Chapter Thirteen
Oakley
T he next day, I hang out with Terry, and we spend the day in her backyard.
We hop in the pool a bunch and eat watermelon for a snack.
She also helps me order more underwear. I’ve spent most of the day wondering when Waylon is going to come get me to tell me I have to do the walk-through of my apartment.
I’m not really looking forward to it at all. I had dreams -bad ones- all night long.
“So…have you and Waylon kissed again?”
My eyes widen, and I suck in breath as my cheeks turn bright red, telling her everything she needs to know.
“Oh my God! You have! Who kissed who? Did you kiss him?”
“No, well, maybe. He said it was something we should do to make everyone think he cares about me.”
Her eyes narrow, “Okay, but you were okay with kissing him, right?”
“I didn’t force her if that’s what you’re getting at.”
I spin around only to find a mad Waylon. Shit. Was I not supposed to say anything? Is he mad at me for telling Terry? He looks mad.
He comes over and takes my hand, pulling me up from the lounger I was lying on before, kissing me right in front of his sister.
“Can you blame me, Waylon? I don’t want you using my best friend.”
“She can tell me no, Terry.” He looks down at me. “You know you can tell me no, right?”
I nod for him. “Yes. I…yes.”
“And you would tell me if you didn’t like my kisses, right baby?”
“Stop calling her baby and acting like all of this is natural and normal and you’re not just using her, Waylon.
” Terry seems pretty mad over the fact that I might have kissed her brother.
I didn’t really foresee her being really upset over it, but…
Maybe I was wrong. “Of course, she wouldn’t tell you your kisses suck because Oakley is way too nice for that.
And she wouldn’t tell you to stop when you’re pawing all over her because she is… ”
“She can speak for herself, Terry. She doesn’t need you to stand up for her, especially not from me. I would never do anything to hurt Oakley, and I’m a little pissed you think I would!”
“Then stop kissing her! You just don’t understand her the way I do. She’s not…”
“I can kiss her if I want to because this is between me and her, not you and me and her…”
“Guys, what is all the yelling about?” Rowan comes out asking, but she isn’t heard over the two siblings screaming at each other. “Kids!!!”
Both of them stop arguing and turn to their mom.
“You can’t keep doing this. You’re making Oakley a nervous wreck, and all the bickering and arguing is hurting her, I’m sure!”
She comes over, takes my hand, and pats it in support.
“Terry, you know your brother would never hurt Oakley because he knows how important she is to our family. He is taking care of her, keeping her safe, and trying to make this very stressful time just a little more bearable for her.”
Terry looks down and shuffles her feet. Her cheeks are stained just the barest hint of pink.
“Waylon, you can appreciate how much Oakley means to Terry and why she is trying to protect her, too. You are older than Oakley, some of the things you find normal might not be normal to her…yet. Terry doesn’t want something you do to upset her so badly that she wouldn’t feel comfortable over here after all of this is settled. ”
This time, the blush is on Waylon’s face. I’ve never seen a man blush before. I never realized how attractive it could be.
“Both of you want the same thing: to keep Oakley safe, and both of you should be working together to make sure that happens. Not sending her running because of some silly bickering. Now…hug.”
“What?”
“Ah, Mom!”
“Hug it out! Now!” I have to stifle the laugh that wants so badly to spill out as the two siblings awkwardly pat one another on the shoulder and roll their eyes at the same time.
“Waylon, honey, can you be a dear and grab that old pot over the stove that weighs as much as your Nan?”
“Yes, Mom.”
I take the opportunity to whisper quickly to Terry.
“I won’t kiss your brother again if you don’t want me to. He just thought it would…”
Before I can finish, Waylon is picking me up over his shoulder.
“We’re going to keep kissing, and you’re going to have to get over it, sis. Love you though.”
My hands flail out looking for something to hang on to.
I realize this isn’t the first time I’ve been in this position, but it’s the first time sober.
I end up grabbing a bunch of his shirt in my hands and holding on for dear life as Terry follows us into the house.
How he’s going to explain this to his mom, I have no idea.