by Like, Macyn
I looked over at her door as I unlocked mine and sighed. She was in there. I had seen her car in the parking lot when Shannon pulled in. I wanted to see her, but it was late. I pushed the door open and frowned. I told myself I wouldn’t feel this way about anyone again, but she was addictive.
I walked through the dark apartment to the bedroom. I crashed facedown on the bed, not even bothering to pull the sheets back. No sooner had I shut my eyes than my phone started buzzing in my pocket.
It was two in the morning, and I had just been with Shannon and Ollie. I didn’t have to look at the screen to know who it was.
“What’s up?” I said, flipping onto my back.
“Did I wake you?” my sister asked, her voice thick.
I dragged a hand over my face. “Nope. Just got in.”
“On a school night? You’re bad, Kieran. Were you with Shannon?”
“Yeah.”
She was silent for a few seconds.
“How’s my nephew?” I asked.
“Skylar’s fine. Sleeping.”
“I should hope so. Why aren’t you?” I asked softly.
“Rob’s not home, yet. He said he was just at the bar with the guys, but…” she trailed off.
“Then he’s at the bar with the guys,” I said. I did not actually think this, but I didn’t like it when my sister was upset.
“If he’s at the bar with the guys then why did Quentin post on Facebook that he’s ‘Chillin’ at home tonight,’ and Wyatt just texted me to ask why Rob isn’t answering his phone?”
“Did he tell you he was going out with Quentin and Wyatt?”
“Well, no, but—”
“Maybe he’s out with some other guys. He meets a lot of people in his line of business. He’s probably just out with some new friends. You know, networking.”
My brother-in-law was an aspiring rock star. He was also a real jerk, and sometimes I found myself wanting to hop on the first plane to New York to beat the crap out of him. He didn’t deserve my sister. He never did, but she wouldn’t listen to me.
“You think so?” she asked, a sliver of hope in her voice.
“It’s a possibility,” I said, trying to sound more positive about it than I was.
I heard her take a deep breath. “Okay. I don’t believe you, but I don’t want to talk about Rob anymore. Distract me. What’s new with you?”
“Nothing.” Everything.
“Did you meet anyone while you were out tonight?”
“No.”
“Oh, wait. You’re seeing someone, right?”
“Not anymore.”
“Ugh! Kieran, what happened?”
“Nothing happened. I just stopped seeing her. It wasn’t serious.”
“None of them are, except for Becca.”
Rip.
Still, after all this time, just hearing her name tore at my heart.
“Kiera. Don’t,” I growled.
“Hey, touchy, it’s been five years. Get over it! Anyway, all I was trying to say is that I don’t know why you bother with girls at all.”
“You don’t know why I bother with girls at all?” I laughed.
“Yeah, if you not planning on committing to anyone any time soon.”
“I’m non-committal. I’m not dead.”
“You’re disgusting, and you need to quit this serial dating.”
“Serial dating? I’ve gone out with a handful of girls and never called them back. I’m not sure that qualifies as serial dating.”
“Two handfuls.”
“Fine. Two handfuls. It’s not a crime. Lots of guys do it.”
“But you’re not lots of guys.”
I sucked on my lower lip. She was right. I didn’t enjoy going out with girls a few times just to never see them again. But it was the only way.
“What about that cute girl next door?” she asked.
“What about her?”
“Maybe if you’d talk to her, you’d actually find someone worth being with for more than just a couple of months.”
“I have talked to her. And she is.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Kiera.” I wasn’t going to spell it out for her. We were twins, and best friends at that. She knew the problem. “Listen, I’ve got to crash. Are you going to be okay?”
She hesitated. Finally she said, “Yes.”
“I want you to call me if he’s not back home in the next hour,” I said, pushing my shoes off and pulling the covers back.
“I don’t want to wake you.”
“Wake me. I want you to.”
“Okay.”
“Okay,” I said, ending the call. I sighed and tried to put my sister’s marital troubles out of my head. I didn’t like to think about her hurting, especially when there was nothing I could do about it.
I closed my eyes, exhausted from my night out. It was only two-thirty. Three years ago I still would have been pumped. I really was getting old.
Just as I was beginning to drift off, I heard movement in the bedroom on the other side of the wall. My lips formed a small smile and a warm feeling pooled in my chest. Oh, yes. She definitely had an effect on me. Right then I didn’t mind it.
Chapter 7
Marissa
Fridays were always busy at the bank. It was payday, I guessed. By two o’clock it had slowed down a little. I glanced over at Camden. I hadn’t really had a chance to ogle him all day. He sat at his desk, his fingers moving over his keyboard, his phone tucked between his ear and his shoulder. He was wearing that green shirt that I loved, the one that really made his eyes pop.
Greta sighed loudly beside me.
“What?” I asked, turning to look at her.
“You know what. Stop staring.”
“Oh. Sorry.” I bit my lip. How long had I been looking at him? Long enough to be obvious about it, apparently.
“Seriously, what do you see in him?”
“What don’t you see?” I asked. “Because he looks pretty good from where I’m standing.”
