Page 14 of Finding Fate

“Yeah. I mean, we’ve gone pretty far, but I keep chickening out before IT can happen.”

“Okay…Annie, not that I mind discussing your…non-sex life, but I’m at like nun-virgin status compared to you. What do you want me to tell you? When you and Jet…have sex…,” she whispered so the kids wouldn’t overhear, “that’s for y’all to decide. If you’re not ready, he’s just going to have to understand. Doesn’t he?”

“It’s Jet, Izzy. You know he’s patient to a fault. It just doesn’t seem fair to him. And it’s not like I don’t want to…”

Isabel looked out at the beach to check on the kids again and turned back to her sister, sensing there was more. Annie had pulled her feet up and was tracing her toes, the wind blowing the brown strands of her ponytail across her sun-darkened back. “Stop overthinking, sis,” Isabel eventually had to prompt.

Annie nodded, inhaling slowly to center herself. “That’s probably what I’ve been doing, actually. I’m like ninety-nine percent sure that I’m ready, but I can’t even tell Jet that.”

“Why?”

“It’s embarrassing. All I keep thinking is ‘What if I’m bad at it?’ ‘What if it hurts?’”

“Oh, Annie,” Isabel sighed sympathetically. “You need to tell Jet. He’ll understand.”

“I know,” she laughed to avoid a sob, “but it still scares me.”

“You shouldn’t let it. I mean, of course, there’s a good chance that physically it won’t be the most comfortable thing at first, but you’ll be with Jet. You know he’d do whatever he could to make you as comfortable as he can.”

Annie nodded as Isabel leaned back in her chair. “Besides,” she continued, “Jet is a guy, sis.”

“I’m very aware of that fact, Izzy,” she responded sarcastically.

The pale twin rolled her eyes at her sister’s attitude. “I’m sure you are, but what I’m trying to point out is that he’ll probably be so excited that he’s actually having sex for the first time that it won’t matter if you’re good at it.”

“That sounds terrible!”

“Well, it’s true. Besides, if you’re that bad at it, you know what they say… Practice makes perfect…and I’m sure that that’s one thing Jet won’t mind practicing,” Izzy said with a wink as she pulled out her trusty SPF 50 sunscreen from her tote. The sun’s rays were really starting to pack a punch, and she refused to risk getting another sunburn. “Talk to him, sis.”

“I will. Thanks.”

“No problem. You want to return the favor?”

“Sure. What’s up?”

“Wesley.”

“Please tell me you’ve decided you don’t like him anymore,”Annie thought. It would make things so much easier. “What about Wesley?”

“I want you to like him. He’s really sweet.”

“Ugh…” she groaned mentally, “Of course it’s not that easy.” “You can tell I don’t like him?”

“Well, yeah, Annie. You make a face every time I bring him up lately, and you wouldn’t even talk to me about the concert he took me to the other night. I had a great time with him. I wanted to come home and gush about it with my sister, my best friend, but I couldn’t, and I can’t figure out why. I’ve always listened to your stories about Jet.”

“I’m sorry,” Annie conceded. “I was trying not to say anything because I didn’t want to make a big deal out of nothing, but I’m not sure that I trust him.”

“What do you mean you don’t trust him?” Isabel asked, confused. “He’s one of the sweetest guys I’ve ever met.”

Annie groaned. This wasn’t how she’d wanted to bring it up. “Fine… He’s a real jerk when he’s not around you. He flirts with girls while we’re at work, like it doesn’t even matter that I’m your sister and I’m sitting right there. If he’s not flirting with them, he’s checking them out. I know some guys apparently think it’s okay, but I just don’t think it’s very respectful. You deserve better.”

Isabel flushed in aggravation. “That’s ridiculous, Annie. Wesley’s a gentleman when we go out. He’s funny and easy to talk to. I just can’t see him doing that.” Maybe at first, she considered, but not now that they were so close to being official.

“Why would I lie to you? I’ve seen him. Tucker doesn’t like him either,” she threw in for good measure, “You saw how he reacted when Wesley asked you out at Nachos Ole. He freaking growled.”

Isabel frowned, remembering how he’d flirted with the waitress right afterwards. But what right did Tucker have to comment on who she dated when he was hooking up with any girl that moved lately.

Annie watched as her sister flushed an even deeper shade of red, wishing she knew why. Was she just that pissed about Wesley? Was it the Tucker comment?

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