So… that whole one night thing, Liv’s message read.
You’re staying over there?
Anna really wanted me too. We’ve really been getting along. I don’t think I realized how much I missed her
I’m happy for you
Really?
Ofc why would you even need to ask
Idk… ig I’m worried something will change while I’m gone. You’ll come to a realization that you don’t want to be sleeping with your stupid sister
The only thing I missed out on today was spending time with my stupid sister. I paused before typing out the next part of my message. And I definitely want her back in my bed…
Careful what you put in writing. What if Anna was looking over my shoulder?
Is she?
No
Lol. Then careful where you leave your phone
Speech bubbles. Appearing and reappearing. Whatever Liv was trying to say, she was typing and retyping. Then:
Thanks for understanding Will.
Of course, Olivia
Night
Goodnight
It was hard spending another night alone, especially another night I thought I’d be spending with Liv. My chest was a bubble with that anxious feeling so common in early relationships. Liv’s text about something changing resonated with me more than she probably thought. We’d established we weren’t just fucking, that we both cared for each other, and wanted to see where this was going. I worked to remind myself that while tossing and turning. As clearly as we’d worked things out in the light of day, it did little good in the dark of night, when insecurities and anxieties ran rampant. I made it to Thursday morning nonetheless.
**
With Liv gone, we fished again, this time bringing mom along. It was another perfect day for it, though we left a little later. The canoe was a little less steady with three people in it, and we had one or two tip scares, but overall it handled itself relatively well. We didn’t catch anything of note this time, but it was still nice being out on the water, spending quality time with my parents.
We came in half past eleven, and part of me expected Liv to be waiting for us. No such luck, the cabin was as empty as we left it earlier that morning. I helped my dad pack everything up, him and I mostly deciding to be done with the fishing for the week. Because of that, it was mom who heard from Liv first, sitting on one of the deck chairs, shading her phone screen with her hand.
“Oh that’s so nice of her.” She muttered as I walked past.
“Nice of who?”
“Marie.” Marie was Anna’s mom. I knew she still called our mom from time to time to catch up. “She wants to have us over for dinner tonight. Says it was Anna’s idea. Says she was overjoyed to hear we are here.”
“Are we going?”
“Of course we are. Let me go find your father and let him know. We’ll head over there around five I think.”
I went to find my phone.
Dinner? I texted Liv. Again, she was quick to respond.
Yep. Bring your suit too, Anna’s place has a hot tub
Will do. But I take that to mean you aren’t coming back til after?
No 🙁 sorry
Nbd, don’t mind me, just left alone with our parents, on our family vacation…
Oh stop being a baby, go jack off if you’re so bored
Nah, I think I’ll wait til tonight
Suit yourself 😉
I smiled, then looked at the time. Five hours to go before dinner. Fuck, what was I going to do for another five hours?
**
Anna’s place was pretty sick, Liv had not exaggerated. For a lakeside rental, it was huge. Three full floors, air conditioned, built in the last fifteen years, it really did make our cute cabin look like the hundred year old fossil it was. Anna and Liv met us at the door, Anna giving all three of us a hugs in turn.
“Come in! Come in! Mum’s in the kitchen.” Anna led our parents around the corner. I hung back with Liv for a second. My sister gave me a quick hug.
“I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.” Liv said into my shoulder.
“You haven’t,” I said.
“Sorry to leave you all day and night. And then all day again.”
“It’s okay… just thought there was something between us… guess I misread things…”
She separated from me quickly, a concerned look on her face. When she saw my smile, she punched me playfully on the shoulder.
“Not funny,” Liv said. “I didn’t mean to disappear.”
“I know. It was fine though, really. I mean that.”
“I believe you.” She paused. “It felt weird, like we left things unsaid, even though we said everything.”
“That’s a good way to put it.”
“Maybe we can’t wait til we get home to figure things out?”
I nodded. “We can talk the first chance we get.”
That seemed to satisfy her, and I started to follow around the corner. However, I’d only taken one step when Liv grabbed my arm.
