seven
Holly
“Spill! How was it?” Sage squeals as she jumps onto my bed. The movement alone makes me wince in pain.
“It was nice.”
Her jaw drops in surprise. “Nice? That’s it? Declan finally nailed you with his massive thunder cock and all you can say is nice? Please tell me you didn’t tell him that and wound his ego.”
God, I wish I’d never mentioned how large Declan is.
“Everything was perfect. It was romantic and loving and everything I’d ever wished for. I just didn’t think it would hurt so much.”
She eyes me thoughtfully. “It hurt when I lost it to Eddie and he was only like the size of my pinky,” she says, holding hers up for emphasis. “Did you bleed?”
“Still am.”
“Shit, maybe you should go to the doctor. Is it a lot? I’m sure Declan’s mom could help.”
“Oh my God, no, Sage! That’s not happening. And it’s not a lot, just a little bit when I wipe.”
“You’re so lucky your dad is out of town. Could you imagine if he were home and saw you walking around like you just got done riding a horse?” She laughs at herself. “Well, I guess you sort of did, or he rode you.”
I can’t help but laugh. “I am glad he’s not here, but I’m eighteen now so there’s not much he could do about it.”
“True. I still can’t believe you waited until you were eighteen to lose your V card and that Dec waited for you.”
“He loves me,” I reply, smiling at just the thought of him.
“Yeah, I know. You’re a lucky bitch. You got the boy with the massive cock, and I got a gay BFF out of the deal. It works in an odd way.”
“Oh please, you change boyfriends almost as much as you change your underwear. Baxter is the only stable relationship you’ve ever had. You more than lucked out. Besides, Declan is hardly your type.”
“True. Now, are you really not going to spill any more details from last night? Aside from the fact he’s at least a nine on the dickter scale.” She blows her bangs out of her face with a massive huff and then turns her puppy dog eyes on me.
“Nope, no details. This wasn’t just some guy, Sage. It’s Declan. If we ever break up, I’ll share my next sexcapade with you, I promise.”
“Fine, I guess I understand. It’s a love thing. Speaking of, where are the chocolate chip cookies I smelled when I came in? It’s sweet you’re walking around like you still have a massive cock in your vag, but you took time out of your day to make Declan’s favorite cookies.”
She ducks when I throw a pillow at her head. “You are so crass. Just for that I shouldn’t tell you the cookies are in the pantry. But since there’s a whole container with your name on it, it would be mean to keep them from you.”
She jumps up and runs to the kitchen and back in a flash.
“You’re the best! What time are Declan and Baxter coming over?”
“Soon …” She looks at me expectantly until I blurt out what’s on my mind. “Sage, I’m really not walking funny, am I?”
She holds her fingers up a half inch. “A little. If your dad asks, tell him you slipped and fell, but I’m sure you’ll be fine by tomorrow. Are you guys going to go at it again tonight?”
My horrified look is answer enough.
“You’ll feel better in no time, and it won’t hurt as much next time. With a guy as big as Dec, though, it may take a few times before it’s actually pleasureful.”
“It’s already pleasureful, he takes care of me.”
She rolls her eyes. “You two are way too lovey-dovey for me. Mark my words, it’s a whole different sensation when you come with his cock inside of you.”
“Now this sounds like a conversation right up my alley.” Baxter’s smirking as he walks into my room. “Coming is always better with a cock inside of you,” he says, and Sage high-fives him. “So … Declan finally popped your cherry last night.”
“Actually, Bax, she popped mine.” Declan’s wearing a shit-eating grin as he walks toward me with a vase full of sunflowers.
“Aww, I need a boyfriend like Dec. No one ever brings me flowers,” Baxter says with a pout.
“Me, either,” Sage echoes.
Declan places the flowers on my desk before squeezing between Baxter and me. “Why don’t you two go pick a movie and order the pizza? We’ll meet you out there in a bit.”
“We’d rather watch the two of you,” Sage replies, fluttering her eyes.
“Come on, Sage, give the lovebirds some space and take advantage of being able to pick the movie for once.”
“Fine, but you’re paying for the pizza, Declan,” she calls out as Bax pushes her out of the room and closes the door behind them.
