Oh. My. God. This is mortifying.But I think it’s better to talk to my older sister than one of the other girls at school.
“No, just over my clothes, and it was just very…” I try to describe the less-than-desirable interaction. “He moved his hand very fast; it was like he was trying to start a campfire down there.”
Juliette snorts. “That’s definitely not how it works. Did he even touch your clit?”
I’m sure my face is the color of the apples in a basket on her countertop, but I answer. “No, I don’t think so. It didn’t feel good at all.”
“Dumbass high school boys,” she mutters. “Most of them couldn’t find the clit if they had Indiana Jones guiding them around your vagina. They’re such nitwits.”
We stop the conversation when Juliette’s boyfriend, Collin, stomps into the room. “Juliette, where the hell are my socks?”
She huffs out a sigh. “On top of the dryer, along with your lucky underwear,” she tells him. “The same place I put them every time I wash them.”
The jerk makes a derisive noise in the back of his throat. “You know I have a game tonight.” Collin plays hockey on the same professional team as Bubba.
“Yes, and that’s why I put them in the same place every time. So you can find them,” she retorts. Collin walks off, mumbling under his breath.
“High school boys aren’t the only nitwits,” I say quietly, trying to keep my temper under control.
“True,” she says wearily.
“I don’t like the way he’s been speaking to you lately, Jules, and if he doesn’t cut it out, I’m going to knee him in the balls,” I tell her, crossing my arms over my chest. “And you need to tell him he can wash his own crap.”
My sister kisses the top of my hair before threading my braid through the hole in the back of my cap and replacing it on my head. “I’ll handle Collin,” she assures me. “Hang on. I have something for you.”
She retreats to her bedroom and returns a few minutes later with a small package. “I’m writing about a man who has a huge collection of sex toys in my next book, and this new company sent me a couple samples of their products. I’m going to mention the brand in the book and hopefully get them some business. They’re very high quality, and this one is even waterproof, so you can use it in the shower.”
I inspect the tiny, purple, rubber-looking thing encased in clear plastic. My face feels like someone dumped lava all over it. “I’ve, um, never…”
“It’s okay, honey,” Jules says, pulling up a chair to face me. “You’ve touched yourself, right?”
My head bobs up and down, and I swallow hard. This is freaking awkward, but Juliette’s direct, earnest gaze makes me feel a bit calmer. She loves me, wants what’s best for me. Jules is the best combination of big sister and mother figure I could have ever asked for.
“Yes, but just with my fingers.”
“This is called a finger vibe, and it’s really easy to use. It’s for external use, so you simply hook it onto your finger and use it on your clit. Play around and see what feels good to you. Some women like back and forth and some like little circles. Or even a combination. Heck, on the highest setting, you might not even have to move it at all. There’s no right or wrong way.”
I look up from the device into my sister’s aqua eyes, the same as mine. In fact, most people say we could be twins if Jules wasn’t over a decade older than me.
“I might try it tonight when Dad goes out for his poker game.”
“All right, no pressure. Everyone’s sexual journey is different, and if you’re not ready, that’s okay. I want to make sure you know masturbation is completely normal and natural. And when you’re ready to talk about birth control, I’ll go with you to the doctor. My gynecologist, Dr. Fergus, is very easy to talk to. Trust me, there’s nothing you can say or ask that she hasn’t heard before.”
“I don’t think I’ll be needing that any time soon,” I tell her, “but thank you.”
Jules nods and repeats, “When you’re ready.” She pulls my braided ponytail over my shoulder and fiddles with the exposed tips. “I’ll behappy to go into the exam room with you if you want, or I can sit in the waiting room. Whatever makes you most comfortable.”
I reach forward and hug my sister fiercely. “I love you, Jules.”
She returns my embrace. “Love you too, honey. Thank you for trusting me enough to talk to me about this.” When she pulls back, her eyes are sparkling. “And enjoy your new toy. I’ve learned battery-operated boyfriends are a hell of a lot less trouble than men,” she says with a big grin and a wink.
I hear footsteps and quickly fumble the vibrating toy into the front pocket of my sweatshirt a second before Collin marches back through the kitchen, frowning and not even speaking to either of us.
A smile creeps across my lips when he’s gone. “Yep, I see what you mean.”
CHAPTER FOUR
I am Daddy; hear me roar
