by Brianna Cash
She blinks, feigning innocence. “Not long, promise.”
I roll my eyes, scoffing. “Like I’m gonna believe that.”
“Answer the question, Genny. Are you gonna give up this other guy, Chad?”
“What’s it to you, little sister? You’re very interested in my business all of a sudden.”
She gives me a small smile, poking my side with her finger. “I like Walker. You should be good to him.”
“You think I should be good to him after he showed half his family a video of me having an orgasm?”
“I do,” she nods. “I think you’re an idiot for sending videos like that in the first place, and it’s your own stupid fault other people saw it. He’s trying to get you focused on learning how to date again, and getting to know you, and you keep shoving sex in his face. Be good to him. Be good to yourself, and give him a real chance.”
Blinking my surprise, I turn to stare at Myra, completely stunned into silence. I look back at my little sister, trying to fight back the proud tears that are threatening to cloud my vision. With very few exceptions, my parents’ anniversary being many of them, I can honestly say I hardly ever cry in front of my siblings. I’ve always had to be the strong one. I’m not going to start crying in front of her now. “Who are you? Are you sure you’re related to me? Are you sure I’m the one who’s been trying to teach you about life for the past ten years, because you seem much wiser than I am right now.”
“You taught me right, Genny. You just forgot what was right about love and sex after Paul broke your heart.”
“Oh Lord,” I whisper pulling her in to a tight hug. “You weren’t supposed to know Paul broke my heart.”
“Paul’s an ass.”
“Yes, Paul is an ass,” Myra seconds. “And Callie’s right. You need to give Walker a real chance.”
“Boo to you both for ganging up on me! I was gonna give him a real chance anyway, but now you’ll never believe me.”
And then, doesn’t the man himself call me. After a bunch of excited oohs and ahhs from the two girls in the kitchen, I take my phone and slip up the stairs to talk to him in private.
“Hey,” I say once I get to my room.
“Hi. Are you busy?”
“Not too busy to talk to you.”
“Aren’t you extra sweet tonight?” he teases, making me chuckle as I realize I’m not usually sweet at all. “Does this mean you’re not mad at me anymore?”
Maybe Callie’s right. Maybe it is my own fault. And maybe I’ve been using sex as an excuse to keep my heart locked up for too long. “I’m not mad at you.”
“I’m really glad to hear that. How’s your week going?”
“Umm… Interesting.”
“Why’s that?”
“I told my boytoys that I’m seeing someone and won’t be playing with them anymore.”
“Yeah?” he asks, a smile in his voice. Rolling over onto my stomach, I kick my feet in the air behind me, feeling every bit the typical high-school girl on the phone with her big crush.
“Yeah. One of them made me feel like crap, so I’m really sorry if I made you feel used on Sunday.”
“We talked about it, G. We’re good. You don’t need to apologize again. Can I ask, does that mean you told Chad?”
“Mmm. No,” I venture, trying to explain. “I never really considered him one of mine. It was more I was one of his. Does that make sense?”
“Wow. Ah, I don’t know if that makes sense…”
Walker’s voice sounds stressed, and I try to think of a way to make him understand. “I never contacted Chad, it was always the other way around. Just because I didn’t tell him I’m seeing someone doesn’t mean I’m going to answer him if he texts me. Why does it matter? I promised you I wouldn’t see anyone except you.”
“It matters because I’d love to bring you to my place and have it not be weird.”
“Oh.” Taking a deep breath, I decide we need to talk about something else. Anything else. “How was your game on Sunday?”
“Good. We won three to two.”
“Maybe sometime, I could come watch you play.”
“You could. It might be weird. Chad’s on the other team.”
Well, that didn’t work out like I was hoping, did it?
“Walker, I’m trying here, ok? I wouldn’t even know what to tell Chad if I texted him. He’ll probably text back asking who I am.”
“He knows exactly who you are, Genny. And while he may not remember your name if he saw you on the street, he’d remember you.”
