Page 9 of Twins For My Bestie's Brother

“Darryl.”

“Come on, you can’t get much better than a millionaire.”

Mom turns down the burner on the stove and lets the food simmer. “Billionaire, actually.”

“Jeez, right here in Cider Bay! And you could be dating him!”

I shake my head. “You’re acting like there was ever a possibility this was real. It wasn’t. From the beginning, it was a friend doing another friend a favor. Because the friend’s sister couldn’t keep her big mouth shut.”

“Okay, but . . . ” Mom sits in her spot at the table, bringing her glass of wine with her. “What if you thought of it like a first date?”

I narrow my eyes. “Mom, we don’t even know each other anymore.”

“That’s what a date is for!”

“It’s not a real date!”

“He’s handsome and successful, and you deserve handsome and successful,” she goes on.

She isn’t wrong. Jackson is handsome. Always has been. Tall and strong from all the running. Rugged golden waves of hair, cutting blue eyes. The beard is a new touch, just adds to the whole picture of perfect masculinity.

My whole life, he was Kayla’s older brother. Sure, when puberty hit, I started looking at him a little longer. But then so did every girl in Cider Bay. I wasn’t special for thinking he was attractive, so I didn’t treat him specially. I teased him, gave him shit. Besides, he was the golden boy, and I was an alt emo kid. We grew in different directions.

“I deserve nice,” I say softly, adjusting my wine glass on the table without looking at anyone. “A guy who dates Tia Worthing isn’t nice.”

Mom touches my wrist. “That was years ago sweetie.”

Maybe so. But I haven’t forgotten. She had just spread a rumor that I’d given Will a blowjob during a school assembly when all I’d been doing was using a Sharpie to draw on the front of his jeans. Everyone thought we were perverts for years even though we never did more than kiss until junior year. And despite all of that, Jackson took her to prom that year. I barely saw him that year or through half of high school because of her.

“It doesn’t even matter,” I say. “There’s nothing there. We’re just friends. And can you imagine him with me? That’s like Jessica and Roger Rabbit. It’s even in the name.”

“Don’t tell me you’re comparing yourself to Roger Rabbit in this scenario,” Dad says.

I laugh. “I mean, compared to Jackson, I’m definitely the weird-looking one. He’s conventionally attractive, and I’m—”

“I think you two would make a cute couple,” Mom encourages.

I’m letting Tia get to me. I know I am. That last comment she made on her way out of the store, that it was a seeming impossibility for me tosnagJackson really hit me square in the chest. After the past decade, my self-esteem isn’t very high. I’ve been trying to get it back, but the doubt is uglier than it used to be. “It’s just a fake date. To annoy Tia.”

“That’s as good a reason as any,” Dad says.

“Darryl.”

I laugh into my glass of wine, sipping as my parents squabble. My phone starts to vibrate in my back pocket. I pull it out with the intention to put it on silent, but stop when I see the name.

Jackson Roy. Jackson Roy is calling me.

“Is that him?” Mom asks excitedly.

I give her a look. “Fake date.”

“Mhmm . . . ”

Dad’s turn to scold Mom. “Sue.”

“I’m gonna take this.”

Mom pats my hip as I stand. “Good girl. Keep an open mind.”

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