"No way, baby." He takes my hand, so my panties fall to my ankles. "You need to come again first."
ChapterTen
IMOGEN
For a few hours, the night is easy. I read on the couch. He draws in his sketchbook. We enjoy the silence together. I feel comfortable in his space.
With my head in his lap, and his hands in my hair, I'm not anywhere else. I'm in this perfect moment, soaking in the feeling of his fingertips. This other side of physical touch. Intimate in another way.
We have sex in his bed. It's soft and slow and alarmingly tender. After, we take turns in the shower, and I change into a spare t-shirt and boxers.
He falls asleep in his clean white sheets.
For a few minutes, I settle into the foam mattress. I let the feeling of his space overwhelm me. The soft breeze, the faint smell of salt, the hum of the city streets.
With every passing car, I drift away from sexual bliss. To a place where I worry about Julie's boyfriend (even if she didn't say she has a boyfriend) and Mom ignoring her issues the way she ignored mine. Or maybe Julie is more like me than I can admit. Maybe she's just as good at hiding things.
I climb out of bed, slip downstairs, check my cell. Thankfully, I don't have to invent a reason to check on my sister.
She's already checking on me.
Julie: How was it ;p
Imogen: It's late. Go to bed.
Julie: You're up! Did you just finish another tryst?
Imogen: Why are you up?
Julie: You woke me.
Imogen: Sorry. Don't keep your phone near your bed. Or at least turn it on Do Not Disturb.
Julie: Thanks, Mom, great apology.
Imogen: Sleep hygiene is important.
Julie: I couldn't sleep anyway.
Imogen: Is everything okay?
Julie: No! My sister won't tell me what's going on. Worse, she's pretending like nothing is going on.
Guilty as charged.
Imogen: It's a thing with me and Mom. Not your issue.
Julie: I live with her.
Imogen: Let's talk about it later.
Julie: Please, Immy, I know that means "let's talk about it never," but, sure. If you tell me all about your new boy-toy.
I give her a PG-13 version of events. When she presses, I include a few details. Nothing too explicit. Only the sheer pleasure of being in my body, the way I am when I swim.
Julie: Like a great play. When I dive without thinking. Totally. That's hot.
Imogen: You swear you aren't having sex?