Something's bugging me...

My gaze took in the contours of my little sister's body as she moved in the tight confines of the van. The club dress she was wearing was frankly way too short for the chill morning, and the small slits up the side displayed a bit of gooseflesh. For a moment, I had a flash to the last time I had a cold woman needing warmth in this van. That would have been YESTERDAY, my mind reminded me. As she sat, my gaze traveled along the slit, leading to her creamy thigh. Just thinking about kissing along it... SHIT! Gotta remember, it's just a fucking fantasy!

"Well, uh, First off, this is Charlotte." I pointed to Charlotte with a free hand while observing Imogene in the back seat. She had buckled in, but was eyeing me with a confused gaze. I fought the urge to ogle my sister, and instead merely busied myself starting the car. What the HELL had gotten into me? It had to be all of Charlotte's dirty talk. I'd get home, relax, talk to Kaila, and if she was still pissed, I'd talk to Helen. Crap. Too much stress and things to keep track of. I can do this, just focus on the drive. Watch the sides of the road, make sure there's no boxes...

"Hey! Brent has told me a lot about you." Charlotte reached her hand back, my half unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt gaping open to reveal her décolletage perfectly accented by the bikini top. "Imogene, right?"

Imogene leaned forward slightly, her expression unchanging as she took Charlotte's hand. Her face took on a slightly quizzical expression, as I saw her eyes drift to the mirror, trying to catch my gaze. The same colored eyes as my own stared at me intently, willing me to pay attention to her. When I finally did they opened widely in an motion that demanded an answer to the unspoken question of "What the fuck, Brent?"

"Yeah, Hi. So where were you?" Imogene responded, not taking notice of Charlotte in the least. I was about to tell her not to be rude to my friends, but I shouldn't have bothered, as Charlotte seemed more than capable of taking the lead on this. No stress, then, I thought to myself. She knows what she's doing. Just remember to listen to her... breathe.

A soft scent of dust and cool morning air wafted through my nostrils. Oh crap, not now... Gotta keep things cool. Don't focus on that, remember where you are, you're going back to the cabin... You're in California, you're not... you're not there.

"Last night? You really want to know?" Charlotte smiled broadly, turning to look at me. She had clearly noticed the dismissive attitude of my sister.

"I was on vacation with Kaila, Sis. Remember, I told you last week," I replied quickly, trying to ensure that the situation was defused. Talking to my sister, right, that's what I'm doing, that's where I am. Much as I liked Charlotte's honestly, it was something I knew Imogene wouldn't respond well to. Just the bare facts, no details. I was already on the edge, and anything more... "Charlotte and her girlfriend are sharing the cabin with us." I amended, telling the technical truth.

"Oh, the Cabin?" Imogene began firing off the next part quickly and apologetically. Oh, I'd heard this one before. She'd planned this apology out, and I was expected to take it, say all was forgiven, and help out. My sister liked to rehearse her speeches before they happened. Time and time again when we were growing up I'd catch her in front of a mirror working on one particular part of her facial expression. When she got her first smartphone, she was absolutely taking selfies before they were cool.

"I'm so sorry, about that, I'm such an idiot, Brent. I totally forgot about that. I just, it's all Becky's fault," Imogene punctuated the last with a theatrical sigh "She told me she would park the car, and by the time I got done at the club..." She trailed off as I continued on the main street. "Uh, don't we turn left to get to the courthouse?" She added the last looking over her shoulder at the road we had just passed.

"We're going to get lunch, because we missed breakfast getting up here." Charlotte piped up. "What are you thinking, Brent? I'm thinking just burgers or something."

Imogene's expression became somewhat more frustrated at the response.

"Oh, well, can you just drop me at the courthouse with the money then?" Imogene asked hopefully, before I had a chance to respond, "Or are you going to just drop me at the apartment? Brent, if I'm going to your apartment, I need my car! You're not going to be there!"