Family Ties

”

Christy turned rosy at the direction of the conversation, while Erin looked suitably abashed.

“Now,” I said to her, “exactly what magazines have you been looking at?”

“Right,” I said flatly. “We all have our little secrets.” I glanced at Christy.

“One of mine is that I trim my pubic hair. I’m sure you noticed.”

She nodded, eyes still wide.

“One of yours,” I said to Erin, “is your stash of gay porn.”

“I have no such thing!”

“Sure you don’t, Erin. But hey, I’m not judging you. You can look at whatever you like. Besides, some of those guys are hot.”

Her eyebrows flew up as fast as Christy’s.

Matter o’ fact, if I had a quarter for every time you checked each other out during the shower, I’d… well… I’d have about three bucks. But you know what I mean.”

They each started to deny it.

“Save it,” I said as I stepped under the shower and rinsed the last of the shaving cream. “I saw you both. It was really kinda cute, to be honest, how you did it while the other wasn’t looking. But don’t try to deny it.”

Christy looked chagrined, while Erin wanted to argue.

“Ready for me to turn off the water?” I asked them.

“Chill, Erin,” I told her. “You can’t win every argument.”

“Says you,” she muttered.

I just laughed and handed Christy her towel. Then I passed Erin hers and reached for my own. “Let’s get a move on,” I said. “You know how Dad gets if we’re late. And if it makes you feel any better, Erin, you’re totally right about me being the worst boyfriend in the world. I’d be in the doghouse now if it weren’t for you and Mom and Susan. So thanks for that.”

“You’re welcome,” she said ungraciously.

“I mean it.” I gave her a brotherly kiss on the forehead. “You’re my favorite sister.”

“You’re still my favorite.”

Christy grinned at me.

“Now, do you mind if I shave my face, or would it make me look gay?”

Erin rolled her eyes.

“I think it makes you look handsome,” Christy said. “Him too.”

It was my turn to look surprised.

Erin didn’t understand the reference. “He’s your boyfriend, I guess.”

“It’s very dashing,” Christy told her.

“Oh, please!” Erin said. “Seriously? Is that what you call it?”

The penny finally dropped for Erin. “Hold on, who do you mean by

“That depends,” Christy said with a goofy, endearing grin. “The smaller him is Mr. Big. The bigger him is Paul.”

“Ha! Okay. So you have a pet name for his dick.”

“What can I say? I really like it.”

We’re gonna be late.”

The girls each went to a sink and after a minute started chatting about

I glanced over and realized that Christy hadn’t wrapped her towel around her body. It was draped over the corner of her sink, and she didn’t seem to care.

“Zip me up,” Christy said as she turned and swept her hair out of the way.

She looked even smaller than usual in the tight black dress, although the padded shoulders were part of the reason. She picked up her purse and once again searched for the mirror. (The room didn’t have one.)

“How do I look?” she said at last.

“Beautiful. As always.”

I straightened an imaginary tilt in the shoulders of her dress. Then I tucked her hair behind her ear and ran the backs of my fingers along the line of her jaw. Her earrings were gold and onyx to match the dress, and her high heels and clutch purse complemented each other with small gold buckles.

“Beautiful,” I said again, and meant it.

She tucked the purse under her arm and reached up to adjust my tie. Then she smoothed my shirt over my chest. She even checked my waistline to make sure I didn’t have any wrinkles in my shirt.

“Just like my dad taught me,” I said with a smile. “Military-style.”

Her cheeks glowed with more than pleasure. “I used to help my mom when she checked my dad’s uniform for ceremonies and stuff.”

“So… am I properly squared away?”

She grinned and set her purse on the dresser. Then she lifted my suit coat off the hanger. I started to turn, but she moved behind me instead. She slid the sleeves onto my arms with practiced ease and then moved in front of me to smooth my lapels.

“Very handsome,” she said at last.

“You know I’m just going to take it off when we get in the car?” I said with a grin.

“Hush. You’ll spoil the moment.” She reached for her purse and looked around again. “Oh, darn it! I wish we had a mirror.”

“Relax,” I said softly. “We’ll have other times when we dress up for a formal occasion. I’ll make sure we’re in a room with a mirror.”

She reached for her compact. Then she looped her arm through mine, straightened her shoulders, and held the open compact at arm’s length. The mirror was ridiculously small for what she wanted, and I did my best not to chuckle.

“Exactly,” Christy said, as if she’d read my mind. “I’m glad I don’t have to explain.