I hoist her up underneath her arms. Tori lets out a little squeak, then erupts into an embarrassed laugh as I carry her to my dining room table. “Put me down, Zaid.”

  “Never.”

  “Come on, I’m too heavy.” I move the closest chair and set her down on the dining table. I wiggle myself between her legs. She looks like someone killed her cat. Her soft jawline melts against my touch.

  “You’re not too heavy, Tori. You’re perfect. You’ve always been perfect. I’ve been dreaming about the moment I could finally please that sweet little pussy of yours all night long.” I unbutton my shirt and throw it on the sofa behind me. Tori’s fingers reach to my chest, a magnet to steel. I place my hands on hers. “You’re the smartest, sexiest, most goddamn beautiful woman I’ve ever met.” Her cool palms press against my pecks. She gives them a squeeze, then trails her fingertips down my stomach, over the patch of hair that leads to my belt. Her golden eyes lock in on mine as she fumbles with the buckle. Her lips find mine and immediately, my mind paints a picture: Tori with me every day, waking up to her, falling asleep to her, giving herself to me fully.

  She pulls away, eyes trickling down to my zipper. The tip of my dick pokes from the top of my boxers, already glistening in anticipation. Tori licks her lips and I about lose it, ready to release my seed all over her, right here and now. She slides the waistband of my boxers over my erection and slowly lowers her head. Her mouth is about to make contact when…

  The buzzer blares.

  Tori pulls her head up. “Are you expecting someone?”

  I shake my head, trying not to rage at the interruption. “Probably hit the wrong button.” Tori’s shoulders relax. She licks her raw, red lips and lowers her mouth to me again, but the buzzer rings a second time.

  “Fuck!” I say, pulling up my pants and heading over to the video monitor. I hit the button and the screen lights up. “What?” I call into the speaker.

  “Zaid?” The woman stands up straight, facing the camera. “You’re home!”

  “Don’t you have a key?”

  “I can’t find it.”

  “I’ll buzz you up.” I hit the button and scoop up Tori’s blouse from the floor.

  “Who is it?” Tori whispers, climbing off of the table, readjusting her skirt over her full hips.

  I run my hand through my hair. “It’s just Viv.”

  “Your sister?” Her voice raises an octave.

  “The one and only.” Her face turns beat red when I hand her the blouse, then snatch up my own shirt.

  “Why didn’t you tell me she was coming?”

  “Because I had no idea. I’m as surprised as you are.”

  “I cannot let her see me here.” Frantically, Tori tucks in her blouse, grabs her purse from the floor where she dropped it and heads toward the door. As soon as she opens it, she runs smack dab into Viv.

  “Oh my god! Tori, you’re here.” Viv wraps Tori up into a bear hug. “I thought I’d have to traipse all way the out to queens to—” Her face falls as soon as she catches sight of my fumbling fingers, frantically buttoning my shirt up. “What the hell’s going on?”

  A million excuses flip through my mind, but before I land on one, my baby sister narrows her eyes on a tiny pile of fabric. They widen when she realizes what they are: Tori’s panties, still laying next to the front door where I ripped them off of her.

  7

  Tori

  The look of horror on Viv’s face turns to pure rage. I want to tell her it meant nothing, that we both got caught up in the sexual tension between us and that I don’t have feelings for her brother.

  But that would be a lie.

  “Your lipstick’s smeared.” She narrows her eyes at me. I rub the side of my cheek, hoping to wipe it away. She throws her bag into Zaid’s apartment, turns on her heels, and marches back toward the elevator.

  “Viv, wait!” I run after her, nearly twisting my ankle. She stabs the elevator call button. “Viv?” She won’t even look at me. “Vivian?” I reach for her wrist. Viv pulls away at my touch and thrusts her finger in my face.

  “You promised, Tori. And worse than that, you fucking lied.”

