It was mid-June and getting warm for the Midwest. I'd returned home after finishing my first year of college and looking forward to a relaxing summer. I had been looking for a part-time job, but I hadn't found anything yet.
I sat outside, enjoying the summer heat. The book I'd started reading and my soda sat on the table next to my chair. Leaning back, I closed my eyes and began daydreaming. I thought about the girl I'd been dating and the ugly breakup after I found she'd been cheating on me. While Sarah was fun to date, she wasn't anyone I planned to settle down with. She was the first girl I had sex with, but her indifference was bothersome. Our limited sex life was okay, but after several months of dating became predictable.
Sarah's idea of a date was something to eat, parking at one of the secluded areas we'd found, kiss, touch each other, and screw. When I found out she went out with another guy, I decided it wasn't worth it. I didn't have a problem with her dating someone else, but I didn't like her lying about it.
After we broke up, I realized how little I cared for her. Sarah's lack of enthusiasm where sex was concerned made her one step above masturbation. At least I could add a little variety to my self-pleasure. I knew what to expect and the outcome when I was with Sarah. On a positive note, I never screwed her without a condom. She told me she was on the pill, but I didn't trust her. My concern was about catching something, not pregnancy.
"Hi, Dan." I jumped when my sister Amber spoke.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," Amber said as she sat next to me.
"No problem. I was in a daze," I replied. "So, what's up?"
"I spoke with Sandy. She wants to know if we're interested in going to a cabin over the holiday."
"I don't know. Who has the cabin?"
"Sandy and Greg's aunt and uncle on their father's side."
Greg and Sandy were our cousins. Their mother was our dad's sister. Our cousins lived close, and we often saw them and our aunt and uncle. Greg was twenty-one, a year older than me. Sandy was nineteen, a year older than my sister. I had met their cousins on their father's side but didn't know them well.
"How many people are going to be there?" I asked my sister.
"Sandy said there will be six of us. She told me the cabin is nice and on a lake."
I watched Amber shifting in her chair. She acted as if she wanted to go.
"Did Sandy say what we'd do there?"
Amber smiled. "She said they swim in the lake, have bonfires at night, and party. Sandy said her cousins have a boat too."
"It sounds fun. When do you have to let Sandy know?"
"I told her I'd talk to you and call her. She said we need to decide soon because they may ask someone else if we don't want to go."
"Do you want to go, Amber?" My sister nodded. "Tell Sandy we're in. It'll be nice to get away for a few days."
Amber jumped up. "Thanks, Danny. I know we'll have fun." She headed to the house, stopped, and turned around. "I'm looking forward to spending time with you. I missed you while you were away at school."
I smiled when my sister called me Danny. She was the only person who did.
"I missed you too, Amber."
We sat at the dinner table with Mom and Dad. While eating, Amber told our parents about the trip we had planned for the holiday. They told my sister and me they were spending the holiday with our aunt and uncle at a golf resort.
Two days later, Amber sat on the couch in the living room. I was watching television and muted the sound when my sister spoke.
"We're all set, Danny. Sandy gave me the directions to the cabin and a list of the things we have to provide. She said everyone brings something for the trip," Amber said.
"Why aren't we riding with Sandy and Greg?"
"Sandy said everyone drives so they can leave if they want to. We have to bring steaks, hotdogs, and hamburgers."
"Have Sandy and Greg been there before?"
Amber nodded. "They have been there with their parents before. Last year, it was only their cousins."
"The more I think about it, the better it sounds. I have a question. Why didn't you ask your boyfriend to go?"
"What boyfriend?"
"Mom said you were dating a guy, and he took you to the prom."
"I was, and he did, but he's history. We decided to break up after the prom."
"Problem?"
"We weren't compatible, so we called it quits. Mom said you broke up with Sarah."
"I did when I discovered she was cheating on me. It wouldn't have bothered me if she dated other guys, but she lied to me about it."
