“She’s just growing up. She wanted to come today and spend some girl time. She thinks she needs a training bra and wants to start wearing make up,” she giggles.

“WHAT?” I yell. Kayla nudges me and tells me to shut up. Julie turns around and eyes us suspiciously, but keeps walking when I fake smile at her.

“She’s fricken 8 years old, Kayla!”

“I know, asshole. I’m just going to amuse her, trust me okay?”

“Fine. But my 8 year old sister better not end the day looking like a whore.”

“Oh my god,” Kayla laughs out loud. “I can’t believe you just said 8 year old sister and whore in the same sentence”

“Shut up, I’m not kidding.”

***

We walk around for a bit before Julie decides to walk into a store. I’m not paying attention until were inside and I’m surrounded by lingerie.

“What the f-"

I get cut off by a hand covering my mouth.

“Shut up, Jake.” Kayla whispers loudly. “Just amuse her, please?”

“Fine, but I’m waiting outside”

Half a fucking hour later, they come out.

Julie has a tiny bag with some Disney princesses on it. Okay, so the store must cater for girls her age. Kayla has a bigger bag, a nice paper one with a ribbon tied on top. I stand up and walk to her, trying to take the bag from her hands so I can see what she bought.

She swats my hand away.

“What?” I ask, feigning innocence.

She rolls her eyes. “You can’t look.”

“Why?” I ask, a little pissed off for no good reason. “Who’s it for, Kayla? Who’s gonna see it?”

“Jake…” She stops walking and holds my hand tighter so I stop with her. Julie walks a little ways from us. “It’s for you…” she whispers. “Not for anyone but you. But, I didn’t want you looking at it while Julie was there.”

I look at her confused.

“It’s not suitable for girls her age.”

Still looking at her confused.

“It’s just, it’s too mature?… Sexy?…” she shrugs.

My eyes widen and a smile pulls at my lips.

“You’re an ass,” she says, swatting my shoulder and walking away. I walk up to her and take her hand. “I can’t wait!” I whisper in her ear and she laughs.

***

After we eat lunch, Julie says she’s too tired to walk. Kayla offers to carry her on her back as a joke, but she does it anyway. It’s pretty damn cute, watching my two girls.

“Kayla, you get on Jake's back now!” Julie yells through a laugh.

“I don’t think so, sweetie. I think we’d break his back.”

“No way, Jake's like, the strongest man that ever lived. Do it, Jake!”

“You have to pay your ticket to get on the ride,” I say to Julie, a stupid thing we used to do when we were kids. I stand next to her and she gives me a kiss on the cheek.

“Now your entrance fee, little lady,” I say to Kayla, putting my face in front of hers.

She straightens up, spins my cap backwards and kisses me, on the lips, just once, softly, and quickly. So quick I didn’t even register what was happening until it was done. She smiles a small smile, a little blush creeping on her face, then jumps on my back.

It’s the first time since the limo ride, that first night, that our lips have touched. In the couple of times we’ve fooled around, we’ve never kissed. And even though this kiss was the furthest thing from being sexual, it was still intimate, and purposeful. Like, she knew it would mean something. And it does. It means everything.

We only walk a few feet before I hear my name being called. I turn to find Aunt Jenna and Uncle Jim.

I slowly let go of Kayla and Julie and wait for them to walk over to us.

Julie gives them both a hug, I kiss aunt Jenna and shake hands with uncle Jim.

Jenna steps back and sees Kayla.

I take Kayla’s hand in mine.

Jenna notices and a huge smile appears.

“Aunt Jenna, Uncle Jim, this is Mikayla.” I make the introductions.

“Oh!” Aunt Jenna's eyes widen slightly. “Oh, Mikayla, Nathan’s told me so much about you.” Then to me she says, “I didn’t know, I mean I didn’t realize she was your-"

I feel Kayla tense next to me and interrupt my Aunt. “Yeah, she’s mine.” I smile looking at Kayla. “My Mikayla. Just my Mikayla.” I know I’ve said the right thing, because she beams up at me. She holds onto my arm and quietly says, “It’s a pleasure to meet you both”.

“These are the Aunt and Uncle I stayed with when I first came back. Uncle Jim here is the reason I have so many offers on the table.”

Uncle Jim laughs, shaking his head, “Jesus, kid. You got a big head.”

I laugh back. “I’m kind of a big deal, didn’t you know?”

Kayla laughs next to me. Fuck, I love hearing her laugh.

After the small talk is over, we say our goodbyes to them.

I’m so ready get the fuck out of this place.

As were heading out the exit, Julie gasps, “I have to go to the pharmacy, I need tampons!”

I tense, and Kayla kisses my cheek, ”Just amuse her,” she says before taking Julie's hand and leading her to the pharmacy.

***

I haven’t been able to get the sexy underwear out of my mind.

It’s close to midnight and it’s all I can think about. As soon as we got home, Kayla holed herself up in her room. She didn’t even come down for dinner, said she had job applications to fill out and a bunch of research to do.