𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗘 // 𝗖.𝗙

𝓢𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓞𝓯𝓯

"YO, I'M gonna go wash the clams." Conrad announces, stepping into the bustling kitchen.

He flashes a smile at Sylvia, who was seated beside Jeremiah at the table. Across from her, Belly remained silent, the tension between them palpable.

"Did you get the lighter fluid?"

"Yeah, dude." Jeremiah replies, swallowing the last of his milk. "It's already down on the beach, all set to go."

Conrad let out a whistle, a hint of excitement in his tone, and turns to leave just as the rest of the crew—the parents and Steven—stumbled in.

Steven was mid-complaint about the painting, which quickly segued into a discussion about Laurel's sudden interest in makeup.

"So what if I'm wearing makeup?" Laurel retortes, a blush rising on her cheeks. "We're having a party, after all."

"Mm-hmm." Sylvia hums, her eyes fixed on her cereal as she took a spoonful.

"Are we sure it has nothing to do with John coming to the clam bake?" Susannah teases, a knowing smile playing on her lips as she peeled an orange.

"Oh, please." Laurel scoffs, waving her hand dismissively. "The husbands always come for the Fourth."

"Yeah, but he's not your husband anymore." Sylvia points out, rolling her eyes. "You've reminded me of that enough times."

As everyone knew, Sylvia's relationship with her parents had been strained since their separation.

She and her father had drifted apart, the once inseparable pair now estranged.

"Yeah." Laurel says with a forced laugh. Steven shot his twin a glare, which she promptly ignored. "Ex-husband."

"You know, I still don't understand why you invited Dad's girlfriend." Steven grumbles, redirecting his glare toward his mother.

"Her name is Victoria." Laurel corrects, folding a hand towel. "And your father wanted us to meet her. Oh, Sylvia, could you make up the guest bed for them?"

"What? Why me?" Sylvia protests, turning in her seat to face her mother. "I'm already annoyed that he's coming here, and now I have to make their damn bed? They can do it themselves."

"You will do it because I asked you to." Laurel says sternly, her voice brooking no argument.

"Wait, Dad and Victoria are staying here?" Belly asks, her eyes wide with disbelief. Laurel simply nodded. "In the room next to mine and Sylvia's?"

"Yeah." Laurel confirms, matter-of-factly.

"This is bullshit." Sylvia mutters, pushing herself up from the table and carrying her plate to the sink.

"Oh, speaking of dads, yours called." Susannah says, turning to Jeremiah. "He's closing a deal, so he can't make it."

"What?" A look of disappointment washes over Jeremiah's face. Beau, sensing his distress, reaches out and gently ran a hand through his hair.

"Did you say Dad's not coming?" Conrad asks, stepping back into the kitchen, a bucket in his hands.

"But I got some serious fireworks for the show this year." Jeremiah laments, his voice laced with disappointment.

Susannah shrugs. "We'll take a video and send it to him."

"It's not the same." Jeremiah sighs, his shoulders slumping slightly.

Conrad, however, seems unfazed by the news.

He grins and playfully twirls Sylvia around before leaning back against the sink, his smile still plastered on his face.