Summer

Chapter 16

Liam took Friday off, so my brothers and I decided to change it up and visit Cassie's family. It's been too long since we last saw Uncle Robert and Aunt Claire, so I'm excited to spend some time with them.

Pictures don't do their chateau-like home justice. To say their property is massive would be an understatement. It's bigger and even more regal in person. Hence, the stone water fountain encircled by the driveway. Their mansion makes our rental house look minuscule, and that's saying something.

Aunt Claire and Uncle Robert greet us at the iron entrance. Man, have I missed them. Aunt Claire is a spitting image of my dad, it's crazy. They're pretty much identical with their light brown hair and dark brown eyes. And, Uncle Robert...well, what can I say? Personality-wise, he's a goofball, but looks-wise, he's your typical businessman. He owns a clothing manufacturing company that sells to the big retailers like Macy's and Nordstrom. The company skyrocketed over the last seven years after producing this shape-wear that went viral.

After welcoming us with warm hugs and tons of excitement, Aunt Claire and Uncle Robert lead us into the backyard, which consists of a pool area, a tennis court, and a private dock. Cassie gave us a heads-up to come hungry, and now I can see why. At the long table before us is a full-blown buffet: cheese boards, frittata bites, 4 different types of salads, some sort of quinoa dish, salmon, massive fruit plates, and fancy, delectable desserts.

We help ourselves and take a seat on the low-slung sectional.

"It's so nice to have you guys here for the summer," Aunt Claire says.

"It's great to be here," Liam says, taking in the atmosphere. "The house looks beautiful."

"Thank you! We fell in love with it the minute we saw it. Didn't we, honey?" Aunt Claire looks over at her husband.

"We sure did," he says, reaching for her knee. "So, tell us, what's your plan for the next two months?"

Liam looks at me before turning back to Uncle Robert. "To be honest with you, we're sort of just winging it. I mean, a low-key trip like this has always been on our to-do list, especially with Sophia heading to college in the fall. Plus, it doesn't hurt that you guys are here. Dad was really happy when we decided on Charleston."

"How is my brother?" Aunt Claire asks.

"He's great. Working hard, as usual. He sends his love."

"Tell him we miss him, please," she smiles before shifting her attention to me. "And, Sophia. GWU, huh?"

"Yup. I'm pretty nervous, but definitely excited."

"You're going to love it. D.C. is fantastic. Good food, great night-life."

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I mean, I've never been away from my family for a long period of time before, so it'll be an adjustment, but I'm looking forward to the experience."

"I'm excited for you," Cassie jumps in.

"We all are! And, you, Jacob?" Aunt Claire turns to him and asks. Jacob's completely caught off-guard. I don't think he's been paying attention since we got here. "What's going on in your life?"

"You know, same old," he shrugs, and Aunt Claire uncomfortably nods with an awkward smile, clearly unsure of how to respond.

"Any luck with the internship, Sophia?" Uncle Robert changes the subject and asks, and all eyes are on me.

A couple of months ago, Uncle Robert put me in touch with a recruiter for one of the biggest publishing companies in the world. They ended up offering me a remote internship during the fall semester, but I turned it down, not wanting to go behind my dad's back like that. It took every bone in my body to decline. Trust me.