"Who is it?" Riley asks as I set my phone down.
"My cousin, Brad. He's coming here for the summer. He's going to be working at the pool with us."
"Your cousin's spending the summer here?" Riley leans forward across the table. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I just found out. He called a couple days ago and asked if he could stay with my mom and me for the summer. He's got major family drama going on at home and he doesn't want to be there."
"Which cousin? Have I met him?"
"No. He's never been here. He lives in Arizona. His mom is my mom's sister. We've been out there a lot to visit, but they never come here. They have a way better house than ours, and it's huge. Brad's family has money. Or they used to."
"Used to? Meaning they don't anymore?"
"I don't really know. All I know is that they don't have as much as they used to."
"Why? What happened?"
"I'll tell you, but when you meet Brad, act like you don't know. I don't think he wants people knowing."
"Okay, so what is it?"
"His dad has a gambling addiction. My aunt didn't know about it until creditors started calling her. My uncle hid it from her for years. Turns out he'd lost a ton of money and was going to casinos every day to try to make it back. He even quit his job. He was a lawyer. Made a shitload of money and quit to go gamble. My aunt was shocked. Still is. And Brad's pissed. He doesn't even want to be around his dad."
"So that's why he's coming here? To get away from all that?"
"Yeah. He said his parents won't stop fighting and he's sick of all the yelling and screaming. He has an older brother, but he's 27 and living in California so it's just Brad and his parents."
"His mom's okay with him leaving?"
"I think so, but it's not like it matters. He's 22. He can do what he wants."
"Does he have a job?"
"No. He just graduated from college like me. He's only been home a few days and his parents are already driving him crazy. He'll stay here for the summer, then go back to school in the fall."
"You said he graduated."
"He did, but he's going to med school. He's really smart."
"So when does he get here?"
"He was hoping to be here tomorrow, but he just texted and said it'll be Friday now. Something must've happened."
"And he's working at the pool? Did he already interview?"
"Yeah, by phone. They hired him on the spot. He's been a lifeguard almost every summer since high school so he already had experience and you know how they never have enough lifeguards. So anyway, you'll meet him Saturday at the staff orientation. Or hey, why don't we all go out on Friday? Are you doing anything?"
"April mentioned maybe going to a movie. Let me check with her and see if we're still going."
"She isn't going out with her boyfriend? She's still dating the old guy, right?"
"Yeah. Wayne." Riley rolls her eyes, "I don't know why she dates him. He's so old. It's like she's dating her dad. He's having a guys' night Friday, so she's free and wants to go out."
"Okay, well, let me know. I really want you to meet him. Brad's great. He's always been my favorite cousin."
"Is he the one you used to spend summers with when you were a kid?"
"Yeah. I'd go there for a month every summer. They had an even better house when I was a kid. And the biggest pool I'd ever seen, with a huge waterslide."
"That was when your parents were having problems?"
"Yeah," I say, thinking back. I'd rather not remember those years. We lived in Tulsa then, and my parents fought constantly. My older sister used to take me to the playground so we wouldn't have to listen to it. It was sad when they finally divorced but also a relief not having to hear them fight anymore. Now my dad's remarried and living in Houston. I see him now and then, but not as much as I'd like.
"Sorry," Riley says, reaching across the table to touch my hand. "I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."
"It's fine. Ancient history." I smile to let her know I'm okay. "Ready to get out of here?"
"Yeah, let's go." She scoots out of the booth.
"My room's a mess, by the way. I haven't unpacked everything yet."
"That's fine," she says, looping her arm around mine as we walk to the door. "I'm just happy you're home." She looks up at me and smiles.
"I am too." I smile back, part of me wishing I'd told her the truth instead of keeping up this act of only wanting to be her friend. I have to tell her. Not today, or tonight, or even this week. But it has to be soon. I can't keep waiting. I love her and want a future with her. I just hope she wants that too.
Chapter Three
Riley
We get to Nate's house and I go straight to the kitchen. I get two cans of soda, one for him, one for me, then grab a cookie from the jar. His mom always has homemade cookies in a ceramic jar that looks like a beehive.
I sigh with a smile. "It's good to be back."
Nate takes his soda and cracks open the can. "You could've come over when I was gone. I told you that like a million times. So did my mom."
"That's just something people say. They don't really mean it. Your mom doesn't want me here without you around."
"Are you kidding? She'd love it. She thinks of you like a daughter. She'd even let you stay here if you wanted. You could take Karmin's room."
Karmin is his sister. She's 28, married, with a kid, and working as a nurse in New Mexico.
Nate motions me to follow him. "C'mon."
"I need another cookie," I say, going to get one.
"Just bring the whole jar," he says with a smile. "My mom will make more."
She totally would. She's the best mom ever. She's the kind of mom who makes dinner and bakes cookies and takes care of you when you're sick.
My mom's more like a sister than a mom. She never really grew up. I was forced to raise myself while she went out every night, dressed like a teenager, and brought home random guys. I love her, but I wish she'd act her age. I get tired of always having to be the responsible one.
"Told you it's a mess," Nate says, picking clothes off the floor and tossing them in the hamper.
"I don't mind." I plop down on his bed and finish my cookie. "These are so good. Maybe your mom could teach me how to bake."
"Cookies are easy. Even I could do it. We should make some together."
"That sounds fun. We should totally do that. Maybe Saturday after work. Actually, I think I'd rather go out on Saturday. Where do you want to go?"
"Not sure," he says, plugging his phone into the charger. "I might have to invite Brad to join us. He doesn't know anyone here. I don't want to leave him here alone on a Saturday night."
"Yeah, totally. I forgot he'd be here. Is he taking your sister's room?"