"This should be interesting," I growled to Chris. He chuckled softly and nodded.
"Who do you think's gonna kill him first?" he whispered back, making sure Alex was out of earshot. She was walking ahead of us, talking to Elis and Roxie. When she turned around, I waved and smiled. She smiled back and continued walking.
"Can I have first dibs?" Joey asked, joining me and Chris in front of Justin and Lance.
"How 'bout we all take him at the same time. That way, Alex can't blame just one of us," JC said. The three of them laughed.
"Wait here," Alex told everyone as we reached the dock. She punched in the code and opened the gate. As she walked down the dock, it felt as if she was slipping through my fingers.
As I walked down the dock, I felt JC's eyes following me.
What's with him? I thought. It's not as if I'm gonna run away or anything. After a moment, I just shrugged my shoulder and walked onto the finger pier of Nick's boat.
"Hello?" I called.
"Hey!" I shrieked in surprise, whirling around to face a tall blond and a guy with red hair about the same height as me, maybe an inch or two taller.
"God, you scared the hell out of me!" I said, regaining my composure.
"Are you looking for someone?" the blond asked.
"Yeah, I'm looking for-"
"Me." Brian walked out of the boat, dressing in khaki's and a navy polo shirt. "Guys, I'd like you to meet my cousin, Alex. Alex, this is Nick and Matt."
"Nice to meet you," Matt said, extending his hand. I shook it and smiled.
"Same here," I said. I looked at Nick, who was looking back and forth between me and Brian curiously. Then, his face lit up in realization.
"Wait, you're Kevin's sister, right?" he said. I nodded. He looked at Brian. "Does Kevin know she's here?"
"Nope," Brian said, climbing off the boat.
"Does Kevin know you're going out with her for dinner?"
"Nope," he said, again.
"And that we went out for lunch already, too?" I asked, looking at Brian as if his answer was the most interesting thing in the world.
"You're no help, y'know that?" Brian said, raising an eyebrow at me. I just grinned and hopped off the boat. Brian turned to his best friend. "Nick, please don't call Kevin or tell him anything if he does call. I promised Alex I'd get to know here one-on-one first before she meets him." I nodded and smiled appreciatively up at the blue-eyed man that stood next to me.
My cousin, I thought. Nick sighed.
"Fine, but only this once."
"Thanks, man, I owe ya one. Matt, don't you say anything, either," Brian warned. The red-head just held up his hands in defense and continued staring at me.
Okay, he's starting to creep me out, I thought, raising an eyebrow at Matt. With that, we waved goodbye to Nick and Matt and walked down the dock.
"So, how's life been since the last time I saw you?" Brian asked.
"You, mean, since lunch?" I asked. Brian laughed and nodded. "Oh, pretty good. No one's tried to kill me, gag me, serenade me, and, best of all, not one's told me I am part of some space-alien culture that put me on earth as an experiment." Brian raised an eyebrow at me. "Sorry, caffeine rush."
"That's okay, I know how you feel. I'm always hyper like that. So, tell me. Do the guys have some sort of trap set for me or something?"
"Beats the heck out of me, but the girls are just dying to meet you," I said, in a false valley-girl voice. We reached the gate and he held it open for me.
"Well, then." He straightened his imaginary coat and tie. "I guess I'll just have to make a good impression." I laughed.
"They're judgement is just as important as mine," I said, half-serious. He smiled as I led him up to the others.