Page 127 of Just the Wrong Twin

Even Nate couldn’t get enough of the tabloids that July. Derek and Olivia owned the front pages of all of them, beginning with their epic fight in the first class cabin on their way back to California after that meeting in Tobias’ apartment. They were banned from that airline for life as a result. Sonia had told him that Gloria had called, right on schedule, after they’d left Tobias’ place. When Derek blew her off, she called Olivia. Nate had guessed it had to be something big for two people who cared so much about appearances to lose it in public.

Next was their fight in an expensive restaurant in L.A., complete with dishes flying and other guests taking cover. Nate knew that Diane had offered to publish Gloria’s tell-all book just before that, but that Gloria has said she could make a better deal. At the end of July, Derek’s death was the biggest story in town, America’s Heart-Throb having died in a tragic car accident when he drove off the highway in Malibu in the middle of the night. It had taken two days to recover the car from the ocean, but Olivia had given exclusive interviews during that time about the devastation of losing her one true love.

The twins had not gone to the funeral.

Since he and Gloria weren’t yet divorced, she inherited his entire estate and passed on the book deal, saying it might compromise future income to taint Derek’s name.

Nate couldn’t believe it.

Sonia called it karma.

At least, the bastard couldn’t do it again.

Two tabloids dedicated their next issues exclusively to Derek and his life in review.

Summer slid toward fall and Nate couldn’t believe how perfectly everything was working out. A shadow slid from Sonia’s eyes with Derek’s passing, and he knew that would only help her healing. Gloria’s sister began to call both Katia and Sonia. Pierce found Maria.

When Sheba started to make the bark of joy every time Sonia arrived, Nate knew.

When Sonia brought strings of fairy lights and hung them around the apartment, Nate knew. She’d already filled half the closet and most of the medicine cabinet, and he had no issues with her taking over his life.

Late in August, when Sonia called to tell him that Tyler and Theo had insisted she take her show out onto her own platform and license content back to them, Nate recognized his moment. She’d have to look for space for her studio and build her own team, and he wanted her to do it in Boston.

After checking with Chynna, Nate drove down to New York early on that Friday afternoon. He was going to pick up Sonia, but he had something to do first. Sheba sat in the front seat, ears pricked, as if she knew where they were going. He had a ring in his pocket, but there was one thing he had to do first.

Chynna had said it was fine if Sheba came, but Nate had forgotten about the tattoo artist’s pet raven until the last minute. He heard Tristan caw as he opened the door of the shop and grabbed for Sheba’s collar. The dog was too fast for him, though, and she gave the bark of joy.

Nate frowned in confusion and looked up, only to find Sonia sitting in the chair for Chynna’s customers. She was laughing and patting Sheba, who was wagging so hard she might lose her balance.

“What are you doing here?” Sonia asked, blushing a little.

“I could ask you the same thing,” Nate said, but he had a suspicion. She was on the table, her sleeve pushed up, and he could see her tattoo.

There was new ink around it, though.

Nate stepped to her side and gave her a long, sweet kiss, one that had his toes curling and Chynna clearing her throat.

“Do you have to guess?” Sonia whispered, her eyes shining.

Nate grinned. He dropped a finger to Sonia’s upper arm. She had a tattoo there, one of Chynna’s heart tattoos that were supposed to bring true love to the recipient. It was surrounded by the swirls of a Celtic knot, which made it look like an armband. But now it had two names in script above it.

Nate & Sonia.

“Great minds think alike.” Nate murmured, shedding his jacket as Chynna wrapped Sonia’s new tattoo.

“Are you here to add to your tattoo, too?” Sonia asked, obviously pleased by the possibility.

“Absolutely,” Nate said. “Although I was going with the opposite order. Chynna will put our names above the hearts.”

Sonia smiled, obviously pleased. “Great minds do think alike.”

“And I have another mission to accomplish today, too, something Chynna doesn’t know about.” The two women exchanged mystified glances, then Chynna started to smile. She retreated to give them a little privacy, but she kept watching. Nate knew she’d guessed.

He did the only reasonable thing possible, given the situation. He dropped to one knee and presented the ring to Sonia, a bit earlier than anticipated. It was a pink cabochon sapphire in a platinum band of Celtic knots. As soon as he’d seen it, Nate had thought it was as unique and elegant as Sonia.

“I love you, Sonia. Always and forever. Will you marry me?”

She gasped.

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