Page 64 of Never Say Never

"Not surprised, you two are really smart," I said, meaning every word.

They both beamed at my praise.

"What else?"

A mischievous smile came over Navy's face. "We succeeded in Operation: Take Each Other’s Place."

"What now?" York asked.

Nyra elbowed her twin and both looked to me for help.

"Ah. What they mean is they tricked a few kids into believing they were each other."

York stared his girls down. He had the same glare my mother used to fix on me and Gin. There was no winning against it.

Navy, to my surprise, was the first to cave. "I spent a week in Nyra's classes and the teachers couldn’t tell us apart."

"Navy!"

"He was giving me the you're going to be grounded look,” her twin sister was quick to explain.

Nyra shook her head.

"Is this true, Nyra?" York asked.

"Yes. We're sorry," Nyra said.

Man, she was good. Her big brown eyes pleaded for him to go easy on them.

York looked between the two of them. "Paul, did you know what they were talking about?"

"Wait, am I in trouble too?"

York's glare fixed on me, and I instantly knew the answer.

"Yes."

We played a game of checkers. Me against Nyra and Navy against York. We switched off at the end of each game. I got beat by both girls and they in turn lost to York. The girls’ yawns grew as time went on.

"Let's call it a night," York said.

"Wait, no. We're still having fun," Navy whined.

"Right, Paul?" Nyra asked.

I nodded but yawned. "I am having fun. But I don't know about you guys, the pool tires me out."

Their frowns nearly had me caving and joining their side.

"Next time I come over, we can try staying up super late. Maybe convince your dad into having a midnight party."

York was shaking his head, but I winked at the girls. We'd figure something out.

"Okay, bedtime. Brush your teeth and wash your faces," York said.

The twins raced one another as York and I followed behind them. I could have stayed back but they both looked behind them, watching us expectantly. We put them to bed, tucking in each kid. I ruffled both of their heads before stepping out and leaving York in the room with them. The moment I moved into the kitchen, I started to clean up. It wasn't until I was halfway done that York came and joined me.

"You didn't have to."

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