The Cousins

by Karen M. McManus

They’re all beautiful, especially my cousin.

Uhm Alabama?

Adam was the golden-boy athlete, Anders the brilliant eccentric, Allison the reserved beauty, and Archer the charming jokester.

Aubrey, important question for you: Is it just me, or is Jonah a total ass?

Such a slay

Milly: Omg why is he such trash??? Jonah: Excuse me? Milly: … Milly: Sorry, wrong chat. Milly, in our private chat: Fuck.

It was supposed to be our starter home, bought after my father’s first novel was published almost ten years ago. The book wasn’t a blockbuster, but it was well reviewed enough that he was offered a contract for a second novel. Which he still hasn’t written, even though author is the only job he’s had since I was in grade school. For the longest time, I thought he got paid for reading books, not writing them, since that was all he ever did. Turns out he just doesn’t get paid at all.