Page 71 of My Twin Sister's Extremely Famous and Incredibly Hot Neighbor

My brain is so filled with everything I want to say, I don’t process what he said. “I can’t get you out of my head. I regret what happened between us. I mean, not the good things. I regret not telling you the truth about me, and about everything. As soon as I started having feelings for you, I should have told you. I was so wrong, and I’ve cried myself to sleep every night since then.”

Dustin puts his hands on my shoulders. I’m still wearing his jacket. “It’s okay. I love you, too, Mackenzie,” he repeats.

I stare at him, his words finally sinking in. “You do?”

He nods. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you, either. I moved because I couldn’t stand to see that gate with a lock on it. It broke me every time I looked at it. Even though I thought you took advantage of me, a part of me didn’t fully believe it.”

“Really?” Tears fill my eyes and spill down my cheeks.

“I couldn’t reconcile the person I knew with the things I thought you’d done. I kept telling myself you used me, but I couldn’t understand it. I thought I was losing my mind. I thought I was so gullible that I couldn’t remember things right. But tonight things finally fell into place. I know you weren’t trying to get anything from me. You, coming here, and going to that party to talk to me…you don’t know what that means to me. You’ve conquered so much, and I’m proud of you for it.”

“I’m so sorry I lied.”

He cups my cheeks. “I forgive you. For all of it.”

My heart sings. He forgives me. Tears spill down my cheeks.

“If you hadn’t switched places with Jera, I never would have met you. I need you in my life. I know that, now. I think I’ve always known it. I just didn’t understand.”

I shrug out of his tux jacket, letting it fall to the floor. I slide my arms around his neck. He leans down and presses his lips against mine.

I cling to him, hardly able to believe we’re finally together. I dreamed of this for so long. And now Dustin is right here, and he loves me.

My soul screams for joy as his lips pass over mine. He is everything I want. All that I need. The world will be right as long as he’s in my life.

EPILOGUE

One year later.

I stand before my painting of the rocky ocean shore near Dustin’s new home as flashes of light blind me. Dustin slides his arm around me, pulling me to him. The gallery director stands on my other side. A podium sits a few feet in front of me. A crowd of people stand before us, but the director kept it to invitation only, so it’s manageable for me.

In the back my gaze connects with my sister and I smile. She’s been one of my biggest supporters as I’ve advanced my career. I’m glad she came. I look to her left. She’s standing beside my mother and stepfather, and I do a double take. I didn’t know they were coming. A thrill goes through me. Dustin is always setting up surprises for me. I lean toward him. “Thank you for bringing my family.”

He squeezes my hand. “I didn’t want them to miss this.”

The director speaks for a bit, introduces me, and lets me take the floor. Reporters take my picture.

“Mackenzie, which artists inspired you?” a reporter asks.

“Many, but I remember seeing a display from John Singer Sargent as a child and it moved me. It was the reason I started painting.”

“What’s your favorite subject to paint?” someone else calls out.

“I prefer landscapes. There are so many beautiful places in the world. I like to capture them on paper.”

“Are you through switching places with your sister?” a reporter in the back calls out.

The director steps forward. “Only art related questions, please.”

I answer a few more questions and the press part of my gallery showing is done. I walk through the art gallery, talking with the guests and answering more questions. Dustin stays by my side and takes my hand when he thinks I’m getting overwhelmed.

As soon as we have a moment alone, he turns to me. “You’ve done a fantastic job, Mackenzie. I can hardly see any signs of your anxiety.”

I smile, so happy I’ve made it this far. “Really?”

“Yes. I’m so proud of you.”

I turn to look at the walls of the gallery. Every wall is filled with one of my paintings. It’s my first solo show, and my largest one yet. It’s a satisfying feeling I can’t even describe.

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