An hour and a half later, I was lying in bed, facing the window, and thinking of my father when I felt my covers lift and the bed dip lightly.
“I’m sorry, Lee.” Eliana snuggled against my back, tucking her chin over my shoulder and sliding her arm around my waist. “You don’t have to go, you know.”
“You’re my sister, Eli. You’ll always come first,” I replied, linking my fingers with hers and pulling them to my chest. “Did you know about her threatening dad?”
My sister always knew more than I did since mother practically shared everything with her and I was surprised when she said, “no. I wonder why she did it, though.”
“With our mother, anything is possible. I wouldn’t be surprised if dad cheated on her and she used us as revenge,” I grumbled, irritation punching my chest.
We stayed that way for a while before Eli broke the silence. “Lee, can I tell you something?”
Frowning, I turned around to face her. “Do you even have to ask, Lilo? We are family, remember.” I used her nickname she’d begun calling herself after falling in love with our favorite movie,Lilo and Stitch.
“Please don’t hate me, Stitch,” she traced a finger along my cheek, and baffled, I tensed, waiting for her to continue. “I was selfish when I asked you not to report mum for selling me. But I was scared.”
“You told me why and—”
“I didn’t.” She rolled onto her back and with her fingers laced over her stomach, she stared up at the ceiling. “I’m not a virgin, Lee.”
“Wait. What?” I bolted upright, looking down at her. “That is seriously not something you should be joking about right now.” I punched her arm lightly.
She looked at me, her expression solemn. “I’m not.”
My brows pinched together in a severe frown. “Explain?”
Sitting up, she sat cross-legged and grasped my hand in both of hers. “Remember that guy I told you about last year?”
“What’s his face...” I racked my brain, trying to remember. “Please don’t tell me it was Zander?” I attempted, dread already snaking its way up my spine. Zander might be good looking, but by relationship standards, he was no boy, rather an older man whose family had strong connections to the Irish mafia. She nodded. “Oh, God, Eli, what did you do?”
Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears and my hope it wasn’t him who took an almighty dive. “He was at the pageant...last month. He bought me that tennis bracelet for my birthday.”
“The diamond one?” She’d been very secretive about that present and even though I didn’t question her, I kept wondering who’d given it to her. Mother never spent money on expensive gifts, not even for Eliana.
She nodded. Pulling in a deep breath despite the tension crawling through me, I gave her hand a light squeeze, urging her to continue. “Mum went for drinks with some friends and I think Zander arranged it because he came to our room while she was gone. He said we could watch a movie together and I stupidly let him.” She dropped her gaze to our linked hands, a single tear sliding down her cheek. “Then, halfway through the movie, he began kissing me, and before I knew what was happening, we had sex.”
“God, Eli.” I gripped her shoulders tightly, forcing her to look at me. “Be honest. Did he force himself on you?” My anger took over the worry on my face while I prayed he did because I would get his ass thrown in jail.
She shook her head vehemently. “No, Lee, he was gentle and caring, like he was in love with me.”
“Jesus, girl,” I scoffed. “You’re fourteen, and he’s like a freaking hundred years older,” I exaggerated but didn’t care. This was my baby sister he’d touched.
“He’s twenty-five,” she retorted.
“Yeah, and old enough to know better,” I didn’t hide the irritation in my voice. “Older men don’t just fall in love with younger girls, Eli. They use them for a good time and in your case to take something as precious as your virginity.” Sliding off the bed, I shook my head and paced the room debating whether to tell my mother or not.
As if she read my mind, Eliana choked out, “you’re not going to tell, are you?” The sudden apprehension in her voice had me pausing to look at her. She was crying now.
My heart went out to her. Torn between wrong and right, I sighed then sat next to her. “Oh, Lilo.” I pulled her into an embrace. “No, I won’t tell.”
“You promise,” she sobbed against my shoulder.
“May I never lose my virginity if I do,” I joked, caressing her hair.
A laugh leaked through her sobs. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” She drew back, sniffling.
“It’s okay.” Slowly, I wiped her tears, grabbed a tissue from the bedside table, and handed it to her. “Please tell me he used protection?”
Taking the tissue, she blew her nose, then answered, her voice nasally, “he did.”
