He heard the shower start right as he began heading up the stairs.
Trent hurried up and stepped into the bedroom, where he found Ann laying in bed with her laptop and Molly groggily studying her phone.
"Hey, you okay?" Ann asked as he came in.
"Yeah, I'm going with Mae and company out to Briddle. I need a shower," he replied, gathering up a fresh set of clothes.
"You sure?" Molly asked, yawning.
"Yeah, I'm sure. Ann, you okay with staying here with Jessica?"
"Yeah...she's scared of me," she murmured.
"She's scared of all of you. You were nice to her while I was...incapacitated, right?"
"Yes, dear, we were nice," Ann replied. "But...we need to have...a conversation. About your relationship."
He sighed heavily. "Yeah, I know."
"So Bea told you that your sister wants to fuck your brains out?" Molly asked with a smirk. He sighed heavily again. "Not judging! I think it's hot, honestly. I've never actually encountered real incest before. I go looking for it a lot online, but you can never tell, you know?"
"So you're into it, too?" he asked.
"Duh! Who isn't? I mean, yeah, there's a lot of people who get the ick factor when thinking about a dude banging his mom or cousin or whatever, but I mean...so many other people are into it. Why do you think there's so much step-cest porn? People wanna bang their hot siblings, and your sibling is hot. Good lord."
"I'm having trouble discussing this right now," Trent said. "So...I'm going to go take a shower."
"Then I'm sorry," Ann said.
He sighed. "Because Mae's in there and she wants to discuss this, huh?"
"Yep."
"Right." He finished gathering his clothes and headed into the bathroom.
"Trent?" Mae asked from the shower.
"It's me," he replied, setting his clothes on the toilet seat and then brushing his teeth. A moment later, he was in the shower with her.
"Hey," she said, looking awkward.
"Hey. Bea said you wanted to speak with me about my sister."
"Yeah…" She looked...guilty?
"Mae, what'd you do?" he asked, crossing his arms.
She winced. "I...cheated. While you were stoned."
He felt his eyes widened. "WHAT?!"
For a moment she looked confused, then her own eyes widened and she shook her head vigorously. "NO NOT LIKE THAT!" she cried. "I mean with my powers!"
"But you don't...have them anymore," he replied, immediately losing all the tension that had been zapped into his body. "Shit, you scared me."
"Yeah, sorry, needed better wording. But...I guess I still kinda have them? Sometimes? I don't know, babe, I really don't know. But I decided to try? Because, like, this is really important, and I wanted to know for sure, like if she actually cared about you and was sorry?"
"And, was she?" he asked.
She frowned, staring at him. "What do you think? I want to know your gut instinct."
"My guts are telling me that she's telling the truth, and I can trust her. So…?"
Mae looked relieved. "Your gut is right. She's telling the truth. She really does feel bad, and she really does love you, and she really does want to make things better between you. And...she really does want to fuck you." He sighed. "I didn't even look for that! It was just...there! Like, she's still kind of conflicted, or was as of yesterday, but not that conflicted. I think she's been thinking about it for awhile, and seeing you again really reignited that...probably should know the answer to this question, but, like, how old is she?"
"She turned twenty one last month," he replied, "we're only two years apart there, so there isn't a problem with age."
"...you gonna hit that?" Mae asked. He sighed. "I told you! I told you!"
"I know, and you were right. And...I don't know. This is a lot to decide all at once. I mean...yeah, there's a part of me that wants to. That really wants to. But shit, I dunno, is it not a crazy idea?"
"I mean, if it is, so?" she replied.
"So? What if I fuck something about our lives up?"
"How could you? My only real concern was that she might be lying, like this is some kind of long-game scheme by your family, but now I know that isn't true. I mean, you might get her pregnant, but we can deal with that. I mean...I dunno, I'm just saying, I think this is one of those times where you shouldn't let your desires be drowned out by some bullshit society told you. They tell us we're not supposed to bang our sisters but why? We can pretty much perfectly control pregnancy now and if no one has any STDs, I mean, what's the problem?"
"...yeah, that's a good point," he replied. "But I need to think about it more. See if maybe there's something I haven't considered." He sighed heavily. "God, this is ridiculous...whatever, doesn't matter right now. What matters is you and your big trip."
Now Mae sighed. "Yeah. Stupid trip. I hate this."
"It'll be okay."
"What if it isn't!? What if they decide I'm fucking crazy and try to lock me up!?"
"I wouldn't let that happen," he replied. "Not unless you were having an actual psychotic break. Then I would. Which you should be grateful for...sorry, that came out kind of assholeish."
"No, you're right. I am grateful. But I'm just...worried," she muttered.
"I know, but we'll be there for you."
"Yeah, I wouldn't be able to do this without all you guys. Ugh, fuck this shit. I guess I should get ready to face the music," she replied.
"You should, and hey, we'll have to do it, too."
"Probably, yeah. We're all pretty fucked up." She paused. "Sorry. Was that, um, insensitive?"
