Chapter 8
Nate
“Nathaniel.”
Shit.
I turn to see Ms. Meyers heading my way, her expression unreadable.
I just finished some team-building shit Leo made me do, so now I’m relaxing in a lounge chair, watching Maddie play kickball.
She’s giving it her all, trying to get Mason out.
Even though she doesn’t stand a chance, it’s still amusing to watch.
Mase moves like he was built for this—precision in his throws and light on his feet like a damn ballerina.
It’s why all of his dream schools practically threw full-ride scholarships at him.
But as Ms. Meyers approaches, my amusement dims.
Maddie and I have been sneaking off to our secret meadow every night, and I’ve been waiting for the day we get caught.
Not that I’d tell her that. If Maddie suspected we were at risk, she’d put a hard stop to it, and I can’t have that.
My stolen time with her, learning more about her every night under the stars, is worth any consequence.
I sit up, forcing a casual smile. “Hi, Ms. Meyers.”
“I was just checking in. Both the sailing and football instructors informed me that you and Mason opted out of your usual activities for the last week of camp.”
My eyes drift back to Maddie.
Ms. Meyers chuckles knowingly. “Ah, I see. Miss Cunningham has you under her spell.”
I shrug, unbothered by the truth. “I won’t see her for a while after camp, so I wanted to spend the last week with her. Mason felt the same. He’s never been away from his sister for longer than a summer, so leaving for college is hitting them both hard.”
“As long as everything is okay.” She hesitates for a second, making my nerves spike.
“It’s been a pleasure having all five Davenport-Morales kids here.
You were all raised right. We never had a single issue.
” She pauses, smirking. “Well, that’s not entirely true.
Harrison and Sebastian were a bit of a handful, but they turned out all right. ”
Relief floods through me.
I was almost sure she knew about Maddie and me sneaking off.
She ruffles my hair before walking off. I make an internal note to tell Mom what she said. Besides cooking, raising us right is her greatest accomplishment.
A sudden shout from the field snaps my attention back.
“That’s cheating, Mason!”
Maddie stomps over to the pitcher’s mound, determination burning in her eyes when she snatches up the ball and hurls it at Mason’s stomach.
Oh, shit.
A camp counselor blows her whistle. “Disqualified!”
Maddie throws her hands up as I jog over. “He threw it at my head first! That’s not allowed.”
The counselor, I forget her name, blows her whistle again, and I can see Maddie’s anger creeping up her neck, the red deepening as Mason chuckles beside her.
“Maddie, babe—”
She shimmies from my hold and shoves Mason. “We were going to win. You’re going to pay for that.”
The camp counselor blows the whistle again and then shouts, “All right, we get it.”
Mason snaps and turns to Maddie with a shit-eating grin plastered on his face. “We’re not sore losers in our family, Madeline.”
If looks could kill, Mase would be a dead man. “You—” She points at him, her mouth opening and closing like she’s searching for the perfect insult.
I almost hope she finally lets loose and says something bad.
But all she comes up with is, “Jerk.”
I roll my lips to hide my smirk, but Mason? He bursts out laughing.
Maddie lets out an exasperated groan, and before this turns into an actual fight, I hook an arm around her waist and pull her off the field. “All right, Cherry Bomb. That’s enough for today.”
She’s still fuming when I finally put her down, crossing her arms. “Cherry Bomb?”
I cup her cheek, rubbing my thumb over her dimple. “Just waiting for my goddess to detonate.”
“Like a bomb?” She raises an eyebrow. “And you had to add ‘cherry’ in there.”
I shrug, grinning. “Hey, I didn’t make it up. Cherry bombs are real.”
“Are not.”
“I swear. They’re a type of firework that looks like cherries.” When she looks unconvinced, I glance around and spot Clarke walking by. “Yo, Clarke.”
“What’s up?” He jogs over.
“What’s a cherry bomb?”
“An explosive.” His eyes track over Maddie’s body, stopping at her chest, which tightens and pulls the front of her shirt. “Why?”
I narrow my eyes, throwing a possessive arm around Maddie, pulling her into me, chest to chest.
“No reason,” I snap.
Clarke shrugs, oblivious of his wandering eye, and jogs off.
“Fuck face,” I grumble, causing Maddie to giggle.
“Were you jealous?” She runs her hands over my shoulders.
I tilt my head, feigning innocence. “Nope. But he doesn’t get to look at what’s mine.” I grip her chin, tilting her face toward mine. “Unless I have a reason to be jealous?”
She rises on her toes, resting her lips on mine. “Never.”
She breaks away far too soon when the voices of other campers pass by.
“So now I’m a cherry bomb, not your goddess?” she teases.
