**HEY YA'LL LONG TIME NO TALK!  I know I've been a little MIA but Christmas break was crazy busy for my family. We got a new puppy! I put a couple pictures of her below because she is just too cute for one! Her name is Frankie, but we call her Frankie girl. She's an absolute shit head, but we love her so much. 

Anyway, I hope you come to enjoy this story as much as I already have as I've been writing it! YAY TO NEW BEGINNINGS! As I said, my 20th is in two days, so I think this is the perfect time to start this story off! ENJOY AND HAPPY FRIDAY!

FOR SOME REASON THIS PART GOT UNPUBLISHED SO I'M SORRY! 

**STARTING DATE IN THE STORY: One Day Before January**

Tansy's POV

All my life, I made every decision without the fear of repercussion because I always had my big sister there to fix my mistakes. She felt responsible for me growing up without a father figure for the majority of my life. I never blamed her for it, I wouldn't dare. It wasn't until I finally grew old enough to understand what happened that she told me all about what she and my mother had been through with him.

Maybe that's why I had issues settling down and trusting people. I grew up in a household in which only ever relied on my mother working the skin off her knuckles. I didn't see the need to settle down, not when I could take care of myself just fine. Except for that itch...the one you just can't scratch on your own.

My current mindset was also the main instigator of the only fights my beautiful sister and I ever got into. It was something Poppy just couldn't comprehend. Mainly because she's had her husband wrapped around her dainty damn finger since day one.

I pushed away the annoying thoughts before averting my attention back to Evan, who was sitting across from me at the little bistro table.

"I'm so glad you could finally make it. I swear, you were avoiding me the past few weeks." I laughed while picking at my food. Her face morphed into one of guilt, confirming my previous accusation.

"To be fair, I was avoiding everyone, not just you." She teased, trying to harshen the blow. I scoffed in mock anger before chucking one of my baby tomatoes at her. It nailed her in the cheek before falling onto the ground. She and I both giggled, instantly getting back into our old routine before she decided to up and disappear on everyone.

"So, since we haven't talked in awhile, has my mom let up on you about finding someone to settle down with?" She asked before stuffing her mouth with a big bite of pasta and moaning. I just shook my head at her, noting how extremely Knox-like that mannerism was before rolling my eyes at her question.

"Ugh, what do you think?" I grumbled in annoyance.

"Of course not." We both said simultaneously. There was a brief pause before we both cracked up, I snorted as I struggled to catch my breath. I knew I was incredibly lucky to have such a good connection with my family - it was something I vowed never to take for granted. A fond smile crossed my face as I thought about our numerous sleepovers spent with me telling her the horrors of high school. She was lucky I was four years older - she never had to make the dumb mistakes that I did because I was always looking out for her.

Snapping out of my reverie, I replied, "I swear she almost lost her head when she'd found out I had sex with Robby after we broke it off. I mean, being with only one person your whole life is great and really romantic, but it's hardly practical. People have sex with their partners all the time before they finally find the right one and settle down. It's like buying shoes. You have to try a few on before you know which style fits you the best before you make the commitment to buying it. There's nothing wrong with trying one on and loving it, but there's also nothing wrong with trying a few on, too." I reasoned, genuinely believing what I said.

"I don't know how you did it, but my God that analogy works." Evan joked before finishing off her food - I wasn't even sure she tasted the damn meal. I took a leisure sip of my wine as I studied her face. The purple bags that used to be present under her eyes were gone and she looked more refreshed than I'd ever seen her. There's only one reason a woman gets that look on her face.

"Alright, who is he, how long have you been seeing each other, and I wanna hear about the sex because it's clearly good." I demanded, excitement dripping in my tone. She didn't question how I knew, but rather just laughed with a massive smile on her face - probably thinking about whoever he was right at this very moment.

"I met him at a bar about four days ago. I don't even understand myself how it ended up being what it is now, because we certainly didn't start things off on the right foot, but he stole my apartment key from Brandon and he calls me his, so interpret that as you will because we haven't clarified what this whole thing is officially. We don't know anything about each other, either." She confessed as her cheeks lit up with a bright rosy blush.

"You dirty dog! You screwed after four days?" I squealed, astonished by the new piece of information. This was so unlike her. Well, actually, this was very like the Nicole women in general, so I wasn't sure why I was so surprised. She shushed me as people began to stare and whisper.

"Keep it down!" She hissed playfully before laughing, but I just couldn't help myself. I knew I looked like a giddy two-year-old as I was basically bouncing up and down in my chair.

"Oh my god, this is so exciting! Wait, so you've officially lost your V-card then?" I asked after leaning towards her, staring intently at her face as to not miss a single indication.

"Oh no, I didn't lose it. I know exactly who has it - and no, it wasn't after four days. Try, like, an hour." She whispered before finishing off her glass of wine in three big gulps. My jaw dropped as she avoided my shocked gaze for a few moments before finally making eye contact with me.

"You're messing with me. This has got to be a joke. You dated Brandon for almost a year and barely ever messed around with him let alone do the dirty, but this guy got you into bed in an hour? How does that even happen?" I gawked, unable to comprehend just what was going through her head that night.

"I don't know. I never expected to lose it that way. I always wanted it to be with someone I was in love with and had been with for a while, but when it came to the moment I didn't want to stop. I had this need to, you know, with him. I still don't regret it. And holy shit Tansy, I can't even tell you how good." She drawled dramatically while giving me that look.

"That good?" I blanched.

"Better. We went at it all night. I could barely walk the next morning, and even then, we still managed to go another round in the shower." She admitted. I couldn't refrain from doing my signature happy dance - even though I knew I looked like a grade A idiot.

"Wait!" I suddenly demanded, catching her off guard with my serious expression. "More importantly, is he big?" I asked, my face a controlled pensive mask.

