Thirteen Summers

twenty

MALACHAI

"No, don't even talk to her." I objected, talking to my cousin who insisted he just had to meet Josie and give her a big hug.

I thought Cameron said he took the liberty of telling everyone not to say or do anything that would overwhelm our sister but clearly not.

"What do you mean, don't talk to her?" He narrowed his eyes at me, seeming slightly offended. "She is my cousin."

My cousin, Gabriel, was a year older than me and the complete opposite of me. He was a big softie, that one.

A sensitive soul, and also a hugger. Yet somehow, he was still my best friend.

"Yeah, so? She's my sister." I rolled my eyes, then sighed knowing how I probably came off.

"Look, I don't mean it like that. You'd just freak her out if you come over with all that, she's shy and...it'll just make her uncomfortable, okay?"

Gabriel looked at me with understanding, and said no more.

"If you're with me or one of the others, say hi then. Just, say that." I told him.

"Say hi to who?" Nick arrived, holding a beer.

I wondered how he'd scored that without getting caught.

I swiftly grabbed it and took a swig before placing it back in his hand.

"Hey!" Nick complained, wiping the top of the bottle.

I looked around the boat, trying to spot my little sister as I noticed I hadn't seen her in a while. She was nowhere to be seen.

"Going to the bathroom." I announced before leaving them both.

JOSEPHINE

"Happy Birthday to youuu." Aiden sang through the phone, followed with a chuckle. "I can't believe you just turned fourteen, you know you're gonna be stuck at this age for the rest of the school year, right?"

"You say that like I had a choice in the matter...but thank you for the song." I smiled, feeling genuinely happy.

Aiden had a beautiful voice. I knew he could sing, he'd mentioned it before but it was my first time hearing it.

I ran off to one of the cabins of the yacht to take his call, it was actually a relief to be alone for a moment and talk to someone who's not family.

"How was your vacation?" I asked, wanting to keep the conversation going.

"It was great but there's only so much time with my family I can handle."

"Tell me about it." I mumbled, thinking of my own family.

"Well, I don't want to keep you from your party. Have a great time, J. I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Oh okay. Bye, Aiden." I didn't want the call to end because that meant returning to the deck, where the rest of my family was.

My aunt and uncle had arrived.

I didn't know whether it was my aunt or my uncle who was blood related to me.

I had only met my aunt very briefly before I was able to escape when Aiden's call came through and Roman let me go.

My grandparents weren't here yet.

My grandparents were the parents of my father. My dead father who I knew nothing about.

His own parents had outlived him.