This story contains a scene with non-penetrative sister-brother incest. It's not categorized as Incest/Taboo because that scene, though helpful to the story, isn't central. If incest offends you, don't read further. On the other hand, if that's what's you're really looking for, be aware that there's not a lot of it in this story. The story is categorized as Romance because of the developing relationship between Tina, the main character, and her boyfriend. Thanks for reading.
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"She's not going to solve it by herself, Diane! She's 29 and hasn't been on a date since college!"
Tina McElroy was speaking to her therapist, Diane Kelly, during their weekly appointment. Tina was 24 years old and working as an aide at a rehabilitation hospital in Boston while she tried to figure out whether to apply to a nursing program or possibly medical school. She was talking about Abby, a long-term patient at Tina's hospital, and describing how Abby had lately become obsessed by the fear that she would never have sex with a man. She hadn't so far, according to Tina, and her illness made her afraid she might die without ever having been with a man. A few days earlier, Abby had broken down in tears about this particular fear and frustration. Tina was not supposed to have been in the room but witnessed Abby's anguish. Tina found herself tearing up, too. Thinking about it afterwards, Tina resolved to help Abby if Abby would let her -- help find a man to make love to her. Or at least have sexual intercourse with her. These were different, Tina appreciated, and the latter was easier to imagine than the former. Now she was hoping for some insight, if not validation, from Diane.
Diane, 34, was an MSW who mostly worked as a counselor at one of the local high schools but had recently hung out a shingle as a "life advisor" on the side. In practice, Diane regarded herself as a psychotherapist, but 'life advisor' came without the rules, overhead, and insurance headaches of 'psychotherapist.' Diane had known Tina some years earlier at the high school. Tina had been brash then, but also bright and more self-aware than average. Diane doubted that she actually got much out of their 'therapy' sessions; she certainly did not need to meet weekly. Diane suspected that she liked to appear 'complicated' to her friends, and that having a weekly therapy session burnished an image of sophistication. In any case, Tina apparently could afford it; she paid cash, without insurance.
As Tina described Abby's situation and her own impulse to help, Diane's reaction was cool. She reminded Tina that she (Tina) knew almost nothing about Abby's true situation; that she (Tina) was not a sex therapist (nor any other kind of therapist); and that she (Tina) was not entitled to interfere in Abby's life generally nor in her sex life specifically -- that she might easily do more harm than good. Finally, she pointedly observed that perhaps the more germane topic was not Abby's problem, but the roots of Tina's desire to become involved. In the back of her mind, Diane wondered how close Tina was to a 'reportable incident' -- doing something that, because it could harm herself or another person, Diane would be professionally bound to report to local authorities.
Tina pushed back and pointed out that if Abby asked her for help, or support, or ideas, or whatever, then she wasn't interfering. She was merely being a friend.
"Yes, of course, I take your point," Diane replied. "But it seems possible that what Abby is looking for is love, not sex. Wouldn't you agree that 'help' would be better provided by an experienced mental health professional?"
"Look, I understand what you're saying, Diane, but no, I don't agree." [Diane and Tina had agreed they would relate on a first-name basis.] "Abbey is looking at this as like, a bucket list. She wants to have sex at least once, okay? She wants to get laid, shagged, fucked, banged, boinked -- whatever you want to call it. It's not about love. She's not star-crossed or confused. She's not romanticizing it. She's not weirdly hung up on 'losing her virginity.' She just wants to know what it feels like, okay? What's wrong with that?"
Diane allowed there might indeed be nothing wrong with that (but, then again, how could Tina know all that?). Tina left their 50-minute appointment frustrated.
Shortly after, Tina checked her instincts with her open-minded mother who, upon hearing about Abby's problem, was sympathetic but skeptical. "Oh my, that's so sad...and well, I don't blame you for trying to help her, Tina. You always were a crusader, and your heart is in the right place, but...this is Abby's problem, not yours, don't you think? I'm not sure it's a good idea to get involved." Tina's brother Matt, who was 22 and still lived in their mother's house, was also in the room but didn't say anything.
Tina protested, "Mom, how's she ever going to meet anyone on her own? She's 29 and constantly in and out of treatment. She told me she hasn't had a date since college!"
"Well...has she tried online dating?"
Tina grimaced in exasperation. "Mom, you didn't even think I should try that. You thought it was 'dangerous,' remember? Plus, it doesn't even work half the time."