Pretty sure Walker’s wrong about that one, but whatever. I’m not going to argue with him about whether some other guy remembers who I am in the light of day. After a heavy sigh, I say, “Tell me something good. I don’t like fighting with you.”
“Something good?”
“Mhm.”
After a moment of silence, he informs me, “No one has seen you on my phone since I saw you last.”
“That is good!” I chuckle. “When can I see you again?”
“What’re you doing Thursday? I was thinking of introducing you to my sister. She’s very eager to meet and judge this girl I’m dating that sends me videos like yours.”
Rolling my eyes, I try not to jump at such an invitation. “Well, when you put it that way…”
“I’m kidding! Sort of… Seriously, though. I want you to meet her and my nephews.”
“Tuesdays and Thursdays are kinda my dinner-with-Callie nights.”
“So, I am interrupting,” he guesses, inaccurately.
“Callie was just telling me she likes you and I need to give you a real chance, so I think she’s ok with it.”
“Then come over Thursday. Tell Callie I’ll make it up to her.”
“How’re you gonna do that?” I wonder out loud, already smiling at the fact that he would try do that.
“Don’t worry about it, G. That’s between me and your sister.”
“Well, if that’s the way you wanna play it, you can ask her yourself.” I get up and head for the stairs, hearing his deep chuckle in my ear. “I have a question for you the next time I see you. Just you, no one else.”
“Why don’t you ask me now?”
“Because I wanna see your reaction when I ask you.”
“Now I’m curious,” he says in my ear, the smile in his voice pulling another one from me, even if my question is enough to make my palms sweat.
“Good. I hope it keeps you up at night.”
“Nah, I’ve got a great video of you that’ll help me get to sleep.”
Rolling my eyes as I step into the kitchen, I reply, “I’m glad to know I’m so boring that I help put you to sleep. Now keep your dirty thoughts to yourself, here’s Callie.”
She takes my phone with a look of confusion. “Hello?”
I don’t know what he’s saying to her, but she’s smiling and nodding her head. Her bright eyes turn to me as she lets out a little laugh, holding her hand in front of her mouth. “I’d love that! Yeah, I’ll tell her. See you later, Walker.”
She hangs up and hands my phone back to me with a smile. “You’re gonna meet his sister and nephews on Thursday.”
“What was the rest of that conversation?”
“Nothing you need to know right now.” Callie shoots Myra a sly grin and I sigh dramatically, knowing from that look that Callie will be telling my bestie about her secret conversation with the guy I’m dating.
Walker already has them collaborating against me.
Is it wrong that it only makes me like him more, knowing that he’s pulling my sister into this? It proves how different he was from Paul. Paul didn’t even like picking me up here at the house because he would have to put up with Calvin and Callie. Here Walker is making deals with Callie behind my back. And I love it.
Callie’s absolutely right. I need to be good to Walker.
I just feel like I’m assuming way too much if I text Chad. Assuming he’ll remember me. Assuming he’ll give a shit.
Then again, what do I care if he doesn’t give a shit? Wouldn’t it be better that way?
Am I just nervous to tell him because then I’ll really have no one to have sex with?
Or is it because Chad is the best I’ve ever had?
Maybe Walker is even better than Chad. He certainly kisses better than Chad, but what if that’s his best talent and he’s not amazing when it comes to the actual sex part?
Walker got me off with his hands on my boobs and all our clothes in place. That was an impressive feat. Was it just all the buildup though? All the talk of sex and masturbation and the videos and pictures and sex toys?
How horrible am I that I wish there was a way to know before officially giving up Chad?
I’ve got a lot of thoughts to sort through tonight.
Walker
Genny still hasn’t replaced her spare tire when I show up Thursday evening to take her to Reese’s. Is money an issue, or is it the time it takes to go and get it fixed? She doesn’t live far from where she works, but she really needs to get that taken care of. If she has another bad day, she’s gonna be stuck along the side of the road without a spare. I’ll gladly come and get her, but what will we do with her car?
