Page 52 of Twins for the Enemy

“I just remembered while I was sitting here—the engagement party is in a few days. People are going to be coming in and out of the house to decorate and the party will be full with people. Why don’t we stay in a hotel during it?”

“For your sister’s engagement party?” she asks, raising an eyebrow. “At your house? You can’t skip it.”

“I’ll make a brief appearance,” I say. “It’s more for her than anything. She knows how I feel about parties.”

She rubs the glass against her wet bottom lip.

Goddamn.

“And you want me to go back in public?” she asks. “The Chicago police are still looking for me.”

“I’ll keep you hidden from prying eyes.”

She looks at me. I could swear her green eyes get a little bit softer.

“Okay,” she says. “I’ll trust you.”

The hotel balcony overlooks Lake Michigan, where the chaos of the city—

The balcony is split into three spaces—a lounging area with a circular stone fireplace, an alcove shaded by a metal pavilion shaped like oversized leaves with a matching leaf-shaped dining table, and a jacuzzi that resembles a circular pool with sleek glass siding.

When Farah slips into it, only wearing a T-shirt and underwear, I know I chose the righthotel for us.

The shirt billows around her before it darkens as the water soaks into it. She whips off the shirt, throwing it over the side of the jacuzzi. It makes a wet slapping sound as it hits the ground, but I can't afford it any attention when Farah is taking off her bra as well. Her breasts are half-submerged in the water, turning this balcony into paradise.

I start undressing as she tries to catch the bubbles surging across the surface.

When I plunge in beside her, the water feels much warmer than it is because of how quickly the temperature is dropping as the sun sets. I press up close to Farah near the edge of the jacuzzi, looking out at the lake.

The lights from the skyscrapers paint the water, creating soft lines of a dozen different colors that make small enough movements that they seem to be breathing. The sky almost seems to be turning a dark purple.

I only notice all of these things because I keep looking over at Farah and see how in awe she is. Beauty has always been something for me to possess—to spend anight with it and be close enough to become less impressed by it—but with her, I know it was something less than beauty that I was possessing, because every time I look at her, it takes my breath away again. Her beauty doesn’t diminish the more I see her; it becomes more striking.

I’d asked the staff to leave us some wine and sparkling juice, which sits in an ice bucket beside the jacuzzi. I pour us each a glass. She takes the sparkling juice from me, taking a sip.

“You should go to Ellie’s engagement party tomorrow,” she says. “I don’t want her to think I’m stealing away her brother.”

“I’ll be there as long as I’d be there if you weren’t around,” I say. “She’s used to me leaving for work.”

“I don’t want to make you lie to your sister either.”

“Don’t worry about Ellie,” I say, leaning over to kiss her. Her tongue flicks over her bottom lip like she can taste the wine. “She’s a strong woman. She’s beendealing with a self-absorbed brother for most of her life.”

“I’d love to meet her.”

I look over at my glass of wine. I catch her scrutinizing me. I’m usually much better at being a manipulative asshole than this.

“Oh, I don’t think you two could handle each other,” I say. “Besides, I don’t want the two of you trading stories about what a pain in the ass I am.”

She keeps looking at me, looking for the creases and twitches that indicate I’m avoiding. I keep my expression passive, taking another swig of my wine. Most people don’t look this closely at me. They’re either too intimidated.

But someday the show must end, and Farah will find out that Ellie is the one who was burned in her fire. She’ll be furious that I didn’t tell her. The right move is to end this now, but my brain can only strategize how to delay the inevitable as long as possible.

It still grates in my brain. Ellie has been my last remaining family member for a long time and the only living person I’ve cared about. I never put anyone above her.

Now, there’s Farah and the twins. She’s fallen so far from my priorities that I’ve forfeited any right to call myself loyal.

A soft chime plays from the hotel room while my phone also sends me a notification.

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