Bilateral Talks

Chapter 104

"That was a stupid idea," you grumble and lean stubborn over the steering wheel. You always make sure to keep the car at least ten mp/h below the speed limit and take every curve as carefully as if you were defusing a bomb. There are just too many people in your car and you keep thinking that it is time for something bigger. Maureen, Rachel, and Carrie are huddled in the back seat, balancing Susan on her knees, who is a little embarrassed. Carrie almost impaled you with her eyes when she saw the interior of your car, although you couldn't blame her. To your surprise, it was Karen who, with the smiling permission of Maureen, sat down next to you in the passenger seat and now wraps her arms around Claire. The younger girl keeps looking at you, but doesn't dare to say anything so as not to disturb you. Karen thinks it exactly like that which hurts your stomach a bit. You didn't treat her very well before, you were worried about the McKinleys and the shock of the discussion while the meal sticks in your mind too. Maureen worked wonders and the first thing you did was set your rearview mirror so that you can watch her while you drive feverishly around bends and do everything you can to deliver your valuable cargo. "I'm not a damn Mando" you mumble, but you have to grin when you see your oldest sister in the rearview mirror. The evening left its mark on her too, but unlike you, she seems to be happy. Satisfied, you watch how she keeps closing her eyes or staring dreamily out the window into the night. The corners of your mouth pull up as you see how satisfied she looks. On the radio there is soft music that none of you pay attention to and nobody else speaks a lot of words. You would do something about the silence that you would classify as atypical for the girls, but you want to concentrate. Rachel finally does you a favor to fill the silence with her soft voice, which seems a bit rough due to the disco.

“I had a lot of fun today,” she says and sounds a little defiant. She looks around the interior and examines the different faces. Then she shrugs. "At least one of us."

“Was it that bad?” you ask, clenching your teeth at your carelessness. But you also want your girls' friends to be fine. Rachel laughs.

"Not for me." She holds up her cell phone and shows a number on it. You grin at her but keep your eyes on the street.

"The lucky guy. Is it true that your new acquaintance is friends with John?” Rachel nods her head and talks about her evening.

"I have to admit that he was brave to speak to me like that." Her eyes hit the back of your head. "I like brave men."

"To speak to such a pretty girl in a disco... That's heroism," you grin, but mean it. You also had to take all your courage to speak to your girlfriend at the time. Now it's different and you need your courage to despise yourself in order to offer your girls a good future. Sometimes you can't and then thoughts of Millie and her life come back. You shake violently. Not now. Focus on driving and what Maureen said! "It must have been overwhelming for him to dance with you."

"Oh, you said that sweetly Lynchwood," laughs Rachel kindly. "You're good at words." Next to you, Karen winces slightly under Claire.

"Most of the time" you just mean. "Not always." Rachel makes a derogatory gesture and Maureen shakes her head too.

"My little brother likes to downplay his skills," she comments on the conversation.

"I only have my abilities because of you."

"Another cute sentence Finn my buddy," Rachel grins with her fingers on her lips. Maureen proves that the talent does not only come to you when she turns to the group.

“I thought it was rather sweet of you… um… to give so much space tonight. Thank you guys, and so do Megan, Millie, Emma and Denise.” Maureen does a pretty good job even with her hands clenching the hem of her dress. She breathes a sigh of relief when her thanks are well received. Thank you for allowing us to spend a whole day having a continuous orgy and for avoiding us.

"Our pleasure" laughs Rachel and nobody escapes that Carrie is staying out of it. The McKinleys do that too, so you don't think much of it. Then Rachel does something very nice and integrates Maureen more into the friend's group. "How was your evening?" While Maureen giggles a little nervously, you grip the steering wheel tighter.

"Oh you know..." your sister mumbles and looks at you through the mirror. Just what Rachel has been waiting for.

“Oh how interesting. What did you talk about? Tell us everything!” She leans past Susan to your sister who is sweating under the gaze of Rachel.

"We didn't talk a lot," Maureen tries to pull herself out of the affair, but you already know Rachel enough to know that that doesn't put her off.

"Uuuuuuh" she whispers excitedly. “So you didn't have much time to talk? Did you have your mouth full?"

"Come on Rachel," you grin. "We just ate."

"And Maureen had a fat sausage with two eggs, right?" Rachel laughs out loud and pats herself on the shoulder for this successful joke, but Maureen looks at you for help.

