Page 29 of Freedom to Love

Vander didn’t answer. She pointed down the hallway from the living room, and Brynn helped her along. But Vander’s assumptions about her stung, and she felt compelled to correct her, to stand up for herself.

“I’m not my sister, you know. Or Billy, though I really think he just does what Bea tells him to do.”

Vander spoke softly. “I’m beginning to see that.”

“Beginning to? Geez, what else do I have to do?”

Vander laughed. “Swear in blood on the Bible.”

“Swear what? That I’m a good girl? I wouldn’t go that far.”

“No?”

They stopped at the bathroom door and faced one another. “No. I can get a little wild.” Brynn heated as she confessed, and she knew what the words implied. Vander seemed to sense it as well, because she blushed. And her light blue eyes drifted down to Brynn’s lips and then back up again. It was an obvious look of desire. But she played it off, blinking and looking instead into the bathroom.

“Soap and towels under the sink. I’ll bring your duffel and leave it by the door.”

Brynn shook her head. “Wait, what?”

“Clean up here,” she said, heading back down the hall. “I’m not going to let you hitchhike home. Even if I have to handcuff you to the kitchen table.” She smirked and disappeared down the hall.

Brynn stared at her in disbelief. She looked back into the bathroom. Tile floor, white porcelain claw foot tub. She thought she was one of the only ones who still had one. She crossed to it and turned on the faucet. Vander’s was newer, larger, nicer. It had a handheld shower head. She sat on the commode and watched the water cascade in, steam rising. Her eyes grew heavy just watching. She waited for Vander to return with her bag, but when she didn’t, she turned off the water and ventured down the hallway and found her holding it, leaning against the wall, eyes closed.

“Come with me,” she whispered. She took the bag and helped Vander along with her free arm. They walked back down the hall and into the largest bedroom. Brynn noted the white bed, the weathered looking blue furniture. She even liked the artwork on the wall. She sat Vander on the edge of the bed and removed her socks and flannel sleep pants. She’d bathed since she’d last seen her so her T-shirt was fresh and smelled like fabric softener. Brynn tried not to stare at her long legs or satin panties. Instead she tucked her into bed and covered her, all the while Vander mumbling things that made no sense. Brynn sat next to her and switched on the bedside lamp where a medicine bottle sat. She read the instructions, saw that it was an antibiotic, and touched Vander’s cheek to wake her.

“Have you taken your antibiotic tonight?”

Vander opened heavy looking eyes. “Wha? No.”

“’K. Sit up a bit.” She slipped the pill in her mouth and handed her a bottle of warm water. Vander swallowed the pill and settled down into the down pillow. Gunner jumped up at the foot of the bed and settled down next to her. Brynn watched her sleep for a long moment, sighed with relief, and extinguished the light. She returned to the bathroom, stripped, and slid into the tub, groaning at the wonderful feel of the hot water. With Vander’s face in her mind, she eased back and soaped herself, wishing it was Vander doing it instead of her.

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