Page 4 of Trip

“You don’t know what you’re asking of me. The truth will destroy lives. Innocent lives.”

“None of us are so innocent, and besides, painful truths are better than comforting lies, even when it doesn’t seem like it.” Meri didn’t know what she was asking.

“I’ll just call a rideshare and leave, and Cris will never know I was here. I love you Meri, but I can’t do this. Not now.”

“If not now, when? When one or both of you are married with kids and realize you belong together? How many lives will that destroy? Just rip it off like a bandage. Besides, the snow is getting pretty heavy in Tahoe. Forecast calls for more. Good luck getting a ride. If you just stay until I get there, I promise to drop it and never bring it up again. You two can go on being miserable separately and I’ll not interfere again. Promise. Just give it the holidays, please?”

Damn it. Meri was right, as usual. Deep cleansing breath in. Fortifying breath out. Wait, that’s not right.Deep breathing, my ass. I’m panting white puffs and on the border of hyperventilating.

She could do this. Had to do this, for everyone. She just had to make it through a few days without breaking and Meri would drop it. Everyone but JJ could go on with their lives in sweet oblivion.

“Fine. You win. But promise, on our friendship, after this, it’s over?”

“I promise. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry I tricked you and Trip.”

“Trip?”

“Yeah. I’ll let him explain it. That’s his story to tell. Just remember, no matter how he looks now or what name he goes by, he’s still just my baby brother, Cristofer.”

“Yeah. Love you to pieces.”

“Ditto, my sister from another mister. Gotta run. And when I say the cabin is stocked, I mean stocked. Check the nightstand.”

Meri hung up before JJ could ask any more questions. With a shaky hand, she opened the door again. Before stepping in, she took in the man on the couch. The man she never stopped loving. He was a lot different from the nineteen-year-old who left for basic training. He was all packed muscles and yummy, scruffy-bearded goodness. Cris, or Trip, shifted, and the towel opened over a part of his body that was burned into her mind. Mostly because she had yet to meet a man who was quite so… impressive in that department.

Most men loved to brag about the size of their cock when they were really just average or slightly above, but not Cris. That was one area where the brag was nowhere near as big as reality.

A ghost of a smile crept across her lips as she remembered the first time she saw it. She’d crossed her legs and told him no. That they would never have sex with that thing until the swelling went down. Cris was patient and waited months before she was ready to try again.

The smile wasn’t enough then. A full laugh bubbled out of her as she remembered how awful the first time was. First times. Sure, he was big, but neither of them knew what the hell they were doing. It wasn’t until senior year that they really got the groove of things, and boy, did they.

JJ rubbed her legs together slightly to relieve the ache building there at the sight of Cris and his growing erection. The man was snoring and having a delightful dream, if his bodily reaction was a sign.

Before she got busted ogling him, she grabbed her bag and headed toward the back of the house. The smell of alcohol was stronger the closer to Cris she came. That explains how he isn’t reacting to my presence at all. An empty bottle and a few roaches in the ashtray were evidence of how he’d spent the last few hours.

She gave the couch a wide berth and went to the small room. She noticed the bag on the bed. Ugh, she couldn’t take one of the twins’ rooms. Where would they sleep? “Well…” She turned and headed down the hall. “Meri arranged this little gathering, so she can bunk with me.” The door was locked with a padlock. What the hell. JJ got a sinking feeling in her gut and turned, noticing all the doors were the same except for one.

Frustration had her fingers flying across the keyboard of her phone.

JJ: You lint licking crusty ass nugget.

The dancing dots taunted JJ more than the padlocked doors.

MERI: Ah, so you made it inside okay. Sorry, not sorry. PS, check the closet too. Turning off my phone now. Working. Smooches.

JJ stormed into the only available room, slammed the door, and tossed her bag to the floor. She would not play Meri’s game. She’d spend the time so her friend would drop it and that would be that.

Curiosity got the better of her as she sat on the bed with her arms folded over her chest, pouting. The closet just steps away. Steps she took. A flick of the switch revealed what looked like the entire wardrobe from her last photo shoot. One for an up-and-coming lingerie and fetish wear company.

Damn that bitch. JJ told Meri how much she wanted all the things from the shoot because they made her feel beautiful. They’d been made for someone her size and flattered her curves perfectly. One outfit in particular had her looking like a goddess. Not just one that made her look good for someone her size, but good period.

Sliding the hangers from side to side, she found the one she was looking for. A studded leather longline bra, bordering on a half corset. With matching silk thong and leather miniskirt, with a line of blunted studs along the hem.

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