. . .
“What the hell is actually going on with your and your roommate?”My sister wants to know and honestly, I do too.
“Which roommate?” I play dumb, doing my best to avoid her hawkish gaze. She may be younger than I am, but she’s definitely smarter and she’s definitely way more observant.
Georgie rolls her eyes. “Don’t act dumb with me—Poppy. Are the two of you fucking, or what?”
I damn near spit out my protein shake.
“What?” I cough. “No! Jesus, Georgia.”
She slaps the table triumphantly. “Aha! That’s thesecondJesus. You're definitely guilty.”
I groan. “It wasn’t like that.”
“But itwassomething.”
I hesitate a beat too long.
“OH MY GOD.” She gasps dramatically, slapping a hand over her mouth like she’s just unearthed a government conspiracy. “I don’t freaking believe this!”
“We’re adults,” I mutter feebly. “And we were quiet.”
“You were not!” she says. “There werevibrations.At one point, I thought you were running a power tool in there. Or trying to summon a demon. Do you like her?”
I can’t make direct eye contact. “I’m going to die.”
“You’re going toanswer the question.”
“I…we…”
“So that’s a yes. You’re screwing your roommate.” She huffs. “Dammit.” Pause. “Is it serious?”
“Define ‘serious’.”
I try to sound casual, I swear I do. Instead, I sound like a guy who knows exactly how many times his roommate made him forget his own name last night.
Georgia sets her coffee down. “Are you in love with her, or are you enjoying the fringe benefits of living with a hot girl who owns a vibrator?”
I choke.Again.For the third time this morning.
“That is not an appropriate question to ask your older brother,” I cough.
“Okay old man.” She rolls her eyes. “So. Which is it?”
“Which one do you hope it is?” I counter, desperate to avoid this conversation.
Before I can answer—or fake a stroke—Poppy strolls in, in one ofmyhoodies, one my sister definitely recognizes.
She stops. Blinks.
Realizes we’re mid-interrogation, or that something is going down that she wants no part of.
“Uh. Should I come back later?” She begins backtracking out of the room, but my sister stops her.
“Stop right there.”
Poppy halts in her tracks, slowly turning back toward us. “Am I in trouble?”