"Huge. I can just barely get my hand wrapped around him and he's got to be at least ten inches." She whispered as the old ladies at the table next to us gave us both a dirty side eye.

"Please tell me he has an older brother?" I begged, needing to experience exactly for myself what she was describing. It was almost cruel of her to be so blatantly dick-happy while I was sitting here so blatantly dick-depressed like a schmutz. She saw my expression and knew exactly what I was thinking but just laughed and shrugged her shoulders.

"I couldn't tell you. I do, however, plan to find out tonight. Like I said, he gave me his key and said he wants me there with dinner ready when he gets home." She explained, a wide smile on her face that I wasn't even sure she knew she was sporting. By the knowing look on her face, she knew that throwing all this at me at once was just for her own entertainment. It's like she wanted to see me lose my damn mind. I took a big swig of my wine before wiping the edges of my mouth.

"You've got to stop with all this big info, girl. You're going to give me a heart attack. Although, that last tid-bit there kinda makes him sound like a misogynistic asshole." I admitted as my face morphed into one of concern. I didn't want her getting herself into a bad situation that she couldn't easily get herself out of.

"He didn't demand that I cook the food myself, per se, he just said he wanted dinner ready for when he got home. And to be honest, it turns me on when he's pushy and domineering. I don't know, Brandon was never the type to order me around or anything of that sort so I never really knew any different but now...I've gotten a taste of being dominated and I don't think I could ever go back." She admitted with cheeks red as the tomato I threw at her. I refrained from teasing her because I could tell she genuinely needed to talk to someone about how she was feeling. If only she knew of the stories her mother, and my sister, had told me about their own bedroom adventures...

"Ugh, you're so much like my sister it makes me sick. Bleh." I said dramatically while riding my brain of the disturbing thoughts as I finished the rest of my alcohol. Evan just laughed at me before flagging our waitress over to get our checks.

"Going somewhere so soon?" I inquired with a single raised eyebrow. She bit her lip as a sheepish look took over her face.

"I want to find something sexy to wear tonight for Scar and what I'm planning for dinner tonight doesn't give me much time..." She trailed off, begging me with her eyes to understand. I huffed before rolling my eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. Go parade around in some lace for lover boy if that's what your heart wants." I joked before nudging her playfully leading us as we began walking back to our cars.

Watching the way she manoeuvred around with a constant happy smile on her face made my heart constrict with an unknown feeling. I used to be perfectly content in life spending my days being mildly miserable with Evan before going home to toy with Robby for the rest of the night - whether it be through sexy texts or photos or promises I wasn't planning on keeping. Well, until today I guess. I almost regret asking her about her love life's current state, I should've known that it would only make me feel worse about my inability to commit. Not to Robby, though. Guy is dumber than a box of fucking rocks I thought to myself before releasing a quick snort of laughter but damn is he good in bed...

I stopped my thoughts from getting too out of hand before releasing a defeated sigh and slumping into the driver's seat of my car. It didn't come as a surprise to me that Evan's relationship with this guy had already escalated to the point that it was at now. Us Nicole women had a knack for picking the most demanding men, difficult men possible and domesticating them within record time. Evan is definitely no exception, but me on the other hand...

Whipping out my phone I dialled Poppy only to be sent to voicemail a few seconds later.

"That bitch!" I scoffed, feeling insulted. I threw my phone into the passenger seat of the car before gunning out of the parking spot and speeding towards the one place that felt more like home than my own growing up.

Pulling into the driveway I got out and made a beeline for the front door. Shoving it open, I wasn't shocked to find it unlocked. They did live in a gated community I reminded myself.

"Hey T!" Brock called from the living room where the rest of his little juvenile football gang was hanging out and watching some sports show - also not a surprise. This house has been the catch-all for children since Evan and Ellie were old enough to have play dates. People just seemed to naturally gravitate towards our family - we definitely knew how to have a good time.

"Where's your mom?" I asked over my shoulder while checking in her sunroom only to come up empty-handed.

"Her and dad are upstairs." He yelled his distracted reply while intently watching some game replay.

I made my way to the top of the stairs before swinging right and throwing their bedroom door open.

"Hey, why did you ignore my ca-OH SHIT!" I yelled before averting my eyes and slamming the door shut behind me. It would be different walking in on your sister having sex if that's all she was to you, but my sister was practically my second mother growing up. I shuddered before forcing myself to erase the images from my mind. God, even my married sister was getting way more action than I was - and she had four grown kids!

I fell backwards as the door I was leaning my weight against was swung open.

"I know I've lectured you on knocking before just barging into a room." Poppy scolded, a slight tinge of pink still covering her cheeks.

"Yes, well we all got to experience how well I listened during those. God, haven't you two heard of putting a sock on the doorknob." I grimaced before sauntering into the room.

"I shouldn't have to prevent people from walking in on me banging my wife in my own home." Came Knox's irritated growl from the entrance of their bathroom.

"You have four fucking kids buddy, I don't know why you have this illusion that you get any personal space." I joked before chucking a pillow at his head. Usually he would just smile and send a jibe back, but this time he just glowered at me before disappearing into the bathroom once again.

"What's his issue?" I grunted.

"Well, he's been really busy with work so we haven't gotten a lot of time for just the two of us and you kind of just ruined our first moment alone in the past week and a half." She answered with a worried look on her face as she gazed after where he had been standing.

"Pfft, please. You two have sex more than some newly married couples I know. He'll be fine." I scoffed while giving a dismissive wave in his direction. Her forehead creased as she fidgeted back and forth while gnawing at her bottom lip.

"Oh Jesus H! Just go finish him off, I'll go hang out with the shit heads downstairs until you're done." I cursed before quickly making my exit.