Chapter 10 #2
“I’m good.” I lean forward and kiss her temple, letting my hand wander, grazing my fingertips on the underside of her bikini top.
“Nate.” Maddie’s breath hitches. “You’re so naughty.”
I reluctantly pull back, knowing we’ll be here a while, and if I start something now, I won’t hesitate to drag her off this lawn and take her home.
“Take a look at this.” I pull out my phone, open my photos, and pass it to her.
“Nateeee,” she groans and gives me a menacing glare over her shoulder.
“Just hear me out, Mads. I spoke to Harrison, and he says now’s the time to buy. You don’t know what the market will be like next year.”
She stays silent, flipping through the pictures of the apartments I’ve narrowed down to view when she gets to New York tomorrow.
There was a moment when I thought we should live apart once she got to New York.
Let her gain a little more independence without anyone, especially her parents, breathing down her neck.
But what’s the use? We both know that I’d be there, or she’d be at mine most nights, if not all.
She’ll still become a badass architect, and she’ll have free rein to do whatever she wants.
It’s Maddie’s world, and I’m in it, just living my dream life.
Maddie hesitates over one photo, and I make a note of it, not wanting to draw attention to it now.
It’s a quintessential SoHo cast-iron open loft, with floor-to-ceiling windows, natural light, and prewar charm.
It’s listed as industrial beauty.
Addie’s parents have a similar setup, and she’s always been a fan, so I knew it’d be her first pick.
She passes me back the phone. “You choose, it’s your place.”
“Our place.”
“No, Nate, I wouldn’t be contributing at all.”
I turn her to look me in the eye. “We’ve had this discussion a million times, and you’re starting to piss me off, Maddie. And that’s saying a lot since it takes everything in me to be annoyed with you. But, you know what’s mine is yours.”
“Well, I don’t need yours. I have everything I could ever want already. Money doesn’t make you rich, Nate. I should know because I have none, but I’m the richest girl in the world. I’m in love, and I’m loved deeply. I’m happy, and after so many years, I’m free. I want nothing more than that.”
I feel the same exact way, but funny enough, never from that perspective.
“I love you,” I whisper. “You are so precious to me.”
“I love you too.” She leans in and kisses me, then smiles softly.
I caress one of her dimples, smiling back.
“I’m also obsessed with you, just so you know.”
She giggles. “Oh, I know.”
“Oh, you do now?” I tickle her side. “Now tell me you’ll at least give the places a chance tomorrow.”
“Nate…” She can hardly breathe through the laughter.
“Tell me,” I demand, and I get her right in the spot that makes her lose it, right at her waistline.
“All right, all right,” she cries, and I let up on my torture. “You’re going to pay for that.”
“I like taking care of you. Let me.” She takes a breath, and I know she’s fighting with herself.
“Let me put it like this…you are the love of my life, and when we graduate and get jobs, we’re going to get married and live happily ever after, with our kids, a black German Shepherd, and whatever other shit comes along with it.
I can’t always promise things will be easy, but one thing I will promise is that my wife will be taken care of every second of every day.
That doesn’t mean you’re a kept woman. Trust me, I know my girl.
Madeline Grace Cunningham has a mind of her own, and I love you even more for it.
It means you feel loved, you feel safe, and you feel happy.
Ensuring your safety in a well-secured building in a safe neighborhood is just one way I can show you all those things. ”
Her bottom lip wobbles while attempting to smile. I know she gets it.
“How did I get so lucky?”
“Aww, look at Mom and Dad,” Addie gushes, smiling at us.
Leo hands me a beer and Maddie a Diet Coke. “Enough, no more lovey-dovey shit.”
Maddie snickers, sticking her tongue toward Leo, then holds out her drink.
“Congratulations to two of my best friends. One is the love of my life, and the other is like a second brother to me. You both mean the world to me, and I’m incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication you’ve put forth in your school career.
” She chuckles and whispers, “Leo and a little more than Nate.”
“You know it.” Leo high-fives her, and I roll my eyes at the two perfectionists.
Both are at the top of their class. Not that I was far behind them, but only the top three are acceptable in their eyes.
“Anyway, all jokes aside. I would never have understood how difficult and complex this B. Arch program was had I not been in it myself, so I know just how much praise and acknowledgment you deserve. I can’t wait to see the incredible path you weave in your career, and I’ll be rooting for you, especially when you open your firm in the coming years.
You deserve everything and more. I love you and feel like the luckiest girl in the world that I have y’all in my life. ”
I’m choked up and have no words, so I pull her into a tight embrace, burying my head in her neck. I raise my eyes to catch my brothers, who are filled with tears.
I reach out and cup the back of his neck and give him a little pat.
We fucking did it.
I run through the house when I hear my phone ringing upstairs, just in time to answer.
Mads.
“Babe, how did it go?” I jump on one foot, trying to get my leg in my shorts. I’m late for lunch, a farewell with some crewmates.
I can hear the cars zipping past her when nostalgia hits. I can’t wait to be home and see my family and friends.
“Oh, Nate. I love, love, love it here. Is there anywhere better than New York City?”
“I know, it’s the best city on earth. Hands down.” I smile at her enthusiasm when she giggles over the line.
