SELENA
I stared at him, my heart sinking as I saw the anger in his eyes directed at us.
“What… what?” I stumbled over my words, shock and confusion blending in my voice.
“I like her friend,” Cyrus cut in abruptly, stepping forward to position himself in front of me.
Reggie’s expression hardened. “What does that have to do with any of this?” His tone was sharp, accusing.
“Yeah, so… your sister had just finished her bath, and she walked over to where I was. I didn’t realize she was there, and I was…” Cyrus faltered, his voice trailing off in embarrassment.
“I was… masturbating, and I accidentally said her friend’s name. She caught me in the act,” Cyrus confessed, his cheeks flushing crimson with embarrassment.
“Oh my god,” I muttered under my breath, a mix of shock and disbelief washing over me. He lies so well.
Reggie’s eyes narrowed. “Which friend?” His voice was cold, demanding answers. I know Cyrus does not know their names, apart from Eva, who clearly belonged to Ezra?
“Mia,” Cyrus answered quietly. I turned to look at him, surprised that he knew her name. Maybe he did pay attention after all.
“I told her what happened, and she told me what to do,” Cyrus continued, attempting a weak smile in my direction, as if seeking reassurance.
Reggie’s fake smile did little to hide his skepticism. “Oh,” he said tersely.
“Why don’t you come with me? I’ll introduce you to Mia,” Reggie offered, his smile tight and forced.
“You don’t have to do that. I mean, I have my own ways with girls, and besides, I wasn’t looking for a relationship, I just wanted to fuck her and….” Cyrus hesitated, his words trailing off awkwardly.
“Well, you didn’t mention that earlier. You’d think I’d just give you a chance,” I retorted, rolling my eyes in exasperation.
“I don’t do love, Lena. I just… thought your friend looked… attractive, that’s all,” Cyrus admitted bluntly, his tone unapologetic.
“Don’t you dare go near her,” I snapped, pushing Cyrus away and turning to walk briskly in the opposite direction.
As I walked away, my heart raced with a mix of anger and anxiety. I desperately hoped Reggie would buy my story, convincing him was always a daunting task.
~~
I spotted Eva chatting with Ezra and hurried over, my heart racing.
“Can I borrow her for two hours?” I asked Ezra, trying to mask my urgency with a smile.
“Normal people usually ask for a second,” he replied, eyebrows raised in curiosity.
“Well, I’m not lying. You’ll see your girl in two hours, maybe three,” I said before swiftly dragging Eva away.
“What’s up, girl? What’s the rush?” Eva asked as we entered our tent, her face a mix of concern and curiosity.
“Reggie almost caught Cyrus and me… you know,” I blurted out, my voice trembling. Eva’s eyes widened in shock.
“Girl!!!” she exclaimed, sitting up straight. “You two were literally fucked again ? In that place? Horny bastards!”
“It felt so good, Eva. I wanted to keep doing it,” I admitted, my cheeks burning with embarrassment but also a thrill.
“Hmmm… so what was your lie?” she asked, her eyes narrowing as she leaned in closer.
“Cyrus had to pretend he likes Mia. He said he was masturbating and moaning Mia’s name when I found him,” I explained, a knot tightening in my stomach. The lie felt so wrong, so risky.
“Wow, and did Reggie buy it?” she asked, her concern deepening.
“I don’t know, but I hope so,” I replied, anxiety creeping into my voice.
“You have to be careful, Lena. If they find out the truth, I don’t think you’ll be seeing Cyrus again,” she warned, her tone serious. I nodded, feeling a wave of dread.
“But it felt so good, Eva. He’s so good,” I said, a small smile tugging at my lips despite the fear. Eva rolled her eyes playfully.
“You’re so horny,” she teased, and we both giggled, a brief respite from the tension.
“Lena,” I heard my name called, my heart skipping a beat. It was Reggie.
“Oh lord,” I murmured, my eyes wide with panic as I looked at Eva.
“Just act normal,” she advised, squeezing my hand reassuringly. I nodded, swallowing hard before stepping out of the tent to face Reggie.
“Hi,” I said, forcing a smile that I hoped masked my anxiety.
“Hey,” he replied, his eyes boring into mine, searching for any sign of deceit.
“What’s up?” I asked, my voice wavering slightly despite my effort to sound casual.
“Come closer,” he commanded, and I took a hesitant step forward, my heart pounding.
“Don’t think I believe the crap you and Cyrus were spouting. I’m not dumb or naive like Blue or Teddy,” he said, his grip on my hands tightening painfully. “If he’s forcing you or you two are fucking, it won’t be funny at all,” he warned, his voice low and menacing before releasing me and walking away.
I stood there, my heart racing and my legs feeling like jelly. Why did Reggie have to be so perceptive? If we had tried this with Blue, he would have believed it without question.
I turned to see Cyrus watching me from a distance, concern and guilt etched on his face. Oh shit… I really messed up this time.