"Rachel..." Your voice doesn't sound really serious and you have to smile to your despair.

“Yes, yes, it's okay,” the girl waves in a good mood. "You are a great couple and sooo in love."

“Right,” Maureen says firmly, recognizing the good intentions.

"But you have to admit that you have something very interesting going on with your harem thing here."

"Do you want to join?" asks Maureen and you splurge with surprise... just like Susan, Claire... and Karen.

"Me?" Rachel weighs her words for a long time. Say yes. Please say yes, you hear yourself thinking and have to concentrate. That wouldn't be right now. Now? Then when? This is Rachel we’re talking about damn it! Think of her tits and grab them! So you don't know how to feel when the girl says, “I don't think so. I like to annoy you too much."

"Crazy chick" you laugh wildly and, interestingly, Claire giggles next to you.

"But Karen would definitely want to do a lap on the good old Finn-Express." Claire whines in surprise when Karen sits up so quickly that she almost falls off her lap. You too are surprised by the strong and unexpected reaction from the pretty girl.

"Damn Rachel!" shouts Karen loudly. Too loud. Rachel doesn't understand her friend and Carrie also turns her eyes to the front. Rachel leans forward and puts her hands on the other girl's shoulders.

“I just want to help” she defends herself. “Come on Finn. We both know that Karen has the hots for you and we all saw your looks at the lake when we accidentally undressed." I knew it! “You two go well together.” Stay strong now. Even if she is right.

"Rachel, I told you this wasn't just about fun, okay?" She sure wants to test you again as she did with Emma. You listen to your inner voice for a second and behind the wall of pictures of Karen, her breasts and her laughter, her lips and her dreamy eyes, her hair, her figure and actually everything else about her perfect body, you see the real world in who you live “I and my friends have something here that we take seriously. I can understand how that must affect you.” You are so serious that you take your eyes off the road for a moment and turn to Rachel, whose gaze you cannot read. Then you look at Susan and then at Claire. "All of you." The two sisters lower their eyes. “But it's not about the sex or the fun for me. These girls mean the world to me.” Your fingers drum impatiently on the steering wheel as you fight your lust for this body down. “Karen, I really like you. I hope I could show you that. And you look gorgeous too. It's just not what I'm looking for in a girl."

“I know,” Karen says softly but firmly.

"You know?" Now it's you who looks at her in surprise. Something inside hurts you realizing that she agrees with you. Damn hypocrite! Something else is also relieved that you don't have to hurt her too much with your rejection. Damn wimp! And something completely different, smaller but very loud, wonders if you don't want it too, another girl by your side. Damn... human?

"Yes." Karen looks like she had to wrestle with herself but has now found a way. A way to where? "I have to admit that I only thought of the one thing with you at first." You open your eyes wide to concentrate on the street in front of you, but in your head you only see Karen and only hear her voice. She sounds convinced and that gives you a whole lot of feelings. Feelings you normally only have with Megan. Your sister behaved like this too, shortly before you got together. You listen eagerly to the voice next to you. “That wasn't very clever of me. John showed me tonight that there are other things you can get out of a relationship than just sex." Claire moves slightly on her lap.

“So you didn't sleep with him?” Rachel asks, almost puzzled.

"It doesn't matter Rachel" you hear yourself say and wonder why you are defending Karen all of a sudden, even if you should be upset, if not angry, that she apparently only looked after herself. It's really not your place to reprimand her, but you must also admit that the sight of Susan and Claire worried you. Though Rachel and Carrie are also responsible, it was Karen who you dumped your hardship on. Now you suddenly wonder if that was a bad idea.

"I just mean" waves Rachel and understands the hint you gave Karen. Wait... what hint did I just give Karen? You turn your head and look at the girl. She sits proud and upright next to you, Claire on her lap, safely between her arms and with her small head between two large, round, full breasts. Your eyes snap up and look directly at Karen.

"Keep going" you cheer her up and not only you, Claire and Susan also notice the tone in your voice. "That sounds good." Karen has to smile but her eyes reveal that there is more going on behind them than she wants or can show.

"John showed me that there is something else I can be after than just asses and cocks..." She cuts off and looks down at Claire. "P-Penises." Her smile turns into a grin. She has incredibly beautiful lips. Fuck!

"But I thought you were happy with your life." It doesn't even occur to you that you are having this conversation with a large audience.