"No, you're correct, we are all fucked up. Clearly, I am."
"How do you, um...feel?"
"Better. Like, a lot better. I'm not over it, but...I can finally start healing, I think."
She smiled, then stepped forward and hugged him. "I'm so glad. This hurt, but I'm so glad we got through it. Or at least the worst of it."
"You have no idea how fucking grateful I am for you and the others," he murmured, wrapping his arms around her.
"We do," she replied, smiling up at him.
She let go of him and stepped back into the water.
They washed up, dressed, caught a quick breakfast, and then they hit the highway.
They were in his Jeep, Bea driving, Trent in the passenger's seat beside her, Mae and Molly in the back. Trent twisted around and looked at the two of them for a moment.
"So...I don't know if anyone talked about this yet, but we should, regardless. And this isn't to like, rush you or anything. But basically...have we decided what's going to happen with Molly?" he asked.
"No, we haven't really talked about it," Mae replied.
"What do you want to happen, Molly?" Bea asked after a long, awkward moment.
"I want to stay," she replied after seeming to gather her courage.
"For how long?" Mae asked.
"...forever." Silence in the car. "Sorry," she murmured.
"It's okay," Mae said. "We asked what you wanted." She looked at Trent inquisitively.
"We...have discussed this possibility. Of folding you into our lives. We would need to have a proper and full discussion about this involving Ann, but I can already see problems. The first and biggest one is that we are already running out of space. Mae has claim over the basement, and that can't really change, I think. I might be willing to give up my office, but...I don't know. It seems important to my process right now. And we have a big bed, and we could get a bigger one, but...it feels crowded. But that isn't to say we aren't willing to just feel crowded. Because...we do like you. You're definitely different from the rest of us, but that isn't really a bad thing. You fit pretty well with us, you have things to offer the household, I think."
"Yeah, definitely," she replied. "I mean, I can definitely clean and I'm actually pretty good at making food. And I have absolutely no problem providing services of a more...sultry nature. And that includes everyone...I think."
"Don't worry, Molly. I'd never pressure you to do anything you don't want to," Trent said.
"I know, that's why I'm willing to do things for you. I mean, there's other reasons, but...yeah. I'm sure I can also pick up a job around town. I guess, I'm saying I'm willing to work with you all, because honestly, I'm really waking up to the fact that this is, by a mile, my best option for a better life. And I don't want to say that's the only reason why, obviously, but I do want to be realistic."
"No, I get it," Bea said. "I...kinda had the same realization. I know Ann did."
"I did," Mae murmured, "when I really began to realize how awesome Trent was. But I warned him, too."
"You all warned me," Trent said. "I haven't regretted it once yet. Not any of the relationships. So...we're in favor of making this work?"
"I am," Mae said.
"Yeah, me too," Bea agreed.
"We've spoken with Ann about it already and she pretty much said she was cool with it and put it in our hands," Trent said. "So...yeah, unless she has a strong opinion against it…"
"That's awesome but ugh it'll suck to have to wait," Molly said.
"Hmm. That's a good point." He fished his phone out of his pocket, put it on speaker, and called up Ann.
"Wait, what are you doing?" Molly asked.
"Dealing with this here and now so you don't have to wait," Trent replied.
Ann picked up. "Hello? Everything going okay?"
"Yep. You're on speaker, babe. We're still driving out. But we're talking about Molly. She wants to officially join the household and the relationship." He paused, looked to Molly. "That's right, right?"
"That's right," Molly replied. "I figured I'd date Mae and, if she wanted, Ann, and then I'd, you know, see what happens with you and Bea."
"Yeah, we brought it up, talked it over, we're all cool with it, and Molly didn't want to wait to know for sure, for obvious reasons, so I figured we'd talk it over now," Trent said.
"I was pretty sure this is where this was going, and I'm cool with it, and yes, I want to date you as well, Molly. Obviously," Ann said.
Molly laughed. "Well, um, thank you. So...it's official? I live with you? I'm dating you?"
"Yes," they all said.
"...that was easy."
"That's something we place a premium on," Trent replied. "How's everything going there, Ann?"
"Good. Catching your sister up more on everything that had happened while we put together lunch. She's pretty cool, actually. Kinda more preppy than we're used to, but whatever. Also...Trent, love, about your sister…"
"Yeah…?" he replied cautiously.
"If I were in your shoes...I would," she whispered.
"Same," Mae and Molly both said at the same time.
He sighed. "We are not talking about this right now."
"Okay, honey. Love you. See you when you get home, everyone. And we should celebrate, new girlfriend," Ann said.
"Oh we will," Molly replied and Mae cackled loudly.
"Looking forward to it."
"Me too, later Ann," Trent said. They said their goodbyes and hung up.
A moment of silence passed in the car as they drove along the highway. It was just before the lunch rush and Trent was hoping they could get into Briddle before it started, then by the time they wanted to get out of Briddle they'd have passed it.
