Identical Disaster (The Sterling Shore Series Book 8)

by C. M. Owens

  “I’m glad I have emergency cards at the office and really good assistants,” I add.

  God knows Bora wouldn’t have gone to my place to mail them, and Shanna would have spent twenty minutes yelling at me before I could even ask her to do it.

  “What’s with the sponge?” I ask him, unable to help myself.

  “Souvenir for Viv.” He smirks, and I shake my head. She really does act like whoever she’s around, which is usually Mrs. Marshall. She even acts like she has the hots for my dad. Ewwww.

  Jax laces our fingers together as we walk down the crowded street of the local town. Even though it’s local, it’s still quite a drive from the house.

  I’ve decided Cody and Dustin are just fourteen-year-olds trapped in men’s bodies.

  “Are you sure they’re not really teenagers?” I ask as the two make fart noises behind a group a girls, getting nasty looks sent their way as the girls huff and storm away.

  Dustin and Cody hoot and burst out laughing like it’s the funniest thing in the world.

  “Sometimes, I don’t know,” Jax says flatly, not really paying them much attention.

  When Cody grabs two coconuts and starts acting like he’s groping breasts, I start guiding us far away from them.

  “How are you friends with them?” I ask, ducking my head when Dustin starts groping the breasts—er, coconuts, I mean—and moaning like he’s on the brink of orgasm.

  “We went to high school together,” Jax says, picking up speed as we try to ditch them.

  “I’m guessing they didn’t graduate.”

  “They did. With honors, too.”

  My eyebrows go up, and he shrugs. “Public education. Gotta love it.”

  Laughing, I shake my head and move toward the sound of music. I love the way this town has troubadours and street performers.

  Jax slides his arms around my waist like it’s the most natural thing in the world when we reach the edge of people who have gathered around a man singing. A woman dances slowly to keep with the rhythm of the music. Before I know it, I find my body swaying with Jax’s, and my head falls back on his chest as I watch the way the hula dancer gracefully demonstrates her power and poise.

  By the end of the song, my eyes have closed, and Jax’s chin is resting on top of my head. It really does feel natural, even though it shouldn’t.

  “You hungry?” he asks.

  I start to nod, but Dustin and Cody find us, and I end up tucked against Jax’s side instead when Cody hip-checks me to take my place in front of Jax.

  “Wings and a strip club would be great. Know the way?”

  Yeah, I really don’t like Cody.

  “And beer. Don’t forget beer,” Dustin adds.

  Jax arches his eyebrow. “First of all, I don’t know if they have wings. Secondly, I’m not taking Bo to a strip club. Third, it’s still too early for you jackasses to start drinking. I’m not carrying either of you home.”

  Jax keeps his arm around me, holding me to him, or I would wander off and call a cab. I think he must know that.

  “First of all—Hawaii is still ‘Merica,” Cody points out while putting a hand over his heart like he’s about to pledge allegiance to the flag. “So that means no wings would be sacrilegious. Secondly, it’s a three-to-one ratio here. Unless you want to share your girl, a strip club is a must. Third, we can hold our alcohol, jackass.”

  He ends his argument with an extended bird finger and a smug grin. Jax bristles beside me, and I glare at Cody for his share your girl remark.

  “Go get your wings, make it rain for some strippers, and drink your beer. Bo and I are about to grab something from the café we just passed. We’ll catch up with you guys tonight or something. Don’t bring chicks back to the house though.”

  Cody’s smile wavers, and he gives me a look I don’t particularly appreciate. Pretty sure he’s pissed at me, but it’s not like I’m the one twisting Jax’s arm. Dustin groans while looking back at Jax.

  “Serious, dude? We flew to Hawaii to hang with you, and you’re ditching us on day one?”

  “You flew out here for a free trip,” Jax says, laughing lightly. “Told you I had a girl here. I also told you it was low key to begin with since it was originally Mick’s home. No girls were going to be allowed there either.”

  Cody’s jaw ticks, but he rolls his eyes.