“How are you feeling today?” Dec asks as he lies down next to me and pulls me close.
“I’m fine. A little sore, but I’m sure it’s normal. I made you cookies.”
His smile could light up the darkest heart. “You didn’t have to do that, but thank you.”
He brushes his lips against mine and I kiss him back eagerly. “I wanted to,” I reply breathlessly as we break apart.
“No regrets about last night?”
“What? No! Do you have regrets?”
“Never. It was the best night of my life to date.” He laces his fingers through mine and brings my hand to his lips.
“To date, huh?”
“Well, yeah,” he answers while tracing his fingers across the contours of my face. “We still have prom and graduation, college, our wedding, some kids, lots of other great nights will be coming our way, love.”
I snuggle closer and kiss him sweetly. “You always know just the right things to say.”
“How many kids do you want?”
Just as I’m about to answer, the doorbell starts ringing incessantly. “Holly, you need to get out here!” Sage calls frantically.
Declan helps me up and we rush to see what all the commotion is about. Baxter is peeking out the peephole and Sage’s expression is worrisome. “I think it’s your mom, Holls. I haven’t seen her since we were little, but I’m pretty sure that’s her.”
My chest tightens. My dad would probably call the cops if he were here, but he’s not. There’s no way I can let my mom know he’s out of town.
“What do you want to do?” Declan asks cautiously.
“There’s only one thing to do,” I reply as I open the door. “Can I help you?”
She looks up at me with a smile, and my anger at her takes over. “Holly? It’s me.”
“I’m sorry, do I know you?”
“Shit, that’s cold,” Baxter whispers in the background.
Her eyes meet mine and she smirks. “I suppose I deserve that. Are you going to invite me in?”
“Are you insane? You may have given birth to me, but I haven’t seen you in thirteen years. You’re not coming into my house. What do you want?”
Declan rests his hand against my lower back; the gesture means more to me than he could ever know.
“You’re eighteen now, Holly, and I want a relationship with my daughter. The court ruled in your father’s favor, but you get to make the decisions now that you’re of age. I’m clean, baby. I have been for the last eight years.”
Eight years?
“Eight years and all of a sudden you want to get to know me?” I’m yelling now. Dec wraps his arm around me and squeezes me tight.
“Holly, please. Let me explain.”
“Why should I?” As I throw my hands in the air, a man steps out of a car at the curb, holding a little girl. My stomach rolls like an ocean during a storm. I’m going to be sick. “Who is that?” I’m seething and praying I can keep my nausea at bay. We step out onto the porch and she steps off the porch, back onto the sidewalk.
“Sweetie, this was a bad idea. We should go.” His sympathetic voice is soothing. Mentally, I’m thanking him for trying to be the voice of reason. They should go, but the little girl propped on his shoulder is staring at me. She’s maybe four or five; she’s a cute little thing, but when my eyes meet hers, my heart races. Her big green eyes are looking right into my soul. It’s like looking in a mirror. This little girl is my sister.
Suddenly, I’m gasping for air and clutching my chest. I can’t breathe.
“Sage, go get my mom!” Declan yells while helping me sit down on the steps.
My eyes flutter closed as my breaths become shallower. When I look up, Declan is talking to me, but my ears are ringing so loud I can’t hear a word he’s saying. The man has his arm around my mom, and the little girl is still staring at me.
Soon, Declan is gone and Sally is crouched down in front of me. Someone presses a cold cloth against the back of my neck as Sally begins to speak. “Put your head between your legs, Holly.”
I follow her instructions, hoping I’ll be able to pull more air into my lungs. “Deep breath in, Holly, and then exhale.” Her words are making their way through, and I follow what she’s saying. “Focus on your foot, Holly, count your toes. One, two, three, four, five. Say it with me, Holly,” she repeats again. “Come on, sweetie, count with me.”
“One, two, three, four, five,” I count.
“Good job, Holly, again,” she says, relief flooding her voice. After a few minutes, I’m breathing almost normally, and I look up at Sally. “Hey, sweetie, you doing okay now?”
“I think so,” I whisper, and she smiles.
