“I have to make a few trips to Home Depot. Thanks for the invite, but maybe it’s best if we just remain business partners.” I concluded after taking a few seconds to calm down. “Tell your family that if they fuck Logan, they deserve him!”
Without waiting for him to pull himself together, I walked through the door and got into my Jeep.
When I entered my apartment, I found Ava sitting on the couch alone. Mia had gone home already, so she got comfortable with a bucket of ice cream, wearing a way too big and worn out sweatshirt with faded sweatpants. Everything about her appearance said she was planning on having a relaxing night in, which confused me for a moment. When she saw me, she instantly jumped off the couch to practically throw herself at me.
“You’re back!” she beamed after giving me a kiss that would be more appropriate from a girlfriend than from my sister. Even if I was fucking my sister.
Being greeted so happily, right after John’s reminder of how none of them wanted me, did a great job in raising my spirits. I found myself smiling as I wrapped my arms around her, squeezed her ass, and returned her kiss. Going by the increase in strength of her hold on me, and the soft contented moan she let slip out, it seemed to please her.
“I see you’re all set to enjoy a relaxing evening?” I finally commented with her body still pressed into mine, eyeing the bucket of ice cream.
“When school’s out, I like to use the first few days to refuel.” she giggled. “Why? You have something planned for us? Or do you wanna join me?” I felt my smile widen when she looked genuinely hopeful about me spending the evening with her.
“No, sorry. I’ve gotta get changed and make a trip to Home Depot. Promised someone I’d help him fix up his place. But I thought you would go out tonight?”
“Huh?” Now she looked genuinely confused. “Why would I go out?”
“John told me. They’re having one of their get-togethers.” I said, finally releasing my hold on her and moving towards my bedroom. “With Logan back from college and the grandparents still in town, it’s a rare opportunity.”
“Oh! No, I’m really not interested.” she replied casually, before her voice dropped to a suggestive tone. “I already told you, you’re the only one who gets to pound this little pussy of mine.”
That almost made me stumble as I missed a step.
“And besides.” she continued, casually again. “Dad still hasn’t apologized, and Logan’s still an asshole. So I’d rather spend my time on the couch with the brother I love and that actually cares about me. And takes care of me.”
She added that last part with another sultry look. Though, the beginning of her sentence had me thinking about something else as I entered my closet and got rid of my clothes.
“Well, I understand that Aaron isn’t invited until he makes amends for the crap he pulled on you, and Logan can’t participate unless he treats everyone with due respect. And Claire’s already been there since yesterday, so, if you wanted to go, I’m sure she would keep an eye on Logan and make sure you’d have fun.” I called over my shoulder as I pulled on my worn out work clothes that I had also used when renovating my own apartment.
I didn’t even register how there was no reply from her, until I came out of my closet and saw Ava sitting on my bed looking rather alarmed for some reason.
“What?” I asked, after noticing her expression.
“You’re mad that Mom went.” she said softly, but with concern in her voice.
“Why would I be mad?”
“If you’re not, why did you call her ‘Claire’ instead of ‘Mom’ just now?”
That made me stop dead in my tracks.
I hadn’t even noticed that I did that. I also never realized, until that moment, that I had not only called her ‘Mom’ since the day of my first P.T. session, but even thought of her as my mom since we had that talk about Tess. And now she was back to being ‘Claire’.
I sat on the bed next to Ava, who immediately reached for my hand to hold it, and leaned into me.
“I guess I am a little annoyed that she’s taking part in it.” I lied. I wasn’t just annoyed, I was pissed. But it was clear she knew that already.
That bullshit John had just thrown at me, about how this is their way to show their love for each other, must have played a bigger part in my current opinion of my mother than I had thought. Though, I didn’t think I should tell Ava about that conversation with her uncle. It would just cause more unnecessary tension.
She started wringing her hands while keeping her eyes fixed to the floor, before she took a deep breath. “I don’t think she’s taking part in anything.”
“What do you mean?” I eyed her suspiciously. “John also told me she wasn’t in the mood, but I have to admit ... I find it hard to believe that she would spend two days in his house, watching them all go at it, and never join in on the fun.”
Ava sighed as her shoulders slumped a little. It looked like she was surrendering to her fate or something.
“Look ... I didn’t want to point that out because I was scared that you’ll think I’m trying to influence you ... but that’s exactly what Mom’s doing. She watches them have fun, but doesn’t join in.”
“Why not?”
“It’s her punishment.” Her voice was dire and full of regret when she said that.
“Sorry, what!?” I couldn’t believe what I heard.
“She refuses to do anything, unless you’re involved and willing.” she nodded. “Remember the day of your first P.T. session? She didn’t even try to get something out of that for herself. She called me into the room to take care of you, but she herself was happy to just hold you.”
“And what if it’ll take me quite a while before I’m willing to do anything with her?”
“Then, I think, she’ll be going without for however long it’ll take you.”
“I would’ve thought ... with you two sharing a bedroom...” I said, and Ava started chuckling.
“Oh, no! Mom doesn’t swing that way. Maggie and I enjoy it. Danny will join us on special occasions, like you saw on my birthday, but she doesn’t get anything out of it. Mom is completely straight.”
I could only shake my head as I stared at Ava. Though, once my mind started wrapping itself around the idea, I realized John’s bitterness might’ve been about something other than Mom’s refusal to fuck him. It may have been on his sister’s behalf, as he feared for her happiness.
“How in the world did she come up with that?” I finally asked.
“We spent years enjoying ourselves while excluding you, so now she makes her satisfaction dependent on yours.” Ava shrugged. “Honestly ... I kinda understand her. I’m doing the same thing after all.”
“I mean...” I sighed. “I don’t understand it, honestly. I really meant it when I told you that you’re free to join them. What’s wrong with this family will not be fixed as long as we continue excluding people just to please someone else, so I will never ask you to do that. That’s what caused this whole mess in the first place. I know all that. But, the thought of them fucking Logan, after everything he did ... it just pisses me off!”
“Of course it does! You’re not asking Mom and me to exclude him, and we’re not doing it to please you.” she reassured me, but quickly backpaddled, just like I did in my conversation with John. “Okay, we are partially doing it to please you, since we are feeling guilty for what we did to you. But I want to be only with you because ... well, because I feel like you’re the only guy who’s worth it. And Mom wants to be only with you because she wants to make up for the past. But even without that, what Logan did proves that he only sees us all as readily available pussy, not as family, and letting him have us will only encourage that.”