"That's our Kennedy," Erin laughs. "Hey, if everything else fails, you could study political science at uni. Become a politician."
Kennedy pretends to vomit, then considers it. "Maybe."
"You know who might be a politician, if he doesn't become a corrupt corporate guy first?" I ask.
Before I can go on, Kennedy interrupts. I don't know how Kennedy knew I was going to insult Curtis, but Kennedy has a sixth sense that way.
"We should have desert," Kennedy suggests, turning to her parents. "Mum, Dad, desert?"
Kennedy and my parents cheer in response, and Bonnie and Erin insist on serving it.
We have apple crumble with homemade vanilla ice cream (Kennedy has vegan ice cream). After we finish and clear the table, the cousins, Kennedy and I drift to the dining room while the parents stay at the table, discussing council rates and gossiping about other families.
In the living room, Kennedy and Bonnie share a brown leather couch while Erin and I take a floral print armchair each.
"So," Bonnie says, brows wiggling. "Kennedy has a boyfriend."
"I can't wait for you guys to meet him," Kennedy gushes. Gushes. How did Curtis turn Kennedy into someone who gushes?
"All you've told us is his name. How did you meet?" Erin asks.
Kennedy recounts the story I've heard a hundred times about how she ran into Curtis at a talk about sustainability. After sitting together, they got lunch at a cafe and talked. A week later, they were dating. That was January. It's April now.
"We've been at school together," Kennedy explains, "but only when I talked to him did I properly get to know him. He's super smart and thoughtful… and cute."
"Show us a photo!" Bonnie says.
Kennedy giggles and pulls out her phone, leaning forward in her chair to show the cousins. "Here."
"Wow, he's good looking," Erin says.
"He's hot," Bonnie says.
"What about you two?" I interrupt. "Dating anyone?"
"Erin is," Bonnie answers. "His name is Wallace, and he studies science too, and he's super nerdy."
Erin laughs. "He isn't! Well, he is, but I love that about him."
"He's super nice," Bonnie says. "They've been with each other for two years."
"Did you two meet in a class?" Kennedy asks before gasping. "Don't tell me you two were lab partners!"
Erin laughs. "No, not quite. We had a class together and started studying together… and then we were dating."
"Aw," I say with a smile. I might hate the idea of Kennedy and Curtis dating, but that doesn't mean I hate the entire idea of love. It sounds as if Erin and Wallace are a cute couple, and Erin's face lights up when she talks about him. "What about you, Bonnie?" I ask.
She blushes. "Nah. You?"
"Nope," Kennedy answers for me. "Everyone at Easton Grammar knows how obnoxious he is."
"I'm not obnoxious!" I protest. "I'm a catch. Remember — I'm super hot."
"You're never going to let that go, are you?" Bonnie asks.
"Never," I say.
Erin turns to Kennedy. "We're picking your boyfriend up at ten, tomorrow, right?"