“It was just a panic attack. I know they can be scary, but you’re going to be okay. I’m going to call Sean now and let him know what is going on.”
“Wait, Sally, please don’t. Not yet. Can you stay for a little bit?”
She looks over my shoulder at Declan and nods. “Whatever you need, Holly.”
When Sally stands and moves to the side, my mom steps forward. “I’m sorry, Holly. I didn’t mean to upset you. I thought you’d be happy to see me and to meet your sister.”
“How old is she?”
“She’s four, actually, five next month. Her name is Heather, and this is my husband Ken.”
Ken steps forward still holding my sister. She looks down at me, and I can’t help but smile at her. “Are you okay now?” she asks timidly.
“I’m fine. My name is Holly.”
She smiles and tries to scoot out of her dad’s arms. When he sets her on the ground, she steps closer to me. “Mommy and Daddy said you’re my big sister.”
“Yeah, I guess I am.”
“Why don’t we all go in the house and get something to drink. I can put some snacks together at home and bring them over,” Sally offers.
“Actually, Holly made a ton of chocolate chip cookies. As long as Declan will share, you can just stay here with us, Sally.” Baxter’s suggestion is perfect. I’m sure Heather loves cookies, and I need all the support I can get right now.
“I’m happy to share my cookies with Holly’s little sister. Come on in, Heather. Why don’t I show you where I keep my secret stash?” She giggles and follows Declan and the rest of the group into the house. It’s just me, my mom, and Ken out here now.
“Holly, I’m so sorry,” she says again.
“For her. I’m only doing this right now for her, not you.”
“I can handle that. I want the two of you to have a relationship, even if we never can.”
“Good. At least we can agree on something.”
When my mom and her family left, so did Baxter and Sage. Our day was ruined, and I’m not very good company at this point.
“Holly, are you sure I can’t call your dad? He’s going to be upset with me.”
“I don’t want you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable, but he lied to me for years, Sally. How could he not tell me I had a sister? That my mom was sober and remarried?”
The indecisiveness on her face is apparent. “I don’t know, sweetie, I really don’t. Declan, stay with Holly tonight. I have to go to work and I don’t want her in the house alone. Holly, I’m not going to call your dad because I think you need time to figure out how to handle this with him and to let your anger settle down. Ultimately, you’re of age even if you are still in high school, so I’m going to defer to your request. Call me if you guys need me.”
Sally kisses us each on the cheek before she leaves. As soon as she’s gone, Declan pulls me into a hug.
“Spill.”
“I’m so angry and so fucking hurt. I don’t want to have a relationship with her, but I have a sister! God, Dec, how could my dad keep that from me?”
Declan gently wipes away the tears streaming down my cheeks. “I’m not sure, love, but is it technically a lie if he didn’t tell you?”
He did not just say that.
“A lie of omission is still a lie.”
“She’s sober and has a whole new family. Maybe he was afraid you’d leave him for her.”
“Maybe …”
He runs his fingers through my hair as we talk, completely relaxing me. “I think the bigger question is, what are you going to do now that you know?”
“I’m not sure. It’s not like they live around the corner.”
He chuckles lightly. “No, but they don’t live in Siberia, either. Pasadena isn’t even an hour away.”
“I just don’t know. It’s not fair bringing Heather here and getting her hopes up for a sister. We’re done with school in less than two months. After summer, we’re off to college. She’s turning five in a month and I’m already eighteen, but damn, Dec, she’s so sweet.”
“She looks like you. She has your smile, eyes, and hair, she’s adorable. I know how much it sucks to lose a parent to their shitty choices, but if I had a brother or a sister show up, I’d be happy, Holly.”
I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him to me. As our lips meet and our heartbeats sync, the love I have for him fills my heart. I don’t know how I would have gotten through today without him.
“I am happy, Declan. I’ll figure out a way. Right now, I want to lose myself in you. Make love to me.”
“Are you sure? I know you were in pain earlier.”
“I’m fine. I haven’t been in any pain in hours. You’re spending the night, my dad is out of town, your mom is at work, and we should make every second count.”
“Your wish is my command. I love you.”
“I love you, too. So very much.”