“There goes Carrasco’s no-hitter,” Erica said, standing. “I’m going to bed.”
“G’night.” My eyes were glued to her ass as she walked out of the room.
As soon as I looked back at the TV, I noticed Brad standing in the doorway to the kitchen, holding a big bowl of popcorn. Had he caught me looking at his sister?
Brad kept his eyes on me as he returned to the couch. “What’s going on?”
“Carrasco gave up a single. A shitty little bloop hit.”
“No.” His stare deepened. “I mean what’s going on with you and my sister?”
I felt my muscles tense. “What do you mean?”
Brad and I had been friends a long time. He knew when I was bullshitting. And the look he gave me said,Dude, come on.
“Nothing’s going on,” I said while taking the bowl of popcorn from him. “She’s your kid sister. I’ve known her since the three of us were riding around town on bikes.”
“I heard about you fixing her car.”
“I like puzzles,” I said, which was true. “I learned a lot by tinkering with her AC. I’m going to make a YouTube video about it.”
“What about the pool?” Brad continued. “I saw you feeling her up.”
I reimagined the events from earlier today. Erica’s smooth skin, warm to the touch after sitting in the sun. Rubbing my hands on her back long after the sunscreen had been absorbed. Getting my hands underneath the bikini strap, and feeling it shift the weight of her breasts. It was a good thing Jessica didn’t ask me to stand up and hug her when she arrived, because I was rock-fucking-hard in my swim trunks.
Of course, I couldn’t say any of that to Brad.
“She asked me to put lotion on her back. What was I supposed to do, tell her no?”
Brad grunted. “My sister is a lot of things, but forward isn’t one of them. She would rather get burned to a crisp thanask youto put lotion on her back.”
Shit. He caught me.
“Maybe I offered, then,” I said. “I don’t remember because it wasn’t a big deal. I was just trying to be nice. Why would I do anything with her when Jessica was on her way over? Do you seriously think I would rather flirt withEricathan Jessica?”
I hated saying the words, implying that Erica was somehowlesserthan Jessica. But I needed to throw Brad off the scent. He looked sideways at me a little bit longer and then turned to the TV.
“Jessica’s hot as fuck,” Brad said. And then: “There we go. Carrasco got the double-play to get out of the inning.”
“No harm,” I agreed, glad the subject was over.
Erica was off-limits for sure. It was part of the guy-code.
But that only made me want her more.
6
Erica
“Smile!” my mom said happily while aiming her camera.
Brad and Hunter were arm-in-arm, wearing their graduation robes and square mortarboard hats while posing for the camera. Brad gave a cheesy smile while Hunter grinned naturally, his dark eyes glistening in the sunlight.
“Okay, now one with us,” Mom said, handing me the camera. I snapped away as she and Dad posed with both boys, then with Brad alone, then with Hunter.
“Now the siblings,” Mom instructed. “Get in there, Erica.”
I smiled sheepishly while joining the two boys. I tried to stand next to Brad, but Hunter grabbed my arm and pulled me into the middle.