The Harper Cousins

rper C

iv

la

aked in water. I wiped my face to have De

nd dried off my face—the wrong decision. Damn, I ne

t week, and you’re sl

matter?” I squ

for the soul or you.” Deacon

they’re feeling down

ing lips doesn’t constitute you wal

s bu

h wh

calli

tched. How does a pers

ne tapped on my bedroom door. Christ. Can’t a guy dress in

open my do

respond as Conner

nvenient time? I

” Deacon said

and over to the railing. “

opey Oliver is an

ump,

clever

s head. I ambled into my bedroom and contemplated sitting on my bed.

since our kiss. Di

whether I enjoy our kiss. Are y

’t seen you si

u didn’t ca

puz

two of us.

ver to my bed and

o.

ea

you. You

ly. It’s not Barney. If you

cing around questions. Directness is my motto. If you li

d, then

eat at rela

nship?” I cur

ng someone

e eat dinner together, determining if they lik

socks, and tugged them on. No offense to anyone, but feet gross m

ggest?” He squi

ell he wa

f we don’t like each othe

ater streamed through my screen, soaking Con

droom, came back a few minutes later, opened my sc

ater, but with pudding. Each balloon hit

er, you suck monkey

but you don’t hear me j

ch pudding stinks in eighty-

e if I

you

psycho twins on their heads as babies. They escaped whi

natched a towel, and tossed i

Conner dri

on my s

ut hangi

al in Conner. But can he keep my

*

yd

pudding covering us. Dad took one pe

.” Kayden wa

lem.” Da

ng foolish, resulting in payback, and he chuckles. Ou

scrub off the pudding. Then w

y hair, Kayde

you cuttin

ke my

someone from t

I kept my lus

lown, except your

ents were black and into some crazy shit. Child protective services took us because

have no trouble beating our asses when we do stupid shit. Yeah, we do a lot of stupid shit.

en! Lunch is rea

lmost tossed Kayden down the stairs. We scrambled

r. “If you wished to eat on the

n off me. “Get

, bit

sn’t acting like a fool? Or someone

each other, t

into the kitchen. Kayden and I sat d

ing explode on yo

Oliver’s bedroom window,” I s

o stop moping,” Kayd

issues,” M

g issues,

rst year in college with

ys or your family?”

s and pushed out his li

ps. Dear old Oliver is in for a surprise this year. His dad d

e game