Page 12 of My Twin Sister's Extremely Famous and Incredibly Hot Neighbor

“What party?”

I wrack my brain trying to remember what Jera had said. Something about sea turtles. That’s all I can remember. I shrug. “A turtle something?”

“You mean the charity event? The one to save the sea turtles?”

I’m so happy I could kiss the man. “Yes! That’s it!”

He laughs. “I’m going to that. What do you need to know?”

“Can you take me?” I ask before I can think of the consequences.

He gives me a questioning look. “You want me to take you? Like, as a date?”

CHAPTER7

The way Dustin asks me if it’s a date startles me and brings me back to reality. I can’t be dating Dustin. Not while I’m pretending to be Jera. It’s not fair to Jera or Dustin. Not that I wouldn’t date Dustin. At another time and place, I totally would.

“No,” I quickly say, sliding my hands back and forth. “Not as a date.”

Dustin takes a step back. “Oh. Then…”

I hadn’t thought any of this through, and now I feel terrible. But I need to get to that event. And if Dustin is going, maybe I can just catch a ride with him. That had to be okay, right? Jera would forgive me if I explained everything that happened with my phone, and how I had no way to get to the event.

“I’m sorry. That sounded so rude. I just have a situation right now that is hard to explain. Can we go as friends?” I twist my fingers together in hopes that he’ll understand.

Dustin slowly nods. “I get it. I read online that you broke up with Luke. Was it a painful breakup?”

“Yes,” I say, grasping onto that as an excuse. “I’m still very hurt. I can’t get into another relationship right now. I hope you understand.”

He pauses to look at me with his brilliant blue eyes, and I fear he can see right through me. He studies me, like I’m under a microscope. I give him a pained expression so he’ll know just how hurt I am by my breakup, but I suck at acting and I think I just look constipated. Still, he gives me a sympathetic nod. “I understand. I’ve had my share of breakups. My last one did a number on me.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. I found out she lied to me about a bunch of stuff.”

Guilt swarms around me like bees. “Ouch.”

“I’ve had several girlfriends who just used me for things. That hurt me more than I like to admit.”

“I’m so sorry.” I don’t know what else to say. I scoop up Squint and put him in his carrier. “Thank you for all you’re doing to help me. You’re a lifesaver.”

Dustin turns to the front door and opens it. I step out onto his front doormat. He reaches out and gently grabs my arm. Tingles wash over my skin. “Jera…wait.”

I turn to him. “Yes?”

He lets go of me and scrubs a hand over his face. “Thanks for coming over tonight.” His gaze travels over me. “I enjoyed our time together.”

I smile, my insides fluttering again. “I did, too.”

“Is there anything else I can do for you?”

I bite my lower lip, thinking of my art supplies. I left all my old ones at home, and I need to get the next class filmed and uploaded. I can’t even call for an Uber without my phone, and I know Jera would kill me if I took her Ferrari anywhere. It’s her baby. She wouldn’t even let me touch it last time I was here. Plus, driving in California makes me crazy.

His brow furrows as I hesitate. “What is it?”

“I need something from a store.”

He raises one eyebrow, and my insides turn into a puddle of goo. “What do you need?”

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