Page 14 of Twins For My Bestie's Brother

“You’ve got the wrong shoes for this kinda thing!”

I stop once the dirt path turns into grass, signaling we’ve reached the point. Lily slows down once I’ve stopped, loping toward me. “I’m so out of shape.”

But what a nice shape she is. “You could start jogging with me in the mornings.”

She smiles, though she’s having trouble evening out her breath. When she reaches me, she pats her hand against my chest. “Sounds like a death wish.”

I resist grabbing her hand and pressing it harder against my chest so she can feel how my heart is racing. Not from the running. Not at all. “I’d go easy on you.”

Lily pulls away and walks out onto the point past me. I follow her as she navigates the rocks, the ones that gave Craggy Point its name, until she perches on the top one that’s been worn down almost into a bench from years of people sitting to watch sunrises and sunsets.

I climb after her and take a seat beside her. The rock isn’t very big and, as previously mentioned, I’ve got these long legs that need someplace to go. So, our legs rest against one another. I unzip my fleece to get some coolness on my skin.

“I forgot how beautiful it is out here,” she says, her eyes looking out over the bay.

“Me too.” I don’t usually stop here on my runs. I just run right through and continue on the path. But from here, you can see the whole bay. Docked boats, houses, downtown, and the expansive skyline. The sun has just started peeking over the horizon. Perfect timing. “You happy to be back?” I ask.

Lily doesn’t say anything for a few moments, and I wonder if I’ve overstepped.

The sun continues to climb. Higher and higher, bit by bit.

“Yeah, I am,” she says. “I mean, I definitely didn’t think I’d be working at the drugstore at this point in my life, but it’s better than the alternative.”

“Tired of Seattle?”

Lily starts fiddling with a thread trailing from the cuff of her sweatshirt. “Something like that.”

I decide not to press. However, there’s a part of me that wonders if I can recreate the beginning of our fake relationship.Ask the right questions, be the shoulder to cry on, feed her that line again, the one that’s true.

I could treat you better than he ever could.Than anyone ever could. Because my heart has been hers for far too long. I’ve tried other women. Other relationships. And when those have ended for any number of reasons, I always come back to Lily.

We could be so good together.

“What about you?” she asks. “Is it hard being back?”

I clear my throat and rub my palms together. “A little. I mean, Kayla’s the one who lives in our grandparents’ old house, but it’s not easy that it’s just she and I. But it’s better than being in a big city without her.”

I feel Lily’s eyes on me, and, though it terrifies me, I meet her gaze. “I’m glad you're back, Jackson.”

“I’m glad you’re back too, Lil.”

She tips her head to the side until it lands against my shoulder. We watch the sunrise, blue and yellow and pink spilling across the horizon.

Lily feels safe with me. Of course, she does. Because I’m . . .

I’m like a big brother, I guess. Even after all this time.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see some people appear at the mouth of the trail. I take it as my opportunity to wrap my arm around Lily and pull her closer.

She glances up at me, eyebrows popped upward.

I lean my mouth down to the crown of her head. “Practice,” I murmur.

Lily spies the people and smiles. “Good call.” She nestles herself into my chest.

We don’t move even after we know we’re alone.

Chapter 5

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