Page 82 of Lovers' Dance

She glanced at her sister, who nodded, egging her on.

“It was rude. I was rude.” Natty sent me a small smile that I returned.

“Apology accepted,” I replied. “You girls said something about clothes?”

Nikki reached over and picked up a pile of clothes. “It’s just some jeans and a t-shirt. We don’t have any evening dresses here.”

I chewed my lower lip. Two worrying things were on my mind. Firstly, what was I going to do about underwear? No way was I wearing someone else’s panties. And, secondly, everyone else would be dressed up. Tightening the towel around my chest, I walked over to the bed.

“So,” I began in a friendly voice, “what’s it like being a twin? Do you guys instinctively know what the other is thinking?” I grinned mischievously.

They exchanged another shared look as Nikki held out the clothes. I made sure the towel was secure, then took the offered clothing. My eyes narrowed at the matching underwear.

“Sometimes,” Natty admitted.

“Sometimes I don’t know what’s going through Natty’s crazy head,” Nikki said dramatically. Natty poked her lightly on the shoulders.

I was eyeing the underwear. I had to say it. “Look, no offence girls, but I’m a bit squidgy about using your underwear. There’s something very wrong with that.”

Both girls laughed out loud. Their laughs sounded the same. Freaky.

“The underwear is new, I promise. The packaging is in that bin over there if you want to check.”

I glanced at the small waste bin she pointed to, and could see a bit of plastic sticking out from it. First problem solved.

“How many people are downstairs?” I asked, hugging the clothes to my chest.

“About twenty-five,” Natty said, with a bored look on her face. “We didn’t want to come, but Mum made us. It’s not like we care who Uncle Matt dates. Tonight is going to be a major chore.”

Nikki nodded in agreement, then flashed me that shy smile of hers. I decided she was the more reserved of the two. There’s always a more dominant one when it comes to twins, and Natty was definitely mouthy.

Natty continued to complain. “It’s Saturday. We should be out with our friends instead of socializing with old people.”

“Natty, stop,” Nikki admonished. “It’s not the end of the world.”

“And I’m not old,” I added.

Both girls looked at me.

“What?” I said in mock horror. “I’m not. Twenty-six is—”

“Old in comparison to seventeen. Everyone else is older than you are,” Natty drawled, then something on the bed beeped and she scrambled around for it.

I blinked, wondering if this was how Matt felt when I teased him about our age difference. I was going to stop that from now on.

“I’m going to get changed,” I murmured, before returning to the bathroom where I pulled on my borrowed clothes. The girls were around my height and as slender, so everything fit. The bra was lacy and had room in it. I shrugged my insecurity away and smoothed my hands over my jean-clad thighs. All that was left was sorting my hair out.

When I re-entered the room, there was a feeling of tension between the girls. Natty was glaring at the cell in her hand and Nikki was glaring at her.

“Do you have a brush I can use?” I asked.

Nikki jumped off the bed, scowling at her sister and strode over to the vanity.

“I hope this is suitable,” she said, handing over a soft-bristled brush. It wasn’t useful, but I had manners so I smiled a thank you.

“I love the States,” she volunteered as I peered at the brush. “Everything is frenetic and vibrant over there. Why would you want to live here? England is so drab.”

“I was born over here,” I explained, undoing the towel around my head. My damp curls would never be tamed by the brush. “England isn’t that bad.”

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