Sister and the Other Mister
A daughter, a best friend, a father, lust, and love
February 1
"Hey Bestie! You know what's coming up?" Kaylee came to a sudden realization and immediately had to share.
"Oh God! What?" Hope wasn't sure what was coming, but she was eager to hear what her friend had cooked up this time.
"Only the first Valentine's Day since we were 17 that both of us are single!"
Hope laughed. "Oh my God. That's right! So...where are you taking me?"
"I'm taking
you
to Botticelli's. And
you
can take
me
to...this super-cute little Italian place...I think you know it...Botticelli's! How does that sound?"
"Sounds perfect, Then after, howz about we head back to my couch for a quart of Haagen Dazs and a cheesy Rom-Com we can make fun of."
"It's a date!"
The two friends laughed. Kaylee said, "We're going to have way more fun together than we would with some stupid guy, anyway."
"At least more fun with the lights on." They both laughed again.
"You know, it seems like guys come and go, but at least we always have each other."
"That's right. I'm your forever valentine. You can't dump me. I won't go." Hope smiled warmly at her friend.
Kaylee smiled back. "Like I'd ever."
Kaylee and Hope had been friends since first grade. They knew practically everything about each other's lives. They were closer than a lot of sisters. Sometimes, they even called each other sister.
Both girls were now 25. Hope and her most recent boyfriend had broken up a couple months before. Kaylee had been single for almost half a year. After college, they found jobs only about 60 miles apart, Kaylee in Advertising, Hope in Benefits Administration. Being so close, they still managed to see each other once a week or so.
On this particular afternoon they were standing in the kitchen of Kaylee's one-bedroom apartment, sharing a bottle of wine and just generally catching up and passing the time. The world always seemed a little bit easier to take when they were together. It didn't matter where they were or what they were doing.
"I'm kind of worried about my dad." Hope brought it up offhandedly after a brief lull in their conversation, but Kaylee knew it was something she needed to respond to so they could dig in.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. He's been even more mopey than usual lately. He's gonna turn 50 this year and I think it's getting to him."
"Shit. If he's 50 that means we must be..."
"Old." They both laughed.
"He looks good, though, I mean for 50. Like he could pass for 45, easy. And he doesn't seem too "mopey" to me."
"He perks up whenever you're around."
"Well we've always gotten along."
"I think he loves you more than me." Hope smiled as she said it. This was something Hope had teased Kaylee about before. In fact, sometimes Kaylee said the same thing to Hope. Growing up, they each had spent so much time over at the other girl's house, that their parents came to treat each of them like one of the family.
"Maybe that's because I'm nicer to him."
"Well right now I'm about ready to revive the daughter exchange program." That was another private joke. When they were 12, the girls had actually persuaded their parents to let them trade places, and each lived at the other's house for an entire week.
"No deal. Mine's been pretty quiet lately. I don't want to ruin it."
"Ha ha. It's probably my fault, mostly. I've been pestering him again about getting out there and dating. It just bugs me that pretty much all he seems to do is go to work, come home and either watch a ball game, or fix up shit around the house. Problem is, since he and mom split, he's fixed up basically everything there is to fix. That place is perfect. Now he's moving an entire wall to create a walk-in closet. But the man only ever wears the same three pairs of pants and maybe six shirts!"
"I think it's cute. Maybe he's just trying to improve the nest to help him attract a mate."
"Well she's not gonna see it unless he actually brings someone over, which I'm pretty sure ain't anywhere close to happening."
"That's my dad too. He seems perfectly happy fixing up that old Chevy. He's finally got it running and looking pretty good, so now he's talking about getting another old beater. He's definitely not meeting any women at the wrecking yards or the swap meets."
"Also, I found out my dad's into porn."
****************************
February 14
"Hey Mr. D!"
"Hey Kaylee. What's up? To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Oh not much. Just wanted to ask your advice about something is all."
"Sure. Why don't you c'mon in?"
"Thanks."
Brad held the screen door open and Kaylee squeezed past. She had to arch her back so her boobs wouldn't touch him when she passed through the door. He didn't create the close quarters on purpose, at least not consciously. It was just a little thoughtlessness in the moment, but as it happened, he didn't exactly regret it.
"I need some Valentine's Day advice from a more 'sophisticated' and 'worldly' man such as yourself." She laid it on a little thick. They both understood she was playing, setting the tone and keeping it light.
"Sure, Kaylee. You know you can ask me anything. But why me? Why not your dad?"
"You and I have always been able to talk. And this is the kind of thing a girl can't ask her dad. It's about s-e-x."
"Oh. I see. Wait. And you're coming to
me
?" Brad laughed. "I'm not sure what help I can be, but I'll try my best."
Most people would say Kaylee was an attractive girl. Brad always thought she was cute. There were a few times over the years when she'd caught his eye and he had to force himself not to stare. Kaylee knew it. Truth be told, Brad was one of the first men she'd ever caught noticing her "charms." It was kind of a thrill for her at the time. She'd teased him a little, but only a little. Brad had always kept a respectful distance, physically and otherwise.
******************************
February 1
"What?!!! Hope! What do you mean your dad's into porn? What happened?"
"I had to go over there and borrow his computer to copy some old photos he had saved on a CD and my laptop doesn't have a disc drive. They were photos of us, actually, from when we were kids. It was for the Valentine's Day present I was planning to give you. I saw that his hard drive was almost full, so I just thought I'd clean out some old junk files and free up space for him, but then I saw what it was."
"Bad?"
"Not like kiddy porn bad. Nothing like that, thank God. But still a little shocking."
"Like how shocking?"
"A few video clips he must have downloaded off of porn sites, and a lot of stills, probably screenshots. Most of them were of pretty, blue-eyed, dark-haired girls with big tits giving blowjobs and then letting the guys cum in their mouths and on their faces. I guess that's his favorite, or something."
"Oh my God, Hope. I don't know what to say."
"Yeah. I mean on the one hand I know he's a guy, and guys watch porn, and he's been alone a long time. It's not like he's doing anything illegal. But still..."