Page 68 of My Twin Sister's Extremely Famous and Incredibly Hot Neighbor

If that’s what I’m doing, it’s working. I feel terrible. I’m wallowing in my own personal hell, and I don’t want to be in it anymore. I wipe my face and stand up. With shaking fingers, I swipe across my phone and call my sister.

She answers after one ring. “Hello?”

“I need your help.”

CHAPTER37

Igrip my clutch purse and take in a deep breath before I step out of the limousine. Flashes of light go off and I force a smile for the cameras. This is Jera’s idea for how I can get to talk to Dustin. We’re switching places once again, only this time it’s for a big Hollywood after-party for some awards show. I don’t know all the details, all I know is that Dustin is slated to be here, and Jera got an invitation so I could slip in and take her place.

I walk the red carpet, glad I took my anxiety medication. It doesn’t take care of everything, but it makes the social situation at least bearable. The rest of my coping mechanisms have come from my therapist. I imagine I’m alone in a garden, a light breeze blowing, just me and the garden hedges. I walk inside the building.

There are more cameras inside, and I pose like Jera showed me, letting them get a few shots before moving on. Finally, after winding my way through all the people I get to the elevators.

The party is at an upscale rooftop lounge, and I give myself a pep talk before I step out of the elevators. A long table stretches along one side of the roof and an array of food is displayed. Light piano music plays, and I look around to see where it’s coming from. A piano sits in the corner, a man in a tuxedo playing it.

The crowds of people are kind of making me want to crawl out of my skin, but I take in a deep breath and let it out slowly like my therapist taught me. It helps. I scan the roof to see if I can spot Dustin.

I don’t see him, and I worry he skipped the after-party. What will I do if he doesn’t show? I’ve gone to all this work to talk to him. I can’t go home without at least trying.

The elevator dings behind me and I move so the next group of people can have room. I walk past a few tables with groups of people mingling. They’re the tall kind of tables you stand around.

My eye catches sight of someone standing near the edge of the roof overlooking the city lights and I know it’s him, even though all I can see is his back. He’s alone, and my heart leaps. This is it. This is my chance.

I cross the rooftop, side-stepping around people. They’re hedges, I tell myself. I’m in a garden. I maneuver to where Dustin stands, a glass of champagne in his hand. My heart pounds as I stare at his back. I don’t know what to say to get his attention.

I take in his posture, and the way his hair is blowing in the slight breeze. He looks good. My chest aches as I stand there, my eyes drinking him in. What I wouldn’t do to feel his arms around me once again.

Dustin turns around and freezes when he sees me. His eyes slide over me before an invisible wall comes between us, and his expression turns hard. “Jera,” he says in greeting. He’s about to walk around me when I grab his arm.

“No.” I shake my head. “I’m not Jera.” My heart jumps into my throat and I can’t breathe.

Dustin blinks and steps back from me, the shock evident on his face. “Mackenzie?” he says softly.

I nod, then swallow, trying to clear the lump in my throat. It doesn’t work. “Yes.”

He glances around the roof. “Why are you here?”

“I need to talk to you. I need to apologize for what I did.” Tears threaten to come, but I blink them back. I don’t want to cry. I’ve cried far too much since I left California. I need to be strong now. I have things I need to say.

Dustin stares at me, and I can’t quite interpret the look he gives me. “You came here…to apologize?”

“Yes. And to tell you the truth. I never got to tell you my side of the story.”

Dustin slowly nods as piano music drifts our way. “All right. Go ahead.”

A group of people walk behind me, and I stiffen, my anxiety ramping up. I close my eyes and picture my garden again while breathing slowly. They move on toward the food, and I open my eyes again. I’m fine, I tell myself. It works, and I’m able to breathe again.

“When Jera first asked me to switch places with her, I said no. I don’t do well in airplanes, and she wanted me to go to a party in her place. Well, you saw how I did at the party.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Speaking of which.” He motions to the party going on around us.

“Yeah, therapy. I went. I mean, I’m still going. And I’m now taking medication.”

Dustin smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’m glad.”

“Anyway, I said no to her, but she kept asking me, pleading with me, and trying to buy me off. Finally, her offer was too good to refuse, so I said yes.”

Dustin grimaces. “What did she pay you to seduce me?”

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