Chapter 12: What is Plan B?

After his encounter with Gloria’s drawings, Evan let the hot water pulse on his face for several minutes. Still, it didn’t wash away the images the drawings had put in his mind. He stepped back and watched the water hit his chest, cascade down his stomach, past his erection, and onto his long legs. Why didn’t he want to accept the truth?

Gloria wasn’t a little girl anymore, but that’s what she had always been to him. Ever since he was young, she was his little sister. Somehow, he had grown up, but Gloria was frozen in time in his mind. When he thought of her, he saw the girl who sat on his lap, got piggyback rides, and fell asleep watching TV, so he could carry her to bed. He’d ignored her maturity, increasing independence, her body--she was a miniature version of Candy--and kept treating her like his kid sister. Didn’t her dreams make that easy for him? She needed him to protect her from the evil man in her dreams. Wake up, he told himself. If her best friend, Jayda, hadn’t opened his eyes, those drawings should.

When he finished showering, Evan collected his clothes and opened the hamper. Deana’s gray sweatpants were still visible and a reminder he didn’t need. Forgetting what happened with her would take a lifetime.

On top of the pile, there was a plain white pair of underpants. He picked them up, put his clothes in, and felt the soft material with both hands. He slid them through his fingers, over the backs of his hands, and rubbed them in his palms. Not only could he visualize the butt they had covered, he could feel it. He had touched it, palmed the round bubbles, and squeezed. It had felt good, regardless of what he’d told himself.

In the mirror, Evan saw his cock growing. He had fucked and fucked and fucked Miss Tonya a few hours ago. Why did he need to do this?

Evan didn’t smell the panties. He slid them across his groin, ran them under his balls, up his stiff shaft, and pressed them to his face.

His eyes closed as he inhaled. His chest tightened. The day’s conquest would go down in history as some of the best sex of his life--he had fucked his mother’s friend. Why was he smelling Gloria’s pussy?

Rebecca and Deana sat at the tall island counter in Rebecca’s kitchen. Mrs. Stevens was on the other side, talking to them. Deana smiled at her and pushed Rebecca’s hand off her thigh. It was the second time her friend had tried to touch her during the conversation. She had never been the type who liked taking chances, doing risky things, or even disobeying her father, so why was Rebecca’s third attempt going uncontested?

The counter provided visual protection, but Deana wasn’t sure her face could hide what was happening from Rebecca’s mother. They would have gone straight to Rebecca’s room if it had been up to Deana, but being bad was growing on her. The wait had been killing her, now Rebecca’s fingers were pulsing on her inner thigh, and her pussy was getting wet. She thought about something she had seen on TV. Two beautiful women were having an intense conversation while a third woman watched. They paused and stared at each other. Deana had no idea what was going to happen, but she felt something she didn’t understand. It was totally unexpected when they started kissing. She had never seen women kissing on TV or anywhere else. She had glanced at her mother, her face burning, and thought it was embarrassment she felt. Deana didn’t think that anymore.

She stared at Mrs. Stevens and imagined kissing Rebecca in front of her. Would their relationship ever go there? Would Rebecca’s mother be horrified, or would she be like Cindy? Having Rebecca’s fingers inside the leg opening of her shorts while looking right into Mrs. Stevens’s eyes made Deana feel like they could do it, start making out right there. That’s nuts! Rebecca’s finger skirted the edge of her pussy lip. Deana bit her bottom lip.

“You ready, honey?” Mr. Stevens asked as he walked into the kitchen.

Deana jerked and flushed. Rebecca reluctantly moved her hand away. Of course, Rebecca had a lot more experience being risky.

“For once, I’m ready and waiting for you,” Mrs. Stevens said. “You two be good. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Rebecca smirked. “Definitely not. You know me, Mom. I’m a good girl who keeps this one in line.”

“Hey,” Deana said and swatted Rebecca. “Ma’am, you know I’m the good one, and you have nothing to worry about.”

“Just don’t burn the house down,” Mr. Stevens said. “Call if you need anything.”

When the door closed behind Rebecca’s parents, Deana said, “What the hell were you doing?”

“I couldn’t help myself,” Rebecca said. “I have a better question, though, what were you thinking? You were in deep thought for a few minutes. Didn’t even notice my hand.”

“Oh, I noticed, and unless you want to see me get off in front of your mother, you better not pull something like that again,” she said, but she knew Rebecca would, and she’d enjoy it.

