"So I'm older than you, so I only get this privilege," Jack says, crossing his arms across his chest. 
 
Julian chuckles at this exchange, and with a hand in the air, he says, "Okay! This is ridiculous." He gives his younger brother a look with a long smile on his face. "I'm glad you see this as a privilege. But Joe can come along as well." 
 
Jack sulks at that news as Joe steps forward and in between us. He gives Jack a large grin and says, "I have the chance to beat you at wakeboarding." 
 
"That's not even a competitive sport," Jack says, and Julian ignores his brother, tapping me on the arm. He starts to walk, so I follow his lead out to the water. 
 
"You're only saying that because last year you kept losing," Joe says, and I don't have to glance at him to know he has a smug look on his face. 
 
"I did not lose," Jack says in a retort, but that only makes Joe snot. I shake my head, biting my lips to keep from laughing at the fact that two little kids were fighting. As we walk toward the water, none of the other boys make a point to stop the littles from bickering, so the entire time, they constantly roast each other. 
 
As we walk the distance from the pier and closer to the water, I find that there are two boats in front of us. Julian glances at me to make sure I'm following before jumping into one of them. He holds out his hand toward me and says, "Come on." 
 
I place my hand in his and, very carefully, step into the boat. The boat moves under my feet, and I shout softly, hoping that I don't fall on my face. Julian moves his hand up from my hand to my arm, where he jolts me upright. I look away from my feet and up to where his face is inches from mine. From here, I can see the faint freckles on his face and the deep blue of his eyes. He gives me a smile, and I blink a few times to get rid of the thoughts that came over me. 
 
I definitely didn't mind being so close to him. 
 
I curse underneath my breath at the thought and take my arm away from his hold. Moving over, I place my hands behind my back and watch as the rest of the boys get on the boat. 
 
Jack and Joe are still fighting as they walk into the boat as well. "I'm just saying, wakeboarding can be a competitive spot if you're not such a sore loser." 
 
"Hey!" Jack says in full offense, as I would if an eight-year-old burned me this hard. "Keep talking, and I'll snitch to your mom, and guess what? You're back to playing with your baby brother." 
 
"Hey, my baby brother is cute," Joe says with a huff, slapping a hand at Jack's arm. 
 
"Yeah?" Jack says with a mock smile. "Then why don't you go and play with him? I'm sure he will let you play with his pacifier." 
 
"Okay," someone finally says to the little boys, trying to stop them, but I look over at the other boat. The adults have gotten onto the boat as Cecilia was sitting on a spot with the baby brother in question on her hip. They were watching as Lorraine was pushing Daniel's wheelchair toward the boat. As they stop at the end of the dock, Daniel says, "You don't have to get me onto the boat, Lorraine. It's fine; I can watch you guys from here." 
 
"Yeah, right," Lorraine says with a snort. "You live in the water, and I cannot enjoy myself knowing you are not with me." 
 
"You'll be fine without me." 
 
"What if I wanted to enjoy my time with you?," Lorraine says in retrospect, and Daniel goes quiet. She shakes her head as she says, "It's all good. And why wouldn't you get on the boat when Julian worked so hard to build you a makeshift ramp to get you onto the boat?"