Page 53 of Just the Wrong Twin

When he got back to the hotel, he pulled out his phone. He stared at Sonia’s number but didn’t push the button.

One-and-done was his rule.

He shouldn’t be the one to break it.

If he was this much of a mess after just one night, that was a good warning not to proceed further. Once upon a time, he could have leaned into this and ridden the tide as far as it would take him. No more. He couldn’t deal with a disappointment like that ever again.

Nate shoved the phone into his pocket and went to shower. He’d order a pizza, with everything, eat too much of it and watch the football highlights.

Tomorrow was the beginning of his big chance and he wasn’t going to blow it.

Seven

Sonia’s hair came out better than she’d expected. It was fabulous. Even Kyle had pretended to take a blow to the heart when he first saw the result. He was rocking Ariel, who slumbered in the crook of his arm, and staggered backward, faking a fatal hit.

“You were always a knock-out, but wow, Sonia,” he said. “Wow. That looks fantastic.”

“It’s Lauren’s artistry at work.” Sonia shook her head. Her hair had been cut shorter but still hung past her shoulders. The color was many hues of pink, shading from peach to fuchsia and into palest peony. Her hair felt bouncy and healthy, and the color was better than she’d imagined. Her hair swung more now that it was shorter and she could see the rosy color on all sides.

“But your idea,” Lauren said. She pushed a hand into the back of Sonia’s hair, proprietary now that she’d cut and colored it. “Your hair is so healthy and this brings out the shine. It’s a good color for you, too, and complements your skin tone. Your idea was exactly right.”

“It totally suits you,” Kyle said.

“I love it,” Sonia said, then gave Lauren a hug. “Thank you so much.”

“You make me want to open up shop again,” Lauren said, flicking a glance at Kyle. “Maybe after everything gets back to normal.”

“You might have to if the club doesn’t reopen soon,” he said, more serious that he usually was.

“Really? Are we doing so badly?” Sonia asked.

Kyle shrugged. “It’s the end of the world, if you listen to Ty.” He winked. “Fortunately, I never do.”

They laughed together, then Kyle surrendered Ariel to Lauren, kissing the baby’s forehead before he left.

“You’ll be two hours, max,” Lauren chided him. “It’s not farewell forever.”

“I like to keep everything covered,” Kyle said, then kissed Lauren so lingeringly that Sonia went out to the car herself.

That was what she wanted. True love forevermore. Lauren and Kyle had met years before and both had always known they’d met the one person right for them. It had taken them a while to connect—and Lauren had married and divorced in between—but two seconds in their presence would convince the biggest skeptic that true love didn’t fade.

It just kept getting stronger.

Sonia stood by the car, thinking about Nate and wishing she’d meet someone like him who hadn’t already fallen for someone else. That tattoo was evidence that he’d lost his heart already and it wasn’t his to share. Her night with Nate was kind of like the nights of all the women who had been with Kyle after he met Lauren and before they got together again. They were hook-ups that were fun but never destined to be more.

That didn’t mean they weren’t worth the price of admission.

She’d never forget that night with Nate.

She listened to Kyle and Lauren, then thought about Nate’s comment of a family of choice. If Kyle was like a big brother, what about Cassie? A big sister, clearly. And Ty was the oldest brother, the kind of distant one, who would do anything for anyone he cared about. Nate was right: the entire team at F5F could have been the big family Sonia had never had, a family of choice instead of a family of blood. She trusted them completely and that was why she didn’t want to leave the club.

From her classes, she knew that individuals needed a support network. When you don’t have a family of blood, you have to build a family of choice. F5F had been part of her recovery, even though she hadn’t thought about it at the time. She couldn’t have made such progress without them.

And now she could share that with an audience. It was going to be so great, with the entire team helping to make the podcast the best it could be. The idea made her smile in anticipation.

Then she wondered whether there was any chance of another night with Nate. He was good for what ailed her and the idea of hitting on him for a repeat made her smile broaden.

“Ah, plans already,” Kyle said when he emerged from the house. “There’s something about a good haircut that gives a woman ideas.” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “Should I be taking you somewhere other than back home?”

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