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“Nick is-” Amanda started to say, but Mrs Sullivan interrupted her.
“You make sure you take good care of her,” Betty said to me. “She is such a wonderful young woman.”
“Don’t worry,” I grinned. “I’ll be sure to treat her well.”
“I can tell you’re a good man,” Betty smiled. “Not like that slacker you were dating last time. What was his name again? Chris?”
“Craig,” Amanda replied. “And we’re actu-”
“That’s the one. I always knew you were too good for him, my dear,” Mrs Sullivan cut in again, placing a hand on Amanda’s arm. “You need to be with someone who loves and respects you, my dear. The same goes for both of you. But I can see it in your eyes, and it warms my old heart.”
Betty went on for another ten minutes about her late husband and how great of a man he was and how Amanda shouldn’t settle for anything less than the perfect man for her. Then she began telling me how handsome I was again. Amanda blushed furiously throughout the whole ordeal but never again tried to correct the elderly woman.
“Oh, would you look at the time,” Mrs Sullivan said after fifteen minutes. “I’ve been prattling on and on, keeping you two love birds.”
“It’s okay, really. We don’t mind,” Amanda said.
“Nonsense,” Betty waved her hand. “You two have a wonderful day and cherish every moment you have together.”
Betty gave Amanda a hug, then placed a hand on my arm as she passed by the cart, planting a grandmotherly kiss on my cheek before she was on her way.
“I think she likes me,” I said to Amanda.
Amanda burst out laughing, smiling widely. Our eyes met, and the smile she gave me made my heart skip a beat. I suddenly felt foolish for being annoyed at this woman. We were both in a strange situation, and I couldn’t begrudge her for not knowing how to navigate it. I was just as reluctant to engage in a sexual relationship with Erica.
“Shall we continue on, my dear?” I asked Amanda, holding my arm out for her.
“Yes, we shall,” Amanda giggled, looping her arm through mine.
The rest of our trip to the grocery store and ride home was far more comfortable as we chatted and joked. The tension in the air between us was gone, thanks to one little old lady. I didn’t want to hold any bad feelings towards Amanda, and I felt horrible for the short time that I had.
Once we arrived home, we spent most of the day together just hanging out, watching TV, and listening to music. A few moments when our eyes met or a touch lingered could have evolved into something more, but I tried my best not to let it affect the mood.
“I love you,” Amanda said softly as we lounged on the couch.
“I love you too,” I replied just as softly.
“I just don’t know how to deal with these feelings right now, and I am really sorry,” Amanda said.
“It’s okay,” I said, pulling her into a hug. “It isn’t your fault.”
“I kissed you first,” Amanda sighed. “I started this whole thing.”
“In a way, you did. But not how you think,” I said.
“What do you mean?”
“I fell for you the moment I saw you,” I confessed. “I’ve never believed in love at first sight, but it happened.”
“Good,” Amanda said.
“Good?” I asked, giving her a puzzled look.
“I’m not the only one who instantly fell in love the moment we met,” Amanda said.
My heart jumped at her words. I wanted nothing more than to take her into my arms and kiss her until I was out of breath. This beautiful, amazing, caring woman just told me she fell in love with me at the exact moment I had fallen for her. But I still couldn’t have her.
“I’m going to need some time,” Amanda said finally. “I can’t do this while I’m with Craig… I just can’t.”
“I understand,” I nodded. “What about… the others?”
I was dreading what Amanda would say about Emily, Mel, and Erica. Amanda knew what was going on in the house with her sisters and me and had shown jealousy along with acceptance of what was happening. I loved her, but I also had those feelings for the others, and I don’t think I could choose if given an ultimatum.
“Do you love them?” Amanda asked.
“Yes,” I answered truthfully.
“So do I,” Amanda nodded.
We watched TV in silence for another hour before getting up to start getting dinner sorted. I helped out in the kitchen, just wanting to be near Amanda. We hadn’t kissed or even flirted since we returned home from the grocery store earlier. But a hand on the back while passing each other, or our shoulders touching as we stood side-by-side, held just as much affection and intimacy as making out with a dozen other women. Women who weren’t my sibling that is.
I was really starting to believe that Mel was onto something with her theory about why we’re all feeling the way we are, but there was more to it. Genetic sexual attraction was all well and good, but these women were something special. Sure, they were all sexy as hell, and each of them made me as horny as a teenager at a pool party, but they were more than just amazing bodies and beautiful faces.
“You two look like you had a good day,” Mel said when she sat down for dinner.
“It was relaxing,” Amanda smiled.
“Did you bang?” Erica asked bluntly.
“Erica!” Amanda scolded but broke her angry demeanour by laughing.
“It’s just a question,” Erica shrugged.
“One that is very reasonable to ask in this household,” Mel added.
“Leave them alone,” Emily cut in. “What they do together is none of our business.”
“Can you three stop talking about my sex life, please,” Amanda said.
“So, you did bang?” Erica grinned.
“Nah… I don’t think they did,” Mel pursed her lips in thought. “She’d be in a much better mood if they did.”
“Well, this went weird fast,” I laughed.
“Welcome to the family,” Mel grinned. “We make weird seem normal.”
“You two need to stop being mean to Manda,” Emily said with a stern look that made her look incredibly cute.
“Sorry, Em,” Mel and Erica said in unison.
Emily flashed Amanda and me a bright, cheerful smile before taking my hand in front of everyone. I guess the cat was out of the bag publicly now, and Emily was feeling affectionate. Throughout dinner, she sat right up beside me and shamelessly showed affection and looked incredibly cute doing it. Even Amanda smiled when Emily wrapped her arms around my neck and planted a kiss on my cheek.
I guess they really did love each other enough to avoid jealousy.
Once we finished dinner, I got up to help with the dishes, but Emily grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the others.
“I’ll help Manda with cleaning up,” Emily said. “You should go spend time with Erica.”
“You’re not jealous you can’t spend the night with me?” I asked, still a little sceptical.
“A little,” Emily nodded. “But you haven’t spent much time with Erica over the last few days, and I know she wants to.”
“How do you know that?” I asked.
“Because if I hadn’t spent the night in your bed for a few days, I would feel the same,” Emily smiled. “Go on.”All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
“I have no idea how I became so lucky,” I said, kissing her on the lips.
“Just never forget it,” Emily grinned, then bounded off to help Amanda with the dishes.