Page 101 of Terms + Conditions
“That’s a little suspicious, right? I mean, it’s almost been a week. Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, for godsake.”
I shrug. “A little, but Brie says she’s hard to get ahold of—something about her job.”
Nick taps the neck of his beer bottle, sorting through the thoughts running through his mind. “Suspicious.”
“What’s suspicious?” Alex asks, joining us in the loft.
We flew home two days ago, and today, everyone descended on the Jupiter Beach house. It was good to be back, but I don’t think anyone was more excited than Bear. As soon as Elizabeth unlocked the door the other night, he ran inside, curled up on his bed in the living room, and went to sleep. Nina had stayed in New York with Elena—she and Kai had some work to get done this week before some big meeting at the beginning of the year—but Finn and Michaela had come with us. They planned to stay through the new year. Alex and Lara, too. Nick was supposed to fly back to New York tomorrow night so he could be with his girls going into the new year.
“Josh hasn’t been able to get ahold of Brie’s mother,” Nick says.
“Dude, it’s been like a week since she showed up.”
“That’s what I said.” Nick points at his brother but looks at me. “See, I’m not the only one who thinks so! The whole thing is suspicious.”
“Well, what do you want me to do about it?” I ask, looking between them. I can’t throw Brie out on the street. She’s a fifteen-year-old girl.
“How do you know this girl isn’t some psychopath?” Alex takes a tug on his beer and grabs a handful of stale popcorn from the bowl on the table.
“What does she have to gain? It’s not likeI’mthe one married to Nina.”
“No, but you’re related, and it’s not like Elizabeth is too far off,” Nick says, and it makes me think of the comment Brie made when I asked how she found me.
It’s not hard when you’re related to people like the Villas.
Shit. Maybe they were on to something.
“Look, we’re not saying that’s what she is, but you have to consider all the options,” Alex adds. “Where is she anyway?”
“Mom and Dad took her to lunch.” My parents had just come down for the day, arriving late last night so Mom could make breakfast this morning before they took Brie into town and then head home before it got too late. Didn’t even ask if Michaela or I wanted to join them…I guess this is how it’s going to be from now on. Their focus has shifted from me and Michaela to their granddaughter…if she really is their granddaughter.
“What do they think about all this?” Nick asks.
“A little suspicious, but they seem into it. It’s not like they have any other grandchildren or signs of getting them anytime soon.”
They had been getting along well since Brie showed up, but I could sense some hesitation on Dad’s part. While Mom had been excited to have someone else to spoil, Dad kept a polite distance.
“Michaela and Finn might—”
“Be serious, Alex.” I stop him. “They aren’t jumping on the kid boat anytime soon. They just got engaged.”
At least that’s what I’m telling myself.
A silence falls between us, the only sounds from the football game projected on the screen. Buccs versus the Panthers. The third story has a loft that Elizabeth had turned into a movie room fitted with a large screen, a projector, and surround sound. When Alex saw it, he salivated at the idea of watching football games up here.
“You gotta get ahold of this girl’s mother,” Nick says after a minute. He stares blankly at the screen, his thumb tracing the rim of the beer bottle. “You have to find out what’s going on. You don’t want to be caught off guard.”
“I don’t think Juliet would do something like this just for shits and giggles.” I scratch at the label on my bottle. “She was nice—”
“Not enough to keep in touch, though,” Alex quips. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, dude. You don’t even know for sure if she’s your daughter.”
Nick takes a sip of beer and says, “Yeah, Juliet was chill, but—”
“You know her?” Alex seems confused.
“I was there.” Nick shrugs before a smirk tugs on his lips probably thinking about his own memories of that week. “Spring break twenty-ten was a good ol’ time.”
“Do you potentially have a daughter out there we need to look into?”