"I was too. I am too," says Karen a little louder. Then she moans softly. “Come on Finn. Rachel is right. You cannot expect to live such a life in our presence without something of it to rub off on us."

"Okay," you admit. "Point for you." It's dark on the streets but Karen seems to be interested in me... the weather is warm enough. You drive slowly enough Karen shows signs of change and affection towards me... so that you can watch out for animals or the like. But you realize that Karen is in my head. “But I really don't want you to change. I think you're all great the way you are.” You quickly try to make it clear that you don't want to push the girls, especially Karen , to do anything.

“We're not changing for you either, little brother” laughs Maureen from behind. “We change for ourselves. That you are happy is only the reason for it. You are the reason for our happiness and that's why we want to give something back to you. Is that right, Karen?” Maureen giggles as the one in question tenses up in the passenger seat and then nods abruptly. Oh Lord! Karen is interested in my world! It hits you like a hammer and before you can ask yourself why she suddenly behaves so differently you are overwhelmed by the realization that she suddenly fits into your world that you created for your loved ones. That one of your girls might have a problem with it now only marginally occurs to you and for that alone they would make you suffer.

“It took me a long time to understand that,” Karen freely admits. "I wasn't sure what your relationship was based on."

"Oh Karen honey, please forgive me," Rachel says from behind and now realizes that she has misjudged her friend. Karen waves a friendly gesture.

“I was actually always happy with how I lived my life. John showed me today that I can have it… even better. ”Karen suddenly looks dejected.

"I hope you have his number," you ask to cheer her up. You feel guilty for dragging her away from a potential friend so quickly. It seems like John is not her typical conquest, but maybe something more. But your attempt to cheer her up has no effect on Karen.

"Yes, I can call him if I have any questions."

"Questions? But you already know how everything works down there?” You laugh at your bad joke, but Karen doesn't react to this suggestive saying either.

"As I said, it's not about sex," she mumbles and when she turns to you, her eyes glow in the dark. “Having a relationship based on affection is new to me. A-And I w-would like to learn more about it.” Even after she has finished, her eyes won't let go of you and cast a spell over you.

“Ah!” Comes from behind. Maureen. "Finn, you are the expert in such things. Maybe you can give Karen some of your tips?" She smiles wickedly at you.

“I have no tips at all,” you mean far too lightly and see with astonishment the reaction that leaves its marks on the face of Karen. What's going on here? "I... I just fall from one situation to the next and hope to help the people who are important to me."

“Bullshit” chuckles Maureen. "Finn be a man okay?" Your sister's tone of voice doesn't make it easier for you. You yourself are currently toying with the possibility, the absurd possibility of letting another, beautiful, nice, funny and cheeky girl into your world. When you don't know what to do next, given the look Karen is giving you, Maureen bails you out.

“Karen, you have to know one thing about my little brother... my boyfriend. He thinks of himself that he is nothing special. He thinks he doesn't deserve all the good things in his life because he is sooo mean to everyone and because he does sooo little for others. That's cute, but don't think he'll come up to you on his own. He's far too afraid of hurting you for that.” She giggles as brightly and happily as rarely and you can't bring yourself to interrupt her. “The more girlfriends he gets, the more he thinks he's doing something wrong. He's like a dog who can't understand why he's being rewarded. My little brother has to understand that he's just cute and perfect and sweet and nice and that's enough for girls like us to fall in love with him. For him, it just means that he is a bad person and it is up to us to show him that it is not so. That's why we stick together so tightly. He makes sure that we are happy and we want to make him happy for it. Only my dear little Finn still has problems accepting the second part."

"Wow..." is the only thing that comes from Karen.

"Hey Maureen, honey, I took you and made you my girlfriend and not the other way around" you try to defend yourself with a grin.

"That's right," says Rachel. "We all saw that." Maureen shrugs while Karen listens carefully.

“Yes, he took me and made me his girlfriend and made me happy. But that was his goal.” She leans forward to you and kisses you on the neck. Your hair stands up and a shiver runs down your back as you feel her soft, tender lips on your skin. “He didn't take me for himself, but for me. And I'll pay him back for the rest of his life. "

"Okay, you definitely didn't have sex today," says Rachel. Maureen rolls her eyes in amusement and turns back to Karen, who is staring hard forward.

