Page 95 of Yours Truly

“She was a client of mine a few weeks ago,” I say, irritation running through my veins. “I’m going to take a stab and say you let her believe that you’re me?”

His white teeth and broad grin make me sick. I grab his wrist, holding his hand out. Connor, Jeremy, and Deuce stare at it. Releasing him, I stick my hand out, and even though he takes his back without me holding him there, they see it.

“And I’m sure it goes without saying, but I’m gonna say it, I got mine first,” I say to them, earning a scoff from my twin.

“You always were cooler than me,” Derek says with a smile. He can act like he’s being facetious, but I know him. He’s always thought less of himself. Always living in my shadow.

By fucking choice.

Derek was always a lazy, cruel troublemaker who was jealous of everything I did when he had every opportunity I had to make something of himself.

And he did.

He made his life becoming my dark shadow, the one I deny, the one who’s done nothing but trail me and ruin things for me. Derek is the reason my life was turned on its head twice, and he married my first love.

Jeremy claps a hand on my shoulder. “God, though, you do really look like identical twins. I mean, sometimes twins look less alike as the elder?—”

“Elder?” I cock a brow. “I’m thirty-eight and—oh fuck.” My sentence dies on the vine as everything falls into place.

Ivy left.

Derek is here, and he’s using my name to get laid. Or attempt to.

Interrupting my train of thought, my brother says, “I thought you’d like to know, me and Cat got separated. Legally. Getting the big D.”

With my chest tight, I stand there, waiting for it to hit. Happiness. A comment about karmic retribution, something. But I feel absolutely nothing at the news that they aren’t going to make it as a couple. She cheated on me with my identical twin and ruined my ability to trust but still, I feel nothing. Completely indifferent.

“Trace, I think Ivy may’ve—” Deuce starts, but fucking Derek opens his mouth again.

“Who’s Ivy?”

I have his shirt in my fist and his face to mine in less than three seconds, I’m sure of it. “Don’t fucking say her name,” I hiss, spit splatting his stubbled upper lip.

“Why, scared I’ll get another one?” His smile is goading, but I refuse to play into him. I lost years of my life running from what he did. I gave him way too much power. Because if you love someone, you don’t cheat on them.

He’s nothing, and she didn’t love me.

“Because I don’t want you in my life. And she is part of my life, so go the fuck away.” I face Deuce. “Drive me to Ivy’s. Now. Please.”

Derek starts talking but Connor diffuses, stepping between us as Deuce and I take off out the front of the shop.

She’s got it all wrong.

My jaw draws tight as evening nips my ears and nose. Deuce runs out onto the sidewalk after me as I take in the shape of my car.

The blood.

She did this.

I know my Firecracker did this after what she thinks she saw.

I don’t give a rat’s ass about the car.

I care about getting to her and explaining. Turning to Deuce, I say, “Get Derek. Get Derek or she won’t believe me.”

Deuce nods. “It is pretty fucking unbelievable that there are two of you.”

I shake my head. “There is only one me. He’s just the… drug store knockoff.” Ivy flashes through my mind as I look across the street to Goode’s. “Go get him. I need to get to her.”

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