She answers my knock with a hesitant smile. “Come on in. I’m almost ready.”
“You all right?” I ask, missing the enthusiasm of the last greeting I got when I saw her.
Looking over her shoulder as she makes her way towards the stairs, she admits, “Just a little nervous.”
I find Callie studying at the dining room table. She looks up as I walk into the room. “Hi, Walker.”
“Hey, Callie, how’re you doing?”
“Good. I’ve been working on our plan. I may have tweaked it a little.”
“Excellent.”
I chuckle, before hearing how she tweaked the plan. Or changed it altogether. My plan was simple. Hers is rather involved and is more a surprise for Genny, instead of being a way to make up for me stealing Genny from Callie. It’s supposed to be for her, though, so I shrug my shoulders and roll with it. “Maybe we should exchange numbers, so I don’t have to ask your sister to talk to you about this. Is she going to kill me or love me after our she finds out about this plan?”
Scribbling her number on a piece of paper, she remarks, “I thought for sure she would’ve killed you for showing that video to your sister. But you’re standing in our kitchen, upright and breathing, so I’m not sure what to think.”
“She told you about that, huh?” I rub my hand along the back of my neck with a cringe, wishing no one knew about that. Instead, it seems as though everyone does. No wonder Genny’s nervous. I really screwed up there. I’m still not quite sure how I did it, and that’s the scariest part. I could accidentally do it again.
“She didn’t exactly tell me… I may have been eavesdropping when she told Myra.”
Punching Callie’s number into my phone, I send her a quick text. “You do that a lot?”
She gives me a sly smile, admitting, “More often than Genny thinks. It’s become a lot more interesting lately. She was pretty boring before you came along.”
“Glad to be of service, I guess.”
“How exactly are you servicing my sister?” Genny asks from behind me, horrified.
“I was thanking him for making you happy again. This week has been fun with you,” Callie answers, saving me from a very awkward conversation. Callie must be very sneaky. She’s way too practiced at seeming innocent when she gets caught.
I’ll have to try to keep that in mind when I’m here with Genny.
Genny stares skeptically at her sister, who just shrugs and goes back to her laptop. Genny must be used to the way Callie twists the truth. I hope Genny has been happier with me around though, because I’m happier being around her.
Genny grabs her purse and walks with me to the door. “We need to talk about your tire,” I tell her.
“I know! I have an appointment to drop it off tomorrow morning. Callie’s getting up early to take me to work.”
“Good,” I chuckle at her exaggerated response. “Thanks, Callie. See ya.”
Callie sends a little wave in our direction before dropping her head back into her studies. Grabbing my hand once we’re on the porch, Genny drags me behind her to my car. But she takes a shaky breath as I open the passenger door for her.
She must be really nervous. I wish I could tell her it’s gonna be fine, but I have a feeling bringing it up will only make her anxiety worse. And I don’t honestly know that it’s going to be fine. Reese wants to meet Genny, but only so she can size her up. She’s already thinking poorly of Genny simply because of that video. I told her she needs to think poorly of me, for making such a bad judgement call and playing it when I did, but my stubborn sister is still placing all blame solely on the girl who took the video in the first place.
I made Reese promise to be nice, but with Reese, nice can be a very subjective term.
“Wait,” Genny says, stalling, as she stands between the car and the door. She tugs on my hand, pulling me close enough that I know exactly what’s on her mind. This is more along the lines of the greeting I expected tonight. Cupping her face with both my hands, I don’t wait for any more of an invitation. She breathes a sigh against my mouth as my lips find hers. Tilting her head up to mine, she makes it easier for me to deepen the kiss, and her hands snake around my waist.
Part of me is whispering that I need to keep this short and sweet…
I really wish that part of me would shut up. No matter how right it is. In the end, I listen, because I don’t need Genny crawling her way up my body to have an orgasm right here in her driveway.
