Oli paced anxiously in his small apartment bedroom, clenching his fists in his pockets. His eyes strayed frequently to his cell phone, which lay on his unmade bed. It would be ringing any second, he knew, but the waiting was driving him mad. He was momentarily distracted by the sound of the apartment door opening and shutting. A second later, his roommate, Eric, appeared in the doorway.
"Stop worrying, mate," Eric said in his slight Australian accent. He had been living in Pennsylvania for the duration of his internship at a law firm, and stayed on when he'd gotten a job. He had been Oli's roommate for a year, and they chose to stay together when Oli found a cheaper apartment in a slightly better location. They'd just finished moving in, and Oli's family insisted on coming for a visit.
"I'm not worrying," Oli replied, rather unconvincingly.
"Your family will get here just fine," Eric assured him, smiling. Oli nodded and Eric turned to leave. Oli had no doubts about his family's safe arrival. It was the idea of seeing his sister, Elizabeth that had his stomach in knots. It had been sixth months since they'd seen each other, and they hadn't spoken much. They had never discussed what would happen between them after spring break, when they had engaged their incestuous affair. It wasn't a topic easily breached through e-mail or over the phone. When Oli had graduated from college, he had hoped that his sister would be able to make it, and that maybe they would be able to spend time together. Sadly, she was tied up with crucial end of the year assignments, and couldn't afford to leave campus that weekend.
Oli was excited to see her, but also a little bit scared. Were her feelings unchanged from when they were last together? What if, after they'd parted, she'd regretted it and wanted to leave it in the past? Oli still thought about his sister and the intimate moments they'd shared, but he didn't want to assume that the same was true of Elizabeth. He could only hope it was.
The luggage had just begun to circulate on the baggage claim carousel as Oli bounced on the balls of his feet, watching the escalator for signs of his family. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted his sister's green suitcase and snatched it up. When he turned around again, his heart was in his throat- his family was heading straight toward him, smiling and waving.
"Hi, mom," Oli said as he accepted a generous hug from his mother. He hugged his father briefly and motioned toward the carousel. "Your bags should be out soon. I've already got Bit's."
"Right, we'll get them," Mr. Faber said, as he and Mrs. Faber went to retrieve the luggage. Elizabeth and Oliver were alone for the moment, and he pulled his younger sister into a close embrace. She placed a furtive kiss on his neck and he felt his blood rocketing through his veins. When the siblings pulled away, Bit grinned widely at Oli, a twinkle in her eye. Oli noted his sister's sandy blond hair was a bit shorter than it had ever been before, and her soft curls made her look edgier and more grown up. Her thick-knit gray sweater and tight black jeans were conservative, and yet still alluring. She was a woman in his eyes, in more ways than one.
Bit hadn't wasted any time sizing up her brother, either. He looked even more handsome than she remembered, with his lanky body and sturdy frame. Just being in such close physical proximity made her feel secure. And the way he beamed at her now, his eyes roving her body, made the waiting worthwhile.
"Where to next?" Mr. Faber asked, shattering the trance that had engulfed his children.
"Uh," Oli stammered, blinking and trying to regain his composure. "Well, we can go to my place, or we can get some lunch. If you guys are tired, I can bring you all to your hotel."
"I'm a bit peckish. Let's go for lunch," Mrs. Faber suggested. Oli agreed and led the way to the car.
"So how's life at home?" Oli asked, as the waitress delivered their meals.
"It's good. Your father and I are as occupied as ever with work, but we're so proud of Elizabeth's strong performance at school," Mrs. Faber explained, smiling warmly at her daughter, who was sipping on a Shirley Temple.
"She's found a good study partner," Mr. Faber added. "Her boyfriend, Chris, is quite a good student." Oli choked slightly on his grilled chicken and had to wash it down with a gulp of water before speaking.
"Bit, you didn't tell me you had a boyfriend," Oli chided, shooting a meaningful glance at his sister. She shrunk beneath his questioning glare.
"We've only been going out for two months," she admitted. "It's not that serious."
"I don't know about that," Mr. Faber joked. "You and Chris spend a lot of time together. You two seem to get on great. He's a good guy."
"Yeah, sounds like a real commitment to me," Oli observed, as pleasantly as he could through gritted teeth.
"Leave it alone! Honestly, you're all embarrassing me," Bit snapped. She stared down at her hands, folded demurely in her lap.
Oli's blood was boiling. He quickly excused himself and stalked into the bathroom. He was livid. He couldn't believe his sister had betrayed him. But then it occurred to him that Elizabeth was his sister, and maybe she just wanted a normal life. Had he really believed she would be his, and his alone, for the rest of their lives? Was that even what he really wanted? He knew he wasn't the only one who saw her beauty and charm. Maybe wanting her to be faithful in an impossible relationship was asking too much. Countless thoughts skittered through Oliver's head, and after a moment of trying to clear them all away, he prepared to return to his family. This will just be a normal visit, he told himself, staring hard into the mirror. She's just your sister.
It had been a long day, full of restraint and self-discipline. Oli flopped back on his bed, scratching absently at his stomach. He had recently gotten into the habit of working out for a few hours a week and he had a decent six-pack to show for it. He had hoped that he could show it off to Elizabeth, but now he mentally reprimanded himself for ever having entertained such a thought.
Oli managed to make it through the rest of lunch, followed by a stroll around town and a stop for some ice cream. Around 5, Oli explained to his family that there were some things he had to take care of for work, since he would be taking a few days off during their visit. He promised to meet them for breakfast the next morning, and bade them farewell. He drove around aimlessly for a bit before stopping by a sketchy liquor store to pick up a dirty magazine and a 6-pack. Feeling defeated, he returned to the empty apartment to contemplate what, to him, was a worthless existence.
"Everything alright, Elizabeth?" Mrs. Faber asked, glancing at her daughter over the rim of her glasses. "You haven't said much since this afternoon."
"I'm fine, Mom. Just tired," Elizabeth replied. In the bed on the other side of a wooden coffee table, her father was already snoring softly, and her mother looked about ready to follow suit. Elizabeth couldn't tell her mother what was on her mind. And even if she could, her problems weren't worth keeping her mother from sleep. "I'm going to take a shower and then go to bed. Goodnight."
