“Hey,” Paige grumbles as I plop down beside her at the kitchen table.

“Rough morning?” I keep the chuckle in check when I see how wrecked my little sister looks.

“My head hurts,” she says, hunched over a steaming mug of coffee. “Also, I’m pretty sure I caught you necking with my best friend of fifteen years in your car last night.”

That’s it. I’m done for.

I don’t breathe, don’t move, waiting for the fallout. But Paige just takes a slow sip of her coffee, like she’s waiting for me to explain. There’s no accusation in her voice, no immediate anger.

Come on, come up with some half-baked excuse. I know I can. 

But after Maddie’s late-night love confession, I just don’t have it in me. I’ve already fucked up enough. I exhale, rub my face.

 “Yeah. I wanted to tell you…”

Paige starts to giggle. Then, without warning, she breaks into a full-blown fit of laughter, doubling over the kitchen table as I stare, baffled.

“Dude,” she hiccups, wiping a tear from her eye. “You should see your face.”

What the fuck. 

The fear that has constantly gripped my gut during the vacation is fading quickly. Replaced by an unparalleled level of annoyance.

“You knew?” I ask, incredulous.

“Well, duh.” She has the worst arrogant smirk on her lips. “I’m the one who set up your road trip in the first place. Granted, the fact that you had to stop at the motel was just plain luck on Maddie’s side, but come on.”

She drinks the confusion on my face like it’s ambrosia. “Besides, Maddie and I tell each other everything.”

I don’t know if I should be scared or impressed.

“Why would you do that?”

“Maddie was really bummed out you didn’t talk to her even though she moved to your own city. To your own freaking alma mater. She wasn’t really enjoying college life. Then she dated a guy but wasn’t really into him and moved on to flirting with a married professor.”

I blink.

“A professor?” My voice comes out hoarse. "A married professor? Jesus, Maddie.”

Paige grimaces, rubbing her temple. “Yeah, I know, yikes. Then, right in time, Naomi dumped you. I figured both of you could enjoy a fun little vacation fling. She gets the older guy thrill out of her system, and you get a rebound.” 

She states all this in the calmest manner, making hand gestures like she was connecting dots in the air.

“Also, I’m sorry,” she continues, unfazed. “But you two just suck at sneaking around.”

I should feel relieved, but at this point, I’m just peeved at her self-satisfied tone.

“So yeah, you guys are basically glorified guinea pigs, enjoying a sanctioned affair provided by your benevolent mastermind,” she curtsies. “Little old me.”

“You couldn’t tell me before?” My voice has that characteristic half-shouted, half-whispered feel of sibling spats. The rest of the household is still sleeping, and I don’t want to risk waking my parents up. “I’ve been agonizing over you finding out for a week!”

“Serves you right for dodging her for an entire year. A little week of anguish is nothing in comparison,” she says, vindictive.

That’s the last straw.

All of my scruples are swept away by a single-minded, brotherly instinct to wipe the smugness off my sister’s face.

“Oh,” I begin in a casual tone. “So she told you about blowing me when I was driving? You know, so I couldn’t get away.”

My words have the effect of a bomb, resetting Paige’s entire demeanor.

“Or that time she jerked me off under the blanket when you were sitting next to us. We also got caught fucking on the garden table. But you knew about all that, right?”

Okay, I’m being somewhat selective when it comes to revealing my responsibility in all this, leaving out the most damning instances. 

Still, I go for the kill shot.

“By the way, she told me she was in love last night. So, great job on setting us up for a quick fling.”

Paige’s smirk dies instantly. Her face is now a mask of distress.

“Are you serious?” She sounds like she can’t believe me.

I nod.

Paige takes her head in her hands, rubbing her face like she’s trying to wake up from a bad dream. “No, Madeline Whitmore, what the fuck are you doing?”

Seeing her expression, my taste for revenge quickly turns back into guilt. Although she should have seen it coming from a mile away, Maddie played her too.

