The Protectors: New Generation Book 1

18 - Cousins - Tallulah POV

Going back downstairs, Ande introduces herself again and drags me to the kitchen island. She proceeds, rapidly, to ask me if I want a snack, what they have, and then she fixes a plate for me. A guy with dark blond hair comes bouncing over to me. He's about half a foot taller than me with a slim yet athletic build.

"You're one of the two remaining females to be coming to the cabin," he states.

"Yes."

"What is your birth parents' name?"

"Westlin."

"I knew it, you had to be one of my cousins. Since I have two, and there were only two more girls left to join our happy little group, I knew you had to be one," he says.

"You must be Tanner. I'm..."

"Tallulah," he says for me, and he then bounces over and wraps me in a big hug - very friendly hug. I don't mind the hug since he is my cousin. One of the last three of the Westlin legacy.

"You can also call me Tally, if you want."

"How about Lulu?"

I can feel my blood heat. It's one of the nicknames the girls cheered when they were bullying me.

My face hardens. "No! Do not use that name ever!"

"Okay, okay." He gulps and backs up a step or two - or three. His face changes and a smile begins. "We are going to go downstairs to play pool. Do you want to come? We could get to know each other there. "

"I guess..." I stutter. What? Back to uncertain again?

His smile broadens. "I want to get to know my cousin. I had a big family, but it seems different to meet someone I have blood relations with. This is so exciting."

"Yes it is," I agree. Usually I shy away from personal interactions with strangers, but his enthusiasm is contagious.

We gather our drinks and snacks to go downstairs, but not before a new girl comes in the door. She looks at all of us and bolts for the rooms upstairs. Tanner nudges me, but I shake my head. Convinced it is the same look I had when I first entered the cabin, I'm going to give her time to adjust before going to talk with her.

When we get downstairs, everyone settles around the rec room. Ande immediately heads for where I'm standing.

She whistles getting everyone's attention. She isn't going to...

"Everyone, this is Tally." Heat creeps up my cheeks. This girl went there, but I can't stop her now. "Tally, this is Dominic." She points to a tall, well-built guy with black hair and green eyes. "His cousin, Jonah." She points to a guy who is almost a carbon copy of the first. "Next is Carleigh, Jonah's girlfriend." She points at a beautiful girl with caramel-colored skin and curly black hair. "And you already know that fool." She points at Tanner. "Since you are unfortunately related to him."

Tanner gasps, placing a hand over his heart.

"Don't, Tanner. I'm not wounding your ego with such a little slight."

His face deflates. "Fine." He pouts.

Everyone starts talking, but I'm not able to understand Dominic, Jonah and Carleigh's conversation. Since I want to know more about Tanner, I turn to him.

"I heard you're from Florida?"

He smiles. "Yeah, a small town south of Tampa, named Sage."

"I guess that must be very different from the tree covered hills I'm from."

"It sounds like it is. There is lots of sand where I'm from." He pauses."Yeah, lots of sand."

"Why such a face? It must be nice to be near the ocean."