"Man, this feels...so cool," Molly murmured.
"Yep!" Mae replied, then laughed again and suddenly laid down, putting her head in Molly's lap. "Man, like, we met at a party in a basement that I only came to because I was trying to rekindle my relationship with Bea. We drove, like, an hour and a half to get there."
"Yep, and then you decided I was so hot you had to stalk me," Molly replied, laughing.
"I have a confession," Mae murmured.
"I'm listening."
"I, um...forgot about you for awhile. I didn't mean to! It just, like...so much happened on-oh shit," she said.
"Oh shit," Trent said.
"Oh...yeah, shit," Bea muttered.
"Oh what?" Molly asked, suddenly worried.
"Um...there are things that happened to us, like really big, bad things, and...now you're part of the household, and...we need to have a discussion about what we're going to tell you...and how much you want to know."
"Everything," Molly said immediately.
"Why?" Mae asked.
"Because I'm in this for real. Like, I'm not just here to fuck around and casually date you guys. I'm moving in. I'm all in. I'm here. This is my life now. I want to abandon my old life completely and start a new one with you guys. So I want to know everything. I mean, you know, everything that isn't super private to one of you or something."
"...this is going to be complicated," Trent said after a moment.
"What happened? Because you guys keep referring to some big thing that happened, and I want to know."
"It's really scary," Mae whispered.
"Does it have anything to do with you getting shot?" she asked, looking at Trent.
"Yes. That was part of it," he replied. "A tiny part of it. By far not the scariest part."
"Ugh, why do so many bad things happen to us?!" Mae moaned.
"You know why," Bea replied.
Mae had been covering her eyes dramatically but now she slowly pulled her hands back. "Do you really think so?"
"Yes, it was focused on you, Mae. And I'm not saying anyone blames you, because no one does, but that's why. I think its attention is kind of like...radiation. Bad luck, you know? I think it's mostly burned off by now, but yeah, that was why."
"Okay, what the fuck was...it?" Molly asked. "Because I can tell you aren't joking. Did you fight like a fucking monster in the woods or a demon or something?" No one said anything or could meet her eye. "...are you fucking kidding me? I mean, I've always wondered about that kind of shit, paranormal shit and aliens and cryptids, but like...for real?"
"...yes," Mae murmured.
"Holy fucking shit. How bad?"
"It could be worse, I think, but not by much," Trent replied.
"Holy fucking shit, is Possum Springs like a fucking Lovecraft town? Where there's some ancient horror underground somewhere?"
"Wow, um, spot on," Mae said.
"Are you fucking serious!?"
"Yes...I'm sorry. I know this isn't what you expected…" she murmured.
"How much danger am I in?" Molly asked.
"Probably none. I mean, we killed or arrested the cult-"
"There was a cult? Fucking of course there was a cult, it's Lovecraft," she muttered. "Sorry, keep going."
"Like the FBI came in and everything. And we...buried the, um, the creature as well as we could. And we found and destroyed all of their totems of power...are you seriously just accepting all this? Like this sounds insane even to me. This sounds like bullshit."
"I believe you. There's too much weird shit in the world and I've just always felt...I dunno, I believe. That's the best way I can put it: I believe. I'm not stupid about it, or I try not to be, but I believe in this shit. And I believe you guys."
"Well, cool. That makes it easier, at least. But yeah, we dealt with it as well as we could, but like...it can't die? We robbed it of as much power as we could, and I don't know if we'll have to deal with it again. I imagine it might come up again in like forty years or something, I dunno why, it just seems like the kind of thing that would happen. But...you should be fine? Like we haven't heard from it at all since we dealt with it back in January. And we'll tell you about the whole thing tonight. We can get baked and Ann has to be there. I kinda want Gregg and Angus on the phone...but I don't want to talk about this over the phone, you know? And also, like, don't tell anyone about this, obviously. This is all super ultra mega top secret. Like take to your grave secret. But also it's really important that you understand that...you just don't talk about...it. It's dangerous to talk about it. I don't know why, I can't answer why because I don't know, but just don't talk about it."
"Okay, I believe you on that, too. It's in line with other weird-ass Lovecraft-type shit," Molly murmured. "God, this is so...huge."
"It's a lot to live with," Trent said.
"We're almost there," Bea murmured, and took an exit.
"Ugh, I hate this shit," Mae groaned.
"You've got this, Maebelline," Molly said.
Mae laughed softly. "What was that? Maebelline?"
"It's a product line of makeup."
"Is that my pet name?" she asked.
"Yeah, I guess so," Molly replied. "And you got this. And I know I'll be even more of a mess when I gotta do this."
"We'll be here for you then, too," Mae said.
"We will," Trent agreed.
"And we're here," Bea said, pulling into a parking lot.
She parked and then killed the engine. A long moment of silence passed, the only sound that of the engine winding down, then nothing. Finally, Mae let out a long, long, weary, unhappy sigh and disengaged her seatbelt.
"Let's just get it done."