Page 14 of Chance
What the hell just happened?
It wasn’t until two loud laughs boomed around the room that I realized just how quiet the bar had gone.Even the music seemed muted compared to the loudness around us.
“Tell me someone took pictures.Please, tell me you fuckers got that on camera.I gotta send it to Rory or she won’t believe me.”I couldn’t tear my gaze off Chance’s back to look for the man who spoke, his voice loaded with amusement that I didn’t understand.
What was so funny about this situation?
“I got it, Matt.Almost start to finish.His momma is gonna whoop his ass.”
I flinched at the second voice, still unable to look away from the man who had captivated me that morning.
Beside me, a few of the women shifted, shaking their heads.
“Not likely.Freaking momma’s boy,” Mila huffed half under her breath, so quietly I wasn’t even sure she’d said it.It could have been Monroe.They sounded so similar when they talked.They just had different tones.Monroe was softer, Mila more flamboyant.I liked that about them.
“I have pictures.Who wants a copy?”Some guy not in a leather vest called out, which got him a chorus of “Me!”from over a dozen patrons.
Chance made a loud, growly noise that was like a shot of lightning straight to my center.Evy rolled her eyes and brushed past him, her eyes on me as she quickly made her way back to the table.It was safer to keep my eyes on my twin, easier.My heart didn’t hurt when I looked at her.That jealousy that had been clawing at me all afternoon wasn’t as intense.
Yet I couldn’t stop myself from flicking a glance back to the man across the room.I tried so hard not to focus on him, but each time I forced myself to look away, my eyes shot back to him.
Beside me, Abi touched my arm.“You okay?”
Was I?
No one wants you, Evelyn.
You’re nothing.
Why would a man like Chance even look twice at you when he could have anyone?
He could have your sister, and he wouldn’t even care.
It’s not you he wanted earlier.
It was your body.
Broken.
Your mind is in shreds.All he wants is a body.
Not you.
Never you.
Because you’re nothing.
William’s voice echoed inside my head, driving me deeper into the dark abyss.
It felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest.Nothing made sense.Rationally, I knew it wasn’t anyone’s fault.Not Evy’s, and definitely not Chance’s.I hadn’t explained to him that I had a twin when I met him.He couldn’t have known, and I shouldn’t have expected him to instantly know Evy wasn’t me if they met by accident.That wasn’t fair to anyone.No one was aware that seeing Evy dressed exactly like me, being able to touch the real live version of the person who was my mirror image, was a coping mechanism for me.
Evy’s entire face was full of apology when she reached the table, setting down her empty glass and the full container of margaritas.“Evie?—”
“Peaches, it was an honest mistake.”
Hearing his voice unlocked me from all the chaos inside my head, shutting out William’s haunting voice and pulling me from that scary void where nothing and no one could reach me.For the first time in a very long time, I felt truly safe from the ghost of my father.
I felt safe from myself.
