Page 61 of Ask No Questions

I smiled and finally gave in. I busted up laughing just seconds before he did. A few moments later, we were calming down, but we looked at each other and lost it all over again.

Of course Brandon walked in on our third round of side-splitting laughter and stopped mid-step.

“Do I want to know?”

We both looked up and saw his puzzled expression and started up again. By that time, I fell off of the stool and onto the ground. Brandon shook his head as he stepped over me on his way to his bedroom.

Carter calmed down enough to come over and help me stand up. I looked into his eyes and caught my breath. The look in his eyes was something I had never seen before. It was a cross between lust and longing. I stepped back before I could try to interpret what this meant.

“I probably stink. I’m going to shower before we go. Tell Brandon I’ll be quick.”

“Yeah. Sure.”

As I showered and got ready, I was trying to explain away the look I saw. Maybe I imagined it. But did that mean I want it to be there? Maybe he was actually thinking about his super-hot model girlfriend. No, Brandon already told me Carter wasn’t seeing anyone. Maybe I had mistaken the look, and he was actually just looking at me. No longing. No lust. It was just a look. I kept repeating that to myself before I walked out to meet the guys.

There was nothing there. Carter thought of me as his little sister. I was just a silly teenager to him. I was a little disappointed by this realization, but I knew it was true.

We headed out to a local taco shop, and the guys decided since it was Taco Tuesday to have a food eating contest. Being the disgusting animals they were, each of them ordered fifteen greasy tacos to start. I started a timer on my phone, giving them ten minutes to eat them all and, if needed, I would get more so there wouldn’t be a tie.

Seven minutes in, Brandon had two left, and Carter had three. A group had formed around us, cheering them on and counting down with me. It was the weirdest experience I’d ever had, in a restaurant at least. I had tears streaming down my face from laughing too hard, but I gave them a two-minute warning as they both picked up their last tacos. I yelled for someone to bring us ten more to split between them. The kitchen must have heard what was going on since all ten tacos appeared within seconds.

The crowd grew as the boys groaned when the extra five tacos were added to their plates. I added two minutes to the time and yelled it out so we could countdown again. I shouted their names, and the crowd followed, chanting the names of who they were rooting for.

With thirty seconds left, the entire restaurant was invested in the results. Brandon had one taco in each hand, alternating bites from each. Carter began doubling up and smashing two tacos in his mouth at a time. It was horrifying, and I hadn’t stopped laughing since it started.

We chanted down from ten, watching them intently to see who would be the champion. With two seconds left, Carter stuffed the last half of a taco and apparently swallowed it whole, beating Brandon by half of a taco.

Carter jumped up and stood on his chair while pumping his fists in the air. Brandon put his head on the table and held his stomach. I prayed he didn’t lose it in front of everyone.

After the crowd congratulated them and dispersed back to their own tables, we sat back for a few minutes so they could recover.

“That was epic.” I still hadn’t stopped laughing.

“I wish we got a video of that, dude.” Carter looked at Brandon, but he still had his head on the table.

I was pretty certain we would be rolling him out of the restaurant.

“Do you think he’s going to make it?”

Carter shook his head and looked at Brandon again. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen him this bad since our last trip to a Chinese buffet.”

“Ewww. I definitely don’t want to know that story.”

“He ended up in the hospital. It wasn’t pretty.”

“Let’s pack him up and get him home. I don’t want to have to clean up after him in public.”

Brandon leaned on Carter like he was wounded. At least he was able to walk himself in and out of the car. We watched as he crawled into his bed and passed out within seconds. Interesting bit of information I might use later. Stuff him full, and he’s out for the night.

I walked out to the balcony and sat in my favorite chair. Carter followed, bringing another chair close to mine.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine. I have a stomach of steel, but Brandon always forgets that.”

“Poor guy. I hope there’s no serious damage.”

Carter laughed at my lame joke, so nice of him. “He’ll be fine. It’s not the first time he’s done something stupid.”