Heir Born

14 | Nate

When I make my way down to breakfast in the morning, I find my mother already seated at the table, flipping through her planner like she's orchestrating a royal summit. I circle around and kiss her cheek.

"Morning, mother."

"Nathaniel."

Not even a smile. Just steel and ice.

Great. She's in a shit mood. What else is new?

She doesn't even let me get a sip of orange juice before the interrogation begins. Riddles and innuendos. Her specialty.

"Geoffrey tells me you've been enjoying some interesting nighttime excursions lately."
She doesn't look at me, but her words are sharp enough to suck the life force straight out of my chest. I exhale. Deeply.

Still, I keep my cool. I am her son, after all. "Mother, you don't need to use security like some royal informant. If you want to know something, just ask."

"Where were you last night? On a school night?"

"My weeknight activities have never bothered you before. I bring home the A's, remember?"

"Yes, well. That was before the Lennox girl began consuming so much of your time in such... dramatic ways." She sips her tea. Jaw tight. Choosing her next words like a sniper choosing bullets.

"Were you with her?"

"Not that it's any of your business, mother. But yes. We were both at Preston's. I gave her a ride home."

"That had better be the last time you see her outside of school. Off Chaucer House premises."

"Actually, I'm going over to the Lennoxes on Saturday. Summer's interviewing me for the school paper. Reynolds' orders."

I don't look at her when I say it. But I know she's mad. I know my tone really pisses her off.

"Summer?"

"That's her name, mother."

Now I look up. And there it is. That glare. The "just try me" glare. God, I hate that look.

"You will not be going anywhere near the Lennox Estate. Understood?"

"Mother, I don't have a choice. It's for school." I chuckle, thinking she'll back down. But she doesn't even blink.

"I do not care. You will not see that girl anymore."

"You're joking, right?" The disbelief in my voice isn't even subtle. She straightens, inhales. Here it comes.

"Nathaniel Christopher Vanderbilt."

There it is. Full name. Code red.

"No. You're not joking." I put down my glass. Stunned. And impressed, honestly, by her gall.

"Am I making myself clear?"

I've never seen her like this. But I won't let her break me. I've learned how to freeze better than she has.

"If you think I'm going to let you tell me who I can and cannot—" I pause. Scoff. Because of course this is how it's going.

"Whatever's going on between you and Gregory Lennox has nothing to do with me and Summer."

She's holding back. Fuming. But all she does is raise an eyebrow. Classic Eleanor. Like that alone is enough to make me crumble.

"Gregory will use you to get back at this family. Is that what you want? The Vanderbilts at his mercy?"

Then, like some tragic Greek chorus member, my father turns a page in his newspaper. Doesn't even look up.

"Oh, knock it off, Eleanor. You'll give yourself a heart attack. I've got meetings. No time for hospital drama."

"Charles!" She gasps like he's just slapped her.

Then — my father folds the paper. Neatly. Puts it down. And drops a nuclear bomb.

"You either let Nate and Summer be... or I tell Gregory what really happened."

Wait— what?

My mother turns ghost-white. Her hand clutches her chest. So melodramatic. I'd be entertained if this wasn't about me and Summer.

"You wouldn't dare."

"Do you want to take the risk? Gregory knowing everything?" My father leans in, elbows on the table, fingertips pressed together, chin resting on his hands.

Everything?

Before Eleanor can spit more venom, I drop my napkin and take a last sip of my coffee.

"I'm late for school."

My father nods. Eleanor... I don't give her the chance to stop me. I just walk out.

* * *

There's no winning this. Not when the girl I care about is a Lennox.

By midday, I find myself at Zach's. With Zach and Preston. Ditching the rest of the day. Because sometimes, commiseration looks like whiskey at noon.

"I hope Reynolds doesn't bust us for skipping," Preston says between sips. He's not the ditching type, which says a lot.

"I'll handle it."

Reynolds practically jumps when he hears the name Eleanor. Olympic height, too.

If my mother wasn't my mother...

If she wasn't my mother, I wouldn't be caught in this mess with Summer.

"The worst part is..." I swirl the scotch in my glass, watching the amber ripple. "I think my mother might actually hurt her."

"Don't say that, man." Preston tries to ease the weight. He means well.

"You guys don't get it. Eleanor Vanderbilt with her back against the wall? She's like a viper."

They glance at each other, a flicker of unease in their eyes. They've seen glimpses of her. But not this side. Zach tries to shift the mood.

"Look, Nate. Focus on what you can control. And if Summer's who you want..."

I cut him off. "I want to prove myself to her, you know? That I can be different. Not the Nate everyone's used to — reckless, arrogant, bad rep and all that."

I take a deep swig. Feel it burn. "She makes me want to be better."

"And better is good," Preston nods, giving me a solid pat on the back.

Zach, of course, can't help himself. "As long as you still do bad shit sometimes. Like don't go full Saint Nate."

We both look at him.

"What? I'm just saying." He shrugs and finishes his scotch.

We laugh. A real laugh. One we haven't had in a while. Uninhibited. Uncensored. Free.