Thirteen
Rosslyn
Once Sebastian left the room, I let myself relax. It wasn’t that he scared me, but he made me physically aware of myself and of him. The way my body responded to him was something I wasn’t accustomed to.
My nipple ached, stinging from his attention, and between my legs was soaked. Every part of me was hyper-sensitive. When I picked up my towel and rubbed it across my body, a tiny gasp escaped me.
I was alone. I’d listened carefully as the elevator opened and closed, assuring me Sebastian was gone. So I let my hands slowly drop down my body, my palms rubbing across my hard nipples and weaving sensation into my lower stomach.
It wasn’t going to be long before I was begging him for everything he had to offer, but the whole being paid thing was really messing me up. Not to mention, I hated it that he called me Jessica.
Who the hell was this Jessica, anyway?
How could I get into anything sexual with him, knowing he didn’t even want to know me? It all felt so wrong, but oh so right at the same time. It was confusing.
Not long after I dressed, Kyle stepped off the elevator. I could tell right away something was bothering him.
He tossed his bag onto the floor in the corner and went to the kitchen for the food that was there when we moved in. Teenage boys ate more than grown men.
Reaching down, I plucked his heavy bag from the floor and moved it to the table so he could start his homework once he was done with his after school snack. A white envelope fell out of the side pocket and landed at my feet.
“What’s this?” I asked, sliding my finger into the envelope and popping it open.
“It’s an invitation to an art program that’s going on this summer,” he shrugged. “It’s not a big deal.” His mouth was full of potato chips, and his voice was muffled.
My eyes scanned the letter. The art program was distinguished—as in, only thirty students in the entire state of New York were invited each year. And yet, my little brother managed to be one of them.
“Looks like a pretty big deal to me. Since when are you into art?” I asked, holding up the letter.
“Since always, I just kind of always kept it to myself. Then Mrs. Gelding, my art teacher, busted me drawing in my notebook. She’s the one who sent my work off to the program coordinators.”
I was flabbergasted. I thought I knew everything there was to know about my little brother… guess I was wrong. “Can I see your work?”
He pulled out a manila folder from his book bag and handed it over. Flipping through the art, drawings of New York City looked back at me. Lines drawn to perfection, and shadings in all the right places, formed an exact representation of the city. It was beautiful—more than beautiful.
As I flipped, I came across a picture which made my heart sink. There was Gran smiling back at me, wrinkles filling her face with happiness. It was a perfect likeness—exactly as I remembered her.
“There’s one of you, too.” Kyle mentioned at my side.
I hadn’t known he was watching me and quickly swiped at the tear forming on my bottom lashes. I ran my fingers across the next drawing. It was me, and it was like looking in the mirror. Lines were etched into my frown, and my eyes were full of sadness.
Sliding the art back into the folder, I handed it over to him.
“These are amazing, Kyle. I can’t… I don’t know what to say. You’re simply amazing. You have to go. No, you’re going.”
And I meant it. It would be a lonely summer, but it was honor to be invited to such a place and with his talent, he had to go. Not to mention, with everything I had going on around me with Sebastian and the new place, maybe Kyle being tucked away somewhere wasn’t a bad idea.
“I can’t,” he said sternly, tucking his folder back into his bag.
“Why not? I think it’s a great idea, Kyle. You could be the next big thing in the art world.”
He laughed and shook his head, his floppy hair falling into his eyes. “I’d like to, but it’s kind of expensive.” He shrugged. “Like I said, it’s no big deal.”
And then, I knew. Kyle wanted to go—he wanted to go bad, but like he was always doing, he blew it off so I didn’t get stressed out. Well, no more. It was time my little brother got something he wanted for once.
“How much?” I asked.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“How much, Kyle?”
He smiled sheepishly before giving in. “Five thousand for the summer,” he answered.
I swallowed hard, trying to push down the lump stuck in my throat. It wasn’t going to happen. It wasn’t like five thousand dollars was just going to land at my feet, and as much as I loved my brother, there was no way in the world I was going to ask Sebastian for it.