Unspoken Pleasure

"But..." Kate started, then faltered.

"I don't remember feeling angry at all. A little jealous, sure. But mostly? It turned me on to watch you enjoy yourself like that. Just lose yourself in it."

"It's scary," Kate said, "I don't know what came over me."

"Well, I know who came over you," I said, a smirk playing on my lips.

Kate shoved my shoulder. "Not funny."

"Sorry," I said, realizing that this was probably the wrong place for humor. "I feel like you found something in that bedroom, and I don't want you to let go of that."

"That sounds dangerous," Kate said, but I could tell she was coming around.

"It doesn't have to be," I said.

"What if I go too far and do something you don't like?" Kate asked. She tucked her long brown hair behind her ear.

"I don't think that's possible," I said.

Kate gave me a dubious look. "I don't know who that woman was, Andy. The one you saw in the bedroom with Vanessa and those guys. And, yes, I ummm... I 'enjoyed' it. But it was also really super frightening being out of control like that. And now you're asking me to do it again? I don't know."

"I'm asking you to be in touch with yourself more," I said, "To allow yourself to open up and experience things. With someone you trust."

"So, what does this mean?" Kate asked, "Going forward."Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

I was about to answer when the bathroom door popped open. Tara walked into the room. The cute redhead was back in her t-shirt and jeans, red hair dripping and dark from the shower. She gave us a little grin, then sat on the edge of the bed.

Kate popped up and held her sister's shoulders. The two of them looked so different, yet were clearly, obviously related. There was a sweetness between the two of them, a bond that was evident even if you couldn't physically see it. "You feeling better, sweetie?" Kate asked, kindergarten teacher voice in full effect.

"I'm thinking I'm just going to go," Tara said. She glanced back at us, and the implication was clear. Who wanted to share a bed with their older sister and her husband? That was beyond third wheel, it was twentieth. Especially after what Tara and I had shared earlier.

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"How will you get home?" Kate asked.

"I'll flag an Uber," Tara said.

"Are you sure?" Kate asked again, "This bed is plenty big for the three of us. Or Andy could sleep on the floor."

"Certainly," I said, a little miffed that I wasn't allowed to at least volunteer myself. I lay back and let it all play out.

"I appreciate the offer, but no," Tara said with a sigh, "After everything tonight, I want to sleep in my own bed," Tara said.

"I'm sorry," Kate said, "I wanted tonight to be fun for you."

"I did have fun," Tara said, "I mean, in a weird way, I really did. But I've got a lot to process, and I'll be happier doing that at home." "What about Jesse?" Kate asked.

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Tara shrugged. "I'm sure my husband will crawl out of whatever hole he fell into, eventually," she said, "I'm done letting him drag me around after him."

It wasn't the ending of Tara's awful marriage that I'd been hoping for, but it was close enough. I didn't enjoy rooting against my sister-in-law's relationship, but she deserved to be happy. More than ever, I knew Jesse wasn't going to make that happen. And it seemed like, finally, Tara did too. Still, I kept my celebratory smile to myself.

"At least let Andy walk you out," Kate said, firmly.

"It's OK," Tara said, repeating that evening's key refrain, "Truly. I'm going to thank Vanessa for the party and hit the road."

She stood up and smoothed her clothes, eying the two of us analytically.

"What about you guys? Are you two going to be OK?" Tara asked.

"I think we'll be just fine," Kate said, with a twinkle in her eye.

And I knew that she was right.