“Is that what you were thinking about?”

Deana said, “No, I was thinking about this,” and yanked Rebecca by the arm.

Rebecca crashed into her, Deana wrapped her arms around her, and they started kissing. Immediately her hands went inside the back of Rebecca’s shorts and grabbed hold of that hard little ass, then she thrust her thigh between Rebecca’s legs and ground it on the gymnast’s pussy.

Rebecca gasped. “Wow, you don’t waste a second. They haven’t pulled out of the garage yet, and you’re ready to rape me.”

“Rape implies force. You know I won’t be forcing you to do anything.”

“True, but still, I’ve never seen you like this. What happened to you?” Rebecca asked.

Deana took a deep breath. It would be so freeing to say, Evan got me off and we showered together. His dick almost went inside me. I want him to make love to me, take my virginity.

“Tell me!” Rebecca said.

“It’s nothing. I mean it’s everything, not one special thing. The waiting, Cindy telling me she had been with another girl, the ride in her car, and you touching me in front of your mother, it all got to me.”

“Oh, and I thought it was because you love me, miss me so much, and find me irresistibly sexy.”

Everything Rebecca said was true and much more. Her insides trembled, and her eyes stung with threatening tears. She held Rebecca by her neck and stroked her earlobes with her thumbs while moving her lips toward Rebecca’s. They stared at each other, their lips barely touching.

The next kiss was like the one she saw on TV, it brought up the feelings she’d had back then when she never imagined she would kiss another girl. Their hands weren’t demanding or rushed. They touched every inch of flesh that could be reached without separating their lips.

Deana lifted the bottom of Rebecca’s shirt. The kiss finally stopped so the shirt could pass between them. Rebecca’s tits were firm and perfectly shaped, no bra was required. She admired them until she had to lift her arms so Rebecca could remove her shirt. Nobody had ever undressed her, but she didn’t imagine a boy could unhook a bra with such ease. Rebecca’s hands carried the shoulder straps down her arms. Her cheeks warmed while her nipples erected. Rebecca smiled.

The silent stare continued. Rebecca’s hands were on her waist. For a split second, she was embarrassed that she hadn’t worn panties. Rebecca’s hands followed the shorts all the way to her feet. Her skin buzzed in a line down both legs where Rebecca had touched them. She stepped out of the shorts. Rebecca only paused at her crotch long enough for Deana to feel a warm breath on her bald pussy. She removed Rebecca’s shorts in the same gentle fashion.

Two naked girls standing in the kitchen, speechless. Deana desperately wanted to speak, but the truth terrified her. It would make her vulnerable and maybe ruin the moment. Her feelings intensified. She was going to explode.

Both girls finally spoke at the same time, “I love you.”

When they reached Becky’s room, Darlene closed the door and asked, “How was it?”

“It hurt more than last night,” Becky said. “I guess I was sore ... more than I thought.”

“You stuffed a pound of dick in you, what did you expect?”

“I didn’t think about it,” Becky said. “I was so excited about you watching me that I just did it.”

“You sure did.” Darlene rubbed her own crotch. “Damn, I didn’t think it was going to fit in your skinny body.”

“I told you I did it!”

“I know, I know, but you also told me you weren’t going to let him cum in you.”

“That’s your fault,” Becky said.

“How is it my fault?”

“You started licking my clit, and I lost my mind. It was crazy having him in me, filling me, and your tongue doing what nobody does as good as you. I knew it was coming, but I couldn’t stop.”

“I couldn’t resist that giant clit.” Darlene flicked her tongue at Becky. “The sponge will work, but get some rubbers if you really need double protection.

“I hate rubbers. Feeling that hot squirt inside me is so much better. I need the pill.”

“I know,” Darlene said.

“Was it good for you, just watching, or did you want to--”

“Hell yeah,” Darlene said. “I wanted to try that cock too, but watching you was better. I came so hard on your brother’s face when you sat down on that thing. I’ve never been so excited in my life. Letting your brother fuck you is so taboo. What could be better?”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. I wish we could have recorded it.”

“It was too risky. There wasn’t anywhere to hide the camera and be sure he wouldn’t see it.”

“I know, I just wanted to see the look on your face. Too bad I couldn’t get on him facing you.”

Darlene put her hands on Becky’s hips. “It was great, thank you.”

Becky smiled. “Good, I’m glad, I’m glad you liked it.”

“I did, and now I can cross that off my bucket list.”

