"You're lucky to be down this way."
Sienna looked up at the driver. Her mom had sent nearly a novel's worth of texts while she was on the plane, reading all of them already had her exhausted. "I'm sorry, what?"
"I said you're lucky to be down this way," he repeated. "These are mostly the original houses on the beach. They're smaller than those big new ones closer to downtown, but so much nicer. Especially when they've been fixed up."
Sienna looked out the window, noticing the difference for the first time. The houses were low, uniformly one story, with wings on either side and what looked like a big common space in between. "They're really pretty."
"They're built like that for the breeze. Back before AC you'd open up the windows and let the sea air cool everything down," he said. "Staying with family?"
"Sort of," Sienna replied. "I'm from the West Coast half, they're here on the East Coast. We haven't talked in a while. But it's my Aunt and her family I'm staying with."
"Very nice." He pulled up in front of a blue house. "Here you are. I hope you have a great stay."
Sienna knocked on the door, and was quickly greeted by a pretty woman in her forties. "Sienna, so good to see you. Oh, look how beautiful you've become. Your mom doesn't post nearly enough pictures."
"This is a great house Aunt Miranda," Sienna said, setting her bag down in the entry. "Thanks so much for having me." The ride from the airport hadn't been too bad, plus it had given her plenty of time to think about the two weeks ahead.
"Oh, of course dear." Miranda swept her up in a big hug. "I'm just so happy you could join us for a while. It's been too long." Miranda led her niece out into the main room, a big space that served as living room, dining room, and kitchen all in one. "Let's see. I know we're a little more modest than some of those giant homes up the way, but we made sure to have a pool and a hot tub. James and I are over here, and the main bathroom is there. And here's where you kids will be staying. I know having one room for all four of you is a little inconvenient, especially at your age, but we prioritized the common space when we bought."
As though summoned, Madison came out of the shared room. "Sienna! It's so awesome you're here. What has it been, ten years?" Madison's twin Jaime was right on her heels, and he gave Sienna a laconic wave before rooting around the kitchen for a snack.
"Uh, yeah. Ten years sounds about right." She had to think for a minute. "You guys came out west that one time for Thanksgiving."
"Oh man, that was a long time ago." Madison frowned a bit and wrapped Sienna up in a tight embrace. "Sorry to hear about your mom and dad."
Sienna grimaced at that. She was of the opinion that if parents were going to get divorced, they should do it when the kids were like, seven or something. Too young to really remember how things were before. Certainly not when she was nineteen like her folks. "Where's Danny?" She asked, trying to change the subject. Danny was the same age as her, the twins a year younger. There was an older brother, Mark. But he had just graduated college, and was spending the summer backpacking around Europe.
"Out on the beach already." Madison waved towards the patio, and the ocean beyond. "Come on, get your bikini. We're all heading out."
They found Danny, towel tossed over his shoulder, talking to a girl. He had his phone out, clearly getting her number. She had wandered down the beach by the time the whole family caught up to him.
"What's that all about?" Miranda asked with a smile.
"I have a date for this afternoon. Her family is staying down the beach," he said, shrugging. "Hey cuz, it's been a while."
"It sure has," Sienna said. She had always liked Danny. It helped that they were the same age. "Now that I'm on the East Coast for school I'll probably see you guys a lot more often."
They spread their towels onto the sand, and James waited with their things while Miranda and the kids ran into the surf. The three women came out first, drying off and settling down to tan, the boys stayed in a bit longer, splashing and bodysurfing.
Sienna was reading her book when Jaime and Danny came back. She looked up, did a double take and let out a little gasp. The last time she had seen them, the boys had been kids. Now they were clearly men, tall and strong. They were men in other ways too, their wet trunks pasted to their skin leaving nothing to the imagination. She heard Madison giggle, and turned to look at her.
"They've grown up a bit, haven't they?"
"Yeah, I guess we all have," Sienna said.
James and Miranda bailed first, heading in to call Mark. Then Danny, he had to take a shower before his date. Finally, Jaime and Madison went in to take a nap, leaving Sienna alone to work on her book. Just a few chapters left.
Danny knew that, by definition, he was a grower, not a shower. Still, it felt a little unfair to everyone else that flaccid he was hanging a good eight inches. The fact that he grew another seven hard? Well, it made some men jealous.
And most women horny, he thought with a smirk. He was idly stroking himself as he stepped from the shower and began to dry off. A glance at his full fifteen inches in the mirror broadened his smile. Wait til his date got a look at him.
