My brow shoots up. “Rules?”
“Leave her alone,” Pam tells him, running the brush through my hair then rubbing in some smoothing serum.
“Hey. I’m only looking out for her.”
“Well, Jules is a big girl. She can take care of herself. Why don’t you go get us some drinks?” She waves him off and he pushes away from the door.
“What’s this rules business?”
“Nothing really. Just don’t be starting trouble. Which I know you won’t be. Look, things will be wild and loud. Use your imagination then think of it being ten times crazier.”
“Uh huh. Very helpful.”
“I know.” Pam glides her flat iron through my hair and Link returns with shots of dark liquor.
I gladly take my shot and another. It burns down my throat and warms my belly. I’m going to need liquid courage for the night that awaits me. Of course, since Pam got with Link, I’ve been privy to some stories but hearing about something and experiencing it are two different things.
Pam claps her hands together. “Makeup, clothes, shoes, and then we can go.” She gives Link a look before he dares to open his mouth and complain that we’re taking too long to get ready. He does however glance at his watch and mutter under his breath before taking another shot and leaving the room.
“Shit. If you weren’t my sister, I’d bang you myself.” Pam laughs.
“You’re sick. You know that?”
“I take my meds.” She smirks. “See for yourself. I’m serious. I’m gonna have to break out my bat to keep the guys off you.”
“Stop it.” I turn to look at myself in the mirror and damn big sister didn’t do me wrong. My hair is smooth and silky. Lips stained red and eyes done up dark and smoky.
“Told you. Now put this shirt on and these jeans. They might be a little tight on your ass but that’s a good thing.”
I shake my head. Pam has always been blunt and never one afraid to speak her mind. The woman has no filter. I leave my Mickey tee on and shimmy out of my yoga pants.
“Please tell me that you have better panties than that.” Pam eyes my white cotton boycut bottoms.
“What’s wrong with these?”
“Nothing if you’re eighty. We want to get you laid. I have some with the tags still.” I fold my arms over my chest as she goes to the closet and pulls out a Victoria’s Secret bag. “Take your pick. Consider it a late Christmas gift.”
“Gee thanks, Aissy. Pretty come fuck me panties.”
“And the matching bra. No wonder you and Sam had shit sex if that’s what you were wearing to bed.”
“Oh, shut up.”
“I’m just sayin’.”
“You can just say all you want out in the hall. Can I have some privacy please?” Truth is I don’t want her to see the bruises on my back. When Sam found out I was coming to stay with Pam he snapped on me and it got physical. In his twisted mind I’m still his even though we haven’t been a couple for a long time. Sure, physically I was there but emotionally I had been done for a long time. Longer than I realized until it was too late. The only reason he didn’t do more damage was because the neighbors heard and threatened to call the police on him. Not that it would have done any good. His dad is on the force and he’s an attorney. At the time I was happy he didn’t strike my face. If Pam knew she’d send Link after him, and I don’t want him getting into to trouble for assault on my behalf. Though I’d love to see Link beat the hell out of him.
“Pfft. You act like I didn’t used to wipe your ass when you were little.”
“Yeah and I’m thirty now so get out.”
“How’s the landing strip? You all good down there.”
“I swear if you offer to wax me, I’m staying in.”
“I was only going to say I have some bikini hair remover in the bathroom. Excuse me for wanting to make sure your shit’s all nice.”
“I’m good and I do appreciate you. But most big sisters don’t encourage their baby sister to go hookup with a random biker in pretty come fuck me panties.”