eternal summer - s. conklin [?]

♡₊˚・₊✧

Belly's lobster birthday dinner is complete with flower crowns for the girls and Cam by her side. Madeline enjoys getting to know him. He's a sweetheart. And a great listener. Madeline thinks he could be really good for Belly.

Laurel brings out a separate pot of food. "Cam, have you ever had miyeok-guk before? It's a Korean birthday tradition."

"No, this looks so good. Thank you," he says good-naturedly.

"Belly told me you're a vegetarian, so I didn't put any meat in it."

"You know, Cam Cameron, Belly eats meat. You let her kiss you with those lips?" Jeremiah instigates.

"Jeremiah," Madeline scolds.

Cam chuckles. "No, it's fine, I don't judge people for eating meat. It's just, like, a personal choice. I don't care."

"So you don't mind if, uh, like, her lips touch a dead animal, and then those dead animal lips touch your lips, right?"

Belly kicks Jeremiah under the table.

"I don't mind at all," says Cam. "Um, in fact..." He leans over and gives Belly a quick peck on the lips.

Madeline beams. Conrad looks down and away. Steven and Jeremiah pretend to gag. Belly looks uncomfortable.

Laurel shakes her head. "Guys, stop, Belly's allowed to kiss... but that's it."

Belly turns bright red. "Mom, you are so not funny, no more wine for you, okay?" she mumbles.

"I'm sorry I just don't understand why anybody would want to kiss somebody who once fully shat in a bathtub," Steven teases.

Belly holds a finger up at him. "I was like two years old."

"Try six," he laughs.

"This coming from the boy who got dared to pee in the fireplace and stunk up the house for days," Madeline says, raising her eyebrow at Steven.

"I was drunk, I was drunk!" he justifies.

"Yeah, on, like, half a white claw," Taylor rebuts.

Jeremiah pats Steven on the chest. "She's got you there."

Belly looks at Taylor. "You know, um, I'm thinking maybe we should go to Nicole's party."

"Yes!" she elates. "Oh my god, I love you. I'm so excited."

♡₊˚・₊✧

"When we made this plan I didn't think we would be pregaming for Nicole's party."

Steven and Madeline are sharing a towel on the beach. The bottle of tequila being passed between them is a result of Madeline begging and blackmailing Conrad. Worth it.

Steven takes a swig. "How are you already drunk?"

Madeline giggles. "I am not."

"Yeah, right." He looks closer at her eyes. "Your pupils are dilated. No more for you."

"Jeez, calm down, Dad. You know, that could be because it's dark out here, right?"

He scoffs, looking out into the sunset. "Maybe we shouldn't go to Nicole's party."

She follows his gaze. "Tempting. But, no, I asked her to pick up a cake for Belly's birthday."

"So?"

"'So...'" she mocks. "I should be there."

They fall into a comfortable silence.

"It's so loud out here," she whispers, staring out on the horizon. "With the waves, I mean. But, still, it's so quiet. And the sunset is so beautiful."