  My heart falls into my shoes. “I know, I did. And I’m sorry, it’s just—”

  “Oh, you can’t resist my suddenly hot brother after years of completely ignoring him?” The elevator dings, double doors opening. “I thought you were smarter than that.” I follow her into the car just as the doors close, trapping together for ten floors. My hands jut to my hips. “Smarter than what?”

  Her humorless laugh turns my stomach. “He’s a player, Tori. Ever since he reinvented himself,” she uses air quotes, “he’s with a different woman constantly.”

  I try to stay still. Truth is that he’s definitely hot enough to fit the profile, but he doesn’t seem like the jerk-ish player type. “How do you know that?”

  “Because he tells me. Hell, Tori, he tells everyone. It’s like he’s making up for lost time. I just really thought you’d be smart enough not to fall for it.” The elevator rights itself as it hits the lobby. When the doors open, Viv’s a bat out of hell, but I’m hot on her heels.

  “What are you even doing here, anyway?”

  “I was going to surprise you so we could hang out this weekend. You’d been talking about how lonely you were, so I thought I’d come and keep you company.” Again, she shrugs my hand off of her shoulder. “It hardly looks like you need it.”

  “Why wouldn’t you just come to my place? Why Zaid’s?”

  “I don’t know where you live, asshole. And I didn’t want to spoil the surprise.” She shakes her long blonde hair. “No, don’t turn this around on me. I’m the one who caught you with my brother.”

  Vivian pushes the building’s front door open. Summer heat assaults both of us, radiating off of the steamy pavement. Viv picks up her pace.

  “Will you just wait for a second so I can explain?” I call to her, and to my surprise she actually stops, turns to face me, and crosses her arms over her chest.

  “You have sixty-seconds.”

  My brain races, trying desperately to compartmentalize what I can say in less than a minute to right this situation. Viv presses her lips into a thin line and raises her eyebrows. What can I say? That I think I fell for her brother? That he’s my boss and that may have added to the excitement of an already taboo situation? Or that I have genuine feelings for him, and that being with him actually makes me feel good about myself?

  That last part flutters my heart, and I know it’s the right answer. But can I tell her that? Especially knowing that what I’m feeling might not even be real. Instead, it could be an act from a newfound player, making up for lost time.

  “Well?” Viv prompts.

  My arms slap my sides; I’m more confused than ever. “I don’t know.”

  “You’re supposed to be my friend. And friends don’t break promises.”

  “Viv—”

  “No,” she says over her shoulder, already booking it down the street. “Stop talking and do not follow me.” The humid air catches her hair as she sprints across Eighth Avenue. Instantly she blends into the street traffic, but I watch her until she’s completely out of sight.

  I feel sick, shaky, and weak. I look down, and my shirt is still untucked. With a sigh, I shove the hem back into my skirt. I have every intention of heading back to Zaid’s, but my feet won’t move. What if Viv’s right? What if he’s just this reformed dork turned player who’s racking up as many notches on his bedpost as he can?

  That doesn’t seem like Zaid, but my second thought socks me in the gut. I don’t even know Zaid. Not really, not now. His intentions seem sincere, but what if they aren’t? What if Viv made me make that promise to protect me?

  I wipe the tear streaming down my cheek, feeling like an idiot for crying on the street. Then I hoist my purse strap over my shoulder, trying to remember where the subway is from here. Thank God I’ve got my phone. It’s a ten-minute walk, and by the time I get to the train, my head feels slightly less foggy.

  I would never give up my best friend for Zaid. No matter how fast I’m falling for him, or how amazing and confident he makes me feel. I made a promise to Viv, and it's up to me to do everything I can to make things right.

  8

  Zaid

  When the sun dips below the Hudson, I officially give up hope on Tori coming back to my apartment. Viv returns just after sunset to find me out on my patio, drinking a cold beer. She slides the door open and marches out to join me. “Got another one of those?” She asks, and I tilt my head toward the fridge back inside.

