Mia Hill. College bound with an athletic scholarship. A go-getter with big dreams and a fully thought out plan to make sure they come true.
But with her father's release from prison looming and the inevitable stresses of adulting, everything she wa...
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"You sure you guys don't wanna stay?" Aunt Sadie asks with a smile, her eyebrows bouncing a little as she adds, almost tauntingly, "The brownies are almost done and your uncle will be back any minute with ice cream."
I knew she wasn't going to make this easy. "It's a tempting offer. But..."
Holding up a bottle of store brand rootbeer for dramatic effect, she keeps going, "I'll even try to convince the girls to pick something other than Twilight to watch. Come on, Gray. Rootbeer floats and movie night."
She's trying so hard to convince me of all the fun in store. And, naturally, my cringe response makes me feel like the worst nephew in the world.
Rootbeer floats and movie night is Aunt Sadie's infamous combo of fun. One I used to love when I was little. Nights just like this with Gemma, June, and Lily are where some of my best childhood memories live. Whether Cece and I were here or they were at our house, running around in the woods before coming in for a movie and popcorn, Aunt Sadie always made sure we had our rootbeer floats.
But I'm not twelve years old anymore, and I just don't get the same thrill from family bonding time. And that goes for all three of us "older" cousins, except maybe Gemma. She's always been a homebody, but even she's made herself scarce tonight.
Peeking into the living room, I spot the teeny bopper "younger" cousins as they take up a whole ass couch, chattering away as the DVD menu of the movie lights up the TV screen.
My eyes wanna roll, until I remind myself that if Cece's talking Lily's ear off about this shit tonight, it means she's not talking my ear off. And I have to admit, that makes it easier to accept the fact that I was swindled into being the designated driver for June and Mia tonight.
I wanted to drive myself. Make a quick appearance before leaving with Hannah to go find somewhere to park afterwards. But my parents insisted I drop Cecelia off, and once June found out that I'd be here with my car and that we were all heading to the same place anyway, it was over. The next thing I knew, I had an assignment.
I guess you could say I'm being a good samaritan. But of course, since none of us are supposed to be drinking and shouldn't need a designated driver in the first place, I can't mention that part to Aunt Sadie.
And so, I take the safe route. "You know as well as I do that Cece and Lily will never fold on the movie," I tell her. "Not when it comes to shirtless teenage werewolves and vamps. And besides, who would want to miss a bonfire for all the volunteers at the community center?"
The words come out all choked and I almost blow my cover. Because I would. I would want to miss a bonfire at the community center with all the volunteers I'm being forced to spend part of my summer with. To be fair, most of them aren't that bad. But that doesn't mean I want to spend my day and night with them.
"You've got me there," Aunt Sadie laughs before letting out a defeated sigh. "Oh well. At least I tried. I haven't given up hope that you big kids aren't actually done being kids. Volunteering at camp and going to bonfires. I don't like it." She tilts her head at me and pouts. "You're still three years old in my eyes."
