Page 74 of Confusing Hearts

“Not here, Tessa. Please, let’s go and I’ll answer whatever questions you have.”

She looked back at Chase and Jack, and then nodded.

“Let me just say bye to Jack,” Tessa said.

“Okay.”

While she went to speak to Jack, Chase came over to check on me. We walked into the stairwell for a little privacy.

“I won’t lie to her, Chase. She’s already questioning where I was all weekend and how I know Jack. My evasive answer didn’t appease her, and let’s face it, I’m just not any good at sneaking around. I’ve never been able to really tell a lie.”

“Jenna, it’s okay. She’s your twin sister. You should be able to tell her anything.”

I sighed. “It’s not the same for us like it is with you and your brothers. We’re just different.”

“Do you want me to stay with you? We can tell her together. Whatever you want. Just tell me what to do,” Chase said sweetly.

“I don’t know if that would be better or worse. I guess I should talk to her alone,” I said, still not certain of the decision.

“If you change your mind, I’m only a phone call away. And you will call me regardless once you’re done talking, right?”

I rolled my eyes. “Do you really think I’d fall asleep without telling you goodnight?”

He grinned and leaned down to kiss me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him close, channeling his energy to boost my confidence. Of course, Tessa chose that moment to open the door to the stairwell.

“Oh, um, sorry,” she said, stumbling back into the library.

“Tessa, wait. It’s fine, come on. We have a lot to talk about,” I said, feeling a little more confident.

“You got this,” Chase whispered, kissing my temple before releasing me.

I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile before turning my focus towards Tessa. Halfway down the stairs I stopped. I didn’t want the sisters to overhear us. I wasn’t sure where we could go to truly have privacy. I briefly thought about going to Chase’s room where he had the dampener, but then I remembered Chad was staying there now and that wouldn’t be fair.

Turning back, I saw Chase still watching us from the landing.

“We need a place to talk,” I said. “Can I borrow the Jeep?”

Chase didn’t hesitate as he tossed his keys down towards me. I caught them mid-air.

“Thanks,” I hollered back up to him as we turned and walked out of the library.

Tessa and I walked in silence across campus towards the doghouse. Brett was in the parking lot near the Jeep.

“Hey, Jenna. Where you off to tonight?” He looked back and forth between me and Tessa. “I’m not expected to actually know which one is you and which is your sister, right?”

Tessa shot me a side glance. I knew she was used to being the popular one and I was just “the sister.” I could only imagine how she must have felt, like she just got pulled into some weird alternate universe.

“Jenna,” I said, waving. “This is Tessa. Tess, this is Brett.”

“Hi,” she said softly, with none of her usual flirtations.

“Where you ladies off to this fine evening?”

“Not sure yet, just going for a drive.”

“Chase actually handed over the keys to his baby?”

I jangled the keys for him. Brett laughed and shook his head, but I was thankful he kept his mouth shut from further comments.

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