Page 16 of Made For You

VIVIENNE

“Okay,I’m going to admit something,” my brother, Cooper, says from one of the sun pads he’s sitting up on. The same one I have my coffee on every morning. Erika is in the middle of his legs, leaning back on him. Franny and Wilson sit on the other sun pad in the same position. They all look forward to the water.

“I’m all ears,” I say from the front of the boat, where I sit with my legs crossed. My parents went for a walk with Chase and Julia after the massive breakfast we had. It took way too long to prepare, but then we sat out on the back deck and ate at the small table I have. Most of us sat on the bench in front of the table and ate with the plate on our laps. It was just like camping, except better.

“This is relaxing,” he admits, and I smile at him. “I get the hype now.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” I tell them, looking over my shoulder. “Wait until we take her out into the water.”

“When can we do that?” Franny asks me.

“How long are you in town for?” I ask her, and she looks at Wilson.

“We leave today at three.”

“That’s in like two hours.” I laugh at her, and she sits up.

“I know, but I didn’t want not to be here in case there was drama.” She throws her hands up in the air. “This went a lot smoother than I thought it was going to go.”

I laugh at her, picking up my cup of coffee beside me. “Of course it went smooth. Why wouldn’t it go smooth?”

Erika holds up her hand. “I can give you one reason: Matthew Grant.”

I laugh. “He was skeptical, but he turned around,” I reply nervously, hoping that it’s true. Cooper and Franny now both laugh.

“The only way he’s going to be at ease is if he can park his boat next to yours,” Cooper states.

“And then hire people to sit on it and watch you,” Franny continues for him.

“Well, he can’t take the spot.” I shrug. “It’s taken, and from what I heard, this yacht club is full for the year, and there is a waiting list.” I drink another sip, my mouth becoming suddenly dry. “The only reason I got in was that the person who owned this boat before me had this dock slip for the last three years.”

“I want a boat,” Franny says, and Wilson groans.

“How about we just come here when you want a boat?” Wilson suggests.

“That’s a no.” I shake my head. “I don’t want you two defacing my spare bedroom.”

“We won’t have sex in the bed,” Franny says, smirking. “We can have sex in the captain’s chair.”

“Can we not, for the love of God, talk about the sex you have with my sister?” Cooper pleads. “I’m trying to enjoy my quiet time.”

All I can do is laugh at him, then I look over and see my father walking back with Chase followed by my mom and Julia. “How do you think Dad feels being without Uncle Max?”

“Like he lost a limb,” Cooper states. “I swear he wanted to FaceTime him this morning at like six when he woke up.”

“He must have called me Max,” Wilson says, “six times before I finally said, I’m Wilson.”

We all laugh, and he looks up from the dock. “What are you guys laughing at?”

“You,” I reply. He just glares, walks onto the boat, and comes up the stairs and then stands on the bridge looking out.

Chase walks past him and comes down to the front, sitting next to me. “How was the walk?”

“Do you want the good news or the bad news?” He looks at me, and I’m afraid to even answer him. Julia comes over and sits next to him. “The good news is he stopped every single person he saw out on their boat.”

“He did not.” I gasp, looking at Chase and then at my father.

“Oh, but he did.” Julia chuckles, tying her hair on top of her head.

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