“So if you want something from my brother, then you have to ask him, I'm afraid. He wants to talk to you, listen to you and answer your questions. He likes to help you and I know that he knows how you are doing. It's not that he doesn't like you, but he worries too much about hurting us than he cares about himself. That is our job."

"Thanks... Maureen, honey," you grumble. Sure, it's not what Karen wants to hear. But it's the truth and Maureen has helped you again. You love her all the more for it, especially after this evening. But you don't want to risk anything about Karen. Fuck, that's exactly what Maureen said. The girl with the fantastic tits and, as you can now see, very interesting and valuable thoughts behind her petite forehead, takes a long time to come up with an answer. Claire feels it and you can see it in Karen. She stiffens several times, cannot look you in the eye and while her mouth is slightly open, her eyes are tightly closed in an attempt to process as much of your sister's words as possible as quickly as possible.

It surprises everyone in the car, but you and Karen are the most shocked when your hand gently brushes her upper arm. You wouldn't have thought that you would react so strongly to her.

"Don't worry." You smile slightly and believe that you have taken some of her nervousness away. Karen Grant has a strong personality. So strong, maybe, that it never occurred to you that she might need your help in any matter. You always liked her way... and it turned you on. She was always happy and eloquent when you met her. Most of the time Megan was there and so you could never really concentrate on Karen, with a few exceptions at night in bed when 'unchaste' thoughts about your sisters beset your mind. That you didn't pay her enough attention now turns out to be a gross mistake when you realize what seems to be going on behind the girl's shining eyes. You took a quick look behind her facade that evening down in the party room, but that was actually only because Megan tried to match you with each of the girls. Your beloved Emma, ​​your delicate and sometimes a little perverse elf has finally taken her place in your heart. A heart that still has a lot of space, as your friends never get tired of assuring you. Karen Grant is a very interesting person and you always enjoyed engaging in little impure puns and skirmishes with her. She is not as demanding as Carrie and not as humble as Emma. She is her very own person you realize much too late. While Karen arranges her thoughts you realize that it was completely wrong of you to see in her only the sex bomb that distracts you from your sisters. “Maureen is right. I like to listen to you.” You still have it and your words give Karen the push she needs. You realize that you are the reason that this girl lost her temper this evening. And with this realization comes the knowledge that you are obliged to her in this way. You give her a big smile and invite her into your world.

---

"How... what's it like to be with so many girls?" comes her first question, spoken from the depts of her heard and with a shy voice that doesn't fit her a bit but is somewhat cute as hell.

You grin “laboriously” and immediately get the bill from Maureen in the form of a hard punch on the back of the head. Claire and Karen are frightened, but you show them both that this also belongs to your world. "No, honestly," you laugh and rub the back of your head. “I spend most of my life now caring for all of my girls. How are they? Am I spending enough time with them? Are they worried or troubled? How can I make them laugh? All of that. It is exactly what I want in my life. I have a job and always something that I can align my life and actions with. I have a goal in life and that's why I can never get lost.” You glanced back at Maureen. “There are also things my girls don't understand. For example, that I'm so grateful to them because I have a purpose for the rest of my life. There won't be a day that I don't know what to do when I will wake up. I will never be bored. I will never doubt what will become of me. Megan and a few others think that this can only work if I have several girlfriends. I definitely know that it wasn't like that with my first girlfriend.” Again you look at Maureen and call yourself to order. "But I didn't love her as immortally as my current girls." You have no real deal with Karen and have no plans with her in the future. But she probably sees it differently, you recognize with bated breath. Then you see how the girl rushes at your words, hastily absorbs and processes them. A warm feeling spreads in your stomach as you examine your options and realize that maybe, maybe you could also get together with Karen. You are a little shocked at the thought. Has it gotten to the point where I'm openly considering expanding my harem? Are five willing girls not enough for me? But it's not about the number of women, it's about their happiness. And even a blind person can see what is going on behind the two eyes who are staring onto the dark road ahead on which end your home awaits you... and maybe Karen too. The warm feeling becomes stronger and turns into pride and immense anticipation. The rest of old Finn remains and saves the condition that you won't **** Karen into anything. But you will love to show her how perfect your life is right now.

“And the sex doesn't matter?” Karen wants to know almost incredulously. Claire leans forward slightly on her lap and Susan also moves in the back of the car.

"Of course it matters. Have you seen my girlfriends? I had so much sex today that it will last for months," you laugh out loud.

