.
“Yes. Yes. Yes.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” I shriek. “That’s it? Just okay?”
“Well, I haven’t decided on a major yet, and currently, the only thing that interests me is art history. USC has a decent program.”
“What about NYU?” Addie is one grade above me, like Nate. She’s supposed to start college in September.
“You’re not at NYU. I’ve lived in New York my whole life. I think a little Cali sunshine is in my future.”
“I’m so dang excited. What if you don’t get in? What if I don’t get in?”
“I already did. You will too.”
“So cocky. But seriously.”
She widens her eyes. “Seriously, I got in.”
“What? When? How the heck did that happen?”
She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth. “I have a good GPA and killed the SATs. Plus, USC is a private school, and my parents will pay in full. No loans.”
I lift a questioning brow. “How well did you do?”
“Near perfect.” She scrunches up her eyes.
“What?!” I shriek, nearly giving myself whiplash as I sit up. “I’m smart, but…are you a genius or something?” I jump off the bed, running around in circles. “Holy cow, my best friend is a genius.”
“Maddie Grace,” she laughs out.
“So they will let you start school in September, just like that?”
“My parents called, and they agreed to let me start in January. I’m going to travel with my parents around Asia while they work for the first semester.”
I shake my head in disbelief. Driving to Atlanta seemed like an adventure a month ago, yet now I’m surrounded by people who “summer in the Hamptons” and “travel around Asia.”
“I have a billionaire boyfriend and a genius smarty-pants best friend. Are we in some parallel universe?”
She howls with laughter. “Nope. You’re going back to Georgia in two weeks, unfortunately.”
“Ugh. Way to ruin the moment.” I walk over to her and hug her tight. “I can’t believe this. My life is so awesome right now. I don’t want to go back.”
She squeezes me back. “Mine sucks. I didn’t realize how big your boobs were. What the hell, Maddie?”
I choke out a laugh and step back when I realize I’m still half-naked and look down.
“They’re average.”
“Girl. There is nothing average about you. Now, let’s get you ready. I’m doing your makeup.”
I walk down the trail to Cabin Ten, Leo and Mase’s cabin, but at this point, it might as well be Nate’s too.
He crashes on their couch every night.
Nate wanted to get me from my cabin, but I needed a minute alone in the fresh air to calm my nerves.
I’ve never had a boyfriend, so meeting Nate’s parents is a big deal. Even if I’ve “met” Rosa and Javier, it’s different now. Not to mention his brothers and sister are coming too.
Of course, they invited Mase, but he has a Skype call with his coach and new college teammates that he can’t miss.
“Whoaaaa.” Leo’s eyes bulge, letting out a long whistle as I approach.
Oh lord, it’s too much. I knew it.
I should have gone with the dang grandma dress.
“What is it?” Nate asks, turning to see me. He freezes, his mouth hangs open, and he says nothing.
Panic sets in, and before I can think twice, I turn and retreat back toward my cabin.
Nope, I’m changing back into my stupid dress, even if it ages me forty-five years.
“Madeline Grace Cunningham,” Nate practically growls from behind me.
I didn’t even hear him approach, too lost in my head.
“Yes?” I squeak without moving.
“Turn that beautiful face around to look at me,” he commands, though his voice is gentle.
Pulling in a deep breath, I obey slowly.
The second I turn, he’s on me, kissing me like it’s his last breath on earth. I barely register what he’s doing until he pulls back, giving me a once-over.
“I’ve never in my life seen someone so beautiful. You look fucking hot, Mads. I thought I was dreaming when you walked up to us.”
I run my teeth over my bottom lip, holding back my smile.
Nate smooths his hands down my sides, over the curve of my hips, and then back up again like he can’t stop touching me.
“Fuck,” he murmurs.
“What?” I finally speak.
“I’m not going to be able to keep my hands to myself today.” He shakes his head. “How the hell did I land you?”
“How did you land me? Have you taken a look in the mirror, Nathaniel? You are God’s gift to women.” I smirk. “And I’m a very lucky girl.”
His lips twitch before he turns back to Leo. “Did you hear that? God’s gift to women.”
“Both of you are delusional. Let’s not make Mom wait.”
As we head toward the main entrance, Nate takes my hand. And then Leo, in true Leo fashion, grabs my other hand, swinging playfully.
Nate has stopped trying to pry me away whenever Leo does this. Leo claims I’m one of his “besties” now, and I think Nate secretly loves that we get along so well.
Honestly, I can’t imagine Mason dating someone I didn’t like. It just wouldn’t work.
As soon as we reach the main entrance, Rosa spots us. Her eyes land on me first, and her entire face lights up with a smile so big it’s almost blinding.
Her reaction dulls my anxiety…barely.
When she turns her attention toward Leo and Nate, it’s clear how much she adores her boys.
Next to Rosa stands a gorgeous girl who looks maybe a few years older than me. With her tanned skin and big brown eyes, she’s the spitting image of Leo.
I’m obsessed with her dress.
It’s a long floral maxi dress that flows softly against her body from the summer breeze, and her dark hair is plaited into two perfect French braids.
She spots Nate, and her smile is contagious. Like Leo and me, she has two dimples that pop.
She runs over at full speed, pumping her arms for momentum before launching into Nate’s arms and squeezing him tight.
“I missed you!” She kisses his cheek and then turns her attention to me. “Oh. My. God.”
She pulls me into a hug and also kisses me like she’s known me forever, and for some unknown reason, the familiar feelings are mutual.
“Maddie Grace. I can’t believe you’re real! I thought Leo was lying when he said Nate fell for Mason’s little sister. I’m Camila.” She hugs me again.
“Oh, you remember my name?” Leo cuts in, “I thought maybe you forgot since you haven’t even said hi yet. I’m the favorite. I go first.”
She rolls her eyes. “Nate moved up the ranking since he’s in loooooove with the one who could one day be my sister.”
I choke on my gum, causing Camila to giggle and Nate to wink.
That darn wink.
And why isn’t he correcting her?
Camila loops her arm around me, pulling me toward Rosa and the rest of their family.
I turn back and widen my eyes at Nate, who shrugs like there’s nothing he can do.
Traitor.
“Maddie Grace.” Rosa smiles warmly.
“It’s nice to see you again, Rosa.” I hug her hello, hoping my nerves don’t show.