Page 5 of Personal Foul
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I pause the episode ofStranger Thingson the TV and smile as I pick up my phone. “Hey! How’s my soon-to-be-married big sis?” Cameron, my sister’s boyfriend of two years, proposed a month ago. And true to form, Victoria and Mom have immediately launched into wedding planning like they’re planning a military maneuver or a big casino heist.
“Stressed to the max,” Victoria answers. “Wedding planning while interning is no joke. But I’ll spare you the boring details. How are you? How’s school?”
Chuckling, I slouch farther down on my couch, pulling a throw pillow into my lap. “I’m good. School’s school. Papers. Tests. Reading. The usual. Bore me with your details. That’s why you called, isn’t it?”
She laughs. “You think I’m calling you about wedding stuff? You don’t think I have friends to vent to about Mom being overbearing?”
“Maybe you do, but none of them understand what you mean about Mom being overbearing quite like I do.”
“True.” And just like I knew she would, she launches into a story about Mom commandeering another meeting with a potential wedding planner, barely letting Victoria have a say and grilling the poor woman like she was deposing a hostile witness.
“Why don’t you set up a few meetings with wedding planners on your own, narrow it down to two or three you like, then bring Mom on board?”
She’s silent for long enough that I pull the phone from my ear to make sure the call didn’t drop.
“That’s actually brilliant,” she says at last. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
“Because you’re drowning under the combined stresses of a demanding internship and our overbearing mother taking over your wedding?”
She clears her throat. “Valid point. Thank you. I’ll take that advice and let you know how it goes.”
“Make sure you don’t let Mom know what you’re up to,” I warn.
“Yeah,” she says dryly. “No shit. Anyway. You’re awfully tightlipped about yourself. Are you just bored because football’s over? Isn’t it nice to have a little more free time? I’m assuming you have a party to hit later. I made sure to call early enough that I wouldn’t disrupt your social calendar.”
Laughing about the social calendar comment, my mind goes to Chastity and her impending visit tomorrow. “No parties for me tonight.”
“Oh no? Are you getting sick?”
Another laugh. “No. I’m fine. Just don’t feel like going anywhere tonight.” I need to make sure everything is set up for Chastity tomorrow. I stopped by an adult store and got her a maid’s outfit. Hopefully it’s nottootoo small. I mean, I want it a little small, after all. That’s kinda the point. But not so small she can’t get into it.
I smirk at that possibility, though, and the potential outcome of refusing to let her wear her own clothes—I don’t want her to get them dirty or spill cleaners on them, after all.
Not that I’dactuallymake her clean my place naked—though I definitely wouldn’t mind a hot chick like her cleaning my place in the nude—but it would be fun to see what kind of reaction I’d get if I hinted at the possibility. Would she actually do it? Or would she finally tell me to fuck off and take her chances with her secrets getting out?
Some sick, twisted part of me wants to find out how far she’ll go. She didn’t balk too much when I brought up a uniform, but she might when she sees it. Somehow I doubt that my explanation that I’m actually looking out for her and her clothes will sway her to see things my way. Will that be enough to get her to tell me to take a flying fuck at the moon?
I guess we’ll find out when she gets here tomorrow.
If she does … what’s my play then?
I haven’t really thought that far ahead. I’ve been winging this so far. I guess I’ll just wing it some more and hope for the best.
“What is it, Dylan? I know there’s something going on in that brain of yours. Did you meet someone?”
“I’ve met lots of people,” I answer evasively.
“Dylan,” she huffs. “Just answer the question. Are you dating someone?”
“No, Victoria. There are no wedding bells in my future other than yours.”
Another huff of annoyance, and I can imagine her rolling her eyes. “I wouldn’t assume so this early anyway, since you didn’t mention dating anyone last week when we talked. But it would be nice if you could bring someone with you to my engagement party next month.”
“I’m sure there’ll be plenty of soon-to-be bridesmaids for me to pair off with if I need to.”
“Oh, goody. Just what I need. My little brother pissing off all my single friends so they won’t want anything to do with me anymore. Find a date, Dylan. Or at least promise to keep it in your pants.”
