Page 23 of Take Me
“Twin code, right?”Lucy drains her wine.“It’s different.”
“It is.”I like that we don’t need to discuss it.“We just need to get through all the weddings without bumming out family and friends.”
“Define ‘all the weddings.’”Lucy picks up my glass and drains the last teaspoon at the bottom.She gets up and goes to my sink and starts washing.“You’re not planning to keep the ruse going for when Kaleb and Brooke set a date?Or Parker and Calliope?—”
“Has Parker even proposed yet?”We’re getting way ahead of ourselves.“We’ll talk it through.I’m sure Erika and I can agree on what makes the most sense for our breakup.”
“Just be careful, okay?”
Resisting the urge for an eyeroll, I get up and give her a dish towel.“Be careful for Erika’s sake or for mine?”
“Yes.”She sets down the glass she’s just dried and gives me a hug.“My idiot twin isn’t as tough as he seems.”
“Funny, becausemyidiot twin is exactly as bossy as she seems.”
Squeezing me harder, she lets go to look me in the eye.“I want what’s best for you, okay?”
Two weeks ago, I thought that was Annabelle.I’m still not entirely sure that’s not true anymore.“Thanks,” I tell my twin.“Call me if you want my calligraphy skills for your wedding stuff.”
“I don’t have to call you.”She laughs as she strides for the door.“I’ll just send you twin telepathy.”
“Right.”Shutting the door behind her, I’m glad my sister can’t really read my mind.
If she could, she’d see all my mixed-up feelings for Annabelle.
And for my best friend who’s helping me move on.
Chapter4
Erika
“Are you sure this isn’t too slutty?”
When I get no reply, I turn from the mirror to find Hazel Spencer studying me.Crossing her legs, she leans back in my desk chair.“You’re wearing my clothes, and I haven’t had sex since I last cut my hair.”Cool as can be, she shifts her waist-length dark waterfall over one shoulder.“I’m going with no.Nothing about what you’re wearing screams ‘promiscuous woman’ to me.”
“All right.”
Count on Hazel Spencer to give it to me straight.And to give me free access to her abundant collection of designer clothing.
“I was mostly talking about the tube top thingy.”I turn back to the mirror and tug at the triangle of cream-colored crochet covering my breasts.It’s fixed at my back with a suede belt contraption, which Hazel helped hook for me.“There’s no way I’ll be able to get this off by myself.”
“That’s why you’ve got Mason, right?”Hazel’s lips twitch.
“Right.”I feel bad fibbing, but no way can I tell her this thing isn’t real.Hazel Spencer might be my friend, but she’s Mason’s cousin first.Family trumps friendship; everyone knows that.
“I still can’t believe you’re dating him.”She picks up her tall glass of ice water, looking like a freakin’ movie star in fitted black pants and a filmy gold top.I complimented it when she got here, and Hazel murmured, “Versace,” like I’d know what that meant.
But back to the dilemma at hand.“I hope it’s okay I didn’t tell you Mason and I had been seeing each other.”
“I get it.”She sets down her glass on a coaster.“I’m not really upset.I get why you might keep it secret.”
“You do?”
“Of course.It’s one thing you and I have in common.”
I blink in surprise.It’s tough to imagine two women with less in common than the stunningly beautiful daughter of a white-collar criminal and a grownup tomboy who still lives in her childhood home.
I’m the latter, in case there’s a question.
