"August and I had sex last night," I spit out, covering my mouth.
Now she’s awake. "Come again?"
“We had sex last night, like four times, and it hurts to walk.”
She blinks a few times at me in shock. When I open my mouth to say something, she laughs at my face and covers her mouth.
"Please tell me this is a joke." The golden hoop ring on her nose shines in the sunlight coming in through the room. The matching gold septum ring touches her full top lip.
"Can you shut up?"
She calms down and looks at me again while I sit on the floor. "I’m surprised it didn’t happen when you guys first kissed.” Her raspy voice comes out smooth. “The sexual tension must have been wild."
My lips press together into a tight line, and I fall onto the floor, lying on my back. My arms are splayed out to the sides, and I stare at the gold stars painted above me.
"It was that good, huh?"
I cover my face with my hands and whine. I hate how much I loved every single part of it.
“Four times?”
My head lifts to look at her. She has an elbow propped on the bed, the side of her face in her hand.
"Four times."
“How are you even walking?” she says through a laugh.
"Hailey," I whine and sit up. "What do I do?"
“What do you mean, what should you do? Talk to him. What happened this morning? I assume he slept over.” She scans her stiletto nails.
I’m still amazed at how capable she is of tattooing with them.
“Um.” My voice rises an octave.
Her perfectly shaped, dark eyebrows raise in questioning. “Riley. What happened?”
The sound of birds chirping outside wakes up the cats. One bird flies and lands on the outside windowsill, making them chirp at it lazily while falling asleep.
"Riley."
I focus on her, and she gives me a look, lifting an eyebrow.
I tilt my head back before peering at her again. “I woke up, and he was gone. I panicked and came here.”
"You're fucking with me, right?" Hailey joins me on the floor. She crosses her legs. “He left? That’s not like August. Are you sure? Did he text you?”
I shake my head solemnly, and the only thing I feel is hurt coursing through my body. “Maybe it’s for the better. This wasn’t supposed to happen. We aren’t supposed to happen.”
“Riley, I swear to god if you start this again.”
“What?”
Hailey rolls her eyes and then looks at me, leaning in closer. Her too big of a shirt falling off her shoulder. Blonde strands of hair falling down her neck. She's so beautiful. Soangelic. Despite the tattoos and piercings and having the aura of Morticia Addams.
She grabs my hands. “Just because mom doesn’t know how to love us doesn’t mean we aren’t worthy of it. I’ve learned to love myself after years of Mom’s emotional neglect. I hope you can do the same thing.”
"Why do you sound like the big sister now?"
