Our Summer

5

The Fourth of July in Cousins is my favorite part of summer. Susannah decks out the whole house, and the boys steam clams and shoot off fireworks.

John was bringing his new girlfriend Victoria and Adam wasn't coming.

My Mom is finally coming to Cousins to party with us. She usually was here with us for the fourth and my dad would come up with John and Adam, but this year was different.

I went upstairs to fix the guest bed for her.

"You got to fold the bottom sheet at a 45-degree angle if you want tight corners," Conrad said leaning on the wall. "Yeah, not like that."

I laughed. "Then help me."

He started helping me with the sheets but all I could do was admire him. All I could do was wonder if this was what it would be like if we were older. Me and Conrad together. Making our bed together, getting the kids ready for school. Coming to the beach house together?

"Don't you think it's weird that my mom is staying here by herself?"

"Well, I'm sure she'll be just fine."

"But she's here without my dad. It just feels weird."

"Maybe she'll bring someone."

"Oh yeah." I laughed. "Like some secret lover." I threw a pillow at him.

"Maybe, It's gonna be fine, okay? Don't worry about it."

"I'm sorry your dad's not coming."

"Don't be. I'm not."

A car honked and Susannah yelled, "Belly!"

"Well, John's here."

We went downstairs to see the new girlfriend. Steven, Jeremiah, and Belly were already staring through the door.

"She's hot," Jere said.

"Dude," Steven said.

"What? I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking." Jere added.

"I wasn't thinking that." I blurted.

"Yo, that could be their future stepmom," Conrad said laughing.

"Dude, what the hell?" Steven pushed Conrad.

Conrad and Steven started bickering. "Guys, they're coming, they're coming," Belly said.

"Go, go, go, go, go," I said running upstairs with Conrad and Jeremiah.

The doorbell rang. "I got it!"

I ran down to the door and opened it. When I opened it there was a man standing there. He was tall brown hair, and had a dad look to him.

"You must be Y/N." He said. "And you are?"

"Danny, hon..." My mom stopped. "Y/N, hi honey." She hugged me but I stayed still.

"Y/N, this is Daniel. He's my uh..." "I'm her boyfriend, it's good to finally meet you." He stuck his hand out.

I shook his hand. "Come in," I said letting them in.

The debs arrived and we went to the backyard and hung out with everyone.

Nicole and Conrad were in the pool, Jere was talking to Victoria, John and Laurel were with Belly, and Steven talking to Shayla.

I was stuck sitting on the step drinking water to try and wrap my head around the fact that my mom had a new boyfriend.

Susannah walked over to me with a bowl of fruit. "Not in the mood to party?"