"Don't get your hopes up honey," Maureen laughs too and Carrie rolls her eyes. "Expect days rather than months." Her eyes sparkle at you knowingly.

"Do you see Karen?" But then you think more carefully. “It's like a normal relationship… I think… kind of like. We love us, have sex, talk. We will also quarrel and disagree. There will be tears and we will reconcile. I will take the blame for everything. The only difference is that if two people quarrel, the two will get help from several people. We all have one goal: to make this thing work for us. I also said that to Denise, for example.“ You look around the car. “And I say that to everyone else who wants to hear it. We don't live in a porn movie or anything. Even if I can have as much sex as I want now, it's about love between two or more people."

"And everyone agrees?" You notice that Karen still sounds skeptical, but is also getting more and more curious.

“That's the only way it works.” You take a curve and briefly have to concentrate on the road. When you steer the car straight ahead again you can continue talking. “I don't think all of my friends love each other too. Millie and Megan love each other as sisters and that's what made it possible for me to have them as girlfriends and start all of this. I am eternally grateful to them for that. But…"

"But I only love Finn, for example," says Maureen, taking the still somewhat uncomfortable subject off the table. “I love him so much that I don't care who he's with. I don't have the right to be angry that he takes care of other girls. Millie was his first real girlfriend and if she or Megan had said the two of them were enough, I would never have been so happy to have Finn as a boyfriend. So why should I forbid him to get any more girls? But my true love is only for him."

“That can, of course, lead to problems” you continue and this time Maureen is glad not to have to pronounce the sentences. Here too you support each other. “But if two of my girls argue, one thing is very clear: I will support both of them. And so far it has worked out quite well. We are still at the beginning, but we all think we can do it. Because silence doesn't work when several other people are involved. We have to talk to each other. And since love is involved, the goal is always very clear. I think that's our secret."

“So do all these girls love you? I mean... literally each of them? I thought some would just... "

"Want sex?" You giggle. “Yes, I can understand the thought. But no. I'm just a simple man trying to make my way around the galaxy," you making a pretty good joke... that nobody understands. Damn. I wish Emma would be here. "Well. In any case, there is some kind of attraction in each of the girls.” You are well aware of the meaning of your next words for the occupants of this car. Only Maureen is your current girlfriend here. You find everyone else cute, charming, clever, admirable, and pretty. “I pay close attention to that. I wouldn't bring anyone into this type of relationship if I didn't know how they feel about me. As for myself, I can proudly and without shame say that I love all my girls from the bottom of my heart. Their laughter, their eyes, their words and deeds. And at some point the sex with them too. But for me, it only works with love and I think that also applies to my girlfriends. They don't take advantage of me and even if they did I would just make sure that I could make them happy at the end of the day."

“So you always know exactly how you feel about one of the girls?” Ah. So she wants to know what her own feelings are about. Your heart beats faster You feel like you were in the party room that night shortly after Emma revealed herself to you. At that time you had no idea that your life would be like this. Three loves were so many that you almost couldn't stand it. Back then you were almost glad that you could distract yourself with Karen without really getting too close to her. Now, after Millie, Megan and Emma, ​​you have won Denise and Maureen as the loves of your life. The question of when is the end does not really arise for you. On the one hand, because your harem doesn't want that, on the other hand, because you are beginning to believe that there could be no real end, no defining number. Only Millie keeps you on the ground with your concern for her and your future, as always. Maureen will have to help you a lot with this so that no one will notice how much you still doubt yourself sometimes. But not now. Millie wouldn't like this kind of thinking in this situation. If you look at Karen now you don't feel like you did back then. You are also a different person now and if that is enough for Karen, maybe you can make another girl happy here.

"As I said, it is important for me to know my feelings." Even if they sometimes scare me.

"And your friends?" The girl next to you is slowly but surely changing. You are experienced enough to see that Karen has an interest in you. You feel the same way too. So far you had tried a friendly, sexually charged relationship. But tonight Karen is different, her questions are aimed at a specific purpose and you can imagine which one it is. You were inexperienced before Emma, ​​you can no longer afford that. "Do they know exactly how they feel about you?" You raise your eyebrows in amusement.

“Maureen?” You ask the only member of your harem that is involved in this conversation.

"I think I know pretty well how I feel about my little Finn," she grins cheekily and strokes your hair from behind.

