The Cursed Series, Parts 3 & 4 (Cursed #3-4) - Rebecca Donovan Page 0,158
know if that was an attractive quality to most guys.”
Kaden scoots his chair closer and lifts my legs onto his lap. Caressing my ankle with his thumb, he says, “Maggie is … a lot. And she’s fun to have around. But she’s nothing like you. And you’re the girl I’m in love with. So that’s not a question I can answer.”
I smile, feeling foolish for asking Kaden’s opinion about my friend.
“Did she really stay at the cottage?” I ask, knowing how late it was when I snuck back into the house. I can’t imagine what time she appeared at his door.
“She’s crashed on the roof on and off throughout the summer. Says her mother will kill her if she shows up drunk and begs me to let her lie under the stars. Other times, I think she stows away on unoccupied sailboats down at the harbor.” Kaden shakes his head, laughing at the thought. “She’s definitely daring. I would never have the nerve to do that.”
When Olivia steps outside, I quickly pull my legs off Kaden’s lap. My shyness just adds to the list of differences between me and Maggie.
Maggie graduated this year and has plans to travel. She has a collection of maps for countries around the world, with routes already plotted out. She’s been accumulating travel guides and backpacking gear for years.
I know exactly where I’m going when I graduate. Kaden and I have our entire lives planned out. Together. And that’s what’s going to get me through our time apart. To hell with Damon’s conjecture. Kaden and I are in this life together. My heart skips a beat, just thinking about it. What an amazing life it’ll be.
After two days of building sand castles on the beach, bike rides across the island and laughing ’til my stomach ached, it was our last day together on the island, and I was holding on to it with both hands, afraid of letting go. But that’s the fault with fear—if you hold on too tightly, something is bound to crack.
Niall takes Nick, Damon and Isaac out on the boat for one last sail while Olivia, Julia and I stay behind to prepare the food for the picnic. Kaden sets up the lawn games with “help” from Parker, who mostly points at where everything should go while eating his snacks.
“I wanted to take advantage of the lawn one last time before they break ground for the pool next week,” Olivia says, lining up sliced watermelon on a white porcelain platter painted with green ivy along its edges.
“You don’t want the pool?” Julia inquires, rinsing a colander filled with strawberries.
I remain quiet on the far side of the kitchen island, creating a charcuterie board inspired by a picture I found in a magazine. It’s intricately involved with rolled meats and sprinklings of nuts to resemble an artistic culinary display. I’m dedicated to the task, wanting to impress Olivia. I don’t know why exactly, but her approval and acceptance mean more to me than anyone’s.
“Oh, I do. It’ll be better for the kids when the ocean’s too rough. Closer and less messy too. But I love having the lawn. I know; I’m acting spoiled.” Olivia places the marinating steak in the refrigerator and removes the parchment package of fresh scallops to prepare ceviche.
Julia laughs. “Don’t apologize. My father-in-law had an entire building torn down because it was obstructing his view of Lake Michigan. That is spoiled.”
And forced his son to marry you, so he could acquire your father’s business, I say to myself, having spoken more to Damon over the weekend about the forces that brought him and Julia together despite his misgivings.
“Where are you from?” I ask, having assumed she lived in New York like everyone else the family knows since that’s where the Harrisons originated.
“Chicago,” she answers, focusing on slicing strawberries without glancing my way.
“Damon as well?” I ask, trying to engage.
But she’s not having it. I wonder if I’ve offended her in some way. Or maybe she’s seen Damon and me speaking on occasion and made reprehensible assumptions.
“Yes.” Her answer is short.
It’s evident he’s a topic she’d rather not discuss. It’s been obvious to everyone that the two of them have a peculiar, if not strained, relationship. They don’t try to falsify their lack of affections for each other. I don’t think I’ve seen them alone together since Julia arrived Friday morning. Damon still sleeps in the pool house while his wife stays in a guest room upstairs.