Chapter 521) The Forbidden Fruit

“There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable.”

~Mark Twain

Brindeton Bay
The Elysium

“You did WHAT with WHOM!?” Iris exclaimed, causing Bri to leap forward and press her hand on her twin sister’s mouth.

“Are you insane?! Little louder, people on the moon had a hard time hearing you!” Bri whisper-yelled at her.

Iris plucked the hand off her mouth.

“If my sister let’s herself get deflowered by a cow wrangler, I wanna scream it off the rooftops as a warning to all sane people! And you crazy bitch had our big brother drive you to get your cherry popped? If Connor ever finds out about that, I will be an only child, cos he will kill you, then mom and dad will kill him, and I am sure someone will go kill Jackson too. What the ACTUAL fuck, Bri?!”

“Horses, Iris, Jackson doesn’t own any cows. And you sound like dad now. Also: I didn’t ask Connor to take me to Jackson for THAT. I just wanted to apologize, for a lot of things, and that really had to be in person. The rest just … kinda happened, that was definitely not planned! I know I am crazy, but not THAT level! However, it DID happen, so what?! All the girls in our class already did it. YOU did it. I am the taillight here of all our friends and I did the best with what I had to work with.”

“Yeah, I did it, with Sterling, my BOYFRIEND, not someone else’s boyfriend, while freezing my own man out! You do realize Brad is still untouched now, so much for taillight. Poor guy, yikes Bri, he doesn’t deserve that. How is this even supposed to work? Are you moving to Chestnut Ridge or are we getting a Jasper-replacement when Jackson moves in?”

“Nobody is moving. This was just a one-time thing. I am with Brad, Jackson has Taylor.” Bri told her twin sister frowning.

“You are DERANGED. Completely insane in the membrane! Also, poor Brad! Seriously, you know how many hundred girls would literally physically kill to be with a guy like him?! And that is just at our school. Yet, you give it away to a redneck cowboy and risk hurting and losing a guy like Brad, who treats you like a queen? Please – PLEASE – say you used protection! We’re Camerons, we need to double up, you know that.” Iris ranted.

“Well, if you are THAT much into Brad, YOU go date him then. And duh! Of course we used protection, you nut! Did you?”

“What do you think? Do I look like Mama Cameron to you? I doubled that shit up good, I’d triple or quadruple it if I could. IF I ever have a kid, it will be after 35, praying he or she won’t take after their crazy-ass aunt. It’s all downhill after 35 anyway. But – what about Brad. And Jackson’s girlfriend?”

“Taylor? I dunno, why would I care? Bitch is like beauty queen material, if she doesn’t take those looks to Del Sol Valley or San Myshuno to make something of herself, then she deserves ending up married to some old, grimy, pot-bellied redneck. And Brad won’t know cos nobody knows and the one person besides me and Jackson who does know now, won’t say anything to ANYONE – hint hint hint. Including Sterling. Do NOT tell him a peep, I mean it! Your man told Brad, by the way, that you guys did it. Just FYI. Hashtag: can’t keep secrets.”

“I don’t care, hashtag: no regrets, he can tell the whole world, doesn’t bother me ONE bit. Interesting that the only options you think Taylor has are either move away or marry some trash, you don’t think Jackson has eyes – and other body parts that need attention whenever you can’t grace him with your presence? Trust me, he’s not just gonna give up his perfect peach for whatever you are generating here, or he’d be an idiot, and that’s not the vibe I got from him. So, congrats Bri, you just turned yourself AND Jackson into cheaters. I mean, you do you and all, but WOW. I get that we are Camerons and drama WILL find us, but I didn’t think you are THIS eager for it.”

“Bish, drama found me long before this, I get side-swiped by fate grinning gleefully, whether I create it or not.”

“Except you DID create that. Again, because of Jackson. Damn Bri, you are sailing straight for a giant clusterfuck.”

