Page 25 of Lucy
“Explain it to me. Explain to me why I saw my man kiss his little sister on the lips and hug her like she was his woman.” The back of my neck burned and rubbing it didn’t help. What the fuck could I say to that?
“It was a peck. You’re acting like I made out with her. I didn’t even know you were standing there,” I frowned.
“It was a peck but it seemed like so much more. I can’t be with you if you’re going to choose your sister over me.” I stared at the ceiling and pushed out a slow breath. I couldn’t explain to Lauren that there were two versions of Lucy and I. The brother-sister version of us was something I’d never apologize for but the side of us that were lovers…I had to apologize for that. There was no way to do it without ousting something that was so private.
There was no way to do it and keep our box of secrets shut.
“She’s my sister. I will always be there for her. I want to work things out with you, Lauren but I don’t want to give a detailed explanation of each interaction I have with Lucy or anyone else in my family for that matter. I won’t let her attack you anymore. I’ll maintain feasible boundaries but beyond that, I think Lucy is something you’re going to have to get over.” I shut my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. A headache was starting to work its way into my skull so I started looking for a way off the phone. Lauren needed to let things sink in.
“Listen, sweetheart, I’ll call you back later when things aren’t as heated.”
“They aren’t heated. I’m trying to understand, Abel.” Her voice softened tremendously but I still wanted to end the conversation.
“I’ll talk to you later.” I hung up and fell backward on my bed. I could make it work with Lauren if I stopped with Luce while I was ahead.
I needed a fucking drink so I went to the store and grabbed some beer. By the time I got home, there was a dirty, yellow Bug in my driveway. I walked up to the passenger side and opened the door. “Jesus, you scared me!” Lucy pelted my arm with her fists.
“That’s why you should always watch your surroundings. Want a beer?” I asked handing her a can. I tossed boxes and clothes out of the passenger seat and settled in beside her.
“Why not?” She shrugged and took it from my hand then we both cracked them open and sighed. “I don’t know about staying with Nora, she’s already working my nerves and you know how I get when people try to make me do things I don’t want to do.”
“You purposefully fuck shit up.” I already knew her routine.
“Exactly. Nora knows this but she still insists on fixing my life. I told her no.” Lucy took a long swallow of beer and shook her head. “I’m fine and I don’t need fixing. If anyone needs fixing, it’s Nora. She’s married to an asshole. She doesn’t even know it because he’s so fine and buys her roses and all that other stupid shit but mark my words, Abel; Eric is an asshole.” She sounded so sure of herself that I couldn’t do anything but shake my head.
“You know this without a doubt, huh?”
“Yes. It’ll come out sooner or later then maybe she and I can get back to twinning like we used to.”
“Things can’t always be the way they used to though, Luce. Like me and you…” I turned to look at her and saw sadness swimming in her eyes.
“We have a reason things can’t go back to the way they used to be, Abel. Too much pain.” Tears formed in her copper pools at the memory and I had to turn my head away from her. “Nora up and decided she was better than me one day. There’s a difference.”
“It’s okay for people to change as they grow up, even twins.” I pinched the tip of her nose and she blinked the tears away.
“You’re going to get serious with this Lauren bitch, aren’t you?” She sighed, finishing her beer.
“I’m going to try. Ihaveto try.”
“Why? She’s not for you, Abel.”
“Because…I can’t try with you. I need someone that’s not you. I need someone who doesn’t remind me of you. We have to stop this…whatever the fuck it is we have going between us.” I gestured from me to her and she looked down at her hands.
“Would you try with me if things were different?” Her voice was small and quiet and I wanted to kiss that frown away. I wanted to replace it with a smile. I hated seeing my sweet Lucy sad.
“Of course.” Suddenly, the air in the small space became thick and heavy. “But things aren’t different. We can’t walk the same blurred lines anymore. I have to let you go and you have to let me go.”
“What if I don’t want to let you go?” She fished around behind her seat and pulled out a half-full bottle of Jack Daniels.
“You know you have to.” I cupped her face in my hands and closed my eyes against the tears shimmering in her beautiful eyes.
“Abel,” she whimpered and then I felt her soft lips on mine.
“Lucy, promise me we’ll stop this.”
“Okay, but it hurts.”
“I know. We’re still siblings though, Hell Raiser. We just can’t be anything else.” Ever since Lucy started exploring guys, I was her first choice. I was what she knew. It was like breaking up with the love of your life.
