Page 80 of Just the Wrong Twin

“You can’t be agreeing with her,” Sonia said.

“No one is more surprised than me,” Nate confessed. “But if you need my help to escape Team Satan, I’m in.”

“Excellent!” Katia said, emerging in one of Sonia’s favorite T-shirts. She gestured to Sonia’s arm. “Thank God they don’t know about your ink. We’ll pretend it’s mine. They’ll believe it.” She surveyed Sonia. “And I could be more likely to do that to my hair than you. We can sell it.” Satisfied, she dumped the contents of her purse on the bed. Sonia could have sworn that the mattress dipped low under the weight. “Ha! I knew I had another set of eyelashes. Here. I’ll put them on for you.”

“No.” Sonia stood up and took a step back.

This had gone far enough.

“You need them,” Katia said. “Trust me.”

“No. Let them come.” Sonia met Nate’s gaze across the room. “I’m not hiding anymore. I won’t be bullied by them.”

His smile was slow but warm, putting a gleam of admiration in his eyes and making her want to kiss him senseless—then jump his bones. “It’s never going to work anyway,” he said quietly.

“It’s the only thing that will work,” Katia insisted.

Nate shook his head. “No one is stupid enough to confuse the two of you, even if you trade clothes.”

“Nick did,” the two sisters said in unison.

“Nick?” Nate repeated, looking between them with narrowed eyes.

“Nick,” Sonia said and sighed that she’d been so dumb to still have hopes about Nick, years after high school. She’d walked right into that on Valentine’s Day, heart on her sleeve.

“Nick,” Katia said sadly. “That great big, gorgeous dope. It’s just wrong that a guy could be that gorgeous with so little between his ears.” She nodded at Nate. “He has the IQ of a cinnamon bun.” Then she turned to Sonia. “I was sure I could fix you two up so you could finally have your way with him, but cinnamon buns tend to forget their lines. Actually, he didn’t have any lines, for exactly that reason.”

Sonia didn’t want to talk about it.

She barely noticed Nate’s expression turning impassive. “Well, since you’ve got this covered, I’ve got to go,” he said, heading for the door. “I’ve got a long drive ahead of me.”

“But you have to take Sonia,” Katia insisted.

“No, he doesn’t,” Sonia argued.

“But what are you going to do instead?” Katia asked Sonia and Nate paused to look back.

“Not follow your plan,” Sonia said. “I’m not trading places with you. Go home, Katia, and take all your stuff with you. You never would have survived a day here without being able to smoke.” She crossed the room to Nate and kissed his cheek. She felt the tension in him but assumed it was due to Katia’s presence. “Thanks again. Have a great drive to Boston.”

He almost smiled. “You’re kicking me out?”

“Yes,” Sonia said, even though she was wishing he’d stay a little longer. She would have liked to have talked to him, but she knew he didn’t want to be anywhere near Katia. “I’m making sure you’re not conflicted this time.”

“Win to you,” he said with a soft heat she couldn’t explain. Before Sonia could ask, Nate opened the door. “You want me to leave the bag downstairs?” he offered to Katia, then scooped it up with the Hook.

“No!” Katia said.

“Yes,” Sonia said. “Great idea. Thank you.”

Then Nate was gone, moving quickly down the stairs as if he couldn’t wait to escape. Katia stared at Sonia, incredulous, then shoved everything back into her purse and followed him.

“You’ll regret this,” she warned.

“I don’t think so,” Sonia said.

“If you’re sure.”

Sonia nodded. “I unblocked you, by the way.”

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