“You have to end things, right?” she asks, raising her head back. “This is unhinged…”

I’m about to answer, but she cuts me off.

“You can’t actually date Maddie; it would be like some sort of incest shit.”

“Yeah. Of course. I know,” I say automatically. 

But I could date her. 

I won’t, though.

It would look really bad.

“Fuck me,” she mutters. “I thought she was just mad that you were ignoring her. Instead, she still has her stupid crush on you.” She leans back in her chair, rubbing her temple. “And I just… threw you two together like a dumbass.”

“She used to be really weird about you,” she adds carefully. “I really thought she’d grown past that.”

“Hey, come on. This is not on you. We’re adults,” I try to comfort her. “I’ll do the right thing.”

She nods and goes back to staring at the volutes of steam coming from her coffee. 

I pour myself a mug and sit next to her when I hear footsteps in the living room.

Right on time, Maddie appears at the kitchen door.

“Hey,” she calls weakly, probably from the hangxiety of her alcohol induced confession last night. Still, she has a shy smile on as she meets my eyes.

Do I ambush her before she even gets to eat breakfast?

Paige doesn’t say a word, but when I glance at her, she gives me a single, firm nod. This gets me over the line.

“Morning, Maddie,” I say. “Do you mind stepping out with me for a second?”

I clear my throat. Why do I sound like a school counselor? 

“We need to talk.”

Her face falls, and she follows me out of the kitchen door to the garden. Paige squeezes her forearm as she passes her.

We walk silently to the outdoor table, away from prying ears. Somehow, it feels like I’m taking a beloved family pet behind the barn.

“So about last night…” I begin.

“We don’t need to talk about it,” Maddie cuts in, urgently.

“Yes, we do,” I sigh. I look at her crestfallen face. “I guess we never discussed what we were doing. But it was supposed to be fun. You know, casual.”

“I can do casual,” she swears. “I can.”

Her voice breaks my heart. She sounds like a scared little girl, but I have to keep going.

“Come on, you don’t just randomly declare your love to a friend with benefits.”

Maddie flinches visibly.

“It doesn’t mean we can’t be friends when we go back,” I continue. “Just that we should stop the benefits.”

She looks down and doesn’t say anything for a while. Her hands are clenched in her lap.

“I don’t want to be just friends,” she pleads.

“We can’t keep this going. You’re in college. You’re supposed to have fun. I’m starting my career. We’re at two completely different stages in our lives.”

“You’re just scared of what people will think,” she says, making it sound like an accusation. Tears are pooling in her eyes, making her blue irises stand out even more against the growing redness.

“Yeah, that too. Doesn't mean they’re wrong, though.”

Maddie brings her feet up on the chair, hugging her knees and resting her chin on them. She wipes her eyes, but doesn't say anything for a while.

“I’m not going to beg you,” she finally murmurs as her face hardens. “I deserve better than this.”

I can’t keep the sad smile from tugging at my lips. Here’s Maddie.

“We can agree on that, at least. You deserve the world, Maddie.”

She jumps to her feet.

“Screw you.”

With that, she storms back into the house.

===

“What about the time Rom thought he could cross the lake in one go, and your grandpa had to get the neighbor’s boat to fetch him?” Paige guffaws.

Laughter rings out around the small bonfire, fueled by the half-empty bottles of wine I smuggled out of our parents’ pantry, more than my sister’s recycled anecdote.

This has been an end-of-vacation tradition for years: Diane, Kevin, Paige, Maddie, and I enjoying one last night before we have to return to the real world.

Kevin strums his guitar absentmindedly. He must get laid constantly in college.

The lake is plunged into the night’s darkness. Only the occasional lights from scattered houses break up the still water’s oily surface.

I glance across the fire. Maddie is bunched against Paige, laughing.

Things have been awkward between us for the past two days. But this evening is making me think that maybe we can go back to normal.

The group keeps sharing random childhood memories, and Diane scoots next to me.