  When she returns, this time with beer in hand, she plops down on the lounger next to mine. For a while, we both stare out at the twinkling lights beaming off the water.

  “Where’d you go?” I ask.

  “Walked around.” She says, bringing the bottle to her lips. “You suck for this, Zaid. Why Tori? Seriously, dude. This is the second friend of mine you’ve swept out from underneath me.”

  “Vivian, I did not sweep anybody up.”

  “Then what would you call it?”

  “I barely dated Alicia.”

  “Exactly! According to her, you just humped and dumped her.” A long sigh fills the silence between us. “I cannot lose another friend because of some stupid sexual revolution you’re having.” She clips her words to stress her point. Vivian and I have never exactly been close. The five-year age gap has a lot to do with that, but she’s still my sister. And lying catches up with everyone, eventually.

  “I haven’t dated that many people.”

  Viv laughs and takes a long swig of her beer. “Like I believe you. It’s all you talk about.”

  I scrunch my face up, mirroring the clench in my gut. “Viv, I’ve been lying to you. I haven’t dated anyone since Alicia. I only dated a couple of people before her.”

  Her legs fly off the lounger, feet planted on the decking. “You’re serious?” I nod my head and take a swig of my beer. “Why the hell would you lie about that? It’s like you wanted to look like a jerk.”

  “I wanted to look like I’d changed. That I’d become someone to reckon with. The guy who has it all.” I look my baby sister dead in her face. “But I don’t have it all, Viv. Not without Tori.”

  “Excuse me?” She cocks her blonde head, wiggling her neck in my direction.

  “Tori isn’t Alicia, Viv. I’ve been in love with her since…” Viv’s eyes narrow, hanging on my every word. “Well, for a long time. Alicia and I went out on like three dates. I felt nothing, so I broke it off.”

  “And she still doesn’t talk to me because of it.”

  “Vivian.” I mirror my sister, planting my feet solidly on the ground. “Do you think Tori would ever stop talking to you? You two are like sisters.” Vivian lugs her beer, wipes her mouth with the back of her hand, and looks back out onto the river.

  “No, I guess not. But I’d die if she wasn’t in my life anymore.”

  “Little sister, I feel the exact same way.” Viv’s eyes glaze over, and she twists her lips the same way she has since we were little. “And I promise you—”

  “Pssht, promises—”

  “That if it came down to it, Tori would choose you over me any day of the week.” This realization hits me like a slug to the chest. I love Tori that much, that I’d let her go to save their relationship. “But hopefully, it will never come to that.”

  “Wait… you love Tori?” Viv’s jaw unhinges. “Are you being serious?”

  “I’ve never been more serious about anything. But if this is going to work, we will need your blessing.” Viv’s silence frightens me. After what feels like an eternity, she throws her hand out in my direction.

  “You’ve got my blessing.” I can’t hide my smile as I reach for her hand, but she pulls it away last minute, leaving me gripping the air. “If you promise to be good to her, and if things don’t work out, you let her down easy.”

  “Vivian, I can’t imagine things not working out.”

  “Oh my God, you’re going to marry my best friend?” Vivian scrunches up her face, and it strikes me so funny that I burst out laughing.

  “One step at a time.” I set my beer down and stand, calculating where to go from here. One step at a time.

  9

  Tori

  I’ve never felt lonelier in my whole life. I shove another handful of dark chocolate chips, straight from the package, into my mouth. My roommates are all gone, my job’s probably in jeopardy now, and my best friend hates my guts. Things can’t get much worse, and the biggest problem is that I could’ve prevented this by going to Viv the second I started developing feelings for Zaid. The episode I’m watching on Netflix ends, and I immediately click, “play next,” on my laptop. The only thing keeping me sane right now is hanging out with Friends at Central Perk.

  My phone rests on my belly, rising and falling as I lounge on my bed. Is it so bad to want it all? A good job, a hot boyfriend, and a best friend who understands? I guess for me; it is. I reach for my glass of Pinot Grigio stationed on my nightstand only to find that it’s empty. “And I’m out of wine,” I moan and crawl out of bed.

