Chapter 28
Maddie
I link my fingers with Nate’s and squeeze as he leads us to the bedroom. “Don’t be grumpy.”
“It’s fine,” he mutters.
“I missed them, too, you know? Your family is one of my favorite things about you.”
“You have questionable taste,” he laughs out and goes to close the bedroom door, but Skye is right behind him. “Huh.”
“What?” I glance down at her.
“When Claud is around, Skye is usually attached to her.”
My hand runs the length of her back. “I told you she knows her mom is here now.”
Nate leans down and kisses one of my dimples, and then we quickly change. I check the weather and see it’s still warm out.
“Do you think we’ll be out long? Should I bring something warmer?”
He takes in my wide-legged jeans and light sweater, then looks out the window toward the driveway and nods. “They have the tops down. You’ll be cold even with the heat blasting.”
“Oh, fun.” I grab a jacket and bounce down the stairs, excited. Crouching, I give Skye a million kisses as I say goodbye, then head outside.
“Aunt Maddie, you’re with us in the fun car!” Claud is beaming, and I’m hit with a quick flashback of my best friend.
Camila was hanging out the window at the airport, picking up Nate, Leo, and me when we landed one summer.
She was so excited because she’d just gotten her license.
As someone who grew up in New York City, she never needed it before and thought she was hot shit. Little did she know Javier was going to kill her when she got home for taking his car without asking.
But it was still worth the fun.
Her hair was in pigtails, just like Claud’s, and her smile matched hers, too. I’ve noticed that as Claudina has grown, her voice is even sounding more like Camila’s.
Juliette waves me over. “You can sit in the front with me. Let the boys sit in the back.”
“Yesss. Uncle sandwich.”
“Did you say knuckle sandwich?” Leo narrows his eyes playfully, making a fist.
“Uncle Leoooo.” Claud laughs. “I said uncle.”
“Wooo.” He blows out a breath. “I didn’t want to have to beat anyone up.”
My neck arches to look at him, and I grin. He’s a good uncle.
They all are.
Camila would be proud of how Claud is being raised.
Nate locks up, then jumps in on the other side of Claud’s booster seat and gives her a big wet kiss on the cheek.
We’re driving the vintage Land Rover Defender, and like a Jeep Wrangler, the sides are off.
Harrison is driving his two-seater Bugatti convertible, slowly reversing to park next to us. Seb is riding shotgun.
“Jules, drive slow with the sides off.”
She glares. “H, will you calm down?” She revs her engine again, then his eyes widen when we fly down the driveway.
Nate barks out a laugh. “He’s going to shi—poop his pants.”
“For sure. He needs to lighten up.”
That makes me giggle. “Even at sixteen, I knew Harrison was uptight. He’s not changed at all.”
“Can you put on the Moonlight Song, please?” Claud calls from the back. “The fast one, not the slow one.”
Juliette knows exactly what she’s talking about and puts on “Dancing in the Moonlight.”
“My dad and I used to dance to this when I was younger. Well, compared to the slower version by King Harvest, this one is a little more upbeat by Jubel,” she tells me. “He passed away a few years ago.”
“Oh.” My face drops. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I miss him dearly, but what’s important is keeping his memory alive. Claud, Harrison, and I dance to it often enough.” She smiles and cranks the music.
It seems like everyone in the car knows all the words, singing together, and it’s just another reminder of how close they all are.
Nate’s looking at me through the rearview mirror with a soft, loving expression as he reaches out his hand over my seat.
I link around my finger, and he holds me as we all rock to the music.
“Yessss!” Claud yells as the song changes. “KPop Demon Hunters.”
“What’s that?”
Claudina’s eyes bug out. “You don’t know the song ‘Soda Pop’?”
“Aunt Maddie, you’ve got to get with the program,” Leo mocks, then starts to shout out the words.
We pull up to the light as we approach Sag Harbor again, and Harrison is shaking his head at all of us.
Then the chorus hits.
And everyone, including Seb and Harrison, belts out, “You’re my soda pop.”
They all dance, and even Seb gives a little wiggle.
I catch Juliette glancing back at Leo and Nate through the window, giving them a look, and I wonder what that’s all about.
“You’re in a turning lane,” Juliette yells.
Harrison smirks. “I’m aware,” he yells as the light turns green, flooring it to fly in front of us.
Ten seconds later, sirens go off, and a cop car zooms past us and pulls over Harrison.
Nate and Leo burst out laughing, unable to control themselves.
“Oh, no.” Claud worries, her bottom lip curling. “Is Daddy in trouble?”
“He’ll be okay, Sugar Plum, don’t worry,” Juliette answers, then honks the horn as we pass, blowing a kiss in Harrison’s direction, holding in her own laughter for Claude’s sake.