Becky considered telling Darlene about the threesome on her bucket list. “Yeah, me too.”

We should put some clothes on so Jason can drive me home.

“Be more exciting to go naked,” Becky said. “I love looking at you. You’re amazing.”

“Hmm,” Darlene grinned, “naked could get us arrested, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun and give Jason something to think about. Wear your skirt, the one I got you. No panties, of course”

“Ooh, I like the way you think. He’ll be so excited he won’t even be worried about our mother anymore.”

“Your mother catching you, whoa, I don’t need thoughts like that floating around in my mind,” Darlene said.

Becky said, “Me neither,” even though having her mother see her with Jason’s cock in her was one of her biggest fantasies.

Deana decided it wasn’t time to analyze or discuss, so she turned and started toward Rebecca’s room. Her friend followed. When she reached Rebecca’s bed, she was nervous. Rebecca’s hands came around her sides and circled her stomach, then their bodies were pressed together. There wasn’t anything as soft or sensual as a girl’s bare flesh. Deana’s nerves settled.

Lips were more sensual. Rebecca lifted Deana’s hair and kissed the back of her neck. She dropped her chin to her chest, and Rebecca kissed her ear. She tried to turn around, but Rebecca stopped her. “Not yet.”

The kissing lips moved to her shoulders and down the center of her back. Deana watched Rebecca’s hands move to her groin, then around to her hips. She kissed the crest of each of Deana’s butt cheeks. Her fingernails dragged down Deana’s legs and made her tremble, then a warm breath taunted the gap between her ass cheeks. Rebecca slid her hands up the inside of Deana’s thighs, stopping short of what Deana was ready to beg for. A stream of air blew across her wet pussy lips. She pushed back, but her friend made her wait.

“Turn around now,” Rebecca said.

She did and found Rebecca sitting at her feet, sliding her hands up the backs of Deana’s legs. They stopped on her ass. She held her breath while Rebecca’s lips worked their way across from hip to hip, then Rebecca squeezed her ass and pulled her forward. She moved her feet apart in anticipation, but Rebecca only tortured her pulsing pussy lips with a stream of air. “Ah, please, please.” Her friend’s face told her begging wouldn’t work. She was going to have to wait until Rebecca was ready.

Rebecca moved on to her belly button, then continued up to her tits. “I love these puffy pink nipples.”

Deana ran her fingers through Rebecca’s hair, tempted to push her in the right direction, but Rebecca knew exactly how hard to suck and how long to flick and circle the tips. She was tender yet forceful and knew precisely when to switch. Rebecca was pushing her closer to what Deana expected to be the most powerful orgasm of her life.

Rebecca left her breasts and faced her. It was the same expression she’d seen in the kitchen. Neither of them needed to say it this time, they knew. Rebecca held her by the throat and pulled their lips together. They had already had sex and given each other orgasms, but this was different. Sex had become lovemaking, and Deana knew it wasn’t going to be the most powerful orgasm; it would be the most meaningful orgasm she had ever had. How could there be anything wrong with loving somebody so much that you wanted to make them feel good, even if it was another girl?

The kissing stopped, and they opened their eyes. Rebecca eased her onto the bed and said, “Lay back,” then she stood there, staring. “Damnit, you’re gorgeous ... beautiful.”

Deana looked at the little gymnast. Her muscular stomach tightened all the way to her groin. The raised wedge with its arrow of pubic hair flowed seductively down to that fantastic pussy. Rebecca’s slit barely crossed her pubic bone. Her sexy lips were hidden between those strong thighs. Deana imagined them wrapped around her. Their power would make her feel safe and loved. She started to sit up, but Rebecca said, “Not yet,” again and pushed her down. “You first. I’ve been dreaming about doing this.” She got on her knees beside the bed.

Deana had been dreaming, too, but in her dreams, Rebecca kept turning into Evan and sometimes they were both making love to her. At Rebecca’s touch, Deana opened her legs and closed her eyes. The anticipation had reached its peak. She had never needed to be touched so badly. “Please, Reb, please do it.”

There wasn’t a warm breath of warning, just a hot tongue plunging between her pussy lips. Her eyes popped open, and her legs flew up. She grabbed them. Her body curved like the bottom of a rocking chair. Rebecca’s top lips stretched, grabbing at her pubic mound while her tongue darted in and out, opening her deeper and deeper each time. She pictured Evan’s hard dick. If Rebecca’s tongue felt like that, what the hell would his cock do to her?