I bury my face in her neck, playfully growling, “Don’t you dare say such a thing. You’re my Mads, my gorgeous goddess.” I press soft kisses up the side of her throat before whispering in her ear, “And sometimes, when you’re acting a little spicy, you’re my gorgeous goddess, Cherry Bomb.”
She hums in amusement, fingers threading through my hair. “So many nicknames.”
I let the moment settle before nudging her gently. “So, are you going to tell me why you went nuclear on Mason back there? That was more than just sibling rivalry.”
Her playful demeanor vanishes, replaced by a halfhearted shrug. “I’m fine.”
“Maddie.” I pull back, searching her face. “I didn’t ask if you were fine. I asked what happened.”
I know my girl better than she thinks, and though I’ve seen her and Mason go for each other’s throats, usually when Maddie’s annoyed at him, today was different.
Her emerald eyes shimmer with unshed tears, and I don’t hesitate for even a second. I scoop her up effortlessly, wrapping her legs around my waist. I ignore the counselors making comments as I carry her toward the cabins, away from prying eyes.
“I’m too heavy,” she mumbles into my neck.
I playfully swat her ass. “You’re light as a feather.”
When we make it to Maddie’s cabin I slow down, scanning both directions to make sure no one sees me sneaking inside.
Her roommate is never around, so I know we’ll have privacy.
I carry her straight to the couch, settling her onto my lap, my arms still locked around her like I can shield her from whatever’s weighing her down.
Gently, I brush her long, dark hair away from her face, my fingers lingering against her skin.
“Whatever it is, I’ll make it better, Mads.” And that’s the damn truth.
Her downcast gaze, the way she bites her lip, gnaws at something deep inside me. I hate feeling useless, like she doesn’t trust me enough to share what’s hurting her.
She should know by now I’d shoulder any pain for her without hesitation.
I’d do anything for my girl.
She has a power over me that would probably unnerve most people.
But me? I love it.
I love that she can lean on me. That I can be the person she turns to.
Finally, she exhales. Her voice is so small, so fragile, it nearly wrecks me.
“I called my mom earlier, and she said something that upset me.” She swallows hard. “It’s silly. I know better than to listen to her.”
But if it hurt her, it’s not silly. And if it’s from her mom, I already know I’m not going to like it.
“Maddie, nothing that upsets you is silly. Talk to me.”
She nods, fiddling with my most prized possession, my glass bead hanging from my chain.
“You know how Mason accidentally let it slip about us? And I told you she wasn’t as mad as I thought?
” She continues when I nod. “Well, I just figured out why. It’s because she’s waiting for it to end.
” She blows out a breath, her voice dropping as she repeats her mom’s words, trying to act as if they haven’t affected her.
“She said I shouldn’t get too comfortable with you because it’s silly summer love, a fling. ”
“Mads…” My jaw tightens.
“And I should forget about you when I go home.” She chokes out the last words, and my stomach twists with anxiety from the image of a fate she’s put into Maddie’s head, one I know we’re both petrified of.
But I’ll never let it happen.
We’re going to fight hard for this relationship.
There’s no end, only a forever.
My face hardens at the thought of that woman putting these ideas intp her head.
“When did she say this?”
“This morning.”
“And you’re just mentioning it? I’ve been with you all day. Don’t hide things from me, Maddie, especially if it’s upsetting you.” I regret my cold tone the second the words are out of my mouth when I see her shudder. “Hey. Look at me, please.”
“Yeah?”
“I didn’t mean to snap.” I shake my head, disgusted with myself. “It’s just…you mean so much to me. I hate to see the spark in your eyes dim. I hate the thought that your mom’s going to brainwash you into thinking that this is some fling. That I don’t…”
“That you don’t what?”
I twist the ends of her hair and press my forehead to hers.
“That I don’t love you, Mads. Because I do, so fucking much, there is no going forward without you.
I don’t care if people say we’re too young or whatever bullshit they want to spew.
All that matters is that we care enough to make it work. ”
A smile of relief crosses her face before she throws her arms around me. “I love you too, Nate.”
“It’s not going to be easy—”
“I know.” She cuts me off. My words spur a newfound excitement in her. “Nothing in life comes easy. I shouldn’t have let her get to me.”
“You, Mads, are not a summer love…unless summer is endless.”
“That sounds nice.”
I reach over and grab two Diet Cokes from her mini-fridge, popping them open. I hand her one, clinking the cans together.
“To an endless summer.”
“Mads,” I groan as she rocks on top of me. I need to leave.
I’ve been in her cabin too long, and the last thing I want is for her to get in trouble.
But fuck me, she feels so goddamn good.