  With no one home, and my air conditioner—an ancient model left by the former tenant—in less than stable condition, I figure it’s safe to wear a big t-shirt and panties. Still, I peer my head out from my room and look both ways, just in case. When I know the coast is clear, I head for the fridge. The cool air from the open door feels so good, I rest my forehead on my arm, perched against the freezer door.

  All of this will blow over. I will apologize to Viv until she can’t stand it anymore and has to forgive me. Then, I’ll find a job somewhere else and forget all about Zaid. In a city of nearly nine million people, the chances of me running into him on a whim are slim to none. The white wine glugs in my glass. I fill it a wee bit too much, minimizing the time needed for another refill. I shove the cork back in, close the fridge and proceed through the living room but I’m stopped by the sound of my buzzer.

  “Who the hell?” I immediately feel more naked than I actually am. I set my glass down on the makeshift entry way table and press down the talk button on the buzzer. “Hello?” No one responds. Instead, I’m meet with the unmistakable buzzing of the door being unlocked.

  It must’ve been a mistake. They hit the wrong buzzer; It happens all the time. I take a step back from the door and grab my glass. I don’t make it two steps before there’s a knock on my front door. I slap my hand against my mouth to suppress a gasp. Holding my body perfectly still, I pray that if I don’t move, they’ll just go away.

  Knock, knock, knock!

  Shit.

  I take a cautious step toward the door, my bare feet tiptoeing against the hardwood. My palm rests on the door, and I press my mouth against the space between the door and the frame. “Who is it?”

  “Tori, open up.” At first I’m taken aback at someone knowing my name. Until I realize who that voice belongs to.

  “Zaid?”

  “Who else would it be?” The jealousy lining his tone is palpable. “Open the door.”

  I look around the room for something to cover up with, deciding quickly on the blanket draped on the back of the sofa. I set down my wine, wrap the blanket around my waist like a sarong, smooth down my hair, and open the door.

  Zaid looks dreamier than ever. He’s in a gray V-neck t-shirt and destroyed jeans. His hair’s come free, mussed and trickling down into one green eye. My center erupts in flames. “What are you doing all the way out in Queens?”

  “Can I come in?” He asks, but doesn’t wait for an answer.

  “Sure,” I say as he brushes past me. His close vicinity sends chills all over my body. My brain flashes back to where we were a few hours ago, and I cross my legs for a bit of friction to relieve this constant ache that appears when Zaid is around. “But I don’t know if you can stay. Viv’s pretty pissed at me, and honestly it’s all my fault.”

  “It’s not your fault, Tori.” He reaches for my hand but I pull away before he makes contact.

  “No, Zaid, it is. I promised her I wouldn’t get involved with you and I broke that promise. Besides, she told me about all of your… women.”

  “You’re not the only one who’s been lying, Tori. There hasn’t been any other women. There’s never been any other woman but you.” His green eyes sparkle in the low light of my apartment. “Ever.” It’s easy to see that he’s telling the truth. My chest loosens. “And more important, Viv is okay with us.”

  “What?” I suddenly wish I had a bra on. There’s no doubt my nipples are poking through my thin, white t-shirt. “How?”

  Zaid takes a step toward me and this time, I let him take my hand. His eyes, low and serious, penetrate me with their warmth. “Because I told her how much I love you.”

  Say what? “You said that?” My voice cracks from pure shock. “And you meant it?”

  Zaid wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me close. He presses his mouth against mine, gentle yet urgent. I melt into him, surrendering myself completely. “Tori, I’ve loved you for years. And it’s time everyone knew. Especially you.” He traces a line down my cheek.

  “I think—,” I can’t believe the words coming out of my mouth. “If it really is okay with Viv, that I might be in love with you, too.”

  He smiles down at me and raises one bushy eyebrow. “You think?”

 

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