Amber chuckled. "That sucks."
I nodded. I wasn't about to tell my sister Sarah didn't engage in oral sex. My sister and I had never discussed what we did with the people we dated. While we would talk about almost anything, our sex lives were kept private.
After a quick lunch, Amber and I shopped before leaving for the cabin. We purchased the meat and a few other things, loaded the cooler, and headed out. As we drove, my sister sat in the passenger seat, looking out the window.
"Did you pack your boots? Sandy said there are hiking trails near the cabin," Amber said, breaking the silence.
"Yes, I brought boots. This isn't the first time I've been up north."
"I'm looking forward to the next few days. This is the first time I've gone anywhere without our parents. It's going to be nice not having Mom telling me how to dress and act."
Glancing at Amber, I saw she dressed the way she always did. She wore baggy sweat pants and a shirt a size too large. For as long as I could remember, my sister dressed conservatively. She never wore skirts or tight tops.
"I didn't know Mom ragged on you for the way you dress."
"She didn't really rag on me, but she did make comments. During my senior year, I bought a few outfits she said were trashy." Amber laughed. "You should have been there when Mom discovered I bought a two-piece bathing suit. She wouldn't allow me to wear it. I used to wear it when Mom and Dad weren't home."
"Mom's not here, so you can wear anything you want."
Amber chuckled and mumbled something I couldn't hear. I pulled off at a rest area to use the bathroom and refill my travel mug with coffee. I stood outside waiting for my sister when I finished using the restroom.
I was looking at a map on the building wall when I heard Amber say, "How much longer before we get there?"
I pointed at the map. "This is where we are. The cabin is here. We should be there in an hour or so."
I did a double-take when I turned around. Amber had changed from her sweatpants and baggy shirt into tight denim shorts and a tank-top. Chuckling, I took out my phone.
"What are you doing?" Amber asked.
"I'm taking your picture to show to Mom."
"Don't you dare, Danny! Mom wouldn't let me live it down or go anywhere again."
"Amber, you're eighteen. You're old enough to decide how you want to dress and what you want to do. You'll go to college this fall, and Mom won't be there to tell you what to do."
I laughed, put my phone in my pocket, and walked toward my SUV. "Let's go, Amber."
"You're not going to take my picture to show Mom?"
"No, as I said, you're old enough to make your own decisions."
Amber and I got into the truck and headed for the highway. As I drove, I thought about our parents and how they treated my sister and me. Neither Mom nor Dad said anything about how I dressed or the things I did. Admittedly I didn't give them a reason. While living at home, I didn't do anything to cause my parents to get after me. I maintained a four-point GPA in school, ran track, and did weight training. There were parties after our track meets, but I seldom attended them. I didn't drink until I got to college.
My sister navigated once we were off the highway. It was after three when I turned into the driveway and parked next to the other two vehicles in front of the cabin. Amber and I were greeted by Sandy and Greg.
"How are you guys doing? We're glad you're here," Sandy said.
I shook Greg's hand, then hugged Sandy. "We're good. Where should we put our things?"
When I opened the back of my SUV, Greg grabbed the cooler. I picked up Amber's and my backpacks and followed my cousin into the cabin.
"Toss your backpacks on the floor. We'll sort out where everyone's sleeping later," Sandy said.
Sandy introduced Amber and me to her cousins, Carol and Larry. After the greetings, Larry showed my sister and me the rustic cabin, pointing to the only bathroom, the three bedrooms, and the living room.
"Here's the kitchen. Make yourselves at home," Larry said.
After seeing the inside of the cabin, Larry led us outside. Amber and I looked at the large deck and the round stone fire pit in its center. Several chairs faced the pit with a picnic table near the grill.
"This is great," Amber said.
"We like it here, Amber. My grandfather built the cabin and gave it to my parents when he retired and moved to Florida. Come with me. I'll show the dock and our boat," Larry said.