Page 89 of Takedown

“Has anyone else noticed that Ethan and Adam are dressed alike?” I ask, talking louder than usual. It’s been a long day, and I skipped lunch. The second glass of wine has gone straight to my head.

Everyone laughs. Even Adam lets out a chuckle as he runs his hand over his shirt.

“I think I wear it best,” Adam says.

I look at him, stunned at his joke. When he catches my eye, I blow him a kiss, and he winks at me.

I turn to the feast Tara’s prepared. There are several different dishes, from chicken to pot roast and pan seared salmon. My stomach growls, and Tara pulls out a platter of cheese and crackers from the fridge.

I listen in while Adam makes polite conversation with Ethan and Elizabeth. Despite his earlier joke, I can tell he feels ill at ease around his new family. His voice is lacking its usual playfulness and confidence.

Ethan leaves him alone long enough to grab the plates, but Tara shakes her head no and tells him she’s got it. I don’t miss his grateful smile and quick but heated kiss he gives her.

While she puts the food on the table, I set the dishes and silverware. The kids ask to eat in the living room so they can watch basketball, leaving the adults alone in the massive kitchen. I can see why she loves to cook in here. She has a dual range, pristine white cabinets, and stainless-steel appliances. The kitchen island alone can sit eight. The countertops are marble. It’s beautiful enough to be in a magazine.

The table is quiet, but I’m too busy enjoying my salmon to think much about it, but then Adam puts one of his massive hands on my thigh. I lay a hand on top of his and squeeze it.

“This is a beautiful house.” I do my best to erase some of the tension. “I love this kitchen.”

“Thanks,” Tara says. “We’re still in the decorating phase. We had to move quickly when this became available.”

“Oh?” I ask, fishing for information. Knowing exactly what I’m doing, Adam squeezes my thigh. “I assumed you were only renting this for the week.”

“Nope. It’s ours,” Ethan says, but he doesn’t offer any more information.

“So,” I say, clearing my throat and changing the subject, “how did you two meet?” Tara looks at Ethan, and they both burst into laughter.

“It was the best day of her life,” Ethan says. “Worst day of mine. She’s made my life hell from the moment I introduced myself.”

Elizabeth rolls her eyes. “Don’t listen to them. They can’t go five minutes without kissing. It’s sick.”

“My dad had a chain of toy stores. BradCo bought us out, putting me out of a job,” Tara says.

“False. She had a job at BradCo, but she turned it down. She was a brat from the moment I laid eyes on her. I had no choice but to make her fall in love with me,” Ethan says. “What about you two?”

“We were neighbors. He was a nuisance, but when we went to Vegas for a mutual friend’s wedding, I looked at him and I just knew.”

Elizabeth and Tara swoon.

“It was the opposite for us. He got me in trouble with my dad, and I wanted to end his life,” Tara tells us.

“You got yourself in trouble with your dad for acting like a brat.”

Tara makes a fist at Ethan, and he waves her off.

“What do you do for a living, Melanie?” Elizabeth takes the focus off Ethan and Tara and puts me on the spot.

“Everyone calls me Mellie, and do you really not know?” Part of me believes they did a background check on me as soon as they learned I had married their brother.

“We don’t,” Elizabeth assures me.

“I’m in risk management. In fact, I used to work for BradCo’s risk management department before I moved to Boston. I’d commute from Paramus to Manhattan twice per week and work remotely the rest of the time. I’ve seen Ethan’s picture on the company website, but I never put it together that you two look alike. I’m kicking myself now.”

“Really? I didn’t know that,” Adam says.

“How did you like working there?” Ethan asks.

“I loved the company. You pay well and the benefits were amazing, but my department was dysfunctional. It was really an ugly time in my life, to be honest. I can’t say I miss it,” I tell them.

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