Solace - S01 E07

Story 1 year ago

Solace - S01 E07

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 7

Remember how all of this started because Mom’s friends thought she needed to get out there and start dating again? Yeah. It’s not like she could tell them what the two of us were up to, and they weren’t going to give up after just one or two bad nights. They’d been trying to get Mom to go out again ever since the first time, and eventually she couldn’t keep saying “no” without it impacting her friendships.

So once again it was Saturday night and Cora and I were home alone. Mom, I was now prepared to fully admit, was a total smokeshow in a tight red dress and alluring face of makeup. She caught me staring at her ample cleavage as she was walking out the door, for which I was rewarded with her patented million-dollar smile. But then she was gone and it was just my sister and me.

Cora took the opportunity to go all-in on a lazy night at home with her brother. The door had barely closed before she was ordering us Chinese food and asking what kind of movie I wanted to watch with her. Flouncing around the house in just grey sweatpants and a midriff-exposing white camisole I had to admit the apple hadn’t fallen far from the tree in terms of sex appeal. A weird thing to think about your own sister, but I guess being sexual with Mom had rewired something in my brain.

My sister chattered away about anything and everything over her lo mein, and it felt like we were connecting in a really meaningful way. The conversation was easy and engaging. We cracked jokes at each other and laughed together like we used to forever ago. Before the accident. Before our wolds fell apart.

When it finally came time to sit down for that movie I was surprised that Cora didn’t push too hard for one of her usual shitty romcoms. Instead we watched an equally shitty action-thriller. We sat together on the couch and within minutes Cora had her head resting on my shoulder. She smelled like citrus and youth. It was intoxicating. We treated ourselves to a bottle of wine (I’m a bad influence, I know!) and had a great time mocking the terrible acting and even worse special effects. Things just flowed between us in a way I had become unaccustomed to.

With some of the old verve back in her eyes, I found myself staring at my sister’s profile. She was an incredibly pretty girl, with delicate features and perfect skin. An incredibly pretty woman, I had to remind myself as something on the screen caused her to inhale sharply and sent her breasts quivering. In that moment I was reminded I wasn’t alone, that despite all the bad things that had happened I still had people I loved and who loved me.

Cora looked up at me, her gaze questioning. I let myself get lost in it for a heartbeat. She had caught me staring at her, but somehow I wasn’t embarrassed. “I love you Cora.” The words slipped out unbidden. My sister’s face turned a bright crimson and her eyes bulged.

“Stop it!” she said, smacking my arm playfully. She glanced away from me, but I could see the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

“No, seriously, I mean it!” I replied, “I love you. I know things have been hard for us since Dad passed. I know I’ve struggled a ton, and I haven’t always been the best company. But I wouldn’t have made it through all that without you. Without nights like this. So thank you. I know I don’t say it enough, but you mean the world to me.”

Cora leaned her head into my chest. The wetness in her eyes told me she was unprepared for this genuine outpouring of feeling. Hell, I was unprepared for it too, but there it was.

“I love you too, Kevin” she said quietly, nuzzling my chest and wrapping an arm around my shoulder. There was nothing more to say. We sat in silence for the final half hour of the movie just enjoying the quiet comfort of the moment.

Once it was done we stayed like that on the couch until the bottle of wine was finished. I could have sat with my sister forever, and the satisfied sighs she periodically let out told me she felt the same. Few words were exchanged. That was also fine with me. Cora’s body felt so small in my arms, but it’s warmth told me she was there, and safe, and that made me happy. Midnight rolled around and as if by agreement we slowly moved to clean everything up. Mom still wasn’t home; the flash of jealousy I felt at that was the only thing to mar an otherwise perfect night. Once leftovers were put away and the wine-bottle thrown in the recycling we headed together to my room. Cora collapsed into the armchair without a word. Curling up on her side she watched me as I stripped down to my boxers and climbed into bed.

“I’m so glad you’re my older brother.” She said into the darkness.

“So am I.” I said. I don’t know how long she lay there watching, but as soon as I heard her breathing enter the telltale rhythm of sleep I too closed my eyes and felt my entire body relax.

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