Family Vacation: >5
My heart finally slowed. It was OK. This was OK. Liam had just been following Logan's lead. But then, what was
Logan doing? None of this made any sense. My body's reaction least of all. Because in that moment, as Liam's
fingers had drifted downward, I'd wanted him to brush against my sex. To dip his digits into the gusset of my suit
and feel exactly how wet | was. To press his pointer deep into my...
"Hey, you OK?"
| startled and looked over to see Liam, himself, floating next to me. He really did look concerned, his usual
playful grin replaced by a slight frown. His blue eyes crinkled with worry. "I'm fine," | said.
"I didn't, um, do anything to upset you?" Liam asked.
"You're fine," | told my brother. He nodded. But he didn't swim away. Instead, the two of us stayed out in the
ocean and bobbed up and down with the waves.
"This is nice," | said, after we'd been bouncing for a while.
"You've been saying that a lot lately," Liam said.
"I haven't had a lot of nice things lately," | said. My brother looked good out in the ocean. The water glistening on
his muscled arms and broad chest. His short blond hair dark with wet. Now that we both felt comfortable, he had
his usual crooked smile. His eyes shone a brighter blue than the sky.
"I'm still a virgin," | said.
"Wait. What?" Liam cocked his head.
"That's, um, that's my secret," | said. "Remember | owed you one from before? I've never done it. Or anything
close to it, actually."
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"Same," Liam said, "I've kissed a few girls. Betsy Connors gavea handjob once. That's about it."
"I've kissed a few boys. No one's ever... Well, let's just say you're a bit ahead of me."
"still sad, though," Liam said.
"I think it's sweet," | said, "I'm glad we got a chance to share this. Even though you didn't oweanother
secret."
Liam nodded. "I'll put it in the bank for another time." He put his arms aroundand huggedtight. It felt
nice. His hands on my shoulders. His breath on my neck.
We swam back to shore. When we got to our spot, all of our stuff was there, but Logan and Marissa were missing.
"Maybe they went for a walk on the boardwalk," | said.
"Maybe," Liam said.
We sat in the sun and dried off. By that time, my phone said it was five pm and | knew we needed to head home.
As we rolled up our towels and folded our chairs, Logan and Marissa walked over. They were both looking a bit
bedraggled. Logan's hair was full of sand and the strap of Marissa's top hung off her shoulder.
They didn't say anything, and we didn't ask. We all silently packed up our stuff and walked home.
"You feeling better?" Marissa askedas we climbed the wooden steps onto the boardwalk. "I'm good," | said,
"You?"
"Oh, I'm fiiiiine," Marissa said. She gavea loopy grin.
*
We left our stuff on the front porch and went around back. On the side of the house, there was an outdoor
shower, surrounded by green corrugated plastic for privacy. We took turns washing the sand off, then went into
the house. Once all of us were changed into shorts and t-shirts, we went back outside to where Uncle Micah was
grilling burgers and hot dogs. We hadn't been in the backyard yet, and | saw this was a very nice setup with a big
deck and a barbecue, plus benches and tables for sitting. Down the steps from the deck, there was a small pool
and a hot tub. I couldn't imagine swimming in a pool with the ocean right next door, but it was still neat.
We all grabbed paper plates and ate dinner as the sun slowly slipped below the horizon. Then both families went
down to the boardwalk and took a long walk along the shore. The way was lit yellow, the ocean crashing in the
distance. Kids sped past us on dirt bikes. Young couples held hands and whispered in each other's ears.
Eventually we turned around and chome. It was hard to imagine we'd been in Pennsylvania that morning,
sleeping at my Aunt Tara's house, but we had. | wondered if all our days at the Shore would feel so long. If that
happened, it would be like having a whole month together with my cousins.
We each took turns using the bathroom in the hall, getting changed into pajamas, washing up, brushing our
teeth, etc. | was last, so everyone was already in the bedroom, waiting, when I got there.
Logan and Liam were, again, in matching outfits -- both in boxer briefs and t-shirts. Marissa had on a cute,
turquoise linen shirt and shorts set that looked like it cfrom the more conservative side of Victoria's Secret. |
was wearing a long, yellow bed shirt that cdown to about my knees. | had panties on under it, though no
one could see that.
It was early by teenager time, but we'd had such a long day, it was easy to climb into bed. My brother's warm
body slid next to mine. These beds were way smaller than I'd realized. There was no way to position ourselves
where Liam and | weren't touching in sway.
Despite the exhaustion, | lay back and stared up at the ceiling. Very aware of the muscular man lying next to me.
For sreason, even the most casual contact felt inappropriate. As if we hadn't hugged in the ocean earlier
that day. "Get comfortable," Liam said, "It's OK."
I rolled over and tried to find my usual position but that involved resting my head on my brother's chest. He
responded in an unexpected way, curling his arm around my shoulders and holdingclose. He smelled like the
ocean, clean with just a hint of acrid salt. | fell asleep feeling warm and safe.
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*
| woke up with a start. It was still dark in the bedroom. I'd rolled onto my side, my brother spooned against me.
His breathing slow and heavy. | was facing the other bed and, right away, | saw that it was empty. The sheets
were mussed, but my cousins weren't there.
| ran the possibilities through my head. They couldn't both be using the bathroom. And a late-night walk seemed
unlikely.
| found the room was suddenly very cold, the A/C up to refrigerator levels. | pulled the blanket overtighter.
Ground back into my brother's warmth. It was a subconscious urge, but that didn't stop me. His heat, his steady
breathing, rockedback to sleep.
When we woke up the next morning, my cousins were back in bed, right where I'd left them the night before. |
wondered if it had all been a dream.
*
The morning rose grey and cool. The weather would get warmer later in the day, according to my iPhone, so we
decided to wait it out around the house. Logan had packed a few board games, and we sat around the table
playing Seven Wonders.
The entire time, | found myself eyeing my cousins oddly. Something was going on between them, | could swear
it. Marissa playfully shoved her brother as he handed her his cards. Logan eyed his sister as she collected her
brick. It was all totally normal. All completely strange.
After lunch, the weather was finally good enough to get us back to the beach. This time, the full families went
together. We set up our usual camp -- towels and chairs under the umbrella -- and settled in. There was no
silliness with suntan lotion this time. My Mom did my back and Liam's. It was much less enjoyable, but probably
safer. | have to admit, though, | was a little disappointed that | didn't get to feel my brother's hands on my bare
skin. A bit sad that | didn't get the chance to return the favor of sliding my slippery hands in certain places that |
wasn't supposed to.