  “Whatever. Let’s find some fun. Girls, wings, and booze. Doesn’t have to be in that order.”

  He casts one last cold glance at me, then he flips Jax off with a smile as the two head off in search of their “fun.”

  “I wonder how long it will take them to realize there aren’t any strip clubs or wings on this side of the island,” I muse aloud.

  Jax starts laughing, and I smile as he shakes his head. “At least they’ll find beer.”

  “I don’t think Cody likes me too much.”

  “Probably because he still thinks you’re Bora, and Bora is always a bitch to him. I’ll explain things to them later. Didn’t think you’d want to be around when I did it.”

  “No. No. Not at all. It’s embarrassing enough.”

  He snickers softly before kissing the top of my head, and I lean against him a little more.

  “Besides, Cody is intimidating. The last thing I need is to be around him after he has ammunition.”

  Jax is still laughing when he starts pulling me away.

  “If Cody says anything, just ask him why he’s having to grow out his hair again.”

  Cody’s hair is nothing more than a little fuzz, as though he used to be bald.

  “Why does he have to grow it out?” I ask, loving the way his hand holds mine with such ease.

  “Cody won’t fight me because he knows he’ll lose, but he had an ongoing bet that no one else could kick his ass. He loves keeping his head shaved, so that was the stakes. If anyone beat him, he had to grow his hair out. You have no idea how many people tried surprise attacks—this excluded me. As I said, I can easily kick his ass.” He winks, and I try not to be impressed. “The rules were that it could only happen in the gym, but no one could get the better of him. Then… along came Britt.”

  My feet stick to the ground, and Jax has to stop abruptly so he doesn’t yank my arm off.

  “Britt? Britt as in Dane Sterling’s sister?” I ask, dumbfounded.

  He grins widely while nodding.

  “She showed up for self-defense classes, but she didn’t wait on class to start. She left him in the fetal position with a bloody nose and a wrecked set of balls, and she walked back out, acting very unimpressed with Cody.”

  I burst out laughing as he tugs me to start walking again, and we fall into an easy stride as conversation picks up. Apparently he employs some of his high school friends, and he refused to go to private school, even though he had the grades and money to attend, because he didn’t want to be a “snob.”

  “I went to private school,” I tell him, snickering when he looks like he’s swallowed his foot.

  “Yeah, sorry. It was a stereotype I believed until I started hanging with some of the Sterlings.”

  He rubs the back of his neck, and he has the grace to look like he regrets that comment.

  “Snobs are in public schools too,” I go on, just to be mean.

  “I know. I shouldn’t have—”

  When he sees my smile, he stops talking and rolls his eyes.

  “Funny,” he grumbles, but he smiles as he guides me inside the café.

  For once, things between us don’t seem so complicated, even though the chain of events that led us here were anything but simple.

  Chapter 26

  JAX

  Bo is reading a book on the deck, while I remain stuck down by the fire Cody has burning on the beach. For the hundredth time, I hear his same old stories, and I sip my beer, watching Bo instead of listening to him.

  As though she feels my gaze, she looks up, and she smiles at me before looking back to the page she’s on.

  “Must be a good
book,” Dustin says, sitting down beside me as he looks over at her too. “Any chance she has a sister?”

  I choke on my beer, and he eyes me as Cody comes to stand in our line of view of Bo. But he mostly block’s Dustin’s view of her. I can still see her just fine.

  “Hey, fuckers. I’m in the middle of the best part,” Cody growls.

  “And we’ve heard the best part more times than I can count,” Dustin says, giving him a cheeky grin before taking a sip of his own beer.

  I spent the day with Bo, just talking and walking and listening to how she grew up versus how I grew up. I can’t remember the last time someone asked so many questions about my life. I also can’t remember freely volunteering so much information.

  Hell, the Sterlings have been trying to pry shit out of me since they met me. Bo’s as private as I am, yet she opened up, and I found it impossible not to match her story for story.

  Now I’m stuck with Cody and Dustin, and all I want to do is finish what we started earlier today.