“Nope. You know how many people have affairs? Jackson and I are getting what we want and if nobody ever finds out, nobody gets hurt. I don’t see why we shouldn’t? I want him, he wants me, I would choose him in a heartbeat, but I am NOT moving to Chestnut Ridge. Not happening. So, unless Jackson packs up and moves here, this is as good as it is gonna get. I am not giving him up. Or Brad. I really care about Brad. Maybe I love him too. Maybe I love two men. Why not?” Bri decided.

“So, if you love Brad, why didn’t you have the first time with him, like, oh I don’t know, a reasonable person with a brain and a basic understanding of morals would have? I think a LOT of guys are hella cute, some definitely like me back, but you don’t see me jumping into bed with all of them, do you? Why would you do something so outrageous and stupid KNOWING it will eventually blow up in your face, hurting everyone? This has no legs, Bri, so seriously: WHY?!” Iris pressed.

“Because Brad is sweet, and he does treat me like a queen, but he is so … so …. Brad. You know … too …. too ….” Briar Rose struggled to explain.

“Safe? Too Brad-esque?” Iris helped.

“Yeah, too Brad-esque. He’s probably a real good lay, I mean he is considerate and sweet and cute AF and all, but not … ya know ….”

“First-time-worthy?”

“Yeah, exactly. That had to be … right. Special. Like the crescendo in music, the big everything of everything. Someone experienced, not another first-timer giving me my first time like two blind people in a windtunnel.” Bri giggled making her sister laugh.

“Okay, well, I can’t argue with that. Don’t even really blame ya, I mean, Jackson does bring a LOT to the table, in that kinda primal and rugged way, whenever he’s at the pool at Connor’s the scenery gets a serious upgrade, and he makes cute Brad look like an accountant. Which is why I have a guy like Sterling for a boyfriend, he’s not so Bay-smooth, kinda rugged too, older than me, has experience, which made my first time something memorable, not something I need to see a therapist about. Hmm.

Who knows, Sterling may well be the man I will one day marry, in a decade or so, and at least I already know romantically he won’t be yawn-worthy. And he’s soooooo hawt! I mean, if Brad’s just not sparking joy with you, you should be honest about it. I can see why, too, I really like him, but you are too fiery compared to him. I mean, he has his entire life already planned out, he’s so cute and sweet, but someone you marry at 25, not the one you have fun with while you’re still young and have options.” Iris theorized.

“That definitely is Jackson. 100%!”

“Soooo …. you liked it?”

“OMG – yes. I kinda wanna do it again and again. At least NOW I get why Grandpa Blaine is the way he is. I thought he was just absolutely repulsive and weird, now I just wanna go high-five him and apologize for passing judgement.” Briar Rose giggled.

“Not to mention our parents, aka human-like rabbits. I liked it too and … ditto. Lucky for me is that an actual option for me. You may have to test-drive Brad and see how that measures up to scratch any itches that may arise in between you finding ways to sneak around with your cowboy side-dude. Okay, fine, your secret’s safe with me, sis. But you HAVE to pick just one of them. You can’t have two guys. That NEVER works.”

“We’re definitely Camerons. The Blaine side of the family, fo’ sho’!” Bri giggled.

“I hope not. I don’t want 7 kids!” Iris said making them both laugh hysterically.

San Sequoia
The Coneira
Almost a week later

“We need to talk.” Jackson whispered in a low voice, covertly looking around like a spy as he had joined Bri at the buffet table, randomly sticking food on his plate without even looking.

“Meet me out by the side, round front.” she whispered back.

Bri waited a few minutes before following him after she saw him slip outside.

When she turned the corner, she was pulled into a long, deep kiss making her knees buckle.

Breathlessly, they stood quietly, holding on to one another.

“Where are we going with this, Bri? What are we doing? Am I telling Taylor about us? Does Brad know?” Jackson said, the tremble of his words felt sweet, but his words made her pull away from him to look at him.

Bri shook her head.

“No. We can’t. I want to, I do. But it makes no sense. This. Us. I don’t see how.”

Jackson frowned, looking around, then at the ground while kicking a few rocks.

