Page 42 of One for the Money
“But you proved them wrong.” Pride that I have not earned swells within me. “You did it.”
“I did. Not that it was easy, but it was, is, everything I hoped it would be.” A gentle, easy silence fills the cab before she clears her throat. “Okay, my turn. What’s the weirdest thing about being a twin?”
“Dexter.” Jude barks a laugh, and Alex snorts a little at my answer, but I’m not joking. “I mean it. The whole thing is weird. Just that he exists, knowing we have the same DNA, is so fucking weird. Sometimes it feels like I don’t exist if not for him. Like we’re not two people, we’re just reflections of one another.”
Oh, that went deeper than I had intended.
Jude grunts from the other side of Alex. “You two are different as fuck, though. Even without the tattoos, it’d be easy to tell you apart.”
I run my fingers through my hair, looking up at the sagging fabric roof of Jude’s beater truck. “Nice of you to say, but that wasn’t our experience growing up.”
“Then they weren’t looking close enough,” Alex says gently. “Because I agree. I don’t know you two very well, but you’re not copies of one another. You’re two very distinct people.”
“Aw, thanks, Doc. Never been called distinct before. You’ve got me blushing now,” I tease to lighten the mood. We don’t need to dig into the lack of autonomy twins have in the world, from the moment we’re born and dressed alike, and how everyone assumes we’re the same person with matching needs and desires.
This is supposed to be a way of getting to know each other, not a substitute for the therapy that I probably need but will avoid for as long as possible.
“You’re up, Jude,” I tell him.
“Alex,” he says roughly. “What are your three favorite things in the world?”
I clap my hands gently but enthusiastically. “Oh, great question, boss man. I’m excited to hear her answer.”
The doctor clicks her tongue a few times as she’s thinking. Eventually, she comes up with an answer. “Okay, you’ll make fun of me for this first one. Carnival and circus foods.”
My eyebrows fly into my hairline. “Elaborate on that for me.” Jude’s eyes meet mine over her head, and I give a minute shake of my own, telling him to keep his mouth shut.
“You know, all the sweets, the fried food, that kind of thing. Memories of childhood, with sticky foods and special treats. Then, as a teenager, dates and thrill rides where the thrill is if it’s going to fall apart while we’re on it, and candy apples shared with a boy. Even to this day, I can’t help but gorge myself every time I get access to the food. I never learn my lesson.”
She giggles girlishly, which has my mood brightening exponentially. I want her to sound like that all the time, light and carefree.
“Okay, so that’s one, and a good one, I might add. What are the other two?” I lean forward, but not too close, to listen to her answer.
“Probably cliche as an Omega, but lounge clothes. Anything soft and cozy, really, but I especially love sweaters and sweatpants, fuzzy socks, that kind of thing. The moment I’m home, I take my bra off and change into something more comfortable.”
While it is cliche, it’s a cliche for a reason, and it does tell us a bit more about our mysterious doctor. Namely, that she is at least somewhat in tune with her Omegainstincts, and we need to be aware of that and how it relates to our Alpha tendencies.
“And the third thing is music. I’m not one of those people who will lie to you and say they like anything, though.” She pulls out her phone, as if to show me a playlist, then shoves it back in her pocket after a glance at the screen. “I lean towards heavy and nu metal, but screamo and even some folk and indie stuff make it into rotation. It’s a healthy outlet for my anger.”
“You have anger?” I ask, propping my chin on my fist.
She rolls her eyes. “What Omega in this world doesn’t?”
“Have you watched the show yet?” Jude asks her as he turns into the mall. “All of it is set to that kind of music.”
“I haven’t,” she admits sheepishly. “But I’ve read a lot of reviews, and they all say wonderful things. It’s just that sitting in the audience by myself makes me uncomfortable, so I haven’t yet.”
“Then I’ll sit with you,” our showrunner says roughly. “You should see it at least once.” He puts the truck in park and undoes his seatbelt,
“Don’t you have to… run the show?” she asks curiously. “You’re the ringmaster.”
“Showrunner,” he grunts, like it’s not the same damn thing. He’s sensitive about it, for some reason, but seriously. They’re the same thing. “And not tonight. I’ll find someone else to do it.” He’s out of the truck, slamming the door behind him as he heads into the mall.
It appears someone has gotten under Jude’s skin, because he definitely does need to run the show.
Tonight is going to be interesting.
Chapter 16