  “Hello!” Cody says loudly, waving a hand in front of my face before completely blocking my view of Bo.

  My eyebrows go up as I tilt my head back to stare up at him. It’s too much effort to stand up, but I’m ready to get off the beach.

  “What?” I ask innocently.

  “Don’t ‘what’ me. You know what. You’ve ignored us most the day to spend it with Bora. Of all people.”

  “Lay off him,” Dustin says with a swat of his hand. “If I had a girl that nice and hot, there’s no way I’d be on the beach with either of you fuckers.”

  True story. Why am I down here again?

  “Bora is a grade A bitch. Fuck that. You said you were dumping her; now you act like it’s killing you to be out here with us instead of her.”

  Dustin’s grin breaks across his face before he turns to face me.

  “I’m not dumping her,” I tell him, feeling my lips twitch when his smile drops immediately.

  “What? Why the hell not?” Cody demands.

  “Why is it any of your business?”

  Cody glares at me while sitting down in a chair in front of me, which allows me to see Bo again.

  “Because the last I checked, I’m your best friend, and Bora is just a piece of ass. What’s up with you? You’re not acting like yourself. Since when do you ditch us for some chick?”

  He has a point, but I’m getting tired of his tone.

  Standing up, I clap him on the shoulder. “Watch what you say about Bo. She’s not just a piece of ass. And, by the way, Bo and Bora aren’t the same two girls.”

  “The fuck does that mean?” he asks.

  “It means, Bo is Bora’s twin. Long story short, she’s nothing like Bora, so treat her better. She isn’t going to castrate you in your sleep. At least I haven’t seen that side of her yet if it exists.”

  “So she does have a sister!” Dustin says with a grin. “Fuck yes. A twin? Day. Made.”

  I laugh while walking away, and ignore Cody when he starts calling for me. He’s drunk and turning into an ass. I’ll deal with him when he’s sober and more rational.

  Bo is gone when I look up to the deck, and I head inside to find her. It doesn’t take long. Her voice is easy to find in the otherwise quiet house, since Vince took my parents and Viv out for a night on the town.

  She’s in the den, but I stop walking when I see she’s on her phone.

  “I love it,” she says to someone. “Yeah. I think so. He hasn’t really said, but it doesn’t matter. I like it.” I frown, wishing I could hear the other side of the conversation. “How’s Dick?”

  Dick? Who the fuck is Dick?

  “I’m happy for you. Really, Bora. I’m glad you found someone who makes you happy.”

  I visibly relax when I realize she’s talking to Bora about someone Bora is apparently dating.

  “I sent you a picture. Don’t kill me when you see it, but I couldn’t help myself. You know you want it, too.”

  Again, I tense. The hell kind of shit is this?

  She starts laughing, and I hear Bora’s voice, even though I can’t hear the words. She’s obviously getting loud.

  “I just wanted it for myself for a little while, but now I want you to have it too.” Still can’t walk away, even though this is sounding a little sick and twisted. “Ruby has it on file if you want her to do it for you.”

  Ruby is in on it too? Does Corbin know what kind of disgusting kink is going on?

  “She doesn’t hate you, Bora. She doesn’t know you, other than the fact you tend to be selfish around others. Show her your good side. Besides, I told her when I got it that eventually you’d get it too. That’s why she has it on file, and it was my one stipulation about letting her give me a tattoo.”

  Tattoo? They’re talking about a fucking tattoo?

  Again, I relax… then I question my sanity. I’m not used to so much drama and tension. I think I need a massage just because of the knots that have formed from eavesdropping on this conversation that I completely took out of context.

  “Just call her if you want to get it. She’ll make it exactly like mine. She gets it.”

  My eyebrows knit together as I jog up the stairs and leave her to finish her conversation with Bora. I’m stripping out of my shirt when she finally joins me, and she stumbles into the room like she’s never seen me shirtless before.

  “Um… Sorry?” she says, though it sounds like a question.

  Yeah, that shy thing is actually still doing it for me. And I still can’t believe I like it.

