Page 1 of No Take Backs
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NIA
“When was the last time you had sex? I mean actual sex, involving another person and not one of those fancy-ass vibrators you constantly send me links to check out. Real sex. Where you start clothed and end up naked with your legs behind your head and an orgasm that makes it so you can’t walk for an hour after because you can’t stand up.”
Intentionally ignoring the annoying voice in my ear that refuses to shut up about the lack of sex in my life, I suck down most of the juice pouch I’m holding in one gulp, relishing the burn of the hidden adult beverage as it hits my stomach.
The only good thing about being stuck in the over-the-top and ridiculous roller rink in the middle of the day for my niece is the vodka and cranberry juice that I smuggled in after I cut open some juice pouches, poured the mixed drink in, and then sealed them with my hair straightener.
Yeah, I knew what I was doing so that I wouldn’t get caught or kicked out for refusing to spend money on overpriced alcohol.
If it wasn’t for that, I would have ditched my annoying sister and my niece and run for the hills. Or back to Birch Harbor. Whichever option popped up first.
At least I don’t have to drive myself home.
“Virginia Davidson,” the irate voice snaps from in front of me. “Are you listening to me?”
I open my eyes, tiny yellow straw in my mouth, and blink innocently at my sister. “Nope.” I go back to slurping my almost-empty juice pouch. “What do you want? Or what were you talking about?”
My older sister, Ella, the devil who convinced me to go with her and my niece, Lyla, to a party where I’m stuck sitting around a table surrounded by the other adults present, stares at me expectantly. With a dramatic sigh, I put down the drink and wait for her to repeat whatever it is that she said in the first place.
“I asked if you wanted me to set you up with the new guy at work and then gave you shit because you were ignoring me and asked when the last time you got laid was.” She raises one blond eyebrow and waits for an answer.
When I don’t immediately give her one, she huffs and then flips the curls she probably spent all morning on over her shoulder.
“You know you’re not getting any younger. If you want to have a family, you should start on it sooner rather than later, at least that’s what Mom would say if she were here right now.” She rolls her eyes. “I think you just need to loosen up and maybe let someone tickle your itch. You don’t need forever, maybe just a ‘for now’ type of thing. Clear out the cobwebs.”
I haven’t had enough to drink to deal with her nosiness, and I sure as hell don’t want to talk about it in the middle of a public space. Where my niece or any number of random people can hear what we’re talking about.
With narrowed eyes, I study her and the way she fidgets under my scrutiny.
“You asshole,” I finally say. “You really fell into Mom and Dad’s whole narrow view of wanting to marry me off, didn’t you?”
She flushes, and I know I’ve caught her. Even if she tried to cover it up, I see straight through her.
Just like our parents, she’s ready for me to settle down. Never mind the fact that I’m not ready. I haven’t even lived. I’m not ready to settle down and live a domestic life.
“I’m not old,” I snap. Then, just for good measure, I grab my drink pouch and finish it off with a little slurp and burp. “I’m not even twenty-five yet. I literally just finished my degree and started my job. I’m not you, Cinderella. I didn’t find the love of my life at eighteen and have a baby girl at twenty. And it’s not a bad thing that you did. I’m just not you. I want to live my life and enjoy the freedom that I have. I want to explore a little bit.”
“Try telling that to our parents.” She props her head up with her hand, resting her elbow on the table we’ve been sitting at for an hour. “They equate happiness with marriage and babies. I don’t even think you should settle down, personally. You’re wild and free and like a hurricane about to hit land. You’d wither up and die like a rose bush in winter if you had to force yourself into this life.”
“I’m just not ready,” I tell her, agreeing with her sentiment. “I’ll handle our parents. Again. But I need my big sister to have my back. Because this…” I trail off and motion around us. “This isn’t my every day.”
“You’ve got it.” Ella winks. “Now that the requisite guilt trip has been repaid and you’ve got a plan to get our parents off your back, we can move on.”
Reaching into my purse, I pull out two more drink pouches. “Want one?”
She holds out her hand, suspiciously staring at the watermelon-flavored container. “Why does this look different than it should?”
I pop my straw into mine and slurp loudly before answering her. “Because I found this video online to make adult ones with a hack. Just try it.”
She follows suit and then gasps, choking after taking too big of a gulp. “Nia, what the hell?”
“I told you.” Snickering, I set my drink on the table. “Adult drinks.”
“I didn’t think you meant vodka,” she hisses. “I have to drive. I can’t have this.”
“More for me.” I hold out my hand. “You said this would be fun. Not us sitting here for hours while Lyla ditched us for her friends.”