"I will not speak for the others" you mean a little more strictly. They don't belong to me... except for Denise. But only sometimes! "But I think they all know what to expect from me and I make sure that they only give me what they really want to give me."

"No pressure?" Maureen presses the air out of her lungs in amusement but you just shake your head seriously.

"No pressure. Just love."

"Hm." After that, Karen Grant is calm and absently looks out the window. You don't really know whether you have made the situation better or worse for the girl. Claire on her lap is definitely excited and keeps sliding her bum on the other girl's thighs. Susan also spins in the back of the car. Fortunately, the headlights are already illuminating the entrance to your house and when the car comes to a stop with the brakes screeching softly, Karen seems almost shaken. While Susan climbs a little awkwardly over Carrie and Claire also slides off the lap of Karen, Maureen bends forward.

“Karen,” she says and taps the girl on the shoulder. “If you like we can talk a little. I'm quite an outsider in this group and maybe I can share my perspective on things with you if you like.” Karen looks at you as if she needs permission. Reluctantly, you nod your head. Then the expression on young Grant's face changes. Now she realizes that she is admitting her pleasure to herself and us if she says 'yes' now. Her eyes take turns fixing you and Maureen.

"I... do not know…"

"It's okay," you say softly. Carrie and Rachel are already going to the house and Carrie quickly talks to her friend. She, however, stretches her arms to the sky and stretches to wake up again. "We are among us now," you say and put your hand on hers. Karen flinches slightly but doesn't do anything to push your hand away. Her skin doesn't feel as smooth as usual. It's a bit rough, sweaty and cold. She can't tell me.

"Finn..." Karen struggled with herself. "Your life... and mine... I don't think that I can..."

“I thought so too, Karen,” Maureen comes to her aid. She does this better than you you realize. and can't control yourself and take the hand of Maureen as well. You're sitting in the car, all the doors are open. Not just in the car, but also in your life. "It's always creepy and unfamiliar to leave the path you've walked your life." Karen looks at Maureen and it couldn't be more clearly written on her face. She's scared, but she wants to. "Talk to him," says your sister who sees it too.

Karen slowly turns to face you. Somewhere a cricket chirps in the dry grass that has become brittle from the summer heat. Warm air flows through the interior of the car and the smell of polls and grass hangs between you. It's pitch black outside and the unsightly light inside the car locks you in. Maybe Karen feels caged after all, you think to yourself. It hurts you to see her wrestling with herself. You understand that it is not easy for her and you are the first to admit that you don't know if your life is really right for her. But you have also sworn not to doubt yourself. Your grip on her hand tightens a shade and Karen feels it.

"You are intelligent Karen," you say. Karen just sniffs, but you shake your head. "I would never presume to tell you what to do."

"I don't know..." The answer comes again. You have to ask yourself how far you are ready to go. You look briefly at Maureen. A firm nod pushes you on.

"It's always that way. But that doesn't matter.” You get even closer to her. Karen draws back first, then comes closer to you with her upper body, but turns her head slightly to the side. Then her steel-gray eyes hit you like a wrecking ball and freeze you.

"I don't want to hurt you," she says so clearly that it sweeps through your brain like a word of God. You nod.

"I see." It's like swallowing landmines, your throat feels so scratched. She didn't say 'no'. She could have backed off at any time. Something is there! Your drill sergeant is already preparing the victory car with which he will drive through the streets of Rome like Julius Caesar. I can have her. I can have Karen Grant in my life! In my bed. In my heart! "My God. Fuck."

"You say it," giggles Karen and you realize that you have said the last sentence out loud. You both turn red like tomatoes under the amused gaze of Maureen. But your hands are still entwined. You can feel your sister's delicate lips on your cheek, then she lifts your other hand and places it around the other girl's hand as well. Her delicate fingers fold under your palms and tickle your skin. Your eyes meet.

"You can't hurt me, Karen." And it's the truth you see.

"But..." You gently shake your head and Karen holds her breath intently. She already reacts to you, lets herself be guided, but also radiates an aura that casts you under its spell. She's nervous like anything else, but also curious and... My God!

