Everyone in this story is over 18 years of age.
“I’m cold,” Betsy announced, as if this were a huge revelation.
My sister always complains of having a high temperature. I swear she was shivering when she came out of the womb. Although we live in Florida, where even the coldest days are warm, my sister is permanently frozen.
It was a lazy Sunday afternoon. I sat on the slate sectional couch and watched the NBA Finals on my big flat-screen TV. My sister stood at the edge of the living room, her arms crossed over her chest, like she was trying to keep the heat in.
Betsy was wearing a heavy gray hoodie and dark sweatpants. I could barely make out her amber eyes under her hood. She wore her long light brown hair tied into a ponytail and hung down her chest like a chic escapee.
“Can I sit with you, Bran?” One by one, he lifted his feet from the tile floor, as if the floor was too cold for his bare toes.
“Are you going to start playing basketball now?”
“No, but this air conditioner is out of control,” said Betsy, “Dad already said if I touched the thermostat again, I’d be locked up for a month.”
I laughed, but I knew my sister wasn’t joking. Our father may have loved us both, but his love for air conditioning was incredibly passionate. Turning off the air conditioning was a betrayal more than he could bear.
“Really, I just want to sit with you and warm up,” Betsy said.
I shrugged. Betsy might find the temperature weird, but other than that she’s a delightful girl. Normally, we’re not those siblings who cuddle on the couch, but I’m not nervous about it either.
Apparently my half-hearted acceptance was enough, and Betsy jumped up next to me. There was plenty of room for both of us, but she was squeezed in next to me as if we had to share a mat. Betsy got into my arms, then picked up a woolen blanket from the back of the sofa and put it over both of us.
“Oh, oh, you’re so hot,” Betsy said, as if that was the best compliment she could give.
“Feeling better?” I asked.
I felt my sister tremble in front of me. “We’re here,” she said.
Betsy was short, only 5 ft 2 in tall at most, can’t be distinguished.
Betsy tucked her brown braids behind her ears and looked at the screen. “Whose side are you on, Orange?”
“Yeah, Team Orange,” I said, unable to hide my sarcastic tone. “I like how their awesome Orange dominated the Green Team.”
“Oh my gosh, I was just asking a question,” Betsy said. She pouted to make herself look prettier.
I guess I would say that my eighteen-year-old sister is very cute. She has a “girl next door” charm to her face. She has a button nose and thin pink lips and she is always smiling. Many of my friends have asked her, always asking the same question. I wonder what she looks like wearing so many clothes? Obviously, I made it clear that they are not allowed to find us on their own.
I tried to focus on the game as Betsy snuggled into me. Somehow, my sister clung even tighter to my arms. Unlike Betsy, I am tall and broad. She felt so small when she squirmed next to me.
“Do you feel comfortable?” I asked impatiently.
“I’m trying,” said Betsy, “really, you’re overenthusiastic. Why are you so enthusiastic?”
“I don’t know,” I said, “I just know.”
“Well, we need to do this more often,” said Betsy, “It’s like hiding in the oven.”
“Your own hot stone,” I said.
“Are you saying I’m a lizard?” Bette asked, insulted.
“You’re like an iguana,” I said.
“Then you must be a bear,” said Betsy, “a big, cozy brown bear.”
“I can live with that,” I said, “I don’t mind eating salmon all day.”
Betsy said, “Maybe steal some picnic baskets for a change.”
“That’s great,” I said, “In your new life as an iguana, you’ll have to eat flies.”
“But my vision would be wonderful,” said Betsy.
“And two penises.”
“Wait, really?” Betsy turned to me and asked. I shook my head. “Uh-huh, no, thank you.”
“You might like this,” I joked.
“Please, I can’t even find it,” Betsy said. I threw her a weird look, but she ignored it.
My sister finally made up her mind about me. She put her head on my chest. I looked at the TV and realized I had completely forgotten about the game. Without thinking, I absentmindedly stroked the back of Betsy’s hooded head. She made a slight cooing sound.
It’s kind of nice, but I hope it’s not sibling friendly. My last girlfriend had been gone a long time and I missed the intimacy of that. Spending this time with Betsy didn’t completely scratch that itch (again, sister), but it reminded me it’s there.
