“Because you’re a city girl, but you love the country.” She smiled at me as she took a sip of the red wine she’d just gotten at the grocery store. “Most people either love the city or the country. Not both.”
“You know how much I love the city.” I grinned at her. “But this is my home. This is the place I come to for tranquility and nature. When I come here, I really feel close to God and humanity. I look out at the blue sky and I listen to the birds and I think, wow. This is so amazing. So beautiful. So perfect. This is what I imagine Heaven is like.”
“And that has nothing to do with TJ being here as well?” She grinned and raised an eyebrow at me.
“Whatever.” I laughed and took a big gulp of wine and then sighed slightly. “Of course, TJ is a major part of what I love about coming here. I feel especially connected to him when I’m here.” I made a face. “And, Sally—oh, my God.” I lowered my voice and looked around to make sure nobody was paying attention to us. “I think TJ might be interested. Just now—in the bedroom—he touched me and I think he wanted to take things a step further.” She looked back at me excitedly, her brown eyes eager to hear more.
“Oh, my God, he totally loves you,” Sally said, her voice rising with her excitement. “I need to tell you what happened with Cody as well on the car ride; but, first finish telling me what happened with you and TJ. How and where did he touch you and what are you going to do next?”
“Wait, I thought you guys were walking?” I said with a small frown.
“He decided to drive instead.” She grinned. “Thank God, as I wasn’t really looking forward to walking. Now, tell me, what are you going to do about TJ?”
“I’m going to go for it,” I said with a grin. “Maybe I do have a real shot, though that could all be in my head and just in my dreams, I suppose.”
“What’s just in your dreams, dorky?” TJ walked into the kitchen, followed by Cody, and I froze. How much had he heard?
“She was saying that she’d love to be able to go on Chopped, the TV show,” Sally said quickly as I stood there in silence, my mouth unable to work as I tried to think of something to say. Thank God that Sally was quick on her feet.
“You?” Cody looked at me with a surprised expression. “Isn’t that a cooking show?”
“Yes,” I said and frowned at him.
“You want to go on a cooking show?” He laughed and shook his head as he walked to the fridge. “Want a beer, TJ?”
“Yeah, pass me a Blue Moon.”
“Blue Moon?” Cody made a face. “Bud Light’s where it’s at.”
“Bud Light?” TJ laughed. “No, thanks.”
“So, what are we going to do tonight?” Sally said, her eyes gazing at Cody in a way that told everyone in the room that she was interested. I felt slightly embarrassed for her being so obvious, but I didn’t want to hurt her feelings by saying that. And maybe Cody really had given her a sign when they went to the grocery store that he really was interested. Maybe both of us were going to get lucky this weekend.
“Maybe we can shoot some pool at the bar?” Cody said and shrugged. I studied his face to see if I could tell if he was interested in her, but I couldn’t read anything from his expression. Was it possible that Cody wasn’t reading the signs that Sally was putting out? Was my brother that clueless? And was it possible that Sally was reading his signs incorrectly?
“I don’t think anyone wants to drive.” TJ shook his head. “And I’m not letting anyone drink and drive.”
“Yeah, true,” Cody agreed. “What else is there?”
“What is everyone up to?” Barbie walked into the kitchen wearing a skimpy bikini. “Are you guys finally ready to eat?” she said, sounding a bit miffed. My eyes widened as I took in her small waist and big boobs. Her bikini was small and white and her boobs were almost popping out of the top. She must have been cold as well because her nipples were poking out like small pebbles for everyone to see. I watched as she swung her hips towards the fridge, and I could hear Sally gasping along with me as we stared at her naked, perfect, cellulite-free ass. And we saw all of her ass, as she was wearing a thong bottom.