“I think it’s a good sign though.”
“What is?”
“That we missed each other… you did miss me right?”
“Yes.” I glanced toward where Anna and our parents had disappeared. There were voices carrying from the kitchen as Marie greeted them. I leaned forward and kissed Liv on the nose. “I missed you. And it’s a good sign.”
Her smile back, my sister grabbed my hand and pulled me toward our family.
Anna gave us the tour first. Liv stayed behind to help Marie in the kitchen, having spent all day exploring the house. The kitchen was impressive, with large marble counters and two stoves. It was a family place. I shook my head at the irony, seeing as currently the only two people there were Anna and Marie. The dining and living room were combined, the largest space in the house, having a huge dining table and a mounted flat screen. Cool air flowed freely from multiple central air vents as we went downstairs first. The basement was a man cave, with a pool table and a mini bar. There was another table, round, it looked made especially for cards. It brought to mind old men, whiskey, cigars, and gambling. Upstairs there were three spacious bedrooms, and two bathrooms. Anna had her room’s door shut, but she showed us her mom’s master. It was impressive, covered with classic modern decoration. The master bath was something else too, a huge shower and bigger tub, with so many settings on the wall I hardly believed water could be automated that much. Two sinks, I realized the house was designed as a vacation spot for a rich family of four. In another life, I thought.
“Little excessive.” My dad mumbled to my mom, who elbowed him sharply.
“Be nice.”
Anna laughed his comment off. “I agree. Dad picked it out. Figures he was the one who didn’t show up.”
She showed us the room that would have been her dad’s. Not quite as big as the master, it still had a queen bed and classic dressers. It was spotless, untouched, still waiting for the guest that hadn’t come.
After the upstairs, she showed us the deck. It was screened in with a mesh canopy, to keep the bugs out. And as Liv had said, still in possession of its hot tub. It was an above ground one, with a large gray lid, and the towels around it showed Liv and Anna had already been in and out of it today. It wouldn’t fit more than four people though, and our parents had not brought their suits. I wondered when Liv had been planning on using it.
Dinner was good. Cooking had always been one of Marie’s passions. She opened a few expensive bottles of wine for us all, and we had a pleasant time eating and talking. I answered Marie’s questions dutifully, as she asked me about my time at school. She made a few comments about how fast time flew by, and that she couldn’t believe Liv and Anna were now on their way out of the nest as well. Afterwards she mostly talked to our parents.
At one point I helped Liv and Anna clear the table, and then my sister was suggesting we go for a dip in the hot tub.
“I don’t know honey, I don’t think your father and I are going to stay much longer.” Mom said, when she overheard Liv telling me to get changed.
“Oh, Anna can just drop them off later.” Marie said, waving the concern aside. “Will and Olivia are welcome to stay as long as they want.”
Mom and dad traded looks. I knew it wasn’t us staying that worried them, more teenagers getting behind the wheel after a night of free flowing wine. I was going to interject, but thankfully Marie picked up on the concern as well.
“They can stay over if they need to, Will can use David’s room.” Marie said, referring to her ex husband, Anna’s dad. “Not like he’ll be showing up anytime soon.”
“You sure?” Dad asked her. “We don’t want to intrude.”
“No, it’s really okay. I love seeing your kids again. I promise, it’s not a bother.”
“It’s really fine, I’d appreciate the company.” Anna added. “C’mon Liv let’s get changed. Meet you on the deck Will.” She grabbed Liv’s hand and pulled her upstairs.
“Are you okay with this?” Mom asked me.
“Yeah, for sure.”
“He’ll be fine.” Marie said through her wine glass. My mom raised an eyebrow at me.
“It’ll be nice to sleep with air conditioning.” I said, shrugging.
“Sounds nice alright,” Dad grumbled. “Will can call us if he needs a rescue from the girls.” He pointed out. That finally seemed to satisfy mom, who let it go. I excused myself to the downstairs bathroom.