She leans in.

“You did the right thing,” she whispers.

“I know…” This is the last thing I want to talk about with her.

She gets the message and wraps her arm around my back before laying her head on my shoulder. 

The silent support makes me smile. At least I salvaged one friendship.

“I’m going to bed,” Maddie declares, standing abruptly. She’s staring daggers at me.

No one knows how to react. She takes a few steps before spinning back to face us.

“Paige?” she calls.

“Uh, sure,” my sister answers hurriedly. “See you guys next year. I guess.” She has an embarrassed smile on her face. Still, she goes after her friend as she disappears behind the trees.

Kevin, as per his habit, is completely surprised.

“What’s going on?” he asks.

“Nothing,” Diane shoots back. “You know Maddie, she’s a drama queen.”

I take a swig of the wine to chase the bitter taste in my mouth away. I really can’t stand Diane sometimes.

“I’m going for a swim,” I say, taking off my shirt. 

“What?” Diane calls after me. But I’m already halfway into the water.

It gets pretty chilly at night, but as long as I keep moving, it’s never too cold.

I try to empty my mind.

I’m the one who broke things up with Maddie. It should not affect me this much. 

A week is way too short a time to be catching feelings. It’s just guilt. Guilt from taking advantage of her. That’s the only possible explanation.

The beach is deserted, the fire smothered, when I emerge. I pick my clothes up and take the few steps up to the garden before sneaking through the kitchen door.

Gingerly, I head to the upstairs bathroom, making sure not to wake anyone up as the silent lakehouse creaks all around me. 

The hot shower only warms me up so much before it starts to feel wasteful. I shut it off.

Dad and I have worked hard this week to get the third bedroom back in order, and I have a happy, exhausted smile plastered on my face as I walk toward its half-opened door. This is the first time since my fiancée dumped me that I will be able to sleep in a real bed.

A soft, high-pitched sound stops me in my tracks just a few feet away from it.

This has to be an animal outside. It can’t be a moan.

Still, I hold my breath, not making any noise as I gently push the door left ajar. 

Maddie is lying over the covers of my bed, on her belly.

Naked.

Her back is rounded to allow her arms, stuck under her body, to reach between her legs. Her pale ass, the only part of her not relentlessly exposed to the sun this past week, glimmers under a ray of moonlight from the high window.

She’s gyrating her pelvis, and I can catch glimpses of her fingers poking between her thighs, leaving no doubt about what she’s up to.

Her face is buried within the folds of a T-shirt I discarded on the pillow earlier today. It’s hard to disagree with Paige: Maddie’s weird about me.

Still, the invitation could not be any clearer.

And for an instant, I consider it. 

It would be harmless. One last night with her, in a comfortable bed. I know her skin would be soft and warm under my touch. Wet, too, given the lewd sounds coming from her.

For what feels like an eternity, I just stare at her, wondering if she’s aware of my presence. She’s shuddering, her whimpers muffled by fabric. 

Then, silently, I close the door and walk away.

Another night on the couch for me.

===

“Alright, we’re good to go!” I call before closing the trunk.

Paige and Maddie are standing next to my car, sharing one last goodbye hug. 

Our parents already wished us a smooth journey before setting off to enjoy their day on the lake. Tomorrow, they will drive back home, with my sister in the back of the car.

“I’m gonna miss you so much,” Paige says, her nose buried in Maddie’s hair.

This is only the second year the two best friends will spend apart since they learned how to walk.

“You’ve gotta come visit us,” Maddie answers, wiping her moist eyes. I do my best not to meet them.

“I will,” Paige sniffs before coming over to give me my hug.

“See you around, sis.” I resist the temptation to ruffle her hair. She’s nineteen, not eleven.

We all avoid the elephant in the room.

Paige pulls back, and I slide into the driver’s seat. 

Maddie lingers for just a second.

Then, with a quiet inhale, she opens the passenger door and climbs in. She doesn’t say anything and fastens her seatbelt. She waves to Paige as I pull away.

