“Be nice, daddy,” she said.
He chuckled and rubbed her back, and she sighed contentedly, feeling the strength, warmth, and protection that she always did when they hugged.
“What’s going on sugar?” her mother asked.
Alex saw that she was running her hand through Toni’s hair and down her back.
“Well, we’ve went and checked out the photo studio last week and talked to a nice couple that’s worked with Camille before while we were there,” Toni said.
“Yeah, they were both super nice, and answered a lot of questions,” Alex added.
“Oh?” their dad asked. “Well, good,” he said. “And I’m guessing that you two still want to go through with this?”
Alex nodded. “We do,” she said, getting a wink from Toni. “It looks really fun and exciting, and I was actually really surprised and comforted by how nice Camille’s studio is. It’s just her and her husband, and they handle everything by themselves.”
Her mother didn’t look overjoyed with the news, but she wasn’t frowning or forbidding it to happen.
“So, is this going to just be a softcore photo shoot?” her mother asked.
Toni nodded. “Camille said that we’ll come in and get some standard photos and then basically see how we look in front of the cameras. If we don’t like how things turn out, she said she won’t post them, and actually can’t unless we sign off on it. She didn’t mention anything about further shoots yet, obviously, but she did say that this first one is just us.” The signing off part was exactly true, but she didn’t want her parents to worry, and she figured it sounded factual, regardless.
Her dad nodded, and Alex had a moment of doubt about their consent. “Are you two sure you’re really okay with this?” she asked.
He chuckled. “Of course, honey. I just want my children to be happy. You’re both intelligent and have good heads on your shoulders. I know you’ve done your research, and to be honest, this is probably safer than working at that restaurant.”
Alex hadn’t really thought of that, but it was most likely true.
“I’m okay with you trying it out, and just tell us how it goes,” her mother said. “If you don’t like it, or anything happens, you can tell us.”
Toni grinned excitedly, then kissed her mother on the cheek and hugged her tighter. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she said, bouncing up and down.
She was up and out of the room before Alex had a chance to look over from her own hug. Sighing, she rolled her eyes and slid down beside her dad.
“She’s not making you do this, is she?” her mother asked.
Alex laughed, but shook her head. “It was her idea to begin with, but when I was talking with Camille and checking it out… I dunno, I just figured why not?”
“Still, I think I’d feel better if Wade or Beck could go with you,” her dad said.
“Beck and I split up,” she said with a frown.
“What?” her mother asked. “I’m sorry honey.”
Alex chuckled. “It wasn’t serious at all, you guys. He’s just not right for me,” she said. “I don’t need to get tied down anyway. I want to finish school and he was wanting a much more serious girlfriend that he knew what to do with.”
Her dad chuckled. “Yeah, some fellas just want to get married and don’t know what a serious commitment it is when you do that. I’m glad you’re smarter than that.”
She nodded. “I tried to tell him to just be cool and we could just be…” she stopped realizing she was about to say fuckbuddies but didn’t know how her folks would take it.
“Casual?” her dad asked.
She shrugged, then nodded, seeing that they could both tell what she had been about to say. She felt her cheeks flush though and even felt a little silly.
“It’s okay honey,” her mother said. “It might be embarrassing, but this house isn’t as silent as you kids think. I already told Sam that we could hear a lot of what’s going on upstairs. But… that being said, we haven’t actually heard you.”
“So, thank you for that,” her dad said, a pained expression on his face.
Alex giggled.
“It’s something we’ve expected for a long time,” her mother continued. “The women in our family have a much higher sex drive than normal.”
“We do?” Alex asked.
“Your Aunt Stephanie and I used to be hellraisers,” her mother confirmed. “That is, until we were tamed by our men,” she said, winking at her husband.
“I believe it,” Alex replied. “Still, thank you for being so understanding about all of this.”
“You’re welcome,” her mother said. “Can you see if Wade can go with you?” she asked.
“I’ve actually already got an escort,” Alex said. “I’ve been talking with a guy named Bryce, and he’s going to go with us tomorrow.”
“A friend?” her dad asked.
“Yep. He’s a sweet guy,” she said, trying to stifle the laugh forming in her throat at the thought of him being anything like Beck.
“Good,” her dad said.
“Just be safe, honey,” her mother added.
“I will,” Alex said, then scooted over and hugged her mother for a while. “Love y’all,” she said, standing and moving to go back upstairs.
“Love you, number 2,” her dad called, drawing an eyeroll from her as he used yet another pet name for her from when she was a kid.
She quickly went upstairs and got ready for bed.
***
Waking up more aroused than she had been the evening before, she quietly wondered what the heck was causing it, but then chalked it up to what her mother had said about the women in her family being hornier than normal women. That wasn’t exactly how she’d phrased it, but it had been something that her folks had been expecting with her and her sister, which was oddly comforting.
For most of the morning and afternoon, time seemed to drag by for Alex. Classes weren’t any different than they normally were, and she figured that it was just excitement for that coming evening. She and Toni both went home after class, and she occupied her time with finishing up some class work and straightening up her room, then taking a nap.
When it came time to get ready, she took a shower after her twin, then let Toni do her hair and makeup after she was done with her own. The two put on simple clothes since Camille would have what they were wearing.
Around 6:30, Alex got a text from Bryce saying that he was there, and she grinned. Jogging down the stairs, she heard the doorbell ring, and smirked, shaking her head at him.
Opening it up, she was momentarily shocked when saw Bryce looking nicely dressed.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey,” she replied. “Are you looking for my sister?” she asked playfully.
“I know it’s you,” he said, raising an eyebrow.
She giggled. “So… are you sure you’re up for this?”
He nodded, and then stepped in as she opened the door for him. After she closed the door, she started to walk back up the stairs expecting him to follow. “Toni should be ready, let me just go…” she trailed off, seeing that he wasn’t behind her.
There were voices from the den, and she sighed in amusement, then shaking her head as she went back down and went to find him.
“Nice to meet you,” Bryce was saying as he shook her father’s hand, then turning and shaking her mother’s.
“Good to meet you,” her father said. “So you and Alex been seeing each other long?” he asked.
Bryce chuckled. “Well, she hasn’t said yes to a date just yet. She wants me to tag along for this thing tonight,” he said.
“Ah,” her dad replied.
“Did she tell you what she and Toni are doing?” her mother asked.
“Yes, he knows,” Alex said flatly as she glanced at him. She’d felt a swell of affection for him, seeing that he’d deliberately sought out her parents and wasn’t the least bit afraid to meet or talk with them.
“She’s trying to see if I scare easily,” Bryce said, shaking his head and grinning widely at her parents. “You guys have a spectacular home,” he said, looking around. “This a really nice area, too,” he added.
“Well, thank you,” her mother said happily, offering Alex an encouraging nod.
“So, where do you work?” her father asked.
Alex stopped, and was stunned when she realized that she didn’t know where that was.
“I work for my dad building houses,” he said. “He’s a contractor and is going to cut me in for part of his business when I graduate, so he doesn’t make me work full time,” he explained.
“Very nice,” her father commented, glancing over and offering another approving nod. “Well, Bryce, it was good to meet you, but I hope you know that I expect you to look after both of my daughters at this thing,” her dad said.
“Have no doubt about that, sir,” he said, his face serious. “I won’t let anything happen to ’em.”