Deana could have screamed as loud as she wanted, but when Rebecca licked her clit, Deana only squeaked and gasped. Her swollen bud was between Rebecca’s lips, getting flicked while two fingers rammed into her cunt. “Fuck, oh fuck, fuck, fuck me!”

“Ooh, potty mouth.”

Deana rocked her body to help Rebecca’s fingers hit the spot that made her crazy. Her clit was grinding on Rebecca’s tongue. “Ahhh...”

“Scream as loud as you want,” Rebecca said, then blew on her throbbing clit.

She slammed her feet on the mattress and shoved her ass up, trying to get away, but Rebecca’s mouth followed. The fingers kept on fucking her and that tongue continued to pulverize her clit. Her climax was intense, but another orgasm was already threatening. Nothing like that had ever happened to her. It was a spiritual experience. She couldn’t even breathe. Her ass fell to the bed, and her feet dropped off the side.

“You alive?” Deana heard her friend’s question, but it seemed to come from far away and she couldn’t answer. Her eyes closed.

Evan came out of the bathroom disturbed. He hadn’t jerked off and cum in Gloria’s underpants, but that was more about being physically depleted than doing the right thing. Gloria’s drawings weren’t that exciting as far as pornography went, but they affected him. Did he like the idea that she knew and thought about cocks and naked women that reminded him of Candy?

His mother’s words, “Still tempting fate?” made Evan shudder like a scared girl.

“Jeez, Mom, don’t do that. You’re gonna give me a heart attack.”

“Do what? Catch you wearing a towel?”

“No, come around the corner right when I’m coming out of the bathroom and start talking to me.”

“Sorry,” she said, then reached up and messed his wet hair. “It’s not like I know when you’ll come out of the bathroom.”

Seemed like it to him. “I only have to go ten feet, and I’ll be in my room. It’s not like I walk around the house in a towel, like Deana.”

His mother ran her hand down from his shoulder to his hand and held it. It seemed too close to his groin while he was wearing a towel. “That’s fine,” she said, “but one day you might find yourself in an embarrassing situation.”

Like right now, he thought.

“Did you make Tonya happy?”

He diverted his eyes away from his mother’s face, hoping to hide his reaction. Then he tried to swallow, but his throat jammed.

“What, she wasn’t satisfied? She seemed so pleased yesterday. Said you were the hardest worker. The hardest she’s ever seen for someone your age.”

What the fuck was happening? Pull yourself together, Evan thought, she’s talking about the yard work. “She was thrilled, I mean happy, very happy ... with the yard work. Said she was going to recommend me to everybody she knows. She even has other stuff for me to do.” That lie wouldn’t hold up under investigation, but he needed a reason to return Thursday.

“That’s good,” his mother said, then put her hand on his cheek. His heart fluttered. He wanted her to hug him. Sex was great, but he wanted more. He wanted to feel all those things he felt when he was holding somebody he loved after sex. If he didn’t get away from his mother, he was going to wrap his arms around her and squeeze her. She was right, a towel was tempting fate. “I’m going, going to get dressed. I’ll try and remember my robe next time.” He broke for his door, ignoring whatever his mother was saying.

When Deana opened her eyes, she was still short of breath, but now Rebecca was on top of her, stroking her hair. “I thought I killed you.”

She caught her breath and said, “You did, I think, I think I died and went to heaven.” She wrapped her arms and legs around Rebecca. “I don’t even have words for how good I feel.”

“Might be love,” Rebecca said.

She knew that but wasn’t sure how to handle it. It was beautiful and terrifying, like being in love with your brother. How could it work?

“Don’t do that,” Rebecca said. “Don’t start that now, not now.”

“What, start what?”

“Analyzing, worrying, and trying to see the future.”

Deana tightened her legs on Rebecca’s ass. There was something comforting about having someone she loved between her legs. She never wanted to have somebody she didn’t love between them, again. “I’m sorry. I get confused by how strong my feelings are. I can’t help thinking about what this means.”

Rebecca kissed her, then said, “It means we’re going to be happy and make each other feel good.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“Do you really, I mean the way I love you?” Deana asked. “You’ve had a boyfriend ... boyfriends, and been in love with--”

“No,” Rebecca said, “I might have thought that, but I was wrong. I have never felt like this before. I like doing it with a boy, but none have ever made me feel this way. Does it bother you that I like it, like dicks?”