"What's wrong with her?" Matt asked.
Tina replied hotly, "Nothing's 'wrong' with her! She's cool! She's smart and funny, okay? ... She's just ... sick sometimes."
Matt backed off, "Okay, fine. I didn't mean anything by it. I just wondered why she's in the hospital."
Tina scowled as she got up to leave. "What's so terrible about someone wanting to have sex once?"
Tina's mother gave her a hug. "Nothing, dear. Just ... be careful."
Matt followed Tina to her car and said, a little sheepishly, "Hey, seriously, T, I didn't mean anything bad. And, well, you know, let me know if I can help."
Tina rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Stud," she said sarcastically, "but you're too young."
Matt shrugged. Strolling back to the house, he called over his shoulder, "I'm not as young as you think!"
Later, Tina talked on the phone with her boyfriend, Barry. She described the frustrating session with Diane and the conversation with her mother. Barry seemed wholly uninterested in Abby's plight; he wanted to know if they were going to hang out that evening, which only irritated Tina further. She accused him of being unfeeling. Thinking quickly, Barry generously offered to do Abby if she wanted to be done and if Tina approved. Okay? Tina hung up in disgust. "Jesus! What is WRONG with you people?!"
The more she thought about it, the more Tina was determined that the thing must be done right. Abby deserved to have a good experience with someone who knew what he was doing. Some quick, coarse, random hookup would be worse than nothing.
Moments later, she received a text from Matt saying he had a friend, Albert, from work, who was maybe interested in helping and who might be good for Abby. He added, in a follow-up text, that Albert was black. "Like that even matters!!!" Tina hollered by return text. Unintimidated, Matt replied, "Maybe it matters to Abby."
The following week, during their next regular session, Tina told Diane that 1) Abby herself had personally, explicitly, enthusiastically welcomed Tina's active efforts on her behalf (so there!) -- they were becoming friends; 2) both Matt and Barry had gallantly (hmph!) offered to have sex with Abby; and 3) a third guy, Albert, also might be interested. Tina sought Diane's views about what to do next.
Diane was out of her depth advising Tina, and she knew it. She warned Tina about becoming friends with a patient and noted again that Abby's situation was almost certainly more complex than Tina could comprehend. Diane was certain of this because she herself was a virgin -- an older one, even, than Abby -- and she hardly understood herself what that meant. Sometimes she was indifferent; sometimes she was satisfied and proud; sometimes she was lonely and yearned for some idealized man; and sometimes she was doubtful, resigned and, likely, depressed. In short, Diane identified reflexively with Abby; she had often wondered if she would ever have sex with another person. Of course, she told none of this to Tina and would have scoffed at the idea that Tina could apprehend it.
Tina took Diane's reticence as disapproval. "Look, Abby needs this and she wants my help. I'm going to make sure she gets it. So the only question is who." Listening to herself, Tina suddenly understood what she needed to do. She needed to choose on Abby's behalf, or at least make a credible recommendation. The problem was no longer finding a man; the problem was which man.
Tina began with her brother, texting him: "You actually think you could help Abby?"
A moment later he texted back: "Why not?"
"Come to my place at 6?"
"See you then."
When Matt showed up at Tina's apartment, she had been mulling how to proceed and hadn't come up with a graceful way to do so. As soon as Matt came in, she asked again, "Are you serious about this?"
"Sure."
"Okay. Then I need to see you naked," Tina said bluntly.
"What?!" Matt was caught off guard. He laughed nervously. "Tina, come on..."
"Look, there are three guys who say they want to do this. I'm supposed to recommend one to Abby. So I need to know what you look like. How'm I supposed to know which guy to recommend?"
"Who are the other two?"
"And I'm going to measure your dick."
"Wait. What?!!"
"I said I'm going to measure your dick, numb-nuts."
"Who are the other two?"
"Barry and your friend, what's-his-name...Albert."
"Barry?!! You'd let Barry do Abby?"
"If he's the best man for the job, then yes, why not? It's a one-time thing, silly."
"And you're going to measure all of us? Are you kidding me?"
Tina smirked. "Well, I am pretty familiar with Barry, and you haven't introduced me to Albert yet. But yes, I intend to know what I'm recommending." She brandished a tailor's tape. "And you're going to have to tell me all about your qualifications."