I looked over at Sally and she mouthed the word ‘slut’ to me and I grinned. Why was Barbie wearing a bikini with a thong bottom, and why did she have to have such a perfect body? Once again I felt slightly insecure in her presence. I looked over to see if TJ was ogling her but noticed that he was staring at me with a peculiar expression on his face. I gazed into his eyes and he raised an eyebrow at me as his lips twisted up at the side. I wanted to ask him what he was thinking, but didn’t dare. He was most probably thinking that Sally and I were jealous of Barbie and her perfect body. Though maybe he was also thinking about the inappropriate way he had just touched me and the fact that I hadn’t hit his hand away immediately. I blushed as I thought about the feeling of his finger rubbing me briefly and firmly on my bud, awakening all my sexual desires.
“Not yet” Cody said, his voice husky. “We’re just trying to decide what to do tonight first?” I looked over at him because his voice sounded strange, but I almost gagged when I saw his tongue practically hanging out of his mouth as he stared at Barbie and her big boobs.
“I have an idea,” she said with a small smile as she walked over to him with some grapes in her hand.
“Oh?” Cody said, his eyes moving down to her waist and then back up to her bust as she ate the grapes and jiggled around. My eyes narrowed as I realized that her boobs were brushing against his arm. Ho!
“Why don’t we play truth or dare tonight?” she said and we all watched as she sucked another grape into her mouth like some sort of vacuum.
“Truth or dare?” Sally said, her voice pained, the light gone from her eyes. “I don’t think so.”
“I think it would be fun,” Cody said, not even turning to look at Sally. I gazed at her face and I could see that she was hurt, and that made me want to punch him. I was guessing that whatever leeway she’d thought they'd made on the way to the grocery store was now gone.
“Yeah,” TJ said and nodded. “So do I. Where’s Troy? Let’s see if he wants to play as well.” He glanced over at me and winked, and I wanted to slap him.
“I think he might be tired,” I lied. There was no way I was bringing Troy into this, especially as I didn’t really know what he knew or where he’d come from. I really needed to ask Sally what she’d been thinking by inviting him. It had been a good idea but not for the whole weekend. How did she think I’d be able to pull this off? Especially as she’d just sprung the surprise on me.
“I’ll go and check,” TJ said and he grinned at me. “This is a good way for you to get to know him better. See if he’s really the one.”
“I never said he was the one,” I said, feeling cornered.
“How come you never told me about him?” Cody said, finally breaking his gaze away from Barbie’s boobs and looking at me with a frown. “I didn’t even know you were dating anyone.”
“I don’t have to tell you every time I go on a date,” I said, glaring at him.
“They need to be vetted, Mila. You know you have questionable taste,” he said, sounding very much like the older, bossy brother he’s always been. “I don’t think Mom and Dad would appreciate you dating someone we don’t even know. I know Nonno definitely wouldn’t.”
“Whatever,” I said, feeling like a petulant kid.
“You should be more responsible, Mila,” Barbie said and looked at me with pitying eyes. “I know you’re desperate, but you shouldn’t just date a guy because he asks you out. I know it must be hard to have standards when you don’t get asked out much.”
“Barbie.” TJ’s voice was sharp and he frowned as he looked at her.
“I’m just teasing her,” Barbie said, looking like a wounded deer. “You know how I love to tease.” She looked at me with a sad little face and said, “Please don’t take my teasing seriously, Mila. I’m sure you get plenty of men.” She gave me an obviously fake smile and walked over to TJ and put her arm through his. “Please don’t be mad at me, honey bunny.” Her hand caressed his stomach. “Let’s get you some food.” She then looked around at everyone. “We must all be tired and hungry. We can eat and then decide what to do tonight.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Cody said eagerly, and Sally and I just looked at each other with a frown. We’d gone from exuberant to depressed in five minutes flat, and I wasn’t sure what game TJ was playing.
***
I tried to signal to Sally to follow me after lunch so that we could talk, but I couldn’t tell if she was paying attention to me. I gave her the eye, nodded toward the hallway and started walking. Lunch had been awkward and basically The Barbie Show, so I thought that we needed to come up with a plan to turn things around. I made my way down the hallway and smiled to myself as I heard steps behind me. I turned around to look at Sally and my jaw dropped when I saw that it was TJ.