Screwed (V-Card Diaries 2)

Evie and I are even closer than we were before, and my stress levels are way down. Turns out accepting that your little sister is going to make her own mistakes—and survive and thrive in spite of them—is good for a person’s blood pressure.

Unfortunately, reduced stress levels also seem to allow more room for inappropriate feelings to rise to the surface…

I force my gaze away from Harlow’s coolly impassive face and remind myself again that she hates me, and that I’m never going to be free to slide my fingers into her silky hair and pull her lips to mine on a regular basis.

I should grab that ski rack and get the hell out of here.

That’s exactly what I’m about to do when Evie points a stern finger at my chest and says, “Don’t even think about it. You’re staying here for at least an hour so I can monitor your pupils. Once I’m positive you don’t have a concussion, I will personally escort you down to your car with the ski rack to make sure you don’t fall down again.”

I frown. “You make me sound like a frail old man.”

“Well, your temples are starting to go a little gray,” Harlow says, squinting at my sideburns before letting out a judgmental grunt. “Awfully young to be becoming a silver fox, Satan. You might want to rethink your life of evil and relax a little.”

“That’s why I’m going cross-country skiing for a week,” I say, a smug grin curving my lips as I add, “But thanks for the compliment, Bossy. I always knew you thought I was a fox.”

Harlow snorts and rolls her eyes so hard her head gets involved. “Oh, please. You wish.” Her tone is caustic, but her cheeks are pinker than they were before, and I would absolutely tease her about how pretty she is when she blushes if Evie weren’t at the table.

Instead, I shift my gaze to my sister and say, “Are you sure you don’t want to come? I was able to get a suite with a fold-out bed in the main room. There’s plenty of space for both of us, and we haven’t done a ski trip in ages.”

Evie props her elbows on the table and drops her chin into her hands. “God, I would love to. So much. You have no idea. But I still have one final on Monday and a huge holiday mural thing to finish with the kids at the youth center. But next semester for sure. I get three days off in February for winter break and there should still be snow on the ground then.”

“Except you’ll be on your way to see Ian for those three days,” Harlow says before turning to me and adding in a faux whisper, “You’re never seeing your sister alone again, dude. You realize that, don’t you?”

I shrug. “That’s fine. Ian can come along, too, if he has time off. I don’t mind being the third wheel.”

“As long as they aren’t banging loudly on that fold-out bed,” Harlow says, making my stomach twist. I’m cool with my best friend dating my little sister, but not that cool.

Evie pinches Harlow’s arm again. “Stop! I would never do that. Ian and I keep it classy.” Her lips curve in a wicked grin. “And he’s really good about putting his hand over my mouth at just the right time.”

“Ew, woman, so much ew,” Harlow says, at the same time I gag and insist, “Too much information, Evie. Way too much.”

But she only laughs, a light, airy sound so full of joy I can’t stay grossed out for long. Evie and I both struggled when we were kids, after our mom left and Dad started drinking too much, but Evie definitely got the worst of it. She deserves every second of happiness she’s found with Ian and then some.

Still, I can’t help adding, “If Ian comes with us in February, we’ll book rooms in separate wings of the resort. I love Shufflebottoms’, don’t get me wrong, but those mid-century walls are way too thin.”

Harlow perks up, her spine straightening and her brows snapping together so fast I can’t help but laugh.

“What?” she asks.

“Nothing,” I say, motioning toward her face. “You just… You look like an angry emoji.”

“I’m not angry, I’m…” She clears her throat and lifts a hand into the air, her fingers spread wide. “You did not just say Shufflebottoms’.”

“I did.”

“Yeah, he did.” Evie leans forward to study Harlow’s still contorted features. “That’s where we always go for cross-country skiing. They have the best trails. You can go all the way into town for lunch at the yummy pizza place and back before dark if you get an early start. Why?”

“That’s…” Harlow presses a hand to her throat as her face slowly drains of all color. “That’s where we’re having our family reunion. It’s where my gram used to go with her parents every summer when she was a kid. We usually meet up in June, but we’re doing a winter thing this time. I’m leaving tomorrow.”