Chapter 4

It wasn’t long before Kelly became something of a fixture at my house. My parents took almost as much a liking to her as did my little brother. They weren’t the types to be at all put off by a few tattoos and extra piercings (the ones they could see). Nor did they show any signs of objecting when Kelly and I held hands or hugged (or kissed). Of course Kelly’s personality made it inevitable that those boundaries would be pushed fairly regularly.

“Kel,” I said, “you can’t just grope and maul me in front of my parents, ‘ya know.”

“Why not?” she replied. “I grope and maul you in front of your brother all the time. Besides, I don’t think your parents minded.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because your dad looked like he was jealous; like he wanted to get in on the action.”

She hit me with her mischievous grin before grabbing me for a kiss.

“Good one, Kelly. I guess it’s OK if you grab me and kiss me when we’re here in my room.”

“And when it’s just you, me and Stevie. Speaking of which, when do we get him alone? I think watching us kiss and fondle each other is about to drive him insane. I think you like torturing him, Nicole.”

“I know, it does seem cruel. But as much as he’s grown up since you’ve been around, I still have that big sister instinct sometimes.”

“Of course. But as much as I enjoy watching you tease him, I’d rather that you’d let the other big sister instinct take over.”

“Which instinct is that?”

“The instinct that wants you to watch your girlfriend fuck your little brother.”

I loved hearing Kelly call me her girlfriend. Or, her girl. It was obvious to all by now that we were together. She made it clear every possible moment how crazy she was for me ... and it made me feel great. But still, hearing her say ‘girlfriend’ gave me tingles in my toes, and other places.

Nor did I mind hearing her say again how much she wanted to be Steve’s first fuck. If she could have slept over that night, I might have let it happen. Unfortunately she had to leave after dinner. I walked her to her car and when I came back in the house, my Mom was there at the kitchen table, kind of like she was waiting to talk to me.

“Seems like things are going good with Kelly, huh?” my mom said.

“Yeah, I guess,” I replied, trying to sound non-committal, though I’m not sure why. “Why, don’t you like her?”

“Oh, of course! Dad and I both like her a lot. And Steven ... well, he’s smitten like I’ve never seen him before.”

“You really think so, Mom?”

“You’re kidding, right? You have to be aware of how he’s followed most of your female friends around for the last few years. He’s been like a dog waiting to mate.”

“Mom!” I said, trying to resist the urge to laugh. “I’m not used to hearing you talk like that.”

“Well, it’s the truth and I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.”

“Yeah, he has been hit pretty hard by the ‘puberty express.’”

“Pretty hard, huh? Good one, Nicole.”

“Mom, I didn’t mean it that way! Although that is kinda funny. What’s gotten into you?”

“Good question. I guess I just feel good about seeing you and your brother getting along so well. That really seemed to come out of nowhere.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Any idea what brought down the battle lines with you two? I mean, for the longest time your dad and I thought you and Steven were going to kill each other. Does it um ... have anything to do with Kelly being around?”

I had to think about that question for a second. Why would she ask that? Does she have some kind of suspicion there’s something going on that involves Steven?

“What do you mean, Mom? What would Kelly have to do with Steven and me getting along better?”

“Well, maybe it just seems like the timing. It was about the time you started seeing Kelly that you and Steven started acting civilly toward one another. In fact, it seems like the more she’s around, the more all three of you seem to get along. I never would have expected that you’d allow your brother to be so ... I don’t know ... friendly with any of your friends.”

“That’s true, now that you mention it,” I replied. “By the way, Mom. I never said Kelly and I were officially seeing each other.”

“Nicole,” she said with raised eyebrows, “get real. You’ve never been so openly affectionate with anyone you were dating. Male or female.”

“That obvious, huh? That’s not a problem, is it?”

“It doesn’t bother your father or me at all. Like I said, we both like Kelly a lot. We don’t mind you two being kissy-faces when we’re around. But I will say, you should be aware of the effect it has on your brother.”

“More than him being, ‘smitten’ with Kelly, like you said?”

“Well, how should I put this? Um ... I think seeing you and Kelly kissing and touching each other so much is sending your brother on some extra visits to the... spank bank.”

She smiled and laughed that time. My mom had never been the least bit uptight about sex in any way. My dad either. But I had never, ever heard her say something like ‘spank bank’! Especially in relation to my brother. I mean, I’ve been aware that he’s been jerking off regularly for some time. But was my mom really hip to that too? Wow.

“Mom, I don’t...” I couldn’t help but smile and laugh too. “What am I supposed to do with you? We’re talking about my brother, your son! Spank bank?”

“You think I’m naive, Nicole? He’s a teenage boy. That’s what they do. I know he’s been watching your female friends ... ogling them ... for some time. And I know he started washing his own sheets, pretty often. And his underwear. Are you telling me you’re not aware of that stuff?”