“It might, but I’ve never had one, so I can’t say. I still can’t believe you’ve never been in love.”

“Have you?”

Not being able to lie to Rebecca anymore sucked. “Never mind that,” Deana said. “I need to do something for you now that I can breathe again.”

“You’re good at that, diversion, but we’re getting back to it later. Now, there is something you can do for me, but it might be a little, um, weird.”

Deana smiled. “After what you just did to me, as long as it won’t get me arrested or killed, I’ll do anything if it will make you happy.”

“It might make me happy, but I won’t know until we try.”

“Mm,” Deana raised a brow and squinted the other eye, “mystery, I like it.”

“Okay, wait here. I’ll be right back.” When Rebecca got to her door, she turned back and said, “Isn’t it great walking around your house naked?”

“Like I would know.”

“Try it,” Rebecca said and walked away.

Deana thought about wearing a towel in her kitchen. That was the closest she’d been to walking around naked since she was a kid. She wished Evan had pulled her towel off.

When Rebecca returned, her hands were behind her back. “Stand up,” she said.

“Is this going to hurt?”

“Not you,” Rebecca said. “You trust me, right?”

“Of course.”

“Good, turn around and relax.”

Deana trusted Rebecca with her life but didn’t like being blindfolded.

“Lift this foot,” Rebecca said and touched her right leg. “Now this one, and relax, I’d never hurt you.”

“I know.” It was terrifying being out of control of what was happening to her, but she loved Rebecca and trusted her, so Deana didn’t yank the blindfold off.

“Spread your feet out,” Rebecca said. “You’ll like this, I promise.”

Whatever was going up her legs and against her crotch wasn’t something she liked. “This is weird.”

“It’s almost ready, one more second, hold on,” Rebecca said, and something tightened around Deana’s hips and between her legs. “There, done!” Rebecca turned her around. “Just like when we played Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”

Deana felt Rebecca touch the back of her head, and the blindfold slipped from her eyes. Rebecca had that mischievous grin Deana was used to seeing. She looked down. “What the fuck!”

“I told you, I like them,” Rebecca said and reached for the dick jutting out from Deana’s groin. “It’s the best of both worlds, almost.”

“Holy Shit, I have a cock,” Deana said. “Where the hell did you get that? Shit, it’s crazy, I have a dick.”

“I’ll explain later,” Rebecca said. “I’ve wanted to try this ever since I found that in my mother’s room. You’re the only person on this planet I’d let do this to me. I want you to fuck me, really fuck me senseless. Can you, can you do that for me?”

“Your mother’s room? What the hell does your mother have a strap-on for?”

“Strap-on, ooh, you even know what it’s called. Do you have experience with one?”

“Nice try,” Deana said. “Why would your mother have one?”

“Got me,” Rebecca shrugged, “but I’m glad she does. How do you wanna do me first?”

“Do you? I have no idea how to do you. I’ve never even had sex,” Deana said. “It’s pretty big.”

“Is it bigger than Evan’s?” Rebecca asked.

The time it took Deana to form an answer gave her away, she saw it on Rebecca’s face, so Deana told the truth. “No, not even close.”

“Really?” Rebecca’s eyes widened. “How do you know? Your foot through his pants couldn’t tell you that, not for sure, and you seem to know for sure.”

“Let’s get back to that later. I’m getting pretty excited about fucking your brains out. If you have any.”

“Hey, don’t forget I can kick your ass if I need to.”

Rebecca was three inches shorter and twenty pounds lighter than her, but every inch of her body was toned and strong. She hoped she would never have to get her ass kicked by Rebecca. “You want to lay down or bend over?” She wanted to get behind Rebecca and reenact what happened in the shower, except she wouldn’t miss.

“Doggy style,” Rebecca said. “That’s my fantasy, my first fantasy, that is.”

“You have a bunch, don’t you?” Too bad one of them isn’t you helping me with Evan, Deana thought.

“Plenty,” Rebecca said. “We won’t get to all of them in one summer.”

“Be fun trying.”

“I love that twinkle in your eyes,” Rebecca said. “I might turn you into a bad girl after all.”

You already have, Deana thought. “Get on the floor and get ready to be fucked.”

“I’m ready,” Rebecca said and dropped to her knees. “You have no idea how ready. I’m so wet you don’t even need to get that thing slippery.”

Deana got behind the tumbler’s ass. The tiny pink asshole made her mouth water. She wrapped her hands around the cock. It wasn’t hard like the one she had rubbed her crotch on, and it wasn’t hot. Rebecca might be disappointed. “What should I do?”

