Hale

“Have you thought about where you want to go on vacation?” he asks.

I roll over on my side and stare at the picture of the four of us on our last vacation. We went on our annual trip to Lake of the Ozarks. Mom and I are both wearing big sunglasses and even bigger hats. Dad and Hudson wear matching grins as they hold up their fish they’d caught. It’s one of my most favorite places. “To our usual cabin.”

“I figured you’d say that. A couple more weeks and we’ll get to spend all the time in the world together.”

my own. He knows exactly how to touch me to make it happen so quickly.

“Fuck, baby, I miss you so goddamned much already. This is torture,” he hisses.

Tears burn at my eyes. “I miss you too.” My fingers fumble at my clit, but it’s no use. It’s not the same. He grunts and then lets out a ragged sigh as he comes. The sounds coming from him lack their usual passion.

“It’s no comparison to the real thing,” he utters.

“What the fuck, man? Coach cancels practice and you have phone sex with your girlfriend? Hi, Amy,” his friend Nick says in the background.

A spike of jealousy flits through me, but it’s better for him to think that way. Hudson plays along with it.

“One day, when you find the girl of your dreams, you’ll understand,” Hudson grumbles at him.

“I was going to ask you if you wanted to go out tonight, but it looks like you have your hands full. Literally. I’ll leave you and Amy alone.”

“Knock next time, asshole,” Hudson says with a laugh seconds before the door slams in the background. “Sorry about that. You didn’t come.”

I slide my hand out of my shorts. “I will when I see you next. Only you can make me come so hard I see stars. I’m not as good at it as you.”

How was your appointment?” he asks, his voice deeper sounding on the phone than in real life.

“Fine. He says I’m doing better. I didn’t tell him why.”

He chuckles. “I don’t think he would have taken that news very well.”

“How did class go? Did you even study for your finals?” I question, knowing damn well he didn’t crack open a book while visiting me

you happy? There’s a definite difference in you, Rylie.”

He’s fishing. He wants me to say Hudson so he can probe more.

“I have a boyfriend,” I blurt out. “A guy I met at school. He’s in a class of mine.” I close my eyes. “We kissed and…” Fucked over and over again. And, oh, he’s my brother, not some kid from school. “We’ve been spending a lot of time together.”

“Oh?”

I reopen my eyes and smile. “I love him.”

“Love seems like a strong word, especially if this is a new relationship.”

Nah, I’ve known him since birth.

“It’s the only word to describe it,” I say with a sigh.

“What does Hudson think about this guy?” he asks.

I snort. “He wants to kill him. Hudson doesn’t like him, but all big brothers are protective like that.”

He chuckles. “I hated all my younger sister’s boyfriends. I even hated her husband before she married him. It wasn’t until he and I both realized we loved fishing that we became friends. It’s natural for your family to feel protective over you. That’s how your aunt and uncle feel too. They want to protect you from hurting whether that is self-inflicted or by the influence of others.”

“For the first time in ages, I feel truly happy,” I tell him honestly. “I’m thankful for my family for worrying over me, but I’ll be okay.”

“Well, I don’t doubt that, Rylie. You’ve grown up since the last time we spoke. The grief of losing your parents isn’t dictating your every thought either. As long as you make good decisions and are being safe, I think you’re learning ways to cope and that’s never a bad thing. Trial and error is what you have to do. Keep doing what works and eliminate what doesn’t work. I’m proud of you.”

He continues chatting with me, mainly asking about side effects of my medication and such, but I’m distracted by thoughts of Hudson. He’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I’ve barely been away from him and I’m already aching to see him again.

Two more weeks, Huds

“I don’t have to study,” he gloats. “Besides, they’re not until next week anyway.”

“Smug ass.”

“What are you wearing?” he teases.

I giggle. “Your hoodie and shorts.”

“Where’s Aunt Becky?”

“Still at work. It’s Monday. She always stays late on Mondays. What are you doing?”