Betsy moaned and slid her hands over my breasts. She looked at my face and there was a strange, secret smile between us. She looked up, and for a moment she looked like this…
“Brandon! Betsy! Come help with the groceries!”
We jumped up when we heard our mother’s voice calling us from the garage. Betsy and I both leapt off the couch like we had done something even more inappropriate than watching a basketball game.
*
That night, I took a long shower before going to bed. After drying off, I put on my normal pajamas — a pair of flannel pajamas, no shirt — and crawled under the covers.
I’ve been working at FAU for two years and commuted from home to save money. Now that I’m about to enter my junior year of college, I’m planning on finally moving out. But living in my childhood home is somewhat comforting. I know most of my classmates can’t wait to live alone, but I don’t mind.
I like my family. We get along really well. My mom is very supportive and my dad always helps me with things. Plus Betsy. She’s not that bad. Living alone in an apartment can feel very lonely.
I was about to turn off the bedroom light and pass out when I heard a soft knock on the door.
“Hey Bear,” Betsy said as she entered my room.
My cute brunette sister is wearing all her clothes as usual. I’ve been told I look a lot like her – same brown hair and eyes, same lips and nose – but I personally don’t think so. My sister is very cute. I’m a big clumsy idiot.
“Hey, Guana,” I said.
“That doesn’t look right,” said Betsy, “so close to bird droppings.”
“Quite right,” I said, “what’s the matter, Bates?”
“I was so cold I could hardly sleep,” said Betsy. She blushed to emphasize her point. “You were so hot this afternoon and I can’t stop thinking about it. Can I come and sit with you for a while?”
I looked at my sister cautiously. It’s not the strangest request, but it does seem very odd.
“I only have the lower parts,” I said.
“So?” Betsy asked, “you’re still my hot rock.”
I sighed and lifted the quilt. Betsy clapped excitedly and jumped on the bed next to me. As I said, this was the room I grew up in, so I only had a double bed. But there was plenty of room for the two of us.
“Oh, that’s so nice,” Betsy said, snuggling up to me again. She put her head on my bare chest and moved her hands to my breasts. I put my arms around her back. It was like she was the koala and I was the eucalyptus.
My sister melted into me. Her breath tickled the hair on my chest. My eyes drooped lazily as reality faded away.
“What do you want me to do?” Betsy asked.
“I’m going to sleep,” I said.
“Can’t sleep,” Betsy said, going into full child mode. “Not until after I leave. We need to do something.”
“I can go look for Patsy,” I said.
Betsy turned and looked at me.
“I guess we can talk?” I said.
“About what?” Betsy asked.
“I don’t know, life. That kind of thing. Are you still dating that guy, David, or something?”
“Uh, no,” Betsy said, “what about you? How is that blonde girl you told me about?”
“Melissa? It’s so bad, I can’t even tell you,” I said.
“What happened?” I could tell I had piqued my sister’s interest.
“What happened to you and David?” I asked.
Betsy groaned and rolled her eyes. “He’s a pig. He just wants to have sex.”
I couldn’t hide the surprise on my face. It was hard for me to imagine that my sister would take off her clothes, let alone do it. Even the mantras she uses are surprising. My dear sister is not usually one to swear.
Betsy laughed. “We didn’t actually have sex,” she said, “and that’s the problem. Like, I could have made out and talked, but he was so messed up after the first date that I wasn’t ready. I was like, he lost patience with me after a while after that and last month I caught him making out with some random girl at a graduation party.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“I’m not,” said Betsy, “that bastard. What about you?”
“Oh, Mel and I are having sex,” I said.
Betsy’s eyes widened and she gave me a hard shove. “Not like that!” she yelled, “Why did you two break up?”
“Oh,” I said, “well, that’s the problem. We only had sex. After a while, I realized we never had a real conversation. Like, I didn’t even know her middle name or whether she had a big family. It’s weird.
“I’m sorry,” Betsy said, just as before.
“I don’t,” I said, “I want a real relationship. A relationship that isn’t just physical. We can talk and have fun. Even if we have physical contact, it doesn’t have to be about sex. Just like that, lying down and cuddling is good too.
“Yes,” said Betsy, her voice suddenly distant. “It’s really wonderful.”
“You look like you’re warm down there,” I said, trying not to be too provocative.
