My lovelies: I'm overwhelmed at the comments I've received in the half year or more I've been gone. I'm in the midst of replying to everyone. I'll admit it: I shed a couple tears. You guys are wonderful. So wonderful. Thank you so much. Sincerely. I'm really touched. I feel really blessed to have you guys here. All the praise, encouragement, constructive criticism, and well wishes about my health make me wish I could hug every one of you. And maybe pinch your cute butts. With consent, of course! Thank you. Adorable and sweet hum0ns. I am in your debt.
So yup. I did a chapter 10c. Had to. Not sorry about it. I hope you guys won't be either.
There are now only 2 more chapters left. Chapters 11 and 12, and book one of the story of Shawn and Feline is complete. Yes, I said "book one". Implying there will be more. ;) :) :D I have downloaded the "kit" to self publish on Amazon. They take a 30 percent cut, I keep 70. Seems alright to me. I dunno, maybe some of you want a hard copy of My Brother's Best Friend? I kinda do. Just in case the internet blows up one day or something. I'd like to physically hold my work. I'll let everyone know when that is going to happen.
Love you guys. You're sexy. Don't you let anyone tell you that you aren't. Hugs, kisses and butt grabs. ~ LV4206
My Brother's Best Friend
(Shawn and Feline)
Part 10c
~Feline~
I've been lying awake for some time, listening to Shawn's rhythmic breathing, enveloped in his arms. I have to use the bathroom so bad, but it's so warm and my lover is so cuddly. Eventually my bladder wins, and I do my best not to wake my boyfriend as I slink out of bed in a pair of black cotton pyjama pants and one of Shawn's t shirts.
Carefully, I unzip the door, and slip my feet into a pair of thongs I brought out of the tent with me, and turn on the flashlight to my phone.
It's still really dark out as I check the clock on my device: 3:31 a.m.
I make my way to the outhouses and answer the call of nature.
I'm incredibly thirsty, and my stomach is starting to complain. I head over to our kitchen and dig into the potato salad we made earlier.
I'm sitting by the embers of the fire left from that night, two water bottles in along with a bowl and a half of potato salad. I hear a tent zipper being pulled open, and then shut.
My brother rubs his eyes as he enters the fire pit area and smiles at me. I grin around a mouthful of potatoes and pat the seat beside me.
"Hey." Pat grins as he bumps shoulders with me. "You been up a while?"
"Ya." I swallow. "Can't sleep anymore."
We lean over and hug each other.
"You were pretty non-verbal the last 2 days, baby sis." Pat smirks at me and steals a bite of my potato salad.
I nod and hold my bowl and fork out to Pat. "Want the rest?" I offer.
"YUP!" Pat accepts the bowl and utensil and digs in, stealing the last of my water bottle along with it.
"I think I was just taking it all in, Patty." I smile, as the previous two days memories flood my mind.
"I kinda half expected that reaction." Pat nods, finishing my bowl. "You've always been quiet. Or introspective, which I think is a better word."
I offer to get him more, and on the way back, also grab two more water bottles and some cherries.
Handing the bowl, heaped with salad, back to my brother, I shiver to myself.
"Here, Cat." Pat removes his green camouflage RDS hoodie and hands it to me. Grateful, I pull it on and plop back down on my camping chair.
Together, Pat and I sit quietly and watch as the sun begins to show over the horizon. Several minutes pass before either of us says anything. I finally broke the silence first.
"I had the best time ever yesterday and the night before." I sigh. "Thanks for being here with me. I don't know if I would have been so brave if you weren't."
"Always, Baby Bear. You're my favorite sister, you know." Pat pulls me over and kisses the top of my head. I arch into his hug, lounging against him.
"I'm your only sister." I laugh. "Weirdo."
"Ya, and you're my favorite." Pat kisses the top of my head again and wraps an arm around my shoulders as the first rays of sun peek over the hills and blast the ocean in the darkest of maroons and purples.
We watch in fascination as the ocean glows under the brilliant California sunrise. Our little forested camp site comes alive with the sounds of birds and chipmunks.
"Think you'd ever want to do that again? Maybe just you and I even?" Pat asks as I take his hand and squeeze it.
"Hell yes!" I whisper.
"You've gotta promise to say more than 3 words." Pat chuckles, squeezing back.
"Promise." I grin.
"I think my best friend is in love with you." Pat's change in subject catches me off guard.
I die of embarrassment, turning deep red. Pat just laughs at me.
"Feline, come on, you can talk to me about this stuff." Pat chides, and pokes me.
"He's your best friend! You're my brother." I murmur. "It's awkward!"
"Nahhhh. No way." Pat shakes his head. Those thick, auburn curls were sliding over to one side, almost covering his left eye as they usually did.
"It's not?" I turn in my brother's arms and look up at him.
"Nope. I had a long time to come to terms with it." Pat begins. "Baby Bear, he's loved you for years."
"That's what he says to me." I whisper.
Pat's warm smile instantly brings the pressure down several notches.
"You and I have always told each other everything, well, I think I probably shared more than you ever did." My brother winks at me.
"I loved being your confidant." I shrug.
"I always appreciated it. You know how to keep a secret, Cat. Like no one I've ever met." Pat gives me a squeeze, and we are silent for another long moment.
"I used to hate it, yunno." my brother tells me. "But over the years, even I saw, you guys belong together."
"You hated it?" I frown, not wanting to make my brother feel any kind of negative towards me.
"Ya. I fuckin' hated it. He's supposed to be my best friend, and he's spending time in your room helping you with homework, or taking you to the computer store, or swimming in the pool with you, or hanging out in the kitchen with you when the guys and I would play games in the living room. I was jealous at first, then I was mad because none of my friends should be thinking about my kid sister like that! But I thought about it a lot. And Shawn never overstepped. Bet he never even kissed you until he came back this summer. Am I right?"
I glance down at the ground, thinking about that evening in the kitchen. The evening of my 18th birthday. When Shawn kissed me for the first time. I shake my head.
"Ha. Knew it." Pat grins.
I smile at him, my handsome big brother, and nervously giggle a bit. This was such a strange conversation to be having.
"Is that why you convinced Mom to leave me home with Dad when you guys went to PyeongChang for the Winter Olympics?" I ask, almost afraid to know the answer.
"Ya." Pat shakes his head. "Possibly one of the biggest mistakes I ever made. I'll never not feel sorry for that. I'm damn sorry."
"Pat," I say, softly touching my brother's arm. "You've already apologized, too many times. But it's nice to know the real reason now."