-----------------------2020----------------------------

Emily's cheeks had reddened when she heard what an intimate moment she had ruined between Asher and Elena. She could not be blamed, though, because Emily's eagerness to impress Julie was just as big as Elena's longing for more of Asher.

Elena didn't know why, but her relationship with Asher had gone much faster than Emily and Julie's. She didn't know if hers went too fast, or her sister's too slow. But she did know that it had not been a mistake to keep going.

She loved Asher. There was no denying that. And even a stranger could see that Asher loved Elena too. So there was no reason for them to slow down.

It was also not their speed that made them break up.

Elena still believed they had reached their milestones at just the right moments. Some things had to be postponed because of annoying brothers and sisters, but eventually it had happened. She didn't regret a thing – not even to the present day. But the break-up had to happen. She didn't like the outcome, but it was for the best.

She wondered how she would react if she saw Asher. Soon she would. No matter what she wanted, she would see the gorgeous man again. She would be reminded of the heartache that she still felt every morning when she woke up. Tears would surely burn in her eyes when she would notice him watching her. And then she would try to run away from him as fast as possible.

It was cowardly to run, but it was the only option she saw. If she stayed around Asher, he would see her hurt and her tears. And in that moment of weakness, he would convince her to stay. She would accept, because she wouldn't have the power to say no. The result would be a life with Asher while she couldn't even look at the man.

"So when did you have sex for the first time?" Kay wondered. His words brought her back to the present. She shoved the doom scenario to the back of her mind and took the bottle of wine. After dinner, the siblings had opened a fancy bottle of red wine their father used to collect. They had made themselves comfortable while Emily and Kay continued listening to Elena's stories.

Emily had said once before that she and Asher were legends, and Elena could see why. She didn't like it, though. Every person she would pass on the street would look at her. Then Elena would wonder what they were thinking, and eventually her thoughts would be with Asher.

As if it wasn't enough yet that she felt the heartache every day, their stares would remind her of the man she hurt.

Elena frowned and looked at her brother. "You want me to tell about the first time I had sex?"

Kay returned her frown. "Was it so bad?"

"No, it was... intimate... personal."

Emily scoffed. "Don't be silly. It's not so difficult to say something personal. In fact, Kay and I will also share a story."

-----------------------2014----------------------------

Julie had a hard time during her internship. She was working at the Bear Lake Memorial Hospital, the closest hospital to Saint Charles. Why she had always dreamed of becoming a nurse, Emily didn't understand. But ever since they had known each other, Julie had spoken of her dream to work at the hospital.

They had met in school. Julie was two years older, but because the school was so small, everyone knew everyone. Emily had tripped over her own feet, which earned her a cut in her arm where she had scraped a sharp rock.

She stood up, the blood running down her wrist. It looked much worse than it really was, but it still caused everyone to watch her as she walked by. The people grew quiet as their eyes followed her, but none of them came forward to help.

Except for Julie.

Emily had told her it wasn't so bad and that she was on her way to the school nurse. But Julie insisted she would stay with Emily. A few steps from the school's sick bay, Emily was happy for the woman's decision, because she felt her legs go weak and the blood drain from her face.

Julie had caught her when she fainted. And when Emily came to, Julie was urging the nurse to take care of her. For the rest of the day, Julie had stayed by her side – skipping school for a stranger.

Well, no one was a stranger to anyone in Saint Charles. But Emily and Julie had never spoken before that day. Yet after that day, not a day had passed without them talking to each other.

It soon became clear that, just like Emily, Julie didn't fall for men. They never talked about it, because there was not much to talk about. It was the way it was. No matter what people thought about it, feelings like that didn't easily change.

Emily had been wanting to tell Julie how she felt about her. Not only was she a trusted friend, she was also kind and generous, and a good listener. She could cheer Emily up when she was down, and she, too, felt like she could make Julie laugh.

When Julie called during her working hours, Emily knew something was wrong. Her friend sounded like she could break down any moment and needed someone to talk to. Emily had debated what to do, but eventually decided that a face to face conversation was worth the drive.

As quick as she could, she jumped in the car and drove to the hospital. Once there, she texted Julie, who met her outside only two minutes after receiving the text.

They talked for a long time. It was probably not good for Julie's internship that she wasted so much time sitting on a bench in front of the hospital, but hopefully it would benefit her mental state afterwards.

Julie did not really know the problem herself. It's just one of those days where you don't feel good and think that everything goes badly. Except it wasn't just one day, but more than a week.

Unsure of what to say or do, Emily just listened. She believed it was better to listen and feel compassionate, rather than try to explain and solve everything. Sometimes a solution was not needed. Just emptying your heart was enough.

For Julie it seemed to have been the same. When finally she was finished listing every bad thing that had happened to her, she sighed loudly and smiled at Emily.

"Thank you for listening, Em. I'm probably a big mess right now, and I assume you want to run away – which I would understand – but it was good to say it all. It feels like some weight has lifted off me."

Emily smiled back. "I'm glad I could help. Although it is debatable if I helped. But you feel better, that's all I wanted."

Julie took Emily's hand in hers and squeezed it. "Thank you."

Emily squeezed back. "Call me whenever you need me."

"I will," she responded while vehemently nodding her head.

To Emily's surprise – and maybe Julie's as well – Julie lifted Emily's hand and kissed her knuckles.

It was a sweet gesture, but it wasn't enough for Emily. Feeling Julie's lips on her skin made her crave more.

Before she knew it, her free hand had cupped Julie's cheek. They were gazing into each other's eyes. Never before had they been this close, and never before had Emily been so certain of her own actions.

While butterflies started flying around in her belly, she leaned closer until her lips touched Julie's. She startled at the feeling, then stiffened. But Julie didn't pull back. In fact, Julie leaned even closer and kissed Emily.

She felt so much at the same time. Weakness because of the kiss, yet strength because of the love. Fear of the unknown, yet longing for a future like this. And love. A lot of love.

Emily loved Julie. And Julie loved Emily.

What more could they want?

-----------------------2020----------------------------

Emily's story was beautiful. But it wasn't nearly as intimate as the first time Elena and Asher had sex. She had already told them of her first kiss. She had even told them of so many more kisses. Many of these stories her siblings hadn't heard yet, and they weren't easy for Elena to tell. Not because she hated them, because she did not. She loved them. And that was exactly the problem.

It was difficult to explain without thinking too much of everything, but in the end, a reminder of her past happiness hurt. Especially when she was back in her town, seeing everything she saw during those good times.

Elena knew that if she just said the word to Asher, he would take her back. Like Kay had said in Denver, it was not him who needed to forgive her.

She could postpone her story, by letting Kay tell his. And knowing her brother, he would go into detail. Too much detail, which would hopefully chase Emily out of the room. Then Elena could follow and she was saved from telling such an intimate story.

"So, Kay. Tell us your love secret," Elena said with a wink.

Kay shrugged. "Nothing as interesting as your and Emily's story. I once had sex with a girl. Afterwards, I decided to fight dad. I am gay."

Emily and Elena's mouth fell open while Kay sat casually on the coach. He had never told them about this, but he acted as if it was nothing - as if it wasn't a life changing moment for him.

He quickly brought everyone's attention back to Elena by winking at her and saying: "well? Will you tell us of it now?"