“I’m going, I’m going,” said Betsy, “I don’t feel well, but I think that’s enough.”
My sister got out of the quilt and slowly walked out of my bedroom. However, when I turned over to sleep, I noticed that the mattress felt strangely empty.
*
The next day was Monday, so I spent most of the day at work answering phone calls. Working in administration for a reinsurance company wasn’t the worst summer temp job I’ve ever had, it kept me busy. I didn’t think much about what had happened the day before. Mainly because, as far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing there. I mean, what Betsy and I did was a little weird, but it wasn’t that unusual.
It’s just that, when I get home, I find myself expecting something, but I don’t know what it is. Then, it finally dawns on me. Some part of me, a vague part for sure, was expecting Betsy to sleep with me again. This is stupid for several reasons. The most important thing is that it won’t happen again. My sister and I have been living together for almost twenty years, and we don’t change our habits so easily.
I have dinner with my parents and Betsy. I sit on the couch watching Netflix. Finally, around 10 p.m., I take an evening shower and go to bed. The house is quiet. Any little hope I had is gone. My sister is clearly not coming.
knock knock knock knock
“Hey Bran?” Betsy called from outside the door.
I told my sister she could come in. She even wore thick wool socks. Seriously, we were in Florida in the middle of June. Most people compare the weather here to being in the sun. How could she have been so comfortable before?
“You don’t have to knock,” I told him.
“I don’t want to catch you doing anything inappropriate,” Betsy said.
“I always misbehave,” I said.
My sister frowned and looked at me. “Anyway, I hope I can warm up again like I did last night.”
I said, “Let me warm you up, no?”
“You are making me feel lukewarm,” said Betsy, “at best. But it is better than what I feel now.”
“Okay, let me see what my brother can do for you.” I said patting the bed.
“You’re in a strange mood today,” Betsy said, but she crawled under the covers again and walked toward me again like a koala.
“Sorry,” I said, “I guess I was trying to be funny or something.”
“You ‘re funny ,” said Betsy, “when you’re not working so hard. What’s the problem?”
I thought about it for a while. It wasn’t until Betsy came into the room that I realized something was wrong with me and I was terrified. I don’t know how to describe it. I felt creepy, weird, flirtatious with the visual novel and I didn’t understand why.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that,” I said, “I just think I’m looking forward to you getting back here. And I know it’s weird to be looking forward to hugging your sister.”
“It’s not weird, it’s sweet,” Betsy said, “I like being around you too. It’s nice to be close to someone.”
“Your stupid brother too?”
“You’re not big,” Betsy said, “that’s not bad. I like your size. It’s perfect for hugging. And you’re definitely not stupid.”
“Thanks,” I said. I felt the need to say something. “You’re really cute. All my friends say so. And, well, you’re fun to talk to, too.”
Betsy responded by burying her head in my bare chest. She opened her hood, revealing a beautiful elfin face. Her cheeks were rosy and her brown hair was braided into a long braid. She put her hand on my chest and began to run her fingers through my hair without thinking.
“You’re in great shape,” she said, continuing to compliment us. “Wide, but not fat. Not too muscular. You’re good to hug.”
“You’re easy to hug,” I said.
“Yes.” Betsy yawned.
*
I woke up in a flash. My room was pitch dark. I felt something wrapped around me and I lowered my head.
Betsy! Oh no!
Affection is one thing. Maybe weird, but not out of the box. However, sleeping in the same bed is a really bad idea. It’s hard to explain it to mom and dad in any way that won’t be construed as wrong.
I shook my sister and woke her up.
“Feeling warm,” he mumbled.
I pushed her again. Betsy’s eyes opened slowly, then widened.
“You were sleeping,” I told him.
“Oh crap!” said Betsy, “Bran, I’m so sorry.”
“I don’t care, but Mom and Dad care,” I said.
Betsy pulled herself together and got out of bed. “It feels nice and warm to be with you. I think it’s too warm. I’ll just slip away quietly.”
I saw my sister trying to ninja her way out of the room, but it was more like a walk around. Finally, after tripping twice and nearly hitting the wall, Betsy made it to the hall.
I sighed and leaned back on the pillows. ‘It’s close. Although I don’t think there’s anything particularly wrong with what we’re doing, I know some of it will seem inappropriate to our parents. We need to be more careful.’
