7

The truck rumbled back into the driveway just after six-thirty. Doors slammed, bags rustled, and Jake’s loud laugh carried through the front door followed by Sarah’s lighter one.

Ethan sat in the living room, remote in hand, flipping through channels without really seeing anything. His mind kept looping back to the porch — the taste of Mia’s mouth, the weight of her breast in his palm, the way she had ground against his cock like she was starving for him, then those quiet tears sliding down her cheeks when he pushed her away.

Jake burst in first, carrying two heavy bags of pool chemicals. “Mission accomplished! Filter part is in the truck. Chemicals are ridiculous heavy, though.” He dropped the bags with a thud.

Sarah followed, arms full of shopping bags, cheeks pink from the long drive. “And I scored the cutest running shoes on sale. Plus dorm stuff. Perfect day.”

They dumped everything in the entryway and collapsed onto the couch across from Ethan.

“So?” Jake asked, kicking his feet up. “How was babysitting duty? Any trouble?”

Ethan forced a casual shrug. “Nah. Quiet day. Mia’s been in her room most of the time.”

Sarah tilted her head. “Is she okay? She didn’t come down at all?”

“Yeah, she’s fine,” Ethan said, keeping his voice even. “Probably just catching up on reading or whatever.”

Jake grinned and clapped Ethan on the shoulder. “See? Told you you’d be a good babysitter. My little sister can be a handful, but you handled it like a pro.”

Sarah laughed, leaning into Ethan’s side. “Poor Ethan, stuck playing big brother all afternoon.”

Ethan managed a weak smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

The rest of the afternoon dragged. Mia stayed upstairs. No footsteps on the stairs, no soft voice asking for snacks, nothing. Ethan kept glancing toward the hallway, jaw tight, guilt and leftover heat warring in his chest.

When dinner finally rolled around, which was simple grilled chicken and salad Jake threw together — Mia appeared. She had changed into loose sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt, hair pulled back in a messy bun. Her eyes looked a little puffy, but she kept her face neutral as she slid into her chair.

Jake tried to joke. “Finally decided to join the living, squirt?”

Mia gave a small shrug. “Yeah.”

Conversation moved around her. Sarah chatted about the mall finds. Jake complained about the price of pool chemicals. Ethan stayed mostly quiet, stealing glances at Mia across the table. She barely spoke — one-line answers when directly asked.

“Pass the salt?”

“Here.”

“Movie after dinner sound good?”

“Sure.”

Sarah eventually leaned forward with a playful grin. “Mia, you okay? You’re quieter than usual. Did you get your heart broken or something?”

Mia’s fork froze halfway to her mouth. She stared at her plate for a long second, then continued eating without answering, cheeks faintly flushed.

Jake snorted. “Leave her alone. She’s probably just tired of us.”

Dinner ended in awkward silence.

Afterward, they all moved to the living room for a movie. Jake claimed the big armchair. Sarah curled up against Ethan on the couch, legs draped over his lap. Mia sat on the far end of the sectional, knees tucked to her chest, remote in hand but eyes unfocused.

Halfway through the film, Sarah turned toward Ethan, smiling softly. She cupped his face and pulled him into a slow, deep kiss. Their mouths moved lazily, Sarah’s fingers threading into his hair. Ethan kissed her back, but it felt mechanical — his mind flashing instead to wet bikini fabric, soft moans, freckled skin under his palms.

Jake groaned loudly from the armchair. “Jesus, you two. Go fuck yourselves in the room so the rest of us can watch the movie in peace.”

Sarah laughed against Ethan’s lips, pulling back just enough to murmur, “Maybe later.” They both chuckled.

It wasn’t funny to Mia.

Jealousy burned hot and sharp in her chest, mixing with the sting of Ethan’s words on the porch. She stood up abruptly, the remote clattering onto the cushion.

“I’m going to bed,” she said flatly, voice tight.

No one tried to stop her.

As she climbed the stairs, she heard Jake’s voice drift up behind her. “Finally. Now that Mia is gone… I’m gonna call my girlfriend over. She can spend the night. Make it a proper party.”

Mia closed her bedroom door with a soft click and leaned against it, breathing hard. Tears pricked her eyes again, but this time she blinked them back fiercely.

Ethan’s words echoed in her head: *You’re Jake’s sister… I have a girlfriend… We stop. Right now.*

She wasn’t going to let him take them back so easily. She was going to make him eat every single one.

Mia pulled out her phone, opened her messages, and typed quickly to Tyler from bio class.

Hey… still free tomorrow? My house is free after all. Come over? We can watch something… or whatever.

The reply came almost instantly: Hell yeah. Will be there in tomorrow.

A small, determined smile curved her lips despite the ache in her chest. She knew exactly how she was going to make Ethan regret pushing her away.