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Adrian points a finger at the whiteboard. “Can you define public?”
“Public is public,” Jeff says, “This isn’t a fucking vocabulary lesson. Just keep it in the house.”
“We’re under house arrest for dating? Can’t we at least go on the porch or in the yard?”
“For fuck’s sake, since when are you a stickler for rules?” Jeff closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before continuing calmer. “Keep it away from the perimeter of the property. Nothing visible to anyone outside of the four of us.”
“No public ass grabs?” Adrian feigns disappointment and grabs Jeff’s ass.
Jeff elbows Adrian. “Knock it off—”
Ballz interrupts. “Take your argument outta here. Cindy and I are trying to make a list.”
He winks at me then write a 2 on the board.
Given how quickly things get out of control with them, I decide to run with my idea that I not cross the taboo line of having sex with my stepbrothers. Dating is the proper first step anyway.
I stare at Ballz’s hand as it hovers in anticipation of my words.
“No sex.”
They all whip their heads to me. Adrian raises a hand. “Not to be the troublemaker, but could you define sex?”
“Yeah.” Jeff joins him this time. “I thought you wanted sex.”
“It would be weird to have sex since we’re siblings, right? It’s best if you just help me practice dating and the things that lead up to sex.”
Ballz taunts, “I’m pretty sure I’ve seen Adrian go straight from hello to sex.”
Adrian grimaces. “Always used a condom. Get my medical checkups regularly. I’m one hundred percent clean.”
Jeff and Ballz are quick to explain the same in their own terms.
I nod, giving myself a second to unknot my stomach. Their experience is no secret. “Good to know. Can we move on to number three?”
Ballz writes the digit on the board.
“Eighty minutes,” I remind them. The finite time will help keep things from escalating. I hope.
“That’s not going to work.” Jeff snatches the marker from Ballz’s hand. “If we only get one date, it has to be open-ended.”
“He’s right. If things are going well, we wouldn’t want to leave you hanging,” Ballz says.
Adrian laughs. “I can see it now. We’re sampling a beer flight, or maybe wine, while watching the sun set, we don’t want to rush things because the moment is perfect, and just when I’m watching you bring the last glass to your lips, the timer goes off and I have to rip the glass from your hands. The date’s over. I have to walk away.”
“At least you could go wank off so you don’t nut in your pants,” Ballz teases, but as the laughter drifts away, the weight of them staring makes it hard to breathe.
And not in the way I expected. I love being the center of their attention. I just don’t want to make decisions.
“Fine.” My voice croaks. I clear my throat but can barely whisper past the secrets my tongue is eager to tell. “Have it your way, no limits.”
He grabs a new marker and addsNo Limitsto number three.
My pulse pounds in my ears. Then he draws an arrow between the two words and addsTime.
A sinking feeling oppresses me. If I reached a hand out, I could wipe the word from the board.
“Anything else?” Ballz asks, breaking the spell.