“Once we’re here together. It will be my favorite place on Earth because you make everything in my life feel like bliss.”
“Mads…”
“Sorry, I’m being all sentimental. This city does something to me that I can’t explain.”
That I understand.
I’ve brought Maddie home to New York several times over the last few years, but seeing her excitement never gets old.
I love that no matter how many times I bring her to New York or she visits on her own, she looks at it with open, fresh eyes, acting like it’s her first time all over again—appreciating the city for all its worth.
“How did today go?”
“The interview went smoothly. Initially, I was nervous, but it was okay once I got into it. I should find out in a week or two, before the end of school. I’ll tell you all about it when I get back.”
“What else have you been up to? How’s the apartment hunting?”
“Apartment? I think we have a different meaning when it comes to that word. They were huge…bigger than any of the houses from where I grew up.”
“That doesn’t tell me how you liked them. You need to pick, and soon. I want to spend the summer getting it ready together.”
“Jeez,” she huffs. “This is too much pressure.”
“Is it, though?” I goad her. “You’re getting free rein to buy a place in New York City. Tell me which one you loved most. If you didn’t like any, I’ll have the realtor send us more.” She doesn’t answer, but I know she hasn’t hung up. “We need to live somewhere.”
“Well, what one do you like best?”
“Truly, I like them all, but the one that borders the West Village and SoHo has two penthouses on the top floor. Leo can buy the other one with his inheritance. Real estate is a great investment, and Mom and Dad agree.”
“Are you only saying it because you know I love the lofty feel?”
“No, truly, I’d hate to move away from my brother, plus one day, when we’re business owners, we’ll be working together nonstop. It’ll make it easy to get shit done.”
“It was my favorite,” she whispers, as if I didn’t know that already.
“Then I’m going to put an offer in. I’m sure we’ll get a deal if Leo pulls the trigger, too.”
“I don’t know what to say…”
My phone beeps, and I see that it’s Mason.
I send it to voicemail. This isn’t the time to cut off our conversation.
“Say nothing. Tell me more about your day. How was yesterday with my sister?”
“Oh, we had the best time. Camila brought me to the Met, and oh my god, I’m in love. Then we went downtown to a comedy club in the Village. Remind me why I didn’t go to school here?”
“Because USC has an amazing B.Arch program, they offered you a full ride, and I’m here.”
“Oh, yeah, that.” I can hear the smile in her voice. “I wish I had a few more days here.”
“So stay. You know Mom would love to have you longer.”
“I have class.”
“Yes, Maddie. I’m well aware.” I roll my eyes to myself. “How could I ever think you’d miss a day?”
“Don’t make fun of me!”
“It’s the end of the school year. You’re not missing anything important. Be a rebel. Miss one day. I dare you.” She hesitates, and I have a feeling she might say yes, so I add one more thing to sweeten the deal. “You know my sister misses you.”
“You think it would be okay?”
I almost trip over my shorts, shocked she’s really going to do it.
“Without a doubt. It’s been four years, and you’ve missed two classes.”
“Four,” she corrects.
“You had the flu and had to go to the hospital. I think it’s excused.”
“All right. Yeah, let me make sure Camila is around. Addie left for a work trip with her mom this morning.”
My phone pings, and it’s Mase again. “Your brother is calling. He’s called a few times.”
“You can take it. I’m meeting your mom and sister now for lunch.”
“Okay, have fun. Tell them I say hi. Love you, call me tonight.”
“Love you, too!” She smacks her lips together, then hangs up.
The second I pull the phone away from my ear, it rings again.
What the hell?
“Yo.”
“Hey. You on campus?”
“No, why?”
“I’m here. Wanted to meet up.”
I narrow my eyes and look down at the phone. “You’re here and want to meet up. What the fuck does that mean? Sounds more like a booty call. Are you not getting your dick sucked enough, rookie?”
“You’re hanging out with your brother too much. I had to fly out for something and was in the area.”
He’s being vague, and I have no clue why.
“I have a team lunch. Meet me back at my place in like two or three hours.”
“Sounds good.” He hangs up, and I stand there staring at my phone, completely fucking confused.
I throw my car keys in the bowl by the front door and kick off my sneakers.
“Mase?” I call out.
“In the kitchen.”
I walk in to see him raiding our fridge. “Help yourself.”
“Already did.” He walks out into the living room and plops his body onto the sofa.
“Dude. You’re being fucking weird.”
His eyes connect with mine as he shoves popcorn in his face, and I realize now that it’s not him, the massive food-pit professional football player, eating my food.
It’s my best friend, who is stress eating, something his sister does often.
“Did you tell Maddie I’m here?”
“No, I spoke to her earlier, never had a chance.”
He blows out a deep breath.
“Mason!” I snap. My patience is about done.
“Do you love my sister?”
I cross my arms and lean against the wall. “Are you high or something? I never took you to ask stupid fucking questions.”
“But how much? Enough to give it all up if it’s what’s best for her?”
My heart drops to the pit of my stomach. “What the hell are you trying to say?”
He sits up taller and looks me dead in the eye.
“I think you need to break up with Madeline.”