Crossroads

Realizations

Isaac POV

A groan slipped past my lips as I opened the picture Bree sent me. Her and Navy were out swimsuit shopping today and the black string bikini she was sporting in the dressing room mirror was a winner in my book.

Memphis' laugh broke my concentration on the image. I had completely forgot he was there. I sighed as I closed my phone and chucked an empty water bottle at him. We had just finished the last day of our tour rehearsals and were scoping out the bus we would be spending the next few months on.

"Sorry," he chuckled as he dropped down on the couch. "I didn't mean to interrupt your time with your phone. Would you like to be alone?"

I glared at him as I took a seat on the couch opposite him. The bus we were getting was kind of impressive. It wasn't anything like the one's I was used to growing up. Mom's buses always had a big bed in the back, a full kitchen, a dressing room area, a bathroom, and the couches and recliner in the front turned into beds. This one had a small kitchenette in the front with diner type seating, a bathroom, six bunks for me and the guys, and the back was a lounge area.

"No," I said, "I've become used to the permanent case of blue balls I’m supporting."

"Wait," he looked shocked, "you mean to tell me you and Bree haven't had sex in a while?"

"More like at all," I sighed. I've never been the guy to kiss and tell but this was Memphis. He's my best friend and if I can't talk to him about this who the hell can I talk to?

"Whoa."

"My sentiments exactly."

"Wait, didn't you tell me she freaked out the first time y'all woke up together?" he asked.

I nodded my head to answer him.

"And every time you've stayed over since then she's insisted it be at her apartment?"

I sighed, "Yes Mem. What's your point?"

"Is she a virgin?"

I full belly laughed at his question but stopped when I saw he was being serious.

"Think about it dude. Overprotective, super intimidating father and brother. You're the first person she's ever been in a relationship with," he explained. "Skittish when it comes to anything beyond making out and makes sure there's always someone present when you're in the same bed together."

I sat back on the couch as his words hit me, "Fuck."

"You know what you have to do right?" he asked.

I shook my head.

"Make her feel comfortable," he says, "show her she's safe with you."

"I don't want to pressure her to do something she's not ready for," I sigh.

"If you guys haven't talked about it or you haven't even had the opportunity to try and take it past sleeping, then how do you know she's not ready?"

"What the hell am I supposed to do?" I groan.

"You're seeing her tonight, right?"

"Yeah, we leave for the show in Atlanta tomorrow. Figured we'd do dinner and a movie at my place tonight."

Memphis pinched the bridge of his nose as he asks, "Are all of your dates like this?"

"Yeah, mostly," I shrug and give him a confused look as he mumbles under his breath. "Um, am I missing something?"

"Come on," he says as he slaps my leg and gets up. "We've got work to do."

Eighty dollars later and my apartment looks like a scene from one of those romantic movies Breana loves to watch. There are candles lit up everywhere and her favorite wine with take out from her favorite restaurant set up on nice plates on the small dining room table she helped me buy a few months ago. Classic country love songs played softly in the background.