“I know love when I see it, Karen.” Her mouth opens slightly, her lips are a bit dry and rough, chapped from the ****. She doesn't say anything, doesn't even nod. Doesn't have to. "I've seen that look often enough." Karen drops her gaze, but you prevent that by clasping her hand a little tighter in yours. “And I can never get enough of it. You can't hurt me, Karen.” This time she seems to believe you. “You are intelligent and you know what is going on inside you. You wouldn't act like that if you didn't already know.” You shake your head again and laugh at your role in the lives of these incredible girls. "I'm a real asshole to load all of that on you guys. I am the best example that you can't choose the people you fall in love with."

“What if I'm not good enough for you?” Karen asks very quietly.

"That will not happen. It is I who have to ask this. You are strong. You go your own way. Nobody, especially not me, can tell you what to do."

"I do not know…"

“You don't have to either. Not now. I…” You look at Maureen one last time. Your big sister has gotten very close to you lately and you trust her. She nods. "I'm waiting for you. Whenever you've made up your mind, please let me know. Whatever you choose, I support it. You are not alone Karen. I see what's going on inside you. I also see the concerns. That’s a good thing. You make mistakes without hesitation. But you will make the right decision."

"Why do you know that," Karen speaks, rather whispers, in a hoarse and low voice. But her eyes are clear and open. Not even the **** can harm her and you respect her for being so open and honest to you.

“Everyone is good at something, Karen. I'm good at taking care of people.” You slowly raise one of your hands, bring two of your fingers together and touch the tips of the fabric of her dress right between her breasts. "And because of the things you're good at, I'm not at all worried that you will make it."

"Make what?" You give her a slow nod and an honest smile.

"Only you know that."

Karen takes a few seconds then ... she gets out of the car and walks towards the house.

---

You stare after her for a few more seconds, then Maureen wraps her arms close around you and her chin rests on your shoulder.

“What do you think?” she wants to know. But you can't answer her. You don't know exactly what you're thinking yourself. For one thing, you wish Karen would confide in you. You don't know anything bad that has happened to her and, like with Emma, ​​it is the attraction of having a beautiful girl by your side that puts you under pressure. But Emma found her true self through you, Karen has to find a completely new way for herself. You wish that she can do it without suffering much. And you want to help her with that too. But without assuming that she'll start loving you for it.

"I think I lied," you mutter.

“Can't be,” replies Maureen, squishing her body forward between the seats. Now it is she who leans against you and together you stare out the windshield at the lake. "What do you mean?"

"Was that really love what I saw?" Again you shake your head. “I mean, yes, that was love. But love for me? I mean... John... I may have pushed her into a corner with my words."

“I think only Karen can answer that.” Maureen kisses you gently on the cheek and hugs you even closer. "But as I know you you will be the first to find out."

"Oh man..." you rub your eyelids with two fingers.

“Don't you want that? That would be new to me.” Maureen has actually arrived in her new life when you think about how openly she is already talking about your lifestyle.

"Of course I want that. But it's also different with her than with the others." Maureen understands you.

“Maybe she's the one,” she speculates. You look questioningly at your big sister. “She has everything she wants and needs. Except for one thing," she explains to you, and you see with satisfaction that you share the same thoughts. "Maybe she is the first pretty girl who realizes early enough that her life could be better and then actually pulls it around." Another kiss on the cheek but this time you turn your head and press your lips to hers. Maureen wipes the traces of her lipstick off your lips with her thumb.

"And then she comes to me?" The lake is calm and slowly the moon comes out between the scattered clouds. “That would be a waste. Any nerd in the world would be better than me.” But Maureen shakes her head. Her hair falls back on her face.

"Nobody would be better suited to achieve this victory," she says and it just sounds a bit like your films. "Hey." Maureen covers your face with her hands. "If she really does that, be the first of her kind, then no one is better suited to show her the world she has been looking for for so long."

"Do you really think so?" Damn it, it feels good to be able to show doubt in front of Maureen.

"I was like that too." Your sister looks at the door. "I think I'll help her with that." She smiles happily. “She won't know what she's looking for. You had to show it to us first. I will show her what she is looking for and then she can decide for herself where to find it. "

"Just don't put too much pressure on her, okay?" Your sister's lips land on yours again.

"She will choose you, fool," she says with her forehead against yours. "And then you make her happy."

"Everything you say" you grin and are not ashamed to admit that you are looking forward to it.

"Come on," says Maureen and pokes you on the side. "Get into the house with you and charge."

"Yes ma’am!" you laugh. You have a good evening behind you and tomorrow will be a good day.