towel.”
“Why were you kicked out of your mom’s house?” I ask instead of answering her question.
“It wasn’t my mom’s house. It was her boyfriend’s and I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Looks like we have something in common. You don’t want to answer my question, and I don’t want to answer yours. We’re not that different.”
She snaps her mouth shut and turns her attention to the TV instead of giving me shit. We spend the rest of the night not talking or even looking at one another. We both just sit, watching TV until ten o’clock rolls around and I excuse myself to go to bed for the night. Inside my room, I strip down to my boxers and throw back the blankets. I flip the bedside lamp off once I’m beneath them and comfortable. When I close my eyes, all I see is her. That tight, damp towel that’s wrapped around her naked body. The way her big, brown eyes landed on mine. The way water glided down her neck, over her collar bone, and disappeared under that towel. I wish I could’ve licked every bead of water off her sweet skin. I wonder if she knows how badly I want her. Or does she just think that I had my fun with her once and now I’m done? I am done, but not because I’m done with her. I’m done because I can’t allow myself to touch her. Brad would break my face if he knew what I did to his little sister. And I’d have to let him because I’m wrong and he’s right. I need to find something about her that I hate, something I can focus on to keep me away.
I try thinking, but for the life of me, I can’t think of anything. Everything about her is perfect. Everything except who she is, but even that isn’t enough to keep my body under control. I guess I have no choice but to keep looking. She has to have something that’s imperfect. Everyone does.
When I wake in the morning, I’m relieved to find Brad sitting on the couch, still dressed in his work clothes, Deven nowhere in sight.
“Hey, how’d things go last night with my sister?” he asks as I walk through to the kitchen for some water.
“What do you mean?” I shout.
He comes walking into the kitchen, watching as I stand at the sink and fill a glass of water. “I mean, did she give you shit and drive you crazy last night?”
I shake my head. “No, we hardly talked.”
He nods. “That’s a relief. I thought for sure she’d try to fuck you.”
I spit my water out and cough. “What?”
“Yeah, she’s been a little fucked up since dad died. She has daddy issues, if you know what I mean. She’s always looking for another guy, someone else to approve of her. She means well enough, but she gets herself into some shitty spots. Anyway, just try to ignore her.”
I nod once. “If you say so.”
“Look, I know she isn’t perfect, but she’s my sister and I love her. Whatever she does, just tell me and I’ll put a stop to it. You are in no way, shape, or form allowed to touch her. You got that? She’s my baby sister, and I’ll defend her honor with everything I have. Deven is off-limits.”
“I know, man. I’d never even think of it,” I lie. All I can do is think of it.
4
Deven
“Have a good day,” I tell the customer as I hand over her bag of purchases.
“You’re doing such a great job, Deven. Have I told you that already?” Destiny asks as she walks out of her office.
I smile. “Only about a dozen times today, but it’s always nice to hear.”
She leans her hip against the counter and crosses her arms. “All jokes aside, you really are doing a great job. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better. I really do appreciate everything you do around here, even if I don’t always have time to say it. I mean, you’ve made me obsolete around here for the past week.”
“I can’t believe it’s already been a week,” I gush. Time has been flying by—at work, at least. Home, that’s a different story. I don’t know what happened with Hudson and my brother, but they’re closer than ever while he completely ignores me. He won’t look at me at all. He won’t even talk to me unless I talk to him when my brother is around. When Brad