Chapter 30: Madeline
By the next morning, I’d resigned myself to the desk.
Reid’s instructions had been clear, and I’d obeyed them—though not without quiet resentment. I dove into the data, combing through numbers until my eyes blurred. Still, I couldn’t deny it: the deeper I looked, the more things I found. Patterns. Inconsistencies. A few curious anomalies that I knew I’d have to bring up sooner or later—if Reid ever decided to speak to me for more than thirty seconds. Or maybe with his brother, if I ever got the chance to meet him.
Turns out, that chance didn’t come.
The rest of the week dragged on in the same frustrating rhythm. Thursday, Reid found another excuse. Friday too. Each morning, I showed up at the dock, hopeful, ready—only to be turned back, assigned another round of analysis. He didn’t even glance at me when he dismissed me, like I was just another task to be filed away.
And yes, I had to admit it: the data mattered. I was learning things. Important things. But part of me couldn’t shake the worry that this feud, whatever it was between us, would sink me here before I ever had a chance to prove myself.
By Saturday morning, the knot in my chest had hardened into something almost permanent.
When I padded into the kitchen, expecting to find it empty and still, I nearly tripped over myself. Finn, Liam, and Charlie were already there—wide awake, voices bright.
I blink. “You’re all up already?”
“Already?” Charlie laughs, shaking her head. “Mads, it’s nine.”
“We’re used to five a.m.,” Liam adds, running a hand through his hair. He looks almost apologetic about it. “Sleeping in just… doesn’t really happen anymore.”
“Especially not today,” Charlie chimes, a grin tugging at her lips.
“Why? What’s today?” I ask, still foggy, still clutching my mug like a lifeline.
Finn swivels toward me, dragging his chair close until he’s only inches away. The move makes my heart skip, and I’m suddenly aware of how close his knee is to mine. His grin is wicked, knowing.
“This, Madeline,” he says, leaning in conspiratorially, “is what happens when the weather forecast announces a warm day in Northhaven.”
I frown, skeptical, and reach for my phone. The screen lights up, and sure enough: sun all day, twenty-two degrees.
Real summer.
“Oh,” I breathe, almost laughing. “That’s actually—”
“A miracle,” Liam cuts in, eyes wide. “A straight-up miracle.”
“It means we get to pretend we don’t live in the Arctic for once,” Charlie adds, waving a hand in the direction of all the jackets hanging on the wall.
Finn’s smile only widens. “Summer here usually feels like fall, Quinn. But on the rare occasion the gods bless us, we get a day like today. And we’re off.”
“All of you?”
“All of us,” Liam confirms, his excitement shining through. “The boats don’t go out. We actually get to… enjoy it.”
Charlie rolls her eyes fondly. “Translation: everyone in this house is about to turn into sun-starved lunatics.”
Finn smirks at me, dropping his voice just slightly. “And you, new girl, are about to see what Northhaven calls a good time.”
The way he says it—teasing, playful, almost flirtatious—makes my cheeks warm.
“So what’s the plan?” I ask, half-expecting something low-key, like reading on the porch or maybe just not working for once.
Charlie grins like she’s been waiting for me to ask. “Swimsuits, fruit, taffy, iced coffees, and then straight to the beach.” She’s so excited she’s practically bouncing on her toes.
The sight of her makes me laugh—really laugh—for the first time in days. “You’ve clearly done this before.”
“Not enough,” she says, pressing her palms together dramatically. “Trust me, these days are rare. We make the most of them.”
I smile wide… until the thought hits me. “Uh—problem. I didn’t bring a swimsuit.”
Charlie waves her hand like that’s nothing. “I’ve got you covered. Literally. Come on.”
We head upstairs to her room, where she rifles through a drawer with the confidence of someone who already knows exactly what she’s going to pull out.
And when she turns around, holding it up, my eyes widen. “No way.”
It’s a bikini. Not just any bikini—a two-piece, ocean-blue, tiny enough that I’m pretty sure it should come with a warning label.
“Oh yes,” Charlie insists, smirking. “Perfect for you. But if you really hate it, keep a shirt on. Problem solved.”
I stare at the thing like it might bite me. But she’s already pressing it into my hands, and I can tell there’s no winning against Charlie’s determination.
Back in my room, I put it on, tugging at the straps like they’ll magically grow into something modest. No luck. With a sigh, I dig out the only pair of striped shorts I packed—thin cotton, barely mid-thigh—and pull them over the bottoms. Then I grab a plain, tight white t-shirt, and pull it over my head.
I let my hair down, shake it out, and sling a canvas tote over my shoulder. I almost don’t recognize myself in the mirror—sun-day Madeline, instead of wind-bitten, data-staring Madeline.
When I head downstairs, the guys are already in shorts and tank tops, laughing over something. Liam spots me first.
He lets out a long whistle. “That’s what I’m talking about. Summer, baby!”
My face flames instantly, though his grin is so wide and boyish I know he means it in the most harmless, bro-y way possible.
Finn nudges him with an elbow. “Easy, Liam. You’ll scare her back into the lab.”
But they’re both grinning, and the whole scene feels surreal—like we’ve stepped out of Northhaven’s usual gray, wind-cutting world and straight into someone else’s summer.
Charlie appears like she’s been summoned by the sun itself. Cut-off jean shorts, a black bikini underneath, and a loose white shirt so thin it’s practically see-through. Her hair is pulled up in a messy knot that somehow looks perfect, and oversized sunglasses cover half her face. She plants one hand on the railing, the other on her hip, and beams at us like we’re already late to something important.
“Let’s gooo!” she declares, voice echoing off the walls. She throws her tote bag over her shoulder with a dramatic flourish. “The sun’s not going to wait around while you all stand here gawking. We’ve got fruit to buy and sand to stretch out on.”
Finn leans back in his chair, grinning. “You’d think she personally negotiated the forecast with Mother Nature.”
Charlie points a finger at him, mock-deadly serious. “Maybe I did.”
Liam laughs, already shoving his feet into sandals. “She’s not kidding. Last time we had a day like this, she set three alarms so no one could miss it.”
“Worth it,” Charlie fires back, striding toward the door like a general leading her troops.
I can’t help smiling at the whole scene, the way her energy fills the house until it’s impossible not to get swept up in it.
“Beach day, baby!” Liam whoops, slapping the doorframe on his way out.
Finn pushes off from the table, coming close enough to brush past me, his shoulder bumping mine on purpose. “Ready, new girl?” he teases, voice pitched low, like the joke’s just for me.
I duck my head, trying not to laugh, but the corners of my mouth betray me. “As I’ll ever be.”
And just like that, the four of us are spilling out into the bright morning.