Page 24 of The Retreat

Oliver narrows his eyes. “You didn’t sound fine.”

“Well, I am now.” I lift my chin, squaring off to my twin.

“Fine. Where is Colin? I need to have a word with him.”

“I don’t know.” I push past him to go make myself a coffee. While I’m there, I make two, finishing them off before I follow the yelling.

Oliver and Colin stand head-to-head in the living room.

“I’ll be irate if I want to be irate coming home to you squatting.”

“I’m not squatting. I’m married to your brother.”

“I didn’t give you permission to move into my apartment,” Oliver says through his teeth.

“I didn’t know I needed permission!” Colin turns toward me as I enter the room. “Isn’t this place both of yours?”

I shake my head. “No. Oliver bought it.”

“We need to find our own place,” Colin says like it’s the simplest thing in the world.

I look between them, panic rising up my throat again. “Sure. I guess that makes sense since we are married.”

Oliver whips his head towards me. “What?”

“If you’re going to give my husband a hard time about moving in, I guess it’s time.” I stroll over to Colin, offering him the mug. “I made you a latte with two sugars.”

“You know how I like my lattes?” Colin blinks.

“Of course I do.” Does everyone think I’m totally oblivious?

“What the fuck happened in the last couple of weeks?” Oliver demands.

“Hmm?” I ask sipping my espresso.

“You were—he was—” Oliver sneers. “What is going on?” He turns to Isaac who is slowly inching away like he could escape the entire confrontation. “This feels like we walked into Stepford Wives, right?”

“You’re scaring him!” I push Oliver out of the way and go to Isaac. “Parents fought a lot?”

He nods.

“I bet you’re overstimulated too. Why don’t you go have a bath in Oliver’s tub. Turn the lights out. Come back into reality slowly.”

Isaac grabs onto the idea like a lifesaver and leaves in a hurry.

“You’d think after dealing with me for years you’d know how to take care of Isaac,” I scoff and take another sip of my coffee.

Oliver growls but says nothing to me, instead he turns back on Colin. “What did you do to him?”

Colin shrugs and lifts his hands, palms up. “Just what you told me to.”

Oliver clearly doesn’t like the answer. “I can’t believe I had to return early for this.”

“Three days early isn’t really a hardship, and blame it on your mother. She picked the day.”

“I’ll blame it on you for marrying my brother and starting Mother on her shit again,” Oliver snaps.

“Your entire life is a vacation. You don’t need a longer one.”

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