“Oh she is! And Aspen is just such a good mama,” Lucy gushes. “A true natural, like Logan is a natural at being a dad to River.”
She beams at her son and he grins sheepishly at her praise.
“I’m a really good dad to Cat Damon,” Finn announces, and I wonder what the hell he’s talking about.
Lucy huffs out an unimpressed sound and pats his hand as she settles into the stool next to me. “Not the same. But if you get Nova pregnant, I’ll praise you too.”
Finn looks horrified she just said that out loud. Logan barks out a laugh.
“Abbott, can you tell us why you’re here so Ma doesn’t say anything else that makes me wanna die of embarrassment?” Finn requests.
“What about Charlie and Declan?”
“Dad is cleaning up the boat,” Terra informs me. Then she takes a deep breath and hollers, “Deck! I said get out here!”
All the customers in the place jump, I swear. Lucy shushes Terra, annoyed. But no one else seems to mind and the customers settle back into their dishes immediately. This chaos is exactly what I love about the Hawkins Lobster Shack, and the Hawkins family in general. Before I can even smile at the thought, the swinging door to the kitchen opens and Declan is standing there. Our eyes lock immediately.
He’s wearing a pair of battered old jeans and a white, form-fitting tank that’s damp with sweat or sea water - or both. And his hands are covered in thick gloves. His hair, which he’s neglected to cut since he came back to town and is starting to look like a homeless surfer dude’s, is also a little wet. “Hey.”
I nod. “Hey. Morning.”
He turns to his brother. “Sea was choppy as f… fudge today.”
Logan smiles at Declan trying to curb the swearing in front of their mother who hates it. “Dad do okay with his knee and everything?”
Declan nods. “You know him. He won’t tell me even if it hurts. Anyway, we didn’t catch as much as I’d hoped but it should get us through the day.”
“Cool.” Logan nods.
“You go out on the boat now?” I ask because Declan was never really into that aspect of their family business. He was all about the business end. Marketing and advertising and sales.
“I do whatever needs to be done,” Declan says tersely.
I feel the eyes of every present Hawkins shift to me. I know they’re expecting me to look shocked. Itisshocking. Declan has never been one to not interfere. He’s domineering and always thinks he knows best. Except in bed. But of course, no one knows I know that. I clear my throat and nod and change the subject. “Should I wait for your dad to be done with the boat? Will he be long?”
“Just shoot,” Lucy says with a smile.”
The brothers fold their arms at the same time, but Logan does it casually and Declan does it defensively.
“I know Charlie doesn’t like to get involved in anything but the fishing, so I’ll just ask you guys for now,” I say and take a deep breath. “I want to spend my day with the Cup here.”
“What?” Declan barks in horror.
“Seriously?” Logan asks in awe.
“Cool!” Terra squeals.
“Hell yeah!” Finn claps.
Talk about a mixed bag, I think wryly. “Yeah, I mean you guys… this place and your family, were a big part of my younger years. I used to come here after every practice for a milkshake. Your mom used to let me put my protein powder in it. In fact, she started keeping some behind the bar so I didn’t even have to bring my own. And like, you guys always supported me.”
I can feel Declan’s eyes boring into me but I keep my own gaze firmly on the rest of them. The rest of them don’t look like they want to kill me. In fact, everyone looks thrilled. Lucy grasps my hand between her tiny little warm ones. “Abbott, it’s an honor. We would be thrilled to host your day here.”
“We should take a family vote,” Declan interjects, and his family turns to stare at him in confusion. “It’s a family business. Everyone should have a say. It’ll be a shit show. The whole town will show up. The press. And not just the local press but national. It’s a big deal.”
“Yeah, a big deal for your best friend,” Logan replies, and the confusion is thick in his tone. “You never missed one of his games growing up.”
Declan’s eyes get stormy and I can see the muscles in his long, tanned neck bulging as he clenches his teeth. I jump in before he gets more angry or flustered. “It makes sense though, to ask everyone. That’s why I’m here. I wanted to present the idea in person.”
