“What do you think?” she asked, having said all she needed to. One thing I respected about Tory is she didn’t mind advice. It didn’t mean she’d take it, but she was smart enough to listen to other people’s opinions.
“Well,” I began cautiously, “I think being 19 sucks, and that’s from my personal experience. You try to have an ‘adult’ relationship without understanding what that really entails-”
“I’m not naïve, Johnny!” Tory interrupted defensively.
I held my hands up in conciliation. “I’m not saying that in any way, T-bird. I’m talking about the emotional cost of relationships, especially of finding out the hard way about trusting people who maybe don’t have your best interests at heart.” I paused to let her process that.
Tory seemed to take that a little better. “So, what then? How do I know who I can trust and who I can’t?”
I laughed this time. “You figure that out, can I please be the first one you share that information with?”
“Why? You and Cheryl have the perfect relationship! How is she, anyway?”
“Cheryl? Pretty good, I guess. Last I heard, she’s really liking California.”
“California? What’s she doing there?”
“Living. She got offered her dream job, and moved there about six weeks ago.”
“Ohmygod! Johnny, why didn’t you tell me? Are you ok?” As over-emotional as my baby sister could be, she had a heart of gold. Leave it to her to put her pain aside out of concern for me.
“I didn’t tell you because I am ok.”
“But you guys were together forever!”
“Well, three years, yeah. A long time.”
“Are you doing the long-distance thing, then?”
“No. We made a clean break, parted on good terms.”
Tory looked stunned. “I just can’t believe it. It seemed like you guys were really good together.”
“We were good together; very good. Sweetie, just because a relationship doesn’t last forever doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. There’s still value in it. That’s what I meant earlier. Let me ask you this: are you heartbroken right now?”
“Of course I am.”
“See, and I didn’t even realize you wanted to marry Jackson. Had you guys set a date? How many kids did you want with him?”
“Whoa, whoa! Slow down, big brother. We never talked about marriage. I’m not even sure I was in love with him.”
“Then maybe, sweetie, you’re just hurt, and not heartbroken?”
I watched as Tory processed this, then as two tears streamed down her cheeks. I reached toward her, and she grasped my hand with both of hers.
“So you’re saying what, exactly?”
“I’m saying that maybe this can be a learning experience and not the actual end of the world. I know it hurts, sweetie and I know it sucks. Rejection always does. But maybe, just maybe, you can focus on the good parts of the relationship, think about what you learned from it, and not worry that Jackidiot isn’t mature enough to know how, or even to care enough, to end a relationship honorably.”
“Jackidiot,” Tory snorted. “That’s pretty good. Or Jackass-son.”
“That’s even better,” I chuckled. “But listen, ok? Don’t repeat those names to anyone else. Take the high road here. He already proved he wasn’t much of a man, and I always knew he wasn’t good enough for my sister.”
“You’re the best, you know that?” Tory said, getting up to hug me. She nestled into my lap with her arms around my neck. “What would I ever do without you?”
“Probably be stuck taking advice from a bunch of sorority sluts who don’t know anything about relationships except how to deepthroat,” I said with a laugh.
“Hey!” Tory slapped the back of my head playfully. “I’m one of those sorority sluts, remember?”
“I don’t need to hear my baby sister is a slut, thank you ever-so-much.”
“I didn’t mean…it’s not like… I’mnot a slut. I just meant I’m in a sor-”
I shushed her. “I know what you meant, sweetie. No offense to the Greek system; I just never saw the point of it. I went to school to get a degree and start my life.”
“Maybe that’s what I should be focused on,” Tory mused.
“That’s your choice, but it’s not something you need to decide tonight. You have too much going on as it is to make any big decisions right now.”
“Johnny, you really are the best big brother ever. I feel like I have a little bit of perspective now. I just wish I knew what was wrong with me that he-”
“Shut up, sweetie. There isnothing wrong with you. Your relationship didn’t work out, that’s all. Every relationship ends in a breakup until you find the one that lasts forever – and that one ends in death, so there’s always that to look forward to!” I grinned.
“Well, that’s not morbid at all!” Tory laughed and hugged me tight, then pulled back and looked into my eyes. “I love you so much. Why can’t I be with someone like you?”
“Umm, because I’m your brother, and I read that sort of thing can result in birth defects in offspring?” I teased.
“Don’t be silly, Johnny. You know what I mean.” Tory chewed her full lower lip thoughtfully. “But what if I’m doing something wrong, or maybe I’m not doing enough?”
I shrugged. “I honestly can’t imagine you not being enough for anyone. But if you really want that kind of feedback, you’d have to ask the guys you’ve been involved with.”
Tory was silent for a moment.
“People,” she said quietly.
“What’s that?”
“People. I’d have to ask the people I’ve been involved with, not just guys.”
“Oh. I didn’t know-”
“Well, it’s not the kind of thing I’d post on social media,” Tory said, “but yeah. A big sister from my sorority freshman year. She was really nice to me, and so patient-”
“I really don’t need to know that much about your personal life, Tory. Why don’t we watch a movie or something?” I asked, sliding her off my lap as I quickly stood.
“I’m sorry. Was that over-sharing? Did I make you uncomfortable?” she asked, looking concerned.
“No, it’s not that. Don’t worry. Hey, how about I put on a nice Disney movie for my baby sister?” I teased.
I couldn’t tell Tory the real reason for my abrupt action, which was the erection I was getting with her on my lap, thinking about her being seduced by and fucking an older woman. Could I be blamed? I was a young, healthy guy who’d been alone for a month and a half. Having a pretty girl on my lap and hearing her talk about sex was bound to have an effect. It didn’t help that the girl in question was my extremely desirable sister. This wasn’t the first time I’d found myself aroused by her, not by a long shot. Tory was a very good-looking girl, extremely pretty edging across the line into the realm of being gorgeous. She was petite and strong, her body slender from years of modern dance classes, leanly muscled and toned. Her sitting on my lap confirmed she had an incredibly firm ass.
Hot or not, though, this was Tory, my own sister. I couldn’t do anything to make my attraction to her go away. Even during the most sexually intense periods of my relationship with Cheryl, I would fantasize that it was my baby sister I was with. I didn’t feel guilty for those thoughts; I knew that everyone, every day, has multiple thoughts they shouldn’t act on. I just needed a little break to pull myself together.
As I walked away from my pretty little sister, I called “Why don’t you pick something for us to watch? I need to use the pisser.”