“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.”
“I think I’m more excited than she is.” My lips lift in a wide smile. “We can watch theseKPop Demon HuntersI know nothing about.”
“Better you than me.”
“And me,” Seb adds. “I can recite the whole movie in my sleep.”
“What are you all having? Should we order for the table?” Leo asks.
“Fine with me. I eat everything.” Everyone agrees, and as Leo reads over the menu suggesting options, I take in our surroundings.
The restaurant is unique, almost as if we’re sitting inside a curated beach shop.
But not one you see with trinkets and town sweatshirts; instead, an upscale store with precisely placed driftwood, expensive pottery and furniture, and even gorgeous clothing, like kaftans, hanging as art.
There’s rattan everywhere and white lines flowing from the open windows.
There’s a beautiful patio off to the side, with greenery filling the space and stringed lights.
“It’s owned by a fashion designer,” Juliette says as she sits down. “You can buy anything you see.”
“Smart concept.”
“It’s one of our favorite restaurants.”
“Do you guys come out here often?” I ask.
She nods enthusiastically. “I love it here. If I weren’t a city girl at heart, I could live out here all year round.”
“You’re from the city like the guys are, right?”
“Born and raised.”
“Lucky.” I smile. “That’s me when I come back in a different life.”
“Well, you’re here now. Tell me about work.” She leans in and whispers, “I heard Leo is an asshole.”
Nate pours me a glass of wine, and I sip it before spilling the gossip. “You have no idea. I was shocked. Look at him.”
