Page 154 of Kade

Logan pushed up from his seat. “I got it.”

“Logan,” I started to say.

He was already heading for the cooler, and waved me off, shooting me a small frown. “I’m good. Monroe? Beer?”

Channing had returned to watching Maddy and Max but raised his empty beer in the air. “Please.” His eyes never left our kids.

Nate noticed, his eyes jumping to me as I took my seat again. “How, uh,” Nate started. “How’s that going?”

It took a little bit before Channing realized the question wasn’t for me.

He jerked his head to him, sitting up straighter. “Me?” He cast me a glance, rubbing a hand over his face. I saw the shadows there. He was concerned, more than he’d expressed to me.

I tipped my chin to him. “You can be honest. She is my kid, but I’m not blind.”

He still hesitated before shrugging. “I don’t think it matters what any of us think. Your kid shows her obsession more, but trust me, Max is just as fixated on Maddy.”

I leaned forward, needing to know. “Chan.”

He looked my way. Held my gaze.

“Do you want them to back off?”

He considered my question for a beat before saying anything. When he spoke, his forehead tipped forward a little. “Am I concerned about how tight they are at this age? Fuck yes. Am I getting alarms to the point where I think we need to move in and do something about it? Honestly, no.”

Some of my tension eased in my chest.

“It’d be different if Max wasn’t all in too. Though, I don’t think Maddy would be as obsessed if he wasn’t. It’s both of them and if it came down to it, if we put our foot down and insisted they don’t get as serious as they are, I think the problem wouldn’t be your kid. It’d be Max. Maddy shows her heart on her sleeve. She’s almost proud of it. Max keeps it contained inside of him. They counter each other out, and fuck, like I can talk about childhood sweethearts.” He looked in the direction Heather and Sam were now coming from the house.

They weren’t alone. Brett Broudou, his wife, and his niece were also in attendance.

“Stevie!” Maddy saw them at the same time, waving. She pushed off of Max, swam to the edge, and pulled herself up. Steele was there, handing her a towel. When it wasn’t big enough to completely cover her, he snatched it away with a scowl, and shoved a blanket at her instead. She laughed at him, but held the blanket wrapped around her. She made her way over to Stevie, smiling politely at Brett and his wife before tugging Stevie in the direction of the food and beverages.

“That’s new,” Logan noted, returning at that time with two beers. He handed one to Nate, one to Channing, and placed the other items in his hand on the table. Two glasses and a bottle of bourbon.

He winked at me before pouring one for me, one for him.

Brett found us by then.

Logan held up the bottle. “You want to join? Or do you want a beer?”

Brett hesitated, before his face cleared and he shook his head. “I’m good for now. I might grab a beer later.”

I’d gone back to watching Maddy as she and Stevie were filling up their plates with food. Maddy looked to be talking her ear off. I couldn’t tell how Brett’s niece felt about that.

I indicated them. “Did she want to come today?”

He twisted in his seat so he could see them as well. “She did. She’s the one who brought it up, said your kid extended an invite.”

“What’s your read on the situation?”

He shrugged. “Stevie’s been through shit, a lot of shit. She’s always going to be cautious, but her being here says a lot.” His eyes flicked in Channing’s direction. “She likes your kid. Says she trusts him. Stevie doesn’t trust so I think that’s also part of the reason she’s here.”

Channing smirked, lifting his beer for a drink. “Everyone trusts Max. Everyone loves Max. Only a few actually know him. It’s how he wants it.”

Nate met my gaze, frowning a little, but there was also amusement on his face too.

“We’re moving back.”

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