“Must be Bellamy and them,” Delilah said.
“Oh, I haven’t seen them in ages. Probably since before we left,” Callie said.
“Who are they?” I asked.
“Oh, they are our cousins from Uncle Lenny and Titi Maybelle’s,” Delilah said.
“There’s Bellamy, Nash, and then Minnie, and Witten are twins,” Callie said.
“How many people are comin’ tonight?” I asked.
“I think that’s it,” Callie said.
“Oh, I think Kai is coming,” Delilah said.
“Kai? Seriously?” Callie said.
“Who’s Kai?” I asked.
“He’s one of Quinn’s oldest friends. He always hung out with him when he came back here for the summers… he’s annoying,” Callie said.
“Damn, Callie, tell us how you really feel,” Delilah said.
“Always do,” Callie said.
“What makes him annoying?” I asked.
“Oh… you shall see… and hopefully Quinn doesn’t knock his teeth—”
The door opened, and Quinn and his six cousins came in. The noise traveled with them inside, all of them in conversations. It was like their own reunion with Callie and Quinn being there. Callie’s energy was contagious. I stayed mostly quiet while they all gushed over each other.
The sound of a vehicle coming down the road drew all of our attention to the door. We all walked out the door and onto the lawn. A black Transam with a gold Firebird on the hood pulled in behind the other vehicle, and it wasn’t just one person. One person in the passenger seat, and one in the backseat. Now, thirteen of us were in a little cabin.
“I thought you were coming alone, Kai?” Graham said.
“Julie insisted on coming, and of course, she’d bring her friend, Scarlett, with her,” Kai said.
“The more the merrier,” Beau said.
Quinn stared at all three of them, lips pressed closed, brows furrowed. Callie didn’t say much either. I was clearly missing something.
“What are we drinking tonight?” Kai called out.
“Quinn went and got us some choices… and a fruity drink,” Beau said.
“Sounds delicious to me,” Julie said. She stared at Quinn with a slight smile on her face.
“Well, anyway, y’all haven’t met Zalayuh, so Zalayuh this Kai, Julie, and what was your name?” Callie asked.
“Scarlett,” she said.
“And who is Zalayuh?” asked Julie.
“A friend,” Quinn said.
“Only a friend?” Julie asked, tilting her head slightly toward me.
Quinn stared at her, blinking his eyes slowly.