Chapter 72
"But…but…"
"Come on, Vincent."
"But you're six!"
"That was twelve years ago, Vincent."
"Eleven."
"Twelve."
"Eleven."
"Twelve years and you weren't there for a single one of them."
"Twelve? Are you sure?"
"Yes." She says shortly.
"But that would make you…" I trail off, trying to work out her age mentally.
"Eighteen, yes."
"Eighteen?"
"I'll be nineteen in four months."
"But you can't be!"
"Can't I?"
"You're my little sister! You can't be nineteen in four months!"
"I will be, whether you like it or not."
"But…but…"
"Did you really expect me to stay six years old forever?"
"Yes! No! I don't know!" I exclaim, confused. "You slapped me!"
"I'll slap you again if you don't find your brain."
"You slapped me! You're my little sister!"
"Yes, I did, and yes, I am."
"My little sister just slapped me!" I say, more to myself than to her.
"Yes, she did."
"You can't slap me!"
"I can and I will."
"But…but…"
"That's the third time you've said that."
"You've been counting?"
"You've said very little else."
"You slapped me!"
"Shut up, Vincent."
"Stop calling me Vincent."
"That's your name, isn't it?"
"It's Vince."
"Vince." She repeats, testing the name out. "Vince. I like it."
"I'm glad you approve."
"Good. Now, are you going to get to work or not?"