She laughs. “Fine,” she says on a sigh. “I give in. Moving forward, just bring me something to eat on Mondays. Or maybe we could try eating off-campus.”
I nod. “Finally, you see my wisdom.”
We spend the next twenty or so minutes catching up on how school and soccer have been for both of us. Rachel is about two months in to playing for the women’s team here at Glendale, and she’s really enjoying it so far. But there’s some bitch on the team that gives her sass all the time. After she’s done complaining about one of her teammates, I decide to dip my toe into the water.
“So, how’s that roommate of yours doing? She get up to anything fun this weekend?” I ask.
Rachel always gets mad when I hook up with people she knows, and being an awesome big brother, sometimes I like to tease her a little. But this time, I want to test the waters and see how she’d feel about me and Charlie. Because if my instincts are correct, this very well could turn into something.
Which is why I’m shocked at the barely controlled disgust I see morphing on her face.
“You’re a 21-year-old senior in college,” she growls. “What? You’ve already stuck your dick in everyone your own age and have to move on to the barely legal? You’re so gross.” My mouth drops open and I scoff, preparing a response when she comes at me again, jabbing a finger into my chest. “You should be embarrassed that you have to troll for freshmen to get laid.”
“Hey, I can’t help it if I appeal to everyone,” I say with a shrug. But really, what am I supposed to say?
We’ve already done the deed, so you can’t be mad.
Yeah, I’m sure that will go over really well. “Besides, Charlie didn’t seem to have an issue with me.”
Rachel’s eyes narrow and I see her wheels turning. “She is completely off-limits.”
I just smirk at her. When has anyone ever been off-limits? That’s ridiculous.
“I’m serious Jer!” she cries out. “You’ve fucked and chucked enough girls this year. Leave. Her. Alone.”
I frown at her. “Hey, I don’t fuck and chuck, Rachel. That implication about my character is just rude. I’m offended.”
But she’s not done.
“Oh really? So Andi, Rebecca, Jennifer… they were serious girlfriends?”
I hide my smile as I remember the gorgeous seniors from Rachel’s soccer team. Yeah, they were still in high school, but I was twenty and they were eighteen and having fun on spring break.Sue me.
“You can’t pull out one example of exercising my right to get in some physical exercise from over a year ago and make it sound like that’s how I live my entire life, Rach.”
I pause trying to sound sincere without being obvious. “What if I really like Charlie? I can do the whole… dating thing.”
But she just closes her eyes and sighs, rubbing the bridge of her nose like I’m causing her all kinds of problems.
“Jer, you know I have a hard time making friends. Charlie and I get along really well, and I don’t want anything to ruin that.”
Then she looks me right in the face with eyes that are so sincere, and a little bit sad, and I know I’m going to hate what she says next.
“Please. I ambeggingyou. Turn your penis off for one minute and do your lonely, friendless sister a solid. Pretend. Charlie. Doesn’t. Exist.”
My stomach tightens again, but this time in discomfort.
Figures.
The first time I feel a real connection with someone, something deep and light at the same time, and it becomes something off-limits.
But what am I supposed to do? Tell my sister that I’ve already taken Charlie on a date? Let her know that both of us technically snuck around behind her back? I can’t promise her that things with Charlie will last – hell, I can barely plan out my week, let alone try to decide what things will look like in a few months.
So what can I do except agree?
I look back at Rachel, who looks so desperate to keep this friendship, and I let out a resigned breath.
“You have my word. From here on out, Charlie doesn’t exist.”
She lets out a sigh of relief and tilts her head back, whispering, “Thankyouthankyouthankyou.”
I smile a little, glad I was able to make my sister happy. But the smile isn’t completely genuine, since that pit in my stomach keeps growing.
And I can’t help but wonder if I’ve done the right thing.