  “I heard you talking to Bora,” I say instead of acknowledging her red cheeks and wandering eyes.

  Her gaze snaps up, and she tilts her head.

  “About your tattoo? You want her to have one like it?” I ask, sitting down on the bed.

  She just stares for a second, and I wait impatiently for an answer.

  “Bo?” I prompt.

  “Sorry,” she says, tensing her lips. “Just trying to do the math on how much more crazy you can handle from one girl before I answer that.”

  I don’t know whether to laugh or be worried after hearing that.

  “Um… What level of crazy are we talking? Straight jacket or anxiety pills?”

  She huffs out a breath mixed with a laugh while coming to drop down beside me.

  “How much do you know about identical twins?” she asks, peering up at me from under those sexy lashes.

  “Not a damn thing. Why?”

  “Well, it’s not the same with all identical sets, but in a lot of cases, the twins never really want to be anything but identical. Bora and I are like that. If one of us gets a haircut, so does the other. If one gets a piercing, so does the other.”

  She tugs up her shirt, and she flicks the jewel that hangs from her navel piercing. I’ve never been big on piercings, but it’s cute on her. Even though it doesn’t suit her shy-girl persona.

  “Bora got this done, and I couldn’t stand not getting mine done. Finally, she told me I could if I wanted to. That’s what we do. We let the other know when it’s okay to do it, because sometimes you just want to be different for a minute.”

  I try to wrap my head around that, but I don’t really understand it.

  “So she’s getting a tattoo just like yours simply because you told her it was okay to do now?”

  “She didn’t know about the tattoo, but yes. She’s going to make an appointment as soon as she can. I wish I could it explain it in a way normal people understand, but I can’t. There’s just a bond between us that other people can’t understand. It’s the reason I’ve never dated anyone she has, and vice versa.”

  That definitely doesn’t make me feel too good.

  “Second thoughts?”

  “No,” she says, smiling bashfully. “Bora genuinely doesn’t care. She’s dating a guy named Dick now, and she’s happy. She has real feelings for him.” Her eyes widen, and she clamps her hand over her mouth. “I don’t mean—”

  “I’m glad Bor
a didn’t have real feelings for me, because I didn’t have them for her. Don’t apologize,” I tell her, getting a firmer grasp on just how different she is from her sister.

  “Sorry,” she says on a breath.

  “I guess identical twins don’t have identical personalities. That much I’ve figured out.”

  She shrugs a shoulder. “In some cases, they can be so similar that they’re almost the same person. But it’s not like that with us. We have a dynamic that works. We’re both designers, we both do a lot with the business, and we both have a passion for our job, but we are polar opposites in almost every other aspect. Even our designs are completely different from each other’s. It’s what makes our lines so unique—the diversity we bring to the table.”

  She looks down while doing something with her phone, and I brush her hair away from her cheek.

  “So this hair, will Bora copy it too?” I ask, rubbing a lock between my finger and thumb, loving how soft it is.

  She hands me her phone as though she was expecting that question, and I see a picture of a smiling Bo—no, that’s Bora. Bo’s eyes are gentle. Bora looks like she’s bored to death.

  “She got it done first,” I say when I see the time stamp. “That’s why you left?”

  She nods slowly. “Yeah. Sorry I lied.” She blows out a harsh breath before tossing her phone aside. “Neither of us have relationships that last. Bora just plays it off like she hasn’t been secretly searching for someone she connects with on a level where you feel a bond. Something different from what we have, but just as strong. It… It makes you date differently.”

  Now that has my attention.

  “What does that mean?”

  She shrugs while standing up and going to the closet. “We have a sister bond, but it’s powerful. It used to be stronger,” she says, adding the last part so quietly that I almost miss it. “The point is that we both want a connection that strong on a romantic level, and… Well, that’s not easy to find. Bora uses a different approach in her hunt than I do.”

  Despite the much too serious conversation I’m not ready for, my smile slowly spreads. “And what tactic do you use? Obviously this isn’t your tactic.”