Chapter 37

“Hey Stud, you didn’t mention that I had competition,” Susan said. I didn’t know why she had used Jasmine’s nickname for me from yesterday, but I hoped she was just being funny.

I turned and saw what Susan was talking about. I was pretty sure I didn’t know the girl getting out of the car until I refocused on her face, then I realized it was my cousin, Cindy.

My first thought was to say, that’s just my cousin. I was smart enough to realize not to say it, but still said the wrong thing. “Holy Crap, that’s Cindy.”

After getting my brain back under control, I said, “I mean, wow she has changed.”

Aunt Mary Lou’s weight problem seemed to have only been passed on to Cindy’s ass and chest. My scrawny, kickball-playing, tree climbing, playmate cousin, from three years ago, was now a chest heavy beauty. The greasy black hair I remembered, had turned into a shiny mane that made it halfway to the round ass jutting out above her thin legs. Her tiny waist gave way to a barrel chest. Clearly, there were huge breasts packed too tightly under her shirt.

“How old did you say your cousin was?” Susan’s tone made it clear she was noticing the same thing I was.

I turned to Susan. “I think that’s Cindy. She was ten when I saw her last.”

Susan’s mouth fell open as she did the math. “I don’t think so. She looks more ... um, older than Jasmine.”

“Come on.” I raced towards the car as Uncle Jim called out to me. Susan arrived at my side after I received a bear hug from Uncle Jim, who was also amazed at what five years had done for me. “Wow, look at you, JJ, you’re so tall.”

I tried to introduce Susan, but my plump Aunt Mary Lou hugged and kissed me. I was thrilled that my head was now above her mammoth, face-smothering chest.

I hugged Cindy while the two boys scurried around us. Then, I looked her up and down to make sure it was Cindy and not Julie. I stopped at her chest. My brain checked out and let my mouth speak before I had censored what it was going to say. “What happened to you, where did you get those?”

Cindy and Susan whacked me simultaneously.

“I’m sorry, I meant, wow they grew. I mean you, you grew.” I was truly amazed and not trying to be rude. My aunt and uncle were laughing because they knew what their kid looked like the last time I saw her.

My uncle said, “Don’t worry son, she’s still a tomboy.”

My aunt said, “It’s a good thing Julie isn’t here, you’d really put your foot in your mouth.”

Her words made me realize Julie wasn’t there, but I couldn’t imagine I could embarrass myself anymore if she was. “Where is she?” I looked at Cindy one more time to make sure it was my cousin.

“She’s at her boyfriend’s house.” Cindy sounded just like Cindy. I was surprised she didn’t break into a verse of K, I, SS, ING, Julie is sitting in a tree ... That would have proven without a doubt that the well-rounded girl in front of me was actually the stick figure I used to play hide and seek with. Julie being three years older than Cindy and two older than me made her the brunt of our childish antagonizing for years.

As we collected the stuff to carry inside, I was secretly hoping there was a current picture of Julie somewhere.

“So, is this your girlfriend?” Aunt Mary Lou and Uncle Jim both waited for an answer. Susan and Cindy seemed to already be exchanging notes, while I thought about how to answer.

I glanced at the house, at Susan, and said, “Uncle Jim, mom says she’s my friend. If you know what I mean.” My broad smile told them everything they needed to read between the lines.

Uncle Jim’s jovial chuckle brought back many pleasant memories and confirmed he understood. I missed the days when they lived close, and we saw them all the time.

The two boys seemed right at home before we made it halfway across the lawn. Susan had scooped little Matt up and started carrying him. Mom and dad met us at the door. During the commotion at the door, Uncle Jim tried to pass Susan off as my missing cousin.

“Wait a second, I know this one. She’s Joe’s math student.” Only my mom and I knew what she meant.

Uncle Jim, explained about Julie and her boyfriend while Susan and I shared knowing smirks.

Two hours later, I was still trying to find my old playmate under all of Cindy’s layers of superfine. If I had run into her on the street, I wasn’t sure I would have known it was Cindy unless I looked into her eyes.

“So, how long has Julie been dating this guy?” I wanted to know how she got away with not coming. My aunt and uncle would be here until Saturday morning.

Cindy’s flippant shrug indicated how interested she was in her sister’s love life. “Guess about a year.”

“Well, what is she doing until you get back?” Sadly, I was imagining a girl three years hotter than Cindy, having sex for two days at her boyfriend’s house.

“Her boyfriend is very close with my grandmother’s family. You remember my mother’s mom?” Cindy looked at me like I should, but I really didn’t. I knew I had met her, but I had met tons of people in my family that I didn’t really remember.