I closed my eyes, but couldn’t go back to sleep. I kept looking at my phone until four in the morning, when I woke up frustrated.
*
I went back to work the next day, but I couldn’t stop thinking about what would happen that night. Again, this is not something I can explain rationally. Who spends that much time waiting to be with their little sister? But that didn’t stop me from doing it.
I had almost completed my evening routine. As soon as I climbed into bed, Betsy knocked on my door. This time, she opened the door and walked in without waiting for my response. She is in her standard uniform again, but her hair is in beautiful pigtails instead of the usual pigtails.
When I asked him about it he said, “I think something is different.”
Betsy crawled into bed next to me. There’s no need to ask if it’s okay anymore – it’s become routine. I can’t explain why this makes me so happy.
“Look, we can keep doing this, but we need to be more careful,” I said as Betsy lay next to me. “Sleeping like this? Mom and Dad will be mad.”
“Can’t I hug my brother?” Betsy asked.
“You stay in bed with me tonight,” I said, “Whatever it takes, as long as it looks like this.”
“We can explain,” said Betsy, “that Mom and Dad know I’m always cold.”
“You know this is bad,” I said.
“Okay,” Betsy said. She rolled her eyes at me but leaned closer. “But I can wait a little while, can’t I? Until I warm up?”
“Of course,” I said.
Betsy rested her head on my chest again, letting her fingers play with my bare sides. I found myself slowly stroking her hoodie-clad back. I could barely feel the girl wearing so many clothes.
“You always sleep without a shirt on,” said Betsy, “don’t you feel cold?”
“Obviously not,” I said, “Does that make you uncomfortable? Do you want me to wear anything?”
“No, I have,” Betsy said, “Like I said, you have nice tits.”
For a moment I wondered if I should say the same thing to her. But, for one thing, I don’t know what my sister’s boobs look like because she always covers them. On the other hand, she is my sister . It’s not okay to flirt like that.
We lay in silence for a while, caressing each other gently. I listened to my sister’s slow breathing. The little sounds she makes when she feels comfortable. She was always scanning my body, my face, my room so fast, like she was trying to memorize every detail. There’s something so cute about that.
“I like it,” said Betsy, “getting warmed up to you.”
“I love it too.”
“It means a lot to me that you let me do that,” Betsy said, “I think it’s something I could only do with a sibling. The other guy would have expectations, you know? A hug can’t just be a hug.” – It was definitely a precursor to something I wasn’t prepared to do, and I guess by that I mean there was only one person in the world who could do that to me.
“I’m just keeping you warm,” I said.
“I know,” Betsy said, “but I want you to know that it makes me feel special. Lucky, too.”
Betsy looked up and kissed me on the cheek. Thin lips left a little wet mark. I turned around, I felt I should respond and I did the same. But, somehow, I missed it. Or Betsy turned her head. Thing. Because suddenly my lips were on hers.
I was stunned with surprise. Instead of pulling away, jumping back, or doing any of the things I expected Betsy to do, my little sister kissed me back.
To be fair, it shouldn’t matter whether I kissed Betsy on the cheek or on the mouth. After all, skin is skin. My sister’s lips shouldn’t mean anything anymore, but they do. I can feel the difference . When you touch sensitive areas with your hands, electric sparks can occur.
Eventually, we broke up. However, our eyes still connected. I looked into my sister’s deep brown eyes. Find it in the little swirls of colors. Inside are pieces of gold. It was as if her eyes were full of hidden treasures. My sister found me in the same way.
“It’s time for me to go,” Betsy said.
She got up from the bed. Before I could say anything, she closed the door behind her. I looked at the ceiling. My heart started pounding. With fear, with anticipation, with…so many things that I can’t accept.
Once again I found myself staying up most of the night.
*
I tried to meet Betsy that morning, but she had already left to work as a counselor at a summer camp a few towns over. I’d been completely distracted by work all day. I left early, claiming I wasn’t feeling well, and waited for my sister to return in the afternoon.
But when Betsy finally got home, she went straight to her room. She passed me so fast that I didn’t even have a chance to say hello. I wanted to go up and talk to her, but her closed door stopped me. I never knew a board could be so grand.