Nate and Leo yell out something I can’t make out, but I know they’re never going to let him live this down.
“Hey.” I tug on Nate’s arm as we exit the car, curiosity lacing my voice. “What was that look you all shared when Seb started dancing in the car?”
He glances around to make sure no one’s within earshot. “It was the first time I’ve seen a glimpse of the old version of my brother since Camila died. You remember, he’s always been a grumpy bastard, but when he and Harrison were together, he was different. Fun.”
“That makes me happy. I love Sebastian.”
Nate nods. “He started seeing a new therapist last year. It’s like he’s rediscovering himself.”
Leo saunters over. “It’s the pen pal girl.”
My ears perk with interest. “Pen pal girl?”
Nate’s lips twitch. “Seb’s cagey about it, but apparently his therapist matched him with an anonymous pen pal. Said it might help him open up when talking feels too heavy. Writing makes it easier for him to get things out, and I think it’s working.”
“Who is she?”
Leo’s shoulders lift as he fills me in. “It’s all anonymous. They don’t even share names.”
When we see Harrison finally pull up, the guys go wild, cutting our conversation short, even Juliette can’t keep herself composed.
“Woop-woop, that’s the sound of da police,” Leo sings the ever-so-popular nineties song.
As I watch from a distance, I feel someone behind me, but when I spin around, no one’s there, not even in the near vicinity.
“What’s wrong?” Seb’s voice causes me to jump.
I throw my hand over my chest to catch my breath. “Jeez. You scared me.”
“You were looking around, already scared. What spooked you?” He narrows his eyes, eyeing where I was looking.
“Nothing. Seriously.” I link our arms. “Let’s go inside.”
He stands tall, not moving, and usually I’m strong enough, but Seb is built like a brick. He might not be as strong as my brother, but he’s definitely taller than him.
“I’m not leaving until you tell me why your face dropped like that.”
“You’re infuriating. When the hell did you get so intuitive?”
“Madeline…”
I huff out a breath. “It felt like someone was staring at me. No one was there, though.” My attention is on Nate walking over to us.
“He’ll get all neurotic and have this whole town shut down.
Don’t say a word. It was probably some stupid pap trying to get a picture.
Nathanial Davenport, back with his poor, pathetic Georgia peach. Did you see those articles?”
He gulps and nods. “Fuck them.”
“Low lifes. Let’s get inside before an article comes out about how I’m now dating you.”
I pull him along, then link my other arm with Nate’s, smiling up at him, reassuring him all is okay.
When we walk into the restaurant, heads turn. It doesn’t matter that we’re here for the early bird special; the place is packed, and we’re the center of attention.
I duck my head, hating having eyes on me.
This is the one negative of being around the brothers, and not only with them, but also with my brother.
Their wealth and last name turn heads, but with the four of them together, it doesn’t matter who they are. Four gorgeous men, well-dressed, fit, standing over six feet tall, would get looks from anyone.
There’s no escaping it, but it still makes me uncomfortable.
When I discreetly glance at Juliette, who has Claud tucked into her side, covering her face, and her head bowed, it makes me feel that much better; she doesn’t seem comfortable either.
“This way, please.” The hostess swiftly escorts us to a table in the back corner, as secluded as possible. “I’m so sorry, our only private room is taken for this evening. Please let me know if there is anything else I can help with, Mr. Davenport,” she says to Harrison, then runs off.
“You scared her off,” I tease him.
Harrison chuckles. “I didn’t get one word in; she ran off before I could even say thank you.”
Claud pats a seat next to her, and I gladly take it. She tells Uncle Sebby to take the one on the other side of her.
“Why don’t you want to sit next to me?” Nate pouts.
“Because I get to sleep in your room tonight.”
“Shit,” Harrison mumbles. “Claud, not tonight, angel. Aunt Maddie is going to sleep in Uncle Nate’s room.”
Her eyes begin to well up. “Uncle Nate, but you said.”
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“Sometimes I have a sleepover with Uncle Nate. He promised I can sleep in his bed next time.”
“Oh, little one. You can still have a sleepover. I’ll sleep in the guest room.”
She wipes her eyes. “You don’t want to sleep with us? I can sleep in the middle like I do in Mommy and Daddy’s bed.”
“Sure. We can have a sleepover. All three of us.” I lean over and cuddle her.
“Claud, let’s go wash up before dinner.” Juliette stands and holds out her hand, waiting for Claud as she jumps off her seat.
“Thank you for that,” Harrison says when they walk off. “She’s ecstatic for the new baby, but she’s been clingier than ever the past week. I don’t want her to feel like she’s being pushed aside. She’ll love spending time with both of you tonight.”