“I was tired as fuck after class because someone kept me awake all weekend, so I came back to my dorm to nap before practice,” he says. “But it’s raining, so they called practice off. Now, I’m just lying here in my boxers all alone.”

I groan as I slide under my covers. “I wish I were there. I’d keep you company.”

“That sweet voice of yours makes me hard as fuck,” he hisses. “My dick still smells like you. It sucks I have to jack myself off when all I can think about is being deep inside of you.”

“Hudson,” I breathe as I push my fingers under my shorts and panties to seek my clit. “Why do you have to talk so dirty? Now my clit is throbbing. That was mean.”

His chuckles turn me on. “You miss my tongue, heathen?”

“More than anything.”

“I miss your tongue too. You’re a tease with it, but my cock loved it anyway.”

We both grow quiet, both of us panting as we touch ourselves. My orgasm teases me, but it’s much harder to do it on

Me: I know you’re still driving. Be careful. Love you, big brother.

We discussed that our texts can’t reveal anything about our relationship in case anyone ever gets a hold of them. It’s hard not to say more than what I want, but I can save that for our phone calls.

Hudson: I stopped at McDonalds. So far, so good. Wish I didn’t have to go back.

Me: Me too. Two weeks feels like forever. Are you coming to my graduation?

Hudson: I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

I grin as I reply.

Me: We need to plan our summer vacation now that Mom and Dad are no longer here.

Hudson: We will. Our traditions don’t die with them.

Me: The doctor is about to come in and then I’ll be off to school. Text me when you get there so I know you made it safely.

Hudson: Thank you for going. You’re doing the right thing. Love you, little sister.

The door opens and I’m forced to put my phone away. Dr. Livingston can’t hide his surprise when he sees me.

“Wow,” he says, grinning. “Eighteen looks good on you. Smiles look good on you. I take it the medication is working?”

Fucking my brother is helping.

“Yep, I think so.”

He sits down in his chair and positions his clipboard on his knee. “I spoke with your aunt. How are things at home?”

I bristle at his words. “Fine. Everything’s fine.”

Dr. Livingston lifts a brow. “Last time we spoke, you were upset. You were counting down the days until you could move out. What changed?”

Hudson.

“Nothing.”

He scribbles something down, his eyes never leaving mine. “Your aunt had some concerns about how much time you’ve been spending with your brother. She fears you’re using him as a crutch. This is a safe place in here. I’m bound to keep what you tell me confidential. You can tell me…anything.”

That I’m sleeping with my brother? That’s what Aunt Becky has most likely expressed to him as a worry.

He may be bound to secrecy, but I think the area becomes gray when what I say is illegal. I’m not sure he’d keep information like that to himself. It’s not his business.

No one will ever know.

“Hudson is my brother and he reminds me I’m not alone in this world. We went to Mom and Dad’s graves. Said a few words. It was nice. For the first time, I didn’t feel like the world was crushing in around me.”

“I see.” He waits for me to continue, but I don’t. “Besides the medicine, are there certain things or people who make

first it’s uncoordinated, but then we find our rhythm. My eyes never leave her bright brown ones and her smile is all for me. The dance floor is crowded, but we easily maneuver around some older couples doing more complicated routines that require them to stop more. I dance her around the floor over and over, the two of us lost in our own world.

When a slow song comes on, I pull Rylie to a corner behind several other couples and away from Aunt Becky’s prying eyes. I hug my sister to me, kiss the top of her head, and rock against her. She relaxes in my hold and lets me control the pace of our slow dance. Despite the rain, she chose a pretty black dress with floral patterns that shows off way too much leg. If we weren’t surrounded by people, I’d find a way to work my hands beneath her dress so I could hold on to her ass. Unfortunately, we’re not alone and I have to make do with what I have.

Rylie tilts her head up and our mouths are just inches apart. I could kiss her and probably not get caught, but it’s too risky. My gaze falls to her lips and I have to ignore the way I want to suck on her bottom one.

“I love you,” she says just loud enough I can hear her over the music.

“I love you too, heathen. I wish life were different.” My eyes skate over to a cou