Page 113 of Killing Me Softly

Memory Lane

September 21, 1998

“Comeon, Kenny!” Jessica tugged at his sleeve, squeezing his wrist in that impatient, insistent way only a twin could get away with. “You can tapeGladiatorsand watch it later.”

Kenny sighed, dragging his gaze away from the glow of the television. The roaring crowd filled the room, the energy pulsing through the speakers, wrapping around him like a familiar comfort.GladiatorswashisSunday ritual. Jet had just dominated the Eliminator round, her agility unmatched, and now Hunter was up next. Kenny needed to see the comparison, to analyse their techniques, to decide which one truly reigned supreme. Anddefinitely notbecause he was torn between which of them he wanted to be… or which of them hefancied.

No.

Not that.

Not at all.

“I don’t want to watch it later. I’m watching it now.”

Jessica stamped her foot, her long dark hair swishing behind her, loose strands catching in the dimming light. “I went with you to thatboringmuseum last week. Least you can do is walk to the shop with me.” Folding her arms, she tilted her chin in defiance. “Or I’ll tell Mum why youreallylike watching this crap.”

Kenny peered up. Jessica, bright-eyed and alive, cheeks flushed pink from the cold, curled her lips into that smug, knowing smile. And, of course, that meant she’d already won. She always did.

Well, she hadn’t once.

“Fine.” He shoved away the books from his lap and stood. “But you owe me.”

Jessica grabbed his hand and practically dragged him toward the door. “I’ll put extra sprinkles on your cupcakes.”

“Yeah, that’ll do it.” Kenny rolled his eyes in sarcasm.

Outside, the air was crisp with autumn, the sky a bruised shade of purple as dusk crept in. Their house—a two-story Victorian with ivy creeping up the bricks—sat at the edge of a woodland trail, where gnarled trees curled over the dirt path like watchful giants. Kenny walked side by side with Jessica, their breath puffing into the cold air, the rhythm of their steps in sync.Alwaysin sync.

“Bet I can beat you to the old oak,” Jessica challenged, already darting ahead.

“You’reinsane,” Kenny called after her, but he broke into a jog to try and catch her, anyway.

She won, of course, grinning as she leaned against the towering tree.

Kenny narrowed his eyes. “I’ll beat you one day.”

No, he wouldn’t.

They reached the corner shop, and the bell jingled as they stepped inside, the smell of newspaper ink and warm bread filling the air. Jessica knew exactly where to go, making a beeline for the baking aisle while Kenny trailed behind, glancing at the magazines on display, wondering which one he could buy with what he had left of his pocket money. Did he pretend he liked football, or cars?

“Chocolate or rainbow?” Jessica called to him down the aisle, holding up two sprinkle bottles.

“Rainbow,” he said without thinking.

Jessica gasped. “Scandalous. I thought you were a chocolate man.”

Kenny shook his head as she tossed the bottle into her basket then grabbed the copy ofTop Gearmagazine. He could use it to chat to his mates at school about. As he moved the copy from the shelf, something else caught his eye.Attitude Magazine.He stared at it for a few moments, itching to take it, open it and look inside.

“Hey, you getting that?” Jessica nudged his arm, pointing at the magazine in his hand.

“Uh. Yeah.” He droppedTop Gearin her basket.

She studied him for a moment, searching,digging, peering into the parts of him he kept locked away. God, he hated when she did that. When she looked at him like sheknew. As if she could see the cracks beneath his skin, the thoughts he barely admitted to himself. They might be twins,closeones at that, but Kenny still liked having secrets. Liked the idea that there were things in his head that werehisalone.

Jessica’s expression flickered before she narrowed her eyes and skipped off toward the counter. She paid, stuffing the sprinkles and cupcake liners into a thin plastic bag, then twirled it around her finger as they left the shop. The sky had darkened, turning a deep, rich blue, the last dregs of sunlightbleeding through the trees as they meandered back through the woodland. The leaves whispered around them, a quiet hush making the space feel separate from the rest of the world.

Jessica bumped her shoulder to his. “You can tell me, y’know?”

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