Authors note: This is a continuation of my story "I'll be Home for Christmas." submitted in the Christmas story contest. This is a submission into the Summer Lovin 2014 contest and Part 2. I know that these stories are supposed to be standalone, so I've made this so it can be standalone. But it's definitely part 2, so if you'd like to get the most of it, please check out the first chapter. I can't believe it's been an entire year. Been trying to get this up for a while now. No excuses, though! As usual, most of you know that my stories usually take a while to lead up to the sex. In this case, there's some sex, but it's not between the two main characters right away. So this may not be the story for you if you like to get right to it, but there's a lot of depth that adds to the story, and the sex is more likely to rock your world when you get to it. I hope you like it. Please vote and leave feedback. Thank you!
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Flashback
There was nothing easy about the silence that ensued between myself and Ryder once he'd left to go back to college. His words kept playing over and over in my head like a broken record, "I'll call, I'll call, I'll call..." but he didn't. Weeks went by before I heard from him and when I did, it was a text from Adrian telling me he said hi. My mom sent me messages with updates from Ryder from college, but never once did Ryder send me one himself. At first I didn't want to text him or call him, as hard as it was. But by the time Valentines Day rolled around and I was feeling lonely and shitty, I knew I had to at least try. I called him three times that day, all of which went to voicemail. On the third try, I left him one. Short and sweet. "You're an asshole. Call me back." It wasn't exactly the romantic message meant for the romantic holiday, but what else was I supposed to feel?
Jordan and I had petered off after Christmas. We had tried hanging out a couple of times, but the minute things got intimate, I froze up. He could tell something was different, and kept asking if I was okay. I told him I just wasn't in the mood, which was a total lie, but it was a lot better than laughing and saying, "Totally fine. Just lost my v-card to my brother and now he won't talk to me." I tried going out and meeting new people. My friends all pestered me about still being single, so I tried going on a couple of dates with guys from the local schools or friends of friends. Nobody caught my attention, there was never any spark, or I just couldn't get my thoughts straight. I felt like a social leper.
It took him two whole months to call me back, and in that time I'd left him a handful of voicemails and a dozen texts. I felt like a stalker, and all I was doing was trying to get ahold of my own stupid brother! It was like a nightmare. Half the time I was angry, and the other half I was just plain disappointed. I thought things had changed that day. As fucked up as what we had done was, I knew the connection I felt was real. It hadn't just been lust. And I wasn't the only one who was feeling this way or he'd answer my damn calls! Right?
April 14th was the day he called me back. I was out with this guy named Justin. He was the older step-brother of Marcie, one of my closest girl friends. He was very tall and good looking and sweet, and had a habit of making horrible jokes that cracked me up. We'd been out a few times over the past couple of months since Valentines Day and I was actually starting to enjoy myself. I had mostly stopped thinking about Christmas with Ryder and all the confusing feelings whirling inside me. I knew it had been enough time and despite being royally fucked up, I had to find a way to put it behind me. Justin and I had been in the movie theater, up in the very back, totally ignoring the movie. We were kissing and he had a hand up my shirt, something I normally would have been way too embarrassed to do in a public place. My phone started ringing, and I ignored it until the second call came in. I forced myself to pull away and look at it. Ryder's name was flashing on the screen. He was calling twice in a row? I excused myself and hurried out of the theater and into the hallway, managing to answer on the last ring?
"What?"
"Kitten..." I cringed. "I'm so sorry. I'm so fucking sorry."
"For which part?" I hissed.
"Everything. No, not everything. I'm not sorry about what happened. Yes, I am. Fuck! I don't know. I'm sorry this has ended up hurting you. That I know for sure."
"Why didn't you call? You said you'd called. I've been calling. And texting."
"I know. I couldn't bring myself to. What was I supposed to say? What are we supposed to do?"
"At the very least you could act like a decent human being and be my brother."
"You know we can't pretend it didn't happen and act like we're just normal siblings."
"I'm on a date." I said, louder than I needed to. I hoped it hurt him.
"You- you're what?"
"You heard me. I'm...dating someone!" I could hear the tension rising in his voice,
"I can't believe you're dating someone."
"As if you aren't out fucking half the co-eds at school." There was a brief silence and then a loud sigh,
"I haven't had sex since Christmas, Kenzie."
My whole world turned upside down in that second. He hadn't slept with anyone since me? Was he really telling me that he had just up and quit his playboy lifestyle just because of that one day?
"Kenzie? Are you still there?"
"Yeah. I'm here. My date is probably wondering why I'm out here for so long."
"Kenz, I'm serious. I haven't been with anyone. I haven't even kissed anyone. I can't. I wanna fuck you again so badly, you have no idea. I think about you all the time...I can't get you off of my mind. You're so fucking sexy and that goddamned little body of yours. Jesus. Have you guys had sex?"
"You don't get to ask me that!" I whined, fighting tears. "You don't get to just waltz back in after giving me the silent treatment! I've gotta go."
"Call me tonight? When you get home...? Please? I need you..."
"Maybe." I hung up and entered the bathroom to splash a little water on my face.
"Sorry, my brother called. Hadn't talked to him in months." I said, smiling at Justin as I slid back into my seat in the theater. "How's the movie?"
"Not like I understand anything that's going on thanks to you, little lady." he teased, pulling me back into him for another kiss. I wanted so much to have this normal relationship with this normal guy, but my heart still stung at how Ryder had acted.
"Well if we're not missing much, we could go back to your place and watch something new there?" I said hopefully. I'd never stayed over at his house before. He grinned and kissed my forehead.
"Your wish is my command. Let's get outta here." We held hands all the way to his car and it felt so nice. "Your parents aren't going to wonder why you aren't home, are they?"
"You're such a gentleman. No, I'm an adult, they know I have my own business to attend to. I just can't wait till I move into the dorms."
"Only a couple more months till graduation, beautiful." he kissed me softly as he started the car and I whimpered and leaned over, kissing him back deeply. I know it was so fucked up, but talking to Ryder and thinking about that day had turned me on. Maybe having sex with Justin and making things more serious with him was just what I needed to forget about Christmas forever. "Think you can save that for my place?" he mock-groaned, as he pushed me gently back into my seat.
"If I have to." I twiddled my thumbs and grinned at him as he sped the entire way back to his house, practically dragging me out of the car once we got there. He shared an apartment with two other guys, who were both in the living room playing video games when we got there.
"Hey Kenzie!" Josh said, pausing the game. "How's it going?"