“Yeah, and he knows it, too,” she mumbled.
As if he sensed we were talking about him, Camden got up from his desk and began walking towards us. He stepped behind the counter and breezed past us, heading for the offices in the back.
“Hello, Greta. Melissa.”
Greta waited until he was several feet away and then whispered, “See! He doesn’t even know your name. What a jerk.”
I shrugged. “Close enough.”
“You’re wearing a nametag,” she said, pointing to my chest.
He genuinely did think my name was Melissa. He’d called me that before, several times. One of these days I planned to correct him. Maybe.
As he walked through the door leading to the offices, my boss, Antonia Nichols, stepped out and beckoned to me. I swallowed. Antonia was one of those people who had a commanding presence, and I always felt nervous around her.
“Yes, Ms. Nichols?” I said when I reached her.
“I need to see you in my office for a moment,” she said, and turned to lead the way.
What had I done? What had I done? What had I done? The phrase kept repeating itself in my head all the way to her office in the back of the building.
“Sit down,” she said, nodding at one of the two chairs in front of her desk.
I sat and concentrated on keeping my nerves in check.
“As you know, Ms. Pace will be taking her maternity leave at the end of next week.”
“Yes.” I nodded, not understanding what Kori’s maternity leave had to do with me. She was the other person who handled opening new checking accounts, savings accounts, etc., just like Camden.
“I’ve been watching you, and you’re doing an excellent job. You don’t make many mistakes, you’re great with the customers, and I like the way you handle yourself. What I need to know is if you’re willing to take over Ms. Pace’s position while she’s out. It’s only temporary, but if I like what I see…Well, we’ll go from there. So
are you interested?”
A promotion? Well, not really, but it was something. And it came with a desk. “Yes,” I said, trying not to sound too eager.
“Okay, great. You start training with Camden on Tuesday. I’ll let him know.”
Camden? My stomach dropped. I stayed frozen to my seat until Antonia spoke again. “That’s all I needed. You can go now.”
“Yes.” I nodded. “Thank you,” I whispered as I practically fled from her office.
I didn’t say anything to anyone about my sort-of promotion. I figured Greta would ask, but we got so busy after that she didn’t have time. I kept sneaking glances at Camden, wondering what it would be like to work with him in very close quarters. Smelling his spicy scent for more than just a second, staring into his bright green eyes, brushing my arm against his…I was getting carried away. This was just an office crush. I’d never actually expected anything to come out of it. I shouldn’t expect it now, even if we were going to be working more closely.
Later that day, I was still thinking about work when I pulled into the apartment parking lot. How would I decorate my desk? Pictures of my pets, for sure. It was silly to be so excited about a temporary promotion, but it was the only thing that had happened for me since college ended, so I was going to enjoy it. I jogged up the stairs wondering whether or not I should make a trip to Office Depot this weekend and buy a new pencil cup when I noticed a paper sack outside my door with a note on it.
I picked it up, wondering whom it could be from. Who did I even know? When I saw the name on the bottom of the note I smiled. It read:
Marissa,
My sister doesn’t come to visit me that often. I’m sure this will go to better use in your apartment. Enjoy!
Kieran
I opened the bag. It was the box of blackberry sage tea. A soft smile spread across my face. He was sweet. I thought again of his arms wrapped around me during the storm, and how good it felt leaning into him. Yes, he was so sweet, and he also was very attractive. He seemed fun, too, and I liked being around him. I didn’t know if he wanted anything more from me than friendship, but that was okay. Of course, I wouldn’t mind it if he did.
Chapter 8
Kieran
I was stepping out of the apartment to get a bite to eat when I saw Marissa at the top of the stairs.
“Hey,” we said in unison.
She bit her lip and smiled. “I got your tea. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I smiled softly. “Heading out?”
It was a stupid question. Obviously she was.
“Yeah, I was just going to get some food.”
“Alone?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you want to go together?”
She hesitated for a moment before saying, “Yeah, sure.”
I followed her down to the parking lot. “I’ll drive,” I said, unlocking my car and opening the door for her before she could protest, silently thanking myself for using the free vacuums at the carwash last week.
She slid in and I shut the door softly behind her. After I pulled out of the lot I asked her where she was heading.
“That little grocery store down the street..”
“Oh?” Oh, crap. When she said food she meant she was going grocery shopping. I felt like an idiot. I thought she meant she was going out to a restaurant. I didn’t mean to delay her shopping trip. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I was just going to get one of those prepackaged salads. They’re not that great.”
Oh, okay. She was just getting lunch. I sighed, relieved, then hoped she didn’t notice.
“Where were you headed?” she asked.
“This little coffee shop, Kelly’s Place. It’s a hole in the wall, but they have great turkey sandwiches.”
“I could go for a turkey sandwich,” she said.
“I was hoping you would say that.” A wide smile made it’s way across my face.
We rode in silence, but not an uncomfortable one.
When we walked inside the small space, Marissa went to find a table and I went up to the counter to order.
“Two turkey and cheddar Panini’s, a regular coffee, and…” I thought. I should’ve asked her what she wanted to drink. Then I remembered. “A large sweet tea.”
