Damn, I Miss My Cousin

Chapter 19

After the phone call from my dad, three really weird days went by. You know when everything's super quiet? Something smelled off. I didn't know what was gonna happen, but the vibe was way too strange.

Matheus, who shoulda been bugging me for more, just vanished. Mariana, who would've shown up with some gossip or dirty talk by now, disappeared. The guy from the bus out of nowhere texted me saying he had to travel and would be gone for a week. Pedro got into working with his dad and now only talked about motorcycles. He worked three days and already thought he'd have money to buy one. Unbearable! And Carla... ah, that was me avoiding her. The idea of a threesome with her and her boyfriend made me curious, but at the same time, scared shitless. I was still a virgin, and honestly, I didn't know if I could handle her boyfriend's big dick.

But in the middle of all that, there were the serious problems: my dad and my stepdad. I went and said dumb shit to my mom, who was already super worried, and I didn't realize my dad might pull some major bullshit! Now I was on edge, not knowing what their next move would be.

So, I made a mental list of everything I needed to sort out. I wasn't big on planning, but this time, I needed a strategy. First on the list? Mariana. Because she was my right-hand girl, my main ally. With her by my side, the crew would be solid, and I'd know exactly what to do.

I called her. My heart did that little flip as the phone rang. Mariana always picked up quick, but this time it took forever. When she finally answered, her voice was dry, kinda sharp.

"Girl! How long you gonna keep dodging me?"

I tried to sound light, but I already felt a knot in my stomach.

The response came back cutting, just like only she could do it.

"I'm pissed at you, I was just fed up with sitting around twiddling my thumbs in the living room while you chewed me out!"

Holy shit...

The memory hit me like a slap. I'd been a jerk to her, and now I felt like trash. I bit my lip, pressing the phone to my ear, trying to think of something to undo that mess.

"Cuz, forgive me, pretty please? Come on, forgive me? Come over?"

Silence.

"I don't know, I'm upset, dude!"

Oh, fuck! I couldn't leave her like that. If Mariana started stewing, she could ice me out emotionally for good.

"Look, I'll do your feet! Trash 'em, trim the cuticles, paint your nails, and even give you a massage!"

I was damn good at it and she knew. My nails were always perfect. I had a small fortune invested in polishes and tools. I really wanted to work at my aunt's salon on weekends to make some cash.

But even that didn't soften her.

"My nails are done, Julia!"

And that's when I put my foot in my mouth. Without thinking, without filtering, just to break the ice once and for all.

"Okay... so... I'll eat your pussy!"

"What?"

The silence hit heavy, like a storm cloud. My stomach twisted right then.

Mariana went quiet for what felt like forever.

Shit. Why did I say that? It was just to make her laugh! A joke, fuck! But now she was silent, and I didn't know what to do.

When she spoke again, her voice was weird, different. I couldn't tell if she was surprised, curious, or pissed.

"Idiot..."

The word came out in an unreadable tone. And then:

"I'm coming over so we can talk."

And she hung up.

I stood there, staring at the phone in my hand like it would explain. My heart was pounding, but her coming over was progress. Mariana always came here. Her place was a shoebox, and plus she had that brother of hers, the total loser who's married but still lives there. My mom said his wife beats him. Who knows.

That wasn't part of my plan, but I needed to deal with my mom to see if she'd spill anything. I went downstairs to tell her Mariana was coming. I never had to announce that kinda thing, but I wanted to start a convo and gauge the mood.

I walked around the house and saw my mom was still in her room.

"Mom, Mariana's coming over?"

I said it while opening the door without knocking.

My mom was still in bed. And it was past ten in the morning.

"Okay, honey. No problem. Now close the door."

Her voice came out kinda slurred. I got suspicious right away.

"Why are you still in bed?"

She let out a sigh, barely moving under the sheet.

"I'm tired, can't I rest a few more hours?"

That gave me a weird chill. It didn't make sense. My mom always got up early, and now she was there, still made up and wrapped in the sheet up to her neck? And on a day when it was already hot as hell?

My eyes scanned the room, looking for clues. Nothing out of place. Nothing to give me answers. For a second, I thought about pushing, asking more, but I gave up. If there was something, she wasn't gonna tell me.

I closed the door and went back to my own stuff.

I headed to the kitchen to grab something to eat and look for lunch to thaw. Better get ahead for my mom since she was acting weird. While I was at it, I swept the house and checked the bathroom. My mom hates a dirty house, and I kinda inherited that from her. The place was always full of people dropping by unannounced, so keeping it tidy was a full-time job.

Time passed, and later I was in the laundry room, hanging clothes on the line, when I heard that familiar voice from the entrance:

"Blessings, auntie!"

Mariana.

I gave the clothes one last tweak, feeling that butterflies in my stomach, and went to the living room. She was standing in the hallway, in short shorts and a baggy t-shirt, fiddling with her phone like she just happened to be there. But I knew better.

Without giving her time to react, I grabbed her arm and pulled.

"Come on, I wanna talk to you!"

She didn't even resist. She chuckled low and followed me to my room. It was now or never.

When we got in, nothing was said. Just a forgiveness hug happened, long and tight, like no words were needed. We stayed like that for a bit, swaying gently like a dance with no music. The feeling of loving and being loved was too beautiful, and I felt a tear trying to escape, but I swallowed it. She was the last person in the world I wanted to hurt. Everything I'd been through in life, Mariana had been by my side. If she got sad because of me, I'd suffer too, and that hurt more than anything.

When the hug ended, she brushed her lips against mine in a light smack, a affection that was common between us. Natural, no awkwardness, no hesitation.

"I love you, cuz. I love you so much, okay?"

"I know that, you greasy one."

And we both laughed, like that moment could wipe away any bad vibes.

But of course, Mariana never let anything slide.

"But so, what's up?"

"What's up with what?"

I asked, flopping onto the bed.

She leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a naughty smile on her face.

"Where is it?"

"Where's what, Mariana?"

She rolled her eyes, impatient.

"You promised me something!"

I furrowed my brow, trying to remember.

"You said your nails were done, girl!"

"Not that... the other thing after that!"

My brain went totally blank. What the hell had I promised?

"What thing? Spit it out!"

She leaned toward me, eyes sparkling with mischief, voice lower like she was sharing a precious secret.

"You said you'd suck my big pussy!"

And she burst out laughing.

But I didn't laugh.

Because I was gonna do it.