Page 109 of The Sound Of Silence

As soon as I step foot in the yard, Pippa’s on me like a pit bull. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“What? What do youthinkis going on?”

“Don’t mess with me, Jesse. You just walked out of Willow’s room, looking like you’ve been sleeping.”

“Sleeping? The horror,” I deadpan, not in the mood to be scolded like a child.

Pippa huffs. “Shut it! You know what comesbeforesleep?”

I don’t dignify that with an answer. Instead, I anger her even more. “Why do you sound jealous right now?”

Pippa gapes before she shakes her head in frustration. “That’s not what this is, asshole. She’s my baby sister.”

“So? You joked about me crushing on her.”

"Yeah,because I could see something blossoming. I even told Willow to go for it. But I didn’t think you’d go all the way before actually spending time with her.”

Fuck. She’s got me there, because neither did I.Though I’m not about to agree with her.

“I’m not talking to you about this.”

“So you’re admitting it?”

“For fuck’s sake. It’s actually none of your goddamn business. I don’t even know why we’re having this conversation.”

Pippa shakes her head as she rolls her eyes, acting as though I’m the childish one in this situation, but I hold strong. I’m not backing down on this. She holds my gaze until I see a thought pass through her eyes and her body deflates.

“You’re right,” she says, her tone significantly calmer. “But I care about her, Jesse. And I haven’t been the best sister over the years. She’s been through so much, and she’s… I’m just not sure you’re the right person for her if you’re going to be you.”Wow, okay.

“I know you’re just trying to protect her.”Like the rest of this town.“But—”

“No, you don’t get it,” Pippa huffs out. “I’m all for her having some fun. I’d probably even be okay with her trying things with youdown the road.” She pauses, choosing her next words. “I just…not now. I thought you actually had feelings. Not your usual shit.”

I ignore her second verbal attack and focus on thenot now.What does that even mean? I want to ask her, but since I still haven’t flat out admitted anything, I can’t exactly do that.

“Okay, sure.”

Pippa’s eyes narrow and she frowns.Looks like that was the wrong thing to come out of my mouth.

“Please tell me you didn’t just screw her and run.”

“No!”I can honestly say I didn’t “screw” her. It was so much more than that.

“Have you done anything?”

“No,” I repeat, but my traitorous voice comes out less confident that time. I stand tall, hoping she won’t notice.

“Dammit, Jesse.”She noticed.

“What? What do you want from me?”

Pippa sighs and then stares through me, and it’s unnerving. But when she finally speaks, it’s so much worse. “Just…don’t rush it. It should be special.”

What?It should be… My eyes widen as Pippa's words make sense.Goddammit!

How the hell did I not see that?

She admitted she’d never sucked a cock before. I saw her nerves when I first touched her. She…dammit.

---