Page 128 of Best Served Cold

“I’m sure. Just happy you guys finally figured out what I already knew.”

“And what’s that?”

He dragged me over to the big bay window in the front living room and parked me next to it.

“That you and Zane are totally into each other and this competition thing was just an excuse to figure shit out.”

“You’re not nearly as unobservant as people think you are, are you?”

“Nope.” He leaned against the wall, his arms folded over his big chest. “I’m not the smartest guy, and I don’t get a lot of things that most people do, but I see everything. And it’s amazing how people forget you have ears and can hear what they say when they write you off and assume you’re a dumbass.”

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

“What do you mean?” Tilting his head, he shot me a quizzical look.

“This. Me and Zane.”

“Why wouldn’t I be okay with it?”

“You were worried about him, at the bar. When we did the gay chicken dare.”

“Oh, that.” River shook his head and patted my arm. “No. That had nothing to do with you. I just know how stubborn my brother can be and didn’t want him to regret his first kiss.” He blanched. “Crap. I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant it was a dare and that’s why he might regret it. Not because it was with you. Just… I’m not helping here, am I?”

“You are.” I smiled to reassure him, even as my brain zeroed in on the confirmation that I’d been Zane’s first. “I get it. I thought maybe it was because I’m a guy, but you and Gray are so tight that didn’t track.”

“Pssshhh.” He waved his hand dismissively. “I don’t care about that. Girl, guy, whatever floats your boat.”

That was reassuring. I’d already assumed River was open-minded, but hearing him say it helped calm some of my anxiety around how the people in Zane’s life might react to me.

“You know I have to give you the ‘hurt him and I’ll kill you’ speech, right?” River asked. His tone was casual, but I could feel the truth behind his words.

“I know.” I made sure to look him in the eyes so he could see I was serious. River might have the biggest golden retriever energy I’d ever seen in someone, but I knew how dangerous both he and Zane could be. River’s threat wasn’t lip service. “I promise I won’t hurt him. Not on purpose. I can’t promise I won’t be a dumbass because that’s kinda my default, but I care about him. I…I’ve never felt like this before.”

He gave me a conspiratorial grin. “Wanna fuck with people?”

“Hell yeah.” I pushed off the wall. “What’re you thinking?”

“How about we make their tongues wag?”

“I’m listening.”

He held out his hand. “Care to go for a walk around the house?”

Snickering, I laced our fingers together.

“The people who can tell us apart are gonna lose their marbles because you’re with Zane, so this”—he shook our hands—“will make their heads explode. The ones who can’t will break their brains trying to guess who I am. And hopefully they’ll get some conflicting info when they ask questions and that will really fuck them up.”

“You’re kinda evil. I love it.”

He grinned. “Gotta have fun where you can.” He paused, and when he looked at me again, he’d morphed into Zane.

The twins might be identical, but their different mannerisms and demeanors were obvious once you got to know them. I’d never had trouble telling them apart. Right now I wouldn’t have believed I was holding hands with River if I hadn’t seen the transformation myself.

“Oh hell yeah.” I scrubbed my free hand through my hair to muss it up more. Might as well sell it.

“Ooh, nice touch.” River did the same. The effect was perfect. He looked like Zane in River’s clothes. A smirk, so reminiscent of Zane, tipped his mouth. “Ready?” he asked in Zane’s deadpan.

So much yes.

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