ChapterOne

Luca

Iwas a little drunk and a little too full of cake, but it didn’t matter.

Because, as I said, I was a little drunk.

Music blared through the speakers as people writhed on the dance floor, laughing and joking with one another. I was pretty sure most of these people had been strangers earlier in the day, but when the birthday shots came out and the cake was cut, people became quite friendly.

That didn’t bother me too much from where I stood at the edge of the dance floor, sipping my drink and watching the others have fun.

I wasn’t sure what drink I was on; I had lost count at around three. Which didn’t seem like a lot, but I was usually a beer or wine drinker, not a cocktail drinker. However, these fruity concoctions tasted yummy.

And they went well with the cake that I had inhaled.

“Do you want some water?”

I blinked and narrowed my gaze at my brother, August. At least, I thought it was August, though it could have been Heath. My brothers were identical twins after all, and sometimes—if I’d had this many drinks, which wasn’t often—it was hard to remember how to tell them apart. Being identical and all.

You would think that sometimes I would feel like the odd man out, being the baby brother of twins that seemed to have that twin bond thing, but I didn’t. No, the odd man out was actually our sister. But Greer wasn’t here, as she had left earlier with her husbands.

My brothers never made me feel like I was on the outside, the one that didn’t look like them.

I squinted one eye and figured out that yes, this was August.

“Looking good, Aggie.”

My brother scowled and forced a plastic cup of water in my hand. “Drink this, asshole. And next time you call me Aggie, I’ll forget that you bruise like a peach and I’ll kick your ass.”

I snorted and looked down at both drinks in my hand. “Look at me. Double fisting.” I snorted, far too pleased with myself. It had been a very hard week at the clinic, and I’d had some terrible days that I didn’t want to dwell on. Tonight was about letting loose. Finally.

August pinched the bridge of his nose. “You are not in college anymore. Act normal.”

“I wasn’t even allowed to drink in college, thank you very much. I was invet schooland not old enough to drink. I’m playing catch up. You know, with parties and oats. You’re supposed to sow them, right?”

“Drink your water. How many of those fruity things with whipped cream have you had?”

I looked down at the pink frothy drink and shrugged, just noticing that I spilled some water on my shoe. “Not sure. But they sure are tasty.”

August scowled and took the drink from me and forced my other hand with the water cup towards my mouth.

“Drink this. You’re allowed to get shit-faced; I’m not Mom or Dad.”

I snorted and nearly choked on the water. “Good for that. Mom and Dad are assholes. I wouldn’t like it if you were an asshole.”

He gave me a sad look and cupped my cheek. “I love you, baby brother. And I’m glad I’m not Mom and Dad either. Because they are assholes. Now go drink your water and sober up a bit. You’re going to hate yourself in the morning.”

“I’m not sure if I hate myself now or not. The fruity drinks help.”

“That sugar is going to hurt. I don’t know what Heath was thinking with those fruity drinks.”

“It’s my bar, and my wife wanted a fun drink.”

“Okay,” I said, grinning. “I like that she’s your wife. Devney’s great.”

Heath looked between us, and the look on his face was so full of exasperation, I couldn’t help but grin before taking another drink of my water.

“My God. How many of those has he had? They’re just sugar and alcohol. He’s going to hate himself in the morning and I’m going to be blamed for it.”