It's a hard summer for Prince and Clover.

Lisette is off to college three states away, and Princeton hasn't a clue when he can see her again. Sometimes, he'll take the photograph of her and Clover out and look at it, trace the dimples on Lisette's face with his finger.

He hadn't noticed she had dimples until she was gone.

Clover is all alone, so Prince focuses every ounce of energy on his friends, sleepovers at his place, big, family dinners at Rosario's, scary Saturday nights watching Ghost Docs at Felix's. They're in middle school in the fall, and it's both exciting and awful for Prince. He's glad he has people to share it with.

They celebrate their advancement through the school system by having a huge water fight at Rosario’s house, and all five of his beefy brothers join in.

They’re destroyed by Diego, thirty-two; Antonio, twenty-nine; Lorenzo and Matteo, twenty-one; and Nicola, nineteen. Prince is somewhat shocked and alarmed by how many children Mama Ricci has. He's seen a few of the brothers before, but this is the first time the whole family is over, and it's bedlam.

The oldest brother, Diego, is twenty years older than Rose, and already has a son of his own the same age as his youngest brother. Antonio, Rose's second oldest brother, is seventeen years older, and has two toddlers that run around the lawn with small water guns.

The twins, fraternal, are both unmarried, as is Nicola, Rose’s closest-in-age sibling.

Prince considers Mama Ricci, now fifty years of age, and does math furiously quick in his head as she prances about the yard offering snacks and lemonade to her family.

She must have had Diego at eighteen.

He shudders at the thought, equally impressed and unnerved, because Clover is nearly eighteen, and he can’t imagine being a parent so young.

Really, it makes Mama Ricci very strong, and Princeton admires her for it.

The water fight gives him a chance to let loose, really show what he’s capable of, and he relishes it. Prince uses Rose as a distraction, sneaks up from behind, and blasts the twins full-on with his water gun, soaking their t-shirts.

Lorenzo barks in surprise, and swings around, then unleashes a long, hearty laugh. “Damn, Rosario! Where’d you find this kid?”

“Fierce competitor, this one,” Matteo agrees, wringing his shirt dry. “Quite the strategist.”

“Prince is a genius!” Rose boasts proudly. “He’s the smartest in our whole school. He’s a fucking prodigy!”

Mama Ricci is passing, and affectionately taps the lemonade and snack tray to the top of Rosario’s head. “Language, child,” she scolds fondly.

Rose rubs his head. “Sorry, mom.”

“Don’t you think it’s time for some dinner, boys? You should come help in the kitchen and we'll all eat faster.”

Diego, the oldest and tallest, sprays them with his water gun and grins. “You didn’t play at all, mom. I’ll help now that you’ve participated.”

Mama Ricci rolls her eyes, jeans wet, mumbling, “Sometimes I think you're the biggest kid here, Diego.”

Prince tears his eyes away when something cold hits his back, and Rose snickers, gunning him with a stream of water in the face.

"Gotcha!" he cries, and races away.

A fire blooms in his chest, intense and hot, and Prince makes to give chase, but pauses.

Felix is playing with the three children on the other side of the lawn, gaze fixed on Rose as he runs, a hint of a smile on his lips.

Prince wonders how long that's been happening.