She giggled again and squealed, waving the cash note at Mum, who shook her head and muttered something I couldn’t hear. Mum got a hug from Stormy as well before Stormy’s attention finally settled on Finn. He shifted uncomfortably and gave her a small smile.
“Stormy, this is Uncle Legend’s boyfriend, Finn.” Stretching out my arm asanotherwave of fire spread through me—it wouldn’t stop for hours, maybe even longer—I stepped in close to Finn and reconnected our fingers.
Stormy grinned, undeterred by this new information. She stepped forward and plucked at his dress, smoothing the material between her fingers inquisitively.
Finn tensed, and I tightened my hold on his hand.
“I like this dress,” she said, turning big eyes up at Finn. “You’re pretty.”
He let out a long breath and smiled, his face relaxing. He released my hand and crouched in front of Stormy before holding out his palm to her as though wanting to shake hers. I snorted when she threw herself at him in a hug, and he caught her, surprised.
The cuddle didn’t last long before she pulled back, expression thoughtful. “If you’re my uncle, too, and you’re late, you owe me five, too.”
Mum and I both laughed loudly.
“Stormy May Sweeney!” Cyclone chastised, but Finn shook his head with a grin.
“It’s only fair.” He shrugged. “Unfortunately I only have boring American money. I spent all my colorful Australian cash.”
“Is that why your voice is weird? You ’Merican?” Stormy cocked her head and blinked up at him with her big brown eyes, the same color as Cyclone’s and Mum’s. In terms of looks, she reminded me of her father in a lot of ways, but she had Cyclone’s personality. Her natural curiosity for all things that interested her was Cyclone in every way. My sister went to uni and completed three degrees, yet she still wanted to learn more.
“I am. I was born in a state called New York,” Finn replied sweetly.
Stormy rolled her eyes dramatically. “I know where New York is. Come on.” She grabbed Finn’s hand and tugged him, and he had no choice but to stand and follow her inside.
I watched, thoroughly amused, until I cringed at a sharp pain once again.
Mum cleared her throat and sidled up beside me. Her gray hair was pulled back tightly and she’d layered some light makeup on her face, even though we were only going to Cyclone’s house for dinner. I assumed Finn inspired her. “Jellyfish?”
A simple word was all she needed for her question. I nodded. “My baby got me when I was dunking our former driver. Poor thing. The jellie, not the driver. I hope he rots.”
She blinked in concern and touched my upper arm. “How badly did she get you?”
“Not too bad. I can handle it.” I shook my head when Mum stared me down. “It’s not worth a hospital visit. Trust me, Mum. I can bloody handle this.”
She huffed. “Fine.”
“And don’t tell Finn about my pain.” I glanced toward the door Stormy had left open when she’d dragged Finn inside, hoping they weren’t close enough to hear us. “He has enough on his mind at the moment.”
“You don’t think he noticed, boy?” She crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows at me, the typical expression she used when she was in her disapproving mother mood. My siblings and I had received that look a lot growing up. “Your man isn’t stupid.”
“I know.” The agony that shot through me this time nearly crippled me, and my knees faltered. Mum grabbed my elbow, but that wouldn’t help if I went down. Compared to me, she was small, and with her added weakness from cancer treatment, she didn’t have the strength she used to.
“You should’ve told me. We could’ve called Cyclone and stayed home.” Her admonishment made me wince, and I gave her a small smile.
“I’m a big boy, Mum.”
“Physically,” Mum drawled, unimpressed. “I don’t know about mentally.”
“Ouch.” I laughed.
She slapped me on the shoulder. “At least let’s get you to one of the guest beds. You’re not going to be able to stay upright for much longer, Ledge.”
She had a point. I groaned when Finn came to the door with Cyclone and Stormy right behind him. Unlike the rest of us with our dark hair—mine was silver with age—Cyclone had deep red hair, which happened to be natural. Mum always said it came from our grandfather, who was as Irishandas redhead as they came, which was even more amusing now with Finn at her side. They looked like they could’ve been siblings, as well; although, at six foot, Cyclone had a lot of height on him. She was curvy, something she’d long hated but men loved, and regardless of the different colored hair, she had Mum’s face and stern expression.
“Finn said you were in pain,” Cyclone said, when they stepped over the threshold and stopped in front of us. She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “He said you got stung by one of your fishes.”
“They aren’t fishes.” I frowned at her. She knew they weren’t, but Cyclone always found ways to irritate me, and once she found a weak spot, she exploited it. Aware of how precious my jellyfish were to me, she used her and my knowledge of them to tease and anger me. She was lucky she was my sister.
