Unspoken Pleasure by Erotica

Family Vacation: >2

We stopped for lunch at a strip mall right off the highway. They had a Chick-Fil-A, manna from the gods, and we went around the drive-thru. Dad insisted we couldn't stop but Mom had to use the bathroom. Since we were down to about a quarter of a tank of gas, Mom won, and we all got out to stretch our legs.

As I left one of the worst bathrooms I've ever experienced, I saw Liam heading towards me. I jogged over and grabbed his arm. He ripped it out of my hands.

"What is your problem?" I asked. He glared at me and bared his teeth, like a jungle cat. "No, seriously, come on. Talk to me."

"I'm fine," Liam said. He reached to put his AirPods in his ears, but I slapped them away.

"You're not. Now talk to me, dammit, or I will sing Taylor Swift at the top of my lungs for the rest of the drive."

"You wouldn't dare," Liam said.

"WE ARE NEVER, EVER, EVER..."

Liam grabbed my arm so hard it hurt. "Shut up already, ok? I'm listening."

"Look, I'm not saying we have to be best friends or anything," I said, "But you're my brother, my twin. I legit care about you and I don't want to live the rest of my life with us this way. If I did something wrong, or upset you..." "You didn't do anything," Liam said.

"So then what the actual fuck?"

"I'm sorry," Liam said, he stepped back from me and kicked at the gravel ground. "I don't know what to say except I'm sorry. I'll try to be a better brother."

"That's not good enough," I said, pressing my advantage. "You have to give me one thing each day that I can do to be a better sister."

Liam sighed gratuitously and rolled his eyes. "Fine. Once a day, you have to tell me a secret. Something that no one else can ever know."

I realized the genius of what my brother was suggesting. Saying nice things or even doing them could be an empty gesture. I could still resent my brother while I did his chores or bought him a gift. But if we shared each other's secrets we would build a true bond between the two of

I asked, hands on my hips.

mouth dry.

while you were sleeping before," I said, "I caught you doing, um, something

face went pink and he gave me a sheepish look. Apparently, he

Dad didn't notice, but I'll take it

He put his hands on my shoulders. "I was dreaming about

*

to Aunt Tara's house around three in the afternoon. Their home looked like it had been cribbed off a postcard -- a classic Victorian painted green with black shutters and a wraparound porch. The day was almost oppressively hot, but the land was shady, covered in twisted oaks. An old tire swing

there in over two years, but the place still felt familiar, almost as welcoming as my own home. The front door popped open and my cousin Marissa raced out.

you're here!" she shouted, like she needed the whole neighborhood to know. Marissa finally let go of me and went over to give Liam a similarly over the top greeting. Meanwhile her brother,

back and gave me

good to see you," I

never been one for words. But his dark eyes were so deep, it sometimes felt like staring into the abyss. Logan might come off as distant, but in truth his feelings ran strong, right below the surface. Aunt Tara and Uncle Micah came out and greeted us. Tara and my mother weren't identical twins, but they sure did look alike. They were both blonde, short women with pale skin and serious curves. The men they'd married, however, couldn't have looked more

on the front yard and stared, like we were appraising

put her hands to her mouth, but far too late to stop anything. The whole family turned to stare at Marissa. But I was the one who turned bright

not like I didn't hit puberty till age 18, but there was no avoiding the fact that the previous summer I'd been

me the time of day before was suddenly all over me. Like

Basic things like eating or running turned into a huge ordeal. I didn't even like how they looked on me: fat,

"I didn't mean to. I mean. It

the family started to head into the house. The moment had passed. But I caught both Logan and Liam eyeing me oddly

*

of two giggly girls lying in bed talking about school, friends, and boys. The truth is, I was so tired from eight hours