I won’t even try to pretend that I can remember the route we took when following the Johnsons on the way here. Instead, we join the highway after a stretch of country roads.

The only sounds inside the car come from the engine, the tires humming against the asphalt, and the occasional uneven patch in the road. I focus on driving, and Maddie leans away from me, her forehead against the glass, looking out.

After a while, I realize how tightly I’m holding the wheel. This all feels so stupid. We’ve known each other our whole lives. We should be able to get over a few impulsive hookups.

“So,” I clear my throat to try and steady my voice. “Any plans for the rest of the summer?”

Maddie stays silent at first. Then she answers in a monotone voice.

“I’ve got a job lined up. A coffee shop, close to campus.”

“Not going back to see your folks?”

She exhales through her nose. Not quite a sigh.

“You know how they are…” 

I hum in acknowledgement. Maddie is fifteen years younger than her other siblings. Her parents are old, retired, and not the most fun to be around. This was one of the main reasons Paige didn’t have to do much convincing to get our parents to bring her with us on most family vacations.

“Staying in the dorms then?” My heart tightens when I imagine Maddie spending the rest of her summer alone in a deserted building.

I glance at her, but only see the back of her blonde hair. She still doesn’t face me.

“Yeah, I’ve got a few friends doing the same. It won’t be too bad.”

“That’s nice.” Not sure I believe her.

She snorts at my tone.

“What about you?” Maddie asks, her words loaded with sarcasm and bitterness. In the corner of my eye, I notice she’s now looking at me. “You’ll try to get your ex back?”

I don’t take the bait.

“I’ve got the weekend to find a new place. But I’m working on Monday.”

This is about all the chit-chat I have in me, so the conversation dies again.

Then, I notice the exit we took on the way to the lakehouse to escape the traffic that first night.

For some reason, this feels like a life-defining moment. 

I’ve never been one for big gestures or taking risks. But without thinking, I take the turn.

My hands stay locked on the wheel, guided by my horniest ancestors or something. My pulse pounds against my skull, its rhythm matching that of the tires on the road.

Maddie doesn’t react at first until she realizes we’re not on the highway anymore. She’s about to say something when she recognizes our surroundings. 

Her breath catches. I can feel her eyes, wide and burning, on my face for the rest of the drive.

We reach the motel around noon.

Unlike our first time here, the parking lot is almost empty. It looks smaller and even more run-down in the daylight.

I stop in front of the reception building. Without saying a word, I pull my wallet out of my pocket and hand it to Maddie.

She looks stunned at first. Then, a radiant grin spreads across her face. She bites her lower lip hard as if to contain it. She snatches my wallet before bursting out of the car.

My eyes stay on her slight silhouette, the sun catching in her golden hair, as she triumphantly saunters inside.

===

“Fuck me, baby,” Maddie screams into the cushion, he voice hoarse from overuse. “Give it to me.”

It’s a miracle she can still talk. Her face is buried in the couch, her back arched, her butt lifted high. I’ve got her forearms in my hands, stretching her arms upward as I drive into her from behind.

We’re really pushing her limits. But she takes it.

Her calves are locked around my legs, heels digging into my ass, refusing to let me pull away.

“Give it to your slut,” she gasps.

She’s nothing but a wet, trembling mess. 

I shouldn’t be able to cum anymore. Not after two days of nonstop, mindless fucking. But her pussy won’t let me stop. It’s still gripping me, pulsing, milking me for more.

I’m holding back as best I can. But we both know she’ll pull an orgasm out of me, whether I like it or not.

Sweat beads between her hips, dripping toward her shoulders, pooling in the curve of her spine.

Maddie’s arousal is everywhere, coating her thighs, drenching my cock, making every thrust a messy, obscene slap of skin on skin.

I’m completely soaked in her, and I can’t get enough.

I tighten my grip on her arms, and I slam into her hard. Her walls close around me as she...