Her hands hold mine in place on her cheeks as I pull away. Her eyes are still closed, like she’s cherishing the feeling of me on her lips even after I’m gone. This girl can turn me on in less than a minute. I don’t think begging is my kryptonite, I think maybe she is.
“Hi, G.”
A smile plays on her lips before she finally opens her sparkling green eyes to look at me. “Hi, Friend. I like the way you say hello to me.”
“My words or my actions?”
“Mmm,” she murmurs in appreciation. “Both.”
Dropping her hands, she finally climbs in the car and I shut the door behind her. Right now, I don’t care if Reese loves or hates Genny. I don’t care what anyone thinks about her. I like Genny enough to know I’m probably already in trouble. Everyone else can fuck off and leave us alone.
Maybe I’d prefer that. I really like what happens when Genny and I are alone.
Genny takes my hand after we leave her driveway, lacing her fingers through mine. She’s not looking at me, focusing instead on our hands. I wonder just how nervous she is, because not only is she not looking around or bouncing in her seat with whatever thought is in her head, she’s also quiet.
Squeezing her fingers in mine makes her look up, and I catch her eye. “You ok over there?”
She presses her lips into a thin line, nodding and watching me as I drive. “Where are we going?” she finally asks, breaking her silence.
“To my sister’s. She lives across the street from the pharmacy. I figure we can all walk to the park, that way we won’t be stuck at the scene of the crime.”
I’m rewarded with a small smile from her, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Can you pull over somewhere? I wanna ask you a serious question and I don’t want to do it there.”
Maybe the reason she’s nervous has nothing to do with my sister…
When she told me the other night on the phone she had a question for me and me alone, I didn’t think it was a serious question. Honestly, I didn’t know what to think about it, but Genny seems to shy away from any serious questions unless backed into a corner, so I figured it was anything but.
Finding a random parking lot, I pull in and take my hand out of hers to cut the engine. I find her watching me again, fully facing me with her back to the window when I turn to her. “Talk to me, G.
What’s your serious question?”
She bites her lip, thinking hard before letting the words rush out of her all at once. “Do I shove sex in your face?”
What?
Seeing her this nervous about such a weird question, I ask for some clarification before I even consider an answer. “Where is this coming from?”
“Someone told me you’re just trying to get to know me, and I’m constantly shoving sex in your face. It got me thinking, ya know? That’s what we talk about the most, and I sent you stuff that was totally about sex, I just… I don’t know, I guess I’m sorry. I really like you, and I don’t want this to be just about sex. I want the whole relationship thing that you’re offering, but I don’t really know how to go about getting it.”
I watch her closely, trying to figure out how to answer. She’s fidgeting in her seat waiting for whatever I have to say, so I reach out and offer her my hand, which she gladly takes. It calms her down a little.
“I don’t think you’re constantly shoving sex in my face. Do we talk about it a lot? Sure. But I think that’s because sex is a big part of who you are. I like that you’re confident enough about yourself to send me pictures and videos. I like that you’re not afraid to talk about it, and that we can tell each other exactly what we expect.”
“What do we expect?” Genny asks, a grave expression on her face.
I give her a playful smile. “You expect fireworks and I expect you to see only me.”
“Oh,” she breathes with a giggle. “I already got some fireworks.”
“That was more like a sparkler,” I inform her, giving her an arrogant smirk. “You haven’t experienced fireworks yet.”
Genny’s eyes shoot up to her eyebrows. “Is that right? Now who’s putting unnecessary pressure on you?”
“Like you said, I can handle it.”
Taking a deep breath, I push on. She’s the one who brought it up, so hopefully she won’t be offended. “I think you’re more comfortable talking about sex than anything else. I like that you’re so open about it, and I don’t want you to change that, or stop bringing up sex because of whatever this person said. But I would love for you to open up a little more about other stuff, too.”