“Still…”
“Still nothing. And I’m just messing with you because it’s easy and you’re cute when you blush.”
Cute? I’m sure my face turned even redder.
Kaia walked over and took my hand, cold fingers wrapped around my equally cold ones. “I’d be a shitty cousin if I didn’t mess with you once in a while. Besides, I needed to get you back for last summer.”
Warning bells went off in the back of my head, despite not being sure where she was going with that.
“Last summer?”
She grinned, almost evilly. “Yeah. At the beach. I think you spent most of the entire week staring at me.”
I could feel sweat trying to break out on my face, I was so embarrassed. I couldn’t even really deny it. Had I been that obvious?
Again, though, Kaia didn’t seem too upset.
“Who could blame me? You were easily the hottest girl on the beach.”
Kaia’s eyes widened a bit, as did her grin. “Why thank you, cuz. But I think you meant to say, ‘hottest girl on the beach besides Avery.'”
I blinked at that. “Wait, what?”
My cousin grabbed my hand more firmly. “It’s okay to admit it, she’s got the better body. And wearing that thong? Ha! Like I could compete with that for eyeballs?”
I was floored, first for the direction this conversation had gone and then in trying to figure out if she was being serious. Had they been trying to outdo one another for people’s attention on the beach? I wouldn’t have thought either inclined to do that, especially my sister. Then again, as Kaia pointed out, Avery had worn that thong bottom for several days. It covered little from the front and was invisible from behind as it disappeared in her butt crack. I’d certainly noticed and had caught more than a few guys checking her out, including at least one other cousin and uncle, which was a little creepy. I know, pot meet kettle.
“I…wow. I don’t know what to say. I mean, I’m family and really shouldn’t be judging and all, but I always thought you had the better body.”
I couldn’t believe I was saying it, but it almost sounded like she needed some validation, absurd as that seemed.
“Thanks,” she said, voice softening a bit. “I’ll have to tell Avery that.”
“What!? No!”
Kaia’s evil grin returned. “What, so I’m not hotter than your twin sis?”
“I…no…I mean, you can’t…”
“Oh my God, Alex,” she said, now grabbing both of my hands. “You’re absolutely adorable when you get all flustered. Relax. I won’t tell her what you really think, as long as you do one little thing.”
I gulped. “What?”
Kaia bit her lower lip. “Tell me what you like best about my body.”
I gulped again. “Uh, we’re kinda like, you know, cousins. Not sure that’s a great idea.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on. Just between us. I already know you’ve been checking me out. Just tell me.”
I sighed. “How about everything?”
She shook her head no. “Very kind of you, but I want specifics.”
Was I really going to answer? Was I going to answer honestly or give some safe answer like her face or legs? Not that those weren’t good and true answers, but she’d probably know.
I took a deep breath. “Fine. Let’s just say that last summer, I’d have probably given my left nut just to see you topless.”