I paid the cashier and took the beverages and the number he handed me. Marissa came up behind me just as I was turning around. I handed her the tea.
“Aw, you didn’t have to get mine.”
“I asked you to come.” I shrugged.
“Thank you.” A small smile lit her face and I was just glad she was there with me. I’d told myself I’d keep my distance, but I couldn’t seem to listen to myself. That smile was worth breaking the rules, if only for a little while.
I followed her to a small table in the corner.
“Is this okay?” she asked.
“Perfect.” Just like you.
I sat down and took a large gulp of coffee. It was still kind of hot, but I needed it.
“So, do you have any plans for this Labor Day weekend?” I asked her.
“No, not this year. My family usually goes to this big picnic thing at my step grandmother’s house, Miss Ruthie, but she doesn’t like me and my mom, and she makes that pretty clear anytime we’re around, and I just don’t feel like suffering the abuse this year, so I told them I couldn’t make it in.”
“She doesn’t like you? Not possible.”
“Oh, it is. It’s not really me she doesn’t like, it’s the fact that I’m my mother’s daughter. She’s always thought that it was my mom’s fault that my stepdad, Danny didn’t end up back with Caroline, his first wife, despite the fact that she left him for another man.”
“I see. So Miss Ruthie’s a little crazy?”
“A lot crazy.”
“Well, shouldn’t you be there, then? To support your mom?”
“Nah. She doesn’t need me. We’re not that close. I think I’ve always just been a burden to her, you know, excess baggage.”
“That sucks. What about your real dad?”
“I don’t know him.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
“For what? I can’t miss him. I don’t know him.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Don’t feel bad for me,” she cut me off. “It could be a lot worse. My stepfather isn’t so bad, and my stepsister is my best friend. I think she may be my only friend, actually. Sharing a room with her those years was the best thing ever.
“That’s cool. Any other brothers or sisters?”
“Yeah. My stepbrother, Peter. He doesn’t like me, though.”
“What’s with this family? I can’t imagine anyone not liking you.”
“Um, that one’s my fault, actually. He did like me, at first.”
“What do you mean?”
She visibly swallowed. “Have you ever seen the movie Titanic?”
“Yes. I think everyone’s seen Titanic.”
“Okay, well, I was in the ninth grade and I’d still never seen it.”
“Seriously? That movie must have come out when you were in elementary school.”
“Yeah, it did. I was behind the times. That’s not the point. The point is, a lot of the girls at school had watched it at a sleepover that I wasn’t invited to and they kept talking about it the next Monday at lunch, and I felt like I was missing out, so I wanted to see it too. So one night my stepsister had a basketball thing and my mom and stepdad went with her, and it was just Peter and I at the house, so I asked him if he’d take me to the video store to rent the movie, and he said yes. And that he’d even watch it with me.”
“Well, there’s your first red flag,” I said.
“Right. Well, see, Peter’s only a couple of years older than me and my mom and I had only been living there for a couple months then, so it’s not like I saw him as my actual brother, or he saw me as a sister. I think he just saw me as Shayla’s friend who was constantly spending the night. Anyway, that movie was the most romanti
c thing I’d ever seen, and Peter just kept scooting closer to me and—”
“No!” My mouth fell open, but I immediately put my hand over it to hold back a laugh.
She buried her face in her hands, nodding. “Yes. I made out with Peter. I mean, he didn’t force himself on me, or anything. I didn’t oppose it. He was really cute and I was kind of into him the whole time Danny and mom were dating, so when he made a move, I just went with it.”
“What were you thinking?” I was shaking with laughter.
“I was thinking that Titanic is really freaking romantic and Peter was really cute and nobody had ever made a move on me before!”
“So what about after that? Did you two continue your clandestine affair?”
“No. He’s pretty much avoided me ever since that night. He acts so nervous around me, but I don’t know why.”
“Maybe he thinks you’re going to tell.”
“Who cares if I do? It was almost ten years ago! And it’s not like we’re actually related anyway.”
“So did you?”
“What?”
“Tell?”
“No.” She shook her head. “I’ve never told anybody.” She paused, and then added, “Except for you.”
A warm sensation flooded my chest and my laughter stopped. “Why?”
“It’s embarrassing!”
“No, I meant why me?”
One side of her mouth tilted up in a small half smile and she shrugged one shoulder. “Why not?”
The cashier from earlier brought out our turkey sandwiches and we ate mostly in silence. I couldn’t believe she’d told me her secret. Yeah, it wasn’t a big deal or anything, but still. I knew something about her no one else did. Save Peter, of course.
After we finished our sandwiches I got another coffee to go, and I drove us home. Right as she was unlocking her door I got up the nerve to ask her what I’d been trying to ask her at the coffee shop, before the conversation veered.
“You said you didn’t have any plans for Monday,” I began.
“Nope. Just me and my cats and the dog. And lots of television. Possibly cake.”
“My friends and I were planning this barbeque thing at my friend Shannon’s house. You’re welcome to join us, if you want.”
“They wouldn’t mind?”