—
As the trip came to an end, everyone busied themselves with parking. Ever since my encounter with Reggie, I hadn’t felt quite the same. I deliberately kept my distance from Cyrus, fearing Reggie’s unwarranted suspicions.
“I can’t drive,” I admitted to Eva, who nodded understandingly before taking the driver’s seat. My mind was too clouded with emotions; I knew attempting to drive would have killed us all.
—
“My babies are back!” Mom exclaimed, rushing out of the house with an infectious smile.
“Be careful, mi amour,” Dad quipped, but Mom swiftly bypassed him to envelop me in a tight hug.
“I missed you so much, baby,” she murmured, showering my face with kisses.
“I missed you too,” I replied softly, savoring the warmth of her embrace before she turned to greet my brothers.
“Those days you guys were gone were the best time of my life,” Dad chimed in, his smile warm and genuine.
“Aziel,” Mom called out, playfully rolling her eyes.
“I know you missed us,” Blue teased, moving to hug Dad.
“If you come any closer, I wouldn’t hesitate to cut off your balls,” Dad joked, his tone stern yet filled with affection, making Blue pause in his tracks.
“Aziel,” Mom called again, her voice more serious this time.
“Alright, alright,” Dad relented with a chuckle, and Blue grinned before finally hugging Dad.
“And guess what, parents? We kept your golden child so well that she didn’t end up fucking with anyone on the trip,” Reggie interjected, his words causing Mom’s expression to darken.
“What is wrong with you, young man?” Mom asked, her tone sharp with disapproval.
Reggie smirked at Mom’s reaction, seemingly pleased with himself despite her obvious anger. Dad’s expression hardened as he stepped forward, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife.
“In my office. Now,” Dad said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. Reggie’s smirk faded as he followed Dad silently into the house.
Meanwhile, Mom turned back to me with a sigh, her eyes softening. “Sweetheart, don’t pay attention to Reggie’s nonsense,” she said, brushing a stray hair from my face.
I nodded, trying to muster a smile. “I know, Mom. It’s just…”
“It’s okay,” Mom assured me, pulling me into another hug. “Let’s not let anyone ruin the joy of having you all back safe and sound.”
Dad emerged from the house a few moments later, his expression unreadable. “Let’s get inside. Your mother’s made your favorite dinner,” he announced, attempting to lighten the mood.
We followed him inside, the familiar scent of home and the warmth of family easing the tension of the earlier encounter. As we gathered around the dinner table, laughter and chatter filled the air, blending with the clinking of utensils and the comforting murmur of Mom and Dad’s voices.
Anya came back home that evening, she spent all the those days with aunt Kate. Mom and dad really enjoyed their holiday.
I was so happy until I remembered I had classes the next day.
~~
Ignoring Reggie completely had become second nature, it was as if we were strangers, and I had no desire to engage with him. His behavior grated on my nerves, making him my least favorite brother.
Dressed for my noon class, I headed towards my car, intending to leave for campus when a text message from an unknown number caught my attention.
“DON’T TAKE YOUR CAR,” the message read.
“I WOULD WANT US TO HAVE FUN IN MINE,” followed the next message, bringing a smile to my face. It was Cyrus.
“OKAY DADDY,” I typed back teasingly, awaiting his reply.
The three dots indicating he was typing appeared, disappeared, and then reappeared, signaling a hesitation. What could he be typing that was taking so long?
” DON’T FORGET TO CALL ME THIS WHEN I AM FUCKING THE LIVING HELL OUT OF YOU, KITTY” My smile widened before putting my phone into my bag.
Grey had to drive me to school today, and I couldn’t wait to finish classes. Walking out of my first lecture, I bumped into Marco, instantly wiping the smile off my face.
“Hi,” he greeted, smiling warmly.
“Marco,” I replied, trying to match his smile.
“Yeah, me… you stopped answering my calls,” he said, his expression turning slightly serious.
“Oh… I didn’t really use my phone much at camp, especially when my brothers were around,” I explained, hoping he’d understand.
“Oh… okay,” he responded, nodding slowly. “Do you want to hang out after school at my place?”
I hesitated, unsure how to respond. “Um… sorry, I have plans,” I finally managed to say.
“With who?” he asked, stepping closer.
“My brothers,” I replied.
“You know your brothers aren’t going to marry you, right?” Marco said with a chuckle, his tone teasing but with an edge of frustration.
I felt a pang of irritation at his comment. “That’s not what it’s about,” I said firmly, crossing my arms defensively.
Marco sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I just feel like I hardly see you anymore,” he admitted, his tone softer now.
“I know,” I said softly, feeling a twinge of guilt. “But family comes first, you understand, right?”
He nodded reluctantly. “Yeah, I get it. It’s just…” He trailed off, looking conflicted.
“See you later,” Marco said, leaning in to give me a peck on the lips before pulling back with a smile.
“Bye,” I replied softly, watching him walk away. A pang of guilt twisted in my gut; I felt bad, knowing I had been somewhat distant, using him as a distraction. But at the same time, What I was doing felt so right!!!
TBC