The Cousins(33)

“The whole point of going away to college is to go away,” he’d complained yesterday while the four Story siblings were sprawled on oversized towels on the beach in front of Catmint House. “I don’t want to be back here every other weekend like some kind of townie.”

“Someone’s unclear on the definition of a townie,” Anders said, his voice muffled from beneath the Indiana Jones–style hat he’d placed over his face. The rest of him looked just as ready for an archaeological dig in linen pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Unlike his siblings, Anders burned to a crisp in the sun, no matter how much sunscreen he put on. But that day he looked less out of place than usual, because it was a cool sixty-nine degrees. Allison was in a sweatshirt, and kept wishing she hadn’t worn shorts.

“You could step up, you know,” Adam said peevishly. “Offer to come back occasionally. If we split things up, it might not be that bad.”

“No thanks.” Anders yawned. “Mother is finally cashing those golden-boy chips you’ve been coasting on all these years. This is all you.”



“That metaphor doesn’t even make sense,” Adam grumbled.

Now, Allison rapped lightly on the doorframe to Mother’s study before poking her head in. “Hello,” she called as three heads turned her way. “Nice to see you, Dr. Baxter.”

“You as well, Allison.”

“We’re headed out, Mother.” At her mother’s blank look, Allison added, “To Rob Valentine’s. Remember?” Archer had successfully convinced his siblings, even Anders, to show up at his friend’s party tonight.

“All four of you?” Mother asked.

“Yes. I told you that earlier,” Allison said, trying to keep the impatience out of her voice. She’d mentioned it twice in fact, but lately Mother ignored anything she didn’t want to hear.

Mother’s face sagged with disappointment. “I forgot about that. I thought we could have a family game night. I’ve been looking forward to it all day.”

“Well…” Allison wished Adam were here. He was so much better at handling Mother’s moods. “Archer hasn’t seen Rob in a while, and we promised…”

“Oh, Mildred, let them go,” Theresa urged. “It’s Saturday night. You have them all summer.” Mother still looked doubtful, but she sighed in a resigned sort of way as Theresa gave Allison a warm smile. “I think Matt will be there, too. Tell him I miss him, and I hope he’s eating something besides ramen noodles while he has the house to himself.”

Allison’s heart skipped a beat. The coffee date Matt had mentioned last week during the party setup hadn’t happened, but she’d been hoping to see him at Rob’s. “I will,” she said, and ducked back into the hallway before Mother could protest.



* * *



—



“This summer sucks,” Anders complained as the four Story siblings crossed the street from the parking lot at Nickel Beach to Rob Valentine’s house. He zipped a thick Harvard sweatshirt all the way up to his neck and added, “It’s been freezing since we got here.”

“Coldest summer in ten years,” Adam said, in that voice he used whenever he was sharing information he thought people should already know. “It’s wreaking havoc with coastal tide patterns.”

“Fascinating,” Anders grumbled, then stopped short as they passed a distinctive, bright-green moped. “Oh hell. Fucking Matt Ryan is here.”

“I think everyone is here,” Archer said diplomatically. He couldn’t resist elbowing Anders and adding, “We live on a twelve-mile island, remember? Nightlife is kinda limited.”

Allison was silent. She’d hoped that Anders’s ire toward Matt might have cooled after a semester away, but apparently not.

“Forget that guy,” Adam said, jogging up the front steps two at a time. He pulled the door open with a flourish and looked back. “He’s no one.”

Rob Valentine had graduated from Gull Cove Island High last year, and he’d just moved into a new place—one of those rental bungalows that tourists wouldn’t touch because the owner couldn’t be bothered to invest in any upkeep. The beach grass in front was long and yellow, the paint was peeling, and one of the front windows was taped over with cardboard that did nothing to keep the cool air out. It was dim inside, filled with pulsing music and what looked like half of Gull Cove Island High’s current and recent student body. Allison couldn’t help but compare the noisy scene with the much more sedate parties she’d gone to at boarding school before graduating last month. Students lived on campus at Martindale Prep, as did a lot of teachers, which effectively dampened everyone’s social lives.



A pretty blonde wearing a Burger King crown and holding a wine cooler swayed in front of the Story siblings’ path as soon as they stepped inside. “It’s my birthday,” she slurred, poking Adam’s chest with her bottle. “Are you my present?”

Adam smirked, sliding an arm around the girl’s waist. “I could be.”

“Archerrrrrr!” A boy Allison vaguely recognized as Rob Valentine waved wildly from a corner where kids were sitting on pillows around a low table. “Come play quarters.”

“They’re dropping like flies,” Anders said as Archer sprinted toward his friend. “Come on,” he added to Allison, who watched in disbelief as Adam and the birthday girl started making out against a wall. Thirty seconds after arrival; a new Adam Story record. “Let’s get a drink.”