The grill crackled, the scent of charcoal and corn on the cob floating through the July heat. My mom's annual barbecue was always the same—too hot, too loud, too many people I only vaguely recognized from past summers. But this year felt different.
This year, I had turned 18 meaning I could travel to London .Just for him .
Ace.
Mira's oldest. My mom's best friend's son. My almost-brother. The boy I used to share juice boxes with. The one who taught me how to climb trees and help me with my homework . He used to watch me take baths with his little sisters "Dia and Mia "as toddlers. There were photos of us in matching pajamas at every holiday for a decade.
We were like family.
Until I moved away seven years ago. And I hadn't seen him since.
But now I was gonna .
Mira had four kids two daughters ,two sons and a really big house I always looked forward to spending summers at her place because I got to be with her kids especially ace .
I was gonna leave to London this night .