I’ve always done whatever I could to protect her, that’s what I’m here for. When we were kids, she’d follow me around and do everything that I did. She had a stick in her hand at five years old and could skate circles around most of my friends, even though we were eight and twice as big as her. My entire life she’s been my shadow and I guess there could be a worse best friend than your baby sister.
We walk out of the sorority house, down the concrete driveway and when we get to my truck, I pick Emery up and put her in the passenger seat.
She moans and groans the entire time, like she’s losing a damn limb.
“Sheesh, you're dramatic.”
“Runs in the family, I guess.”
I scoff. “That is about enough out of you tonight.” I grab the bucket Holland thought to grab and put it in Em’s lap then shut the door, silencing her protest.
When I’m done, I turn to Holland. Her deep blue eyes are filled with amusement at my expense, not Emery’s. She loves our banter.
Her arms are wrapped around her torso, hugging herself. For Christ's sake, I didn’t even realize she had this tiny top on; she’s got to be freezing. For some reason, at this moment, it dawns on me that I’ve never really… noticed Holland as anything other than my little sister’s best friend, until right now. Maybe it’s because she’s dressed in a crop top that shows more cleavage than I’ve ever seen her with or because the skirt she’s wearing makes me want to cover her up so no one can see how short it is. Or it could be the way that her legs look paired with those heels. Even though they’ve gotta be five-inches tall, she’s still at least half a foot, if not shorter, than me. Her long, blonde hair falls past her chest to her waist.
Fuck, she’s gorgeous.
That’s the last thing I should be thinking about, yet here we are. I’ve watched her grow from a boy-band crazed teenager into… this beautiful woman.
A woman who is so off-limits, it’s not even funny.
What the hell are you thinking, Davidson?
Get your shit together.
I clear my throat. “You cool with crashing at my place tonight? I’m sure Ma wouldn’t appreciate me dropping off the brat at her house tonight in her drunken state.”
Holland nods. “Yeah, I can go get my car tomorrow. Uh, could you possibly help me into the truck?” She looks down at her skirt, nervously. “This skirt and these shoes…”
Yeah, I can’t imagine she’d be able to get in there without flashing me and the world what's underneath it. Not like I’d complain right now…
What? I’m a guy.
“Yeah, of course.” I place my hands on her waist, ignoring the feel of her silky skin beneath my touch, and hoist her into the back seat of the truck. Definitely not taking a glimpse at her ass as she did so.
Nope. Absolutely not. I wouldn’t. Scout’s honor.
“Fuck,” I mutter to myself. This is bad. Obviously I should've picked a bunny and gone home with her, since I’m suddenly lusting after my little sister’s best friend.
It’s probably just an off night, and definitely a fluke.
Definitely.
Em falls asleep before I even pull away from the curb. She’s slumped awkwardly against the window, drool pooling in the corner of her mouth. I should snap a picture, so I can torture her with it later.
I grin at the thought.
The entire drive back to my house, I force myself to focus on the road, and not drag my eyes to the rearview mirror where Holland’s perched in the back seat, directly in my line of vision.
I only stole a few glances, and I didn’t think she noticed until our eyes connected in the mirror and something… different passes through our gaze.
Fuck, what is happening?
Tearing my gaze from hers, I fumble with the radio and turn it up to distract myself for the remainder of the drive. Once I pull into the driveway and come to a stop, Emery flies forward and her eyes pop open.
“What happened? What did I miss?”
Holland laughs her ass off at Emery’s sudden outburst, and then Em’s slumping back against the seat and letting out a soft snore.
“I’m not claiming her,” I mutter as I hop out of the truck, then open Holland’s door. She places her hand in mine and I help her out before going around to grab Em. It’s a whole damn production to get her into the house and up the stairs, but thank fuck, Holland takes over once we make it to the guest room.
They disappear through the door, and I head to my room and take a lightning-fast shower and throw on a pair of grey sweats and a faded black tee before walking back out to the hallway. Holland’s leaning against the wall next to the door, scrolling on her phone. She’s shed the heels and is standing barefoot now.
“Hey, uh, do you need something to sleep in? I have a shirt and some boxers I can give you?”
She jumps, clearly startled. “Holy crap, I didn’t even hear you come up. Yes, that would be great.”
I nod, and go back to my room, grabbing her an old hockey shirt and a pair of boxers. This is the first time since probably high school that I’ve slept in the same house as Holland, and it definitely feels nothing like it did back then.
Walking back out to the hallway, I hand her the clothes, and she smiles shyly before taking them from me.
“Shower’s over there. If you need something, just let me know.”
“Thanks, Reed. I mean for letting us stay here, but also thanks for coming to get us.”
I shrug. “It’s nothing. I’d rather pick you two up then have you take an Uber home when Em can hardly hold her head up. I appreciate that you thought enough to call me. Night, Holland.”
“Goodnight.”
I walk back toward my room and I hear the guest bathroom door shut behind me and the water turn on. And now what am I definitely not going to do? Think about her naked on the other side of that door.
That’s what I tell myself for the next two hours as I toss and turn. From one side to the other, sleep evading me. I put my pillow over my head and groan. Finally, I just give up.
Fuck it. When you can’t sleep… the remedy is always cereal.
Don’t tell my coach that, and definitely not the trainer, but sugar cures everything. Especially in high doses of Captain Crunch.
My secret though.
I toss the blanket aside and crack my door open quietly, careful not to wake Em and Holl, and tiptoe down the hallway into the kitchen. I grab a bowl, the box of cereal from the pantry and open the fridge to get the milk.
“Reed?” A whispered voice comes from behind me, scaring the fuck out of me so badly that I send the milk flying across the island, where it lands with a wet squelch, puddling around the now-busted carton.
Goddamnit.
Holland’s staring at me with wide eyes. Her hair is down and messy, obviously disheveled from sleep.
“Holy fuck, Holland, you scared the shit out of me!” I grunt. My heart’s still racing in my chest.
Damn Reed, you’re turning into a pussy.
She starts laughing, quietly at first, placing her hand over her mouth when she sees the milk spilled on the floor.
"I’m so… sor-ry,” she says through her laugh. I walk across the room to where both she and the milk are, grabbing the towel from the counter before bending down to clean it up.