Chapter 178: Jake
When we finally get back to the house, I know something’s off before I even open the door. The air has that... static tension, like someone’s already argued and no one wants to talk about it.
I push the door open with my elbow—arms still full of bags—and step in. It’s quiet. Too quiet, considering how chaotic this group usually is.
Only Finn and Sloane are in the living room. He’s sitting on the arm of the couch, posture stiff, hands clasped like he’s trying not to start sweating. Sloane’s at the far end, legs crossed, arms folded, face like stone. No one’s talking.
I drop the bags by the wall. “Where’s Reid?”
Finn looks up, relieved to have a reason to speak. “Not back yet.”
Charlie walks in behind me and glances around. “And Madeline?”
Finn shrugs and scratches the back of his neck. “Uh… something about a cat.”
We all kind of blink at him.
“A what?” Liam asks, already laughing.
Finn cracks a small smile. “Yeah. Our girl’s apparently obsessed with animals. Even the ones that don’t swim.”
That makes all of us laugh, except for Sloane, who just exhales like we’re all wasting her time by breathing.
I wipe my hands down my thighs and step back toward the door. “I’ll go check what’s going on.”
Charlie nods and kneels to open one of the duffels. Liam’s already halfway to the kitchen, probably to see if there’s any food left.
Outside, the wind’s mostly died. Just a breeze now, and the wet smell of post-storm rot and salt. I head down the street, boots crunching over bits of fallen twigs and gravel. Not sure why I feel this urgent pull in my chest. Just… do.
I walk past the alley near the edge of the block, and that’s when I hear it. A little boy crying.
And then—her voice. That voice.
Soft and calm, even when she’s up to something ridiculous. “Hey, don’t worry, it’s okay. We’ll get her, alright? She’s probably more scared than you are.”
I round the corner.
There she is.
Madeline.
Balancing on a stack of old plastic crates like she’s got wings instead of common sense. Her hair’s tied back in a messy bun, Reid’s hoodie way too big on her, sleeves half-eaten by her hands. There’s a tiny white cat meowing pathetically on the low roof above her, and not far from her feet, a little boy’s wiping at his cheeks and watching her like she’s some kind of superhero.
“What are you doing?” I ask, and she jumps slightly at the sound of my voice.
Then she turns and grins. “Hi. There’s a cat up here. I’m getting her.”
Of course she is.
She steps up one more crate and wobbles. I curse under my breath and walk forward, grabbing her legs to steady her.
“Hold on,” I mutter. “Here.”
I push gently, guiding her upward until she can get one knee on the edge of the roof. She hoists herself up and crawls toward the cat, who’s too scared to run now. She scoops it into her arms, murmuring softly the whole time.
When she stands and looks down at me, her hair’s a little windswept and her cheeks are flushed.
“I’ll catch you,” I tell her, arms already out.
She hesitates.
“Promise,” I add.
She gives me this shy smile, then braces her feet and carefully lowers herself, one arm cradling the shivering cat.
When she lets go, I catch her like she weighs nothing. She sinks into me for a second, and I don’t put her down right away. Just… breathe her in.
She finally wriggles free, gently, and kneels in front of the boy. “There you go. Told you we could get her home safe.”
The kid doesn’t even say thank you—just launches forward and hugs her like she’s magic.
Then he runs off, clutching the cat, shoes splashing in a leftover puddle as he disappears around the corner.
Madeline stands up, brushing her hands on her jeans. Her eyes meet mine and she laughs, quiet and beautiful.
I just shake my head and grin. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Why? It was a cat.”
“You could’ve cracked your neck.”
“But I didn’t.”
I want to tell her I’m glad I came when I did. That she’s out here giving my heart palpitations over stray animals and I’d still follow her without question.
Instead, I say, “Come on, Trouble. Let’s get back before Reid sees you on a roof and bans you from walking unsupervised.”
She laughs again and walks next to me, close enough that I can feel the warmth of her shoulder against mine.
We make it all the way back to my house when she looks at the mess in our driveway.
“We should try clearing that tree out from behind your cars,” she says, nodding toward it like she’s already planning the logistics.
I squint at it. The trunk’s not massive, but it’s not small either. “That thing’s wedged in tight. It’ll probably take a truck to move it.”
She shrugs, half-grinning. “We could try.”
I raise a brow and look down at her. “Oh yeah? What, you planning on bench pressing it yourself?”
She smirks, all mischief. “Obviously.”
“Oh okay,” I say, playing along. “Go on then. Show me the big muscles you’re gonna use for that.”
She puts on a fake serious face, rolls up the sleeves of Reid’s hoodie with dramatic flair, and flexes her arm like a cartoon character. “Prepare to be amazed,” she says, barely holding back a laugh.
I let out a bark of laughter. “Oh yeah, definitely enough to lift a tree and toss it across the harbor. We’re in good hands.”
Right then, Reid rounds the corner from the docks, hands in his pockets, that low, slow smirk on his face like he heard the last bit. “What am I walking into?” he asks.
“Madeline was just showing me her big, intimidating muscles,” I tell him.
She grins at Reid and says, “I was. You can feel ‘em—if you promise not to be scared of me after.”
Reid raises an eyebrow and steps in, all calm amusement. He reaches out and lightly wraps his hand around her flexed bicep like he’s inspecting merchandise, his fingers going all the way around her small arm. “Damn,” he says dryly. “Remind me never to arm wrestle you. Might snap my wrist.”
She bites her lip, pretending to be proud. “Exactly. Let that be a warning.”
He chuckles, sliding his hand back into his pocket. “Duly noted. You take the tree. I’ll stand back and supervise.”
I shake my head, smiling as we keep walking towards the front door.