Page 104 of Just for Fun
Except for the part where he took my virginity, then bragged about it.
“You know…” Owen watches me thoughtfully. “He sounded really sincere when he explained why he’d told his asshole friend about…” He moves his finger up and down the length of my body. “That.”
I bring my head up, looking at my brother with all the hope that I have in me. “You think?”
“Desperate even,” Owen adds. “I really want to hate his guts because nobody hurts my little sister like that and gets away with it.”
“I want to hate him, too.” I bob my head up and down, wanting to have a good cry while at the same time, ready to forgive him.
“I won’t be pushing you into one direction or the other,” Owen speaks softly. “And it’s not like the two of you were about to get married or some shit. If you want to get to know him better, this is your chance.”
Hope blooms in my chest, and I suddenly feel lighter.
“But I can tell you one thing,” Owen warns. “If he makes you cry one more time, big or small issue, I will kick his ass so bad,they won’t recognize him when they do his autopsy. Two strikes, and he’s out.”
My eyes fill with tears as I listen to my brother. He’s always supported me even though he never really understood how deep my issues were rooted.
“I thought it was three strikes and you’re out.” I sniffle when I speak.
He frowns at me. “What?”
“You said, two strikes and he’s out,” I quote him. “Isn’t it three strikes in baseball?”
“Yeah,” Owen agrees. “So?”
I don’t know if he’s playing dumb on purpose to aggravate me, but it sure is annoying.
“So should Kyle have three strikes before he’s out?”
Owen stretches his legs until he reaches my coffee table. He rests one foot over the other, with his shoes resting on the edge of the table.
“First of all…” He crosses his arms over his massive chest. “Who was talking about baseball? Second,” he continues when I open my mouth so speak. “If you think I’d let some fucker hurt my sister twice and wait for a third time before I killed him, then you don’t know me very well.”
I let the tears flow freely down my face, unable to stop the onslaught of emotions. Jumping from my seat, I go to sit next to him, tucking myself into his side.
“You are the best big brother any sister could hope for, Owen.” I sniffle some more. “I’m so happy that you aremybest big brother.”
He drops his head over mine and holds me while I let it all out.
“I’ve always felt so out of place in the world,” I tell him. “I hate social gatherings, and I’m not a fan of meeting new people.But I did all that with Kyle, and I didn’t even think twice about it. Maybe I was naïve…”
“Zara, just because he was your first in that way, he needs to be your forever now,” Owen informs me laconically. “If you’re still so into him, date him for a while, learn a few more tricks…”
“Owen!” I gasp in shock.
“Then go and look for true love,” he continues as if I never said a word.
We remain silent for the next few minutes. The smell of the spaghetti sauce whiffs through from the kitchen, and Owen’s stomach promptly growls.
“Before we eat, I have a question.”
He tries to sit patiently even though I can tell he only has food on his mind at this point.
“What’s the question, Zara? Before I pass out from hunger.”
I sit up and clear my throat a few times.
“You told Kyle that you’d help him talk to me.”