“Pretend you’re a guy and fuck me.”

She tried to put herself in Evan’s mind. His soapy hands caressed her body, squeezing her nipples while his erection rubbed on her back. She aimed the dick between Rebecca’s cheeks. Evan had no idea she had been jockeying her body to receive him. She thought once he was in her, nature would take over, and Evan wouldn’t stop. Deana’s back hunched, pushing her groin forward.

“Ah, yes, I knew you’d know how to get it in me on the first try. Boys can never do that. Keep going ... a little faster.”

Deana thought it was going to be impossible to judge speed and force without sensation, but she was wrong. There was a nub on the inside of the leather triangle that hit her clit when she thrust into Rebecca. She grabbed Rebecca’s hips and rammed her. “Oh, that feels good.”

Rebecca grunted. “Ah, yes, it does. Keep going, harder and faster.”

Deana’s muscles were getting tired, but the thrashing of her clit and Rebecca’s moans of pleasure gave kept Deana thrusting. She pounded into Rebecca, grunting each time their bodies collided.

“Faster, faster ... keep going. I’m so close, so fuckin’ close.”

The climax paled in comparison to the last one, but it demanded Deana stop. She was getting too sensitive. “Ah, hurry, hurry up. I’m, ah, I’m there already, I’m cumming.”

Rebecca shouted, “Fuck, oh fuck,” then dove onto the carpet. Deana collapsed on top of her.

“Phew, you didn’t tell me this thing would finger me.”

Rebecca huffed. “I didn’t know. You fucked me senseless.”

“That’s what you asked for.” She slid off but left her leg over Rebecca’s back, and started kissing her neck. “Was it good?”

“Compared to your mouth and fingers, it sucked.”

“Was it like the real thing?”

“Why, you wanna try it?”

“No,” Deana said. “Did you want me to, to let you--”

“No, Dee, definitely not,” Rebecca said. “You need the real thing.”

“Good, because even though I love you, I want my first one to be somebody I love and the real thing.”

“Can we get on the bed?”

“If you can help me up,” Deana said.

“I need you to help me.”

“We need each other,” Deana said. “On three, we’ll help each other.”

They got on the bed and lay on their sides, facing each other. Rebecca touched Deana’s cheek, tucked hair behind her ear, and said, “I love you more now than ever.”

“I feel the same way, and not because you made me faint.”

“Try breathing next time,” Rebecca said. “Who were you in love with, and why did you stop loving them?”

“I didn’t, I love them differently now. It couldn’t work, not for long.”

Rebecca’s fingers were rubbing Deana’s earlobe. “Tell me more.”

In her heart, she wanted to tell Rebecca, and that scared her almost as much as her father. “I know we never keep secrets from each other, but there is some stuff that shouldn’t--”

“Dee, I know you, you need to tell me ... want to, I see it in your eyes. I can almost feel it eating you up.”

Why was this happening? She thought she was transparent with everyone except Cindy. “Really?”

“Yes, and it’s not the first time. There has been something that you always held back, for years. Every time I ask you what it is, you make up some reason why you’re acting strange.”

“Rebecca, I do, I do want to tell you, but I’ve never told anybody, not even Cindy. It’s not normal and it would change things between us.”

“Nothing will change the way I feel about you. Dee, do you know how long I’ve been in love with you? Forever! Do you know how hard it was for me to hold it in? I was terrified that if I told you or acted on my feelings, it would make you go away. It was torture. I couldn’t love you the way I wanted to because I was afraid I’d lose the love we did have.”

Her friend had been going through the same thing she was. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, it was me and my stupid secret. All those times we slept in the same bed, I used to watch you sleep, wanting to touch you, kiss you, and tell you how I felt.”

Deana was crying now. Rebecca’s words had stabbed her in the heart. She was wounded and afraid she’d bleed out, spilling her secrets until her walls were entirely down. She’d be exposed, vulnerable, and in danger. “If I tell you, no matter how sick you think it is, will you promise--”

“Come on, Dee, you know me better than that. You can tell me anything, and I’ll still be your BFF and more, lots more.”

Tell her, tell her everything, and you’ll be weightless and free. No, there was only one way she’d be free, and Rebecca couldn’t help with that. Once again, Deana chose the lesser of the two evils. “It was Evan, I was in love with Evan. I still love him, but not the way I used to.”