“I figured you’d say that. And you’re right. I wanna argue with you, I wanna try and convince ya, but I don’t know how either, this dog just won’t hunt. I have thought and thought about it, I can’t figure it out. Makes me feel like such a hypocrite now. I could never understand why my dad chased AG so hardcore for so long, always hoping and wishing and dreaming, even though to everyone else it was obvious there was no way. Now I get it. I have turned into my dad.” Jackson sighed deeply.

“Nah, you’re way hotter. I think AG really loved him at some point, she used to live in the Bay, like across the beach from us, so we saw the entire drama unfold. She’s my cousin in case you haven’t figured that part out yet. We’re not exactly super-close with them, but of course we’re kinda vaguely in touch. Her mom is my dad’s older sister and used to torture him when he was growing up, so … ya know. Obviously, she’s matured from that, as has my dad, and she’s never been anything but nice to Iris and me, but she’s not someone you wanna piss off. As your dad found out …”

“Oh crap, I didn’t even realize that. Your aunt is ViVa and your cousin is a queen. Goddaaaaaaaaamn. I don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell here.” Jackson deduced, frustrated.

“You have every chance, Jackson. I’d be yours in a heartbeat, flaunting you proudly, but it’s the logistics that screw us. I can’t do Chestnut Ridge and no offense, you are just not Bay-material.”

“So, you’re still with Brad? Why isn’t he here then?”

“Touring colleges with his parents. Where’s Taylor?”

“Back home, she had some family stuff going on, and I honestly didn’t push very hard, cos I wasn’t sure where this with us was going. Looks like she’ll be here next time.”

“Next time your dad gets engaged?” Briar Rose giggled.

“Next time your brother throws a party, funny girl. My dad got engaged weeks ago, and they already celebrated in HOB, but I couldn’t get away, Connor and Keira had to leave early because of work, so they insisted on throwing a party here too, since a lot of people here know my dad – and Izzy – that couldn’t make it to HOB. No matter what parties we meet at and why, this sucks, Bri. I got my damn hopes up. I don’t know why, I knew this couldn’t ever go anywhere. Still, here we are, and reality feels like a kick to the groin.”

“I am sorry. Hey, come with me. I think I can sweeten the blow a little.”

She took his hand and ran, he ran with her. Just ran, no questions, no explanations.

They ran together until she slowed down as they reached a house, followed by Jackson Bri went up to the door, pulled a key out and unlocked, pulling Jackson inside with her as she keyed in some code on an alarm system.

“Don’t look at me as if we were breaking and entering, obviously I am allowed inside here or I wouldn’t have the key, let alone the code. This house belongs to a friend of Connor and Keira’s, she’s traveling, they stuck me with watering her plants, and this is what they get for pulling the ‘while you are with us we are your parents’ card and task me with manual labor I didn’t volunteer for. Fuck Chelsea’s plants. Bedroom’s upstairs.”

She smiled at him, then ran up the stairs, Jackson after her, she pulled him into a room, clearly some female’s bedroom, Bri walked up in front of Jackson, shoved him backwards, so he ended up sitting on the bed, while she started digging through drawers, Jackson was too surprised by everything to say anything about it, until Bri let out a triumphant sound, then turned to him, holding up a package of condoms, smiling, before straddling Jackson’s lap.

“How did you know those would be there?” Jackson wondered.

“Chelsea is a single woman with two kids from two different men, neither baby daddy is in the picture. Translation: likes one-night stands. And what do you use if you are a responsible slut and out of bedrooms for more kids?” Bri laughed.

Smiling, while shaking his head, Jackson just enjoyed the stolen moments with Bri, holding her, kissing her, trying to memorize every sensation.

“Jackson, I am loving this – so much – but we need to hurry or someone will notice we are both not at that party.”

He nodded, they kissed more, he let himself fall backwards.

Not long after that they succumbed to their forbidden passion again.

By the time they made it back to the party, nobody had even noticed they were even gone.

Again and again they would end up near each other that night, covertly touching each other’s hands until it was time to say their goodbyes. Again.