Page 50 of The Winslow Brothers

He nods, and I have to wonder if he’s just about as put off by my career as I am by his. I mean, I’m not knocking it for everyone—I know these are the times. But “Professional Gamer” isdefinitelynot on the list of qualities I’ve been envisioning for my husband since I could write in my diary, that’s for sure.

“That’s interesting,” he says again, trying his best to be polite.

I nod again before picking my menu up in front of my face. Man, this is going to be a long night if I can’t get some kind of grip on making this conversation flow.

“Excuse me,” a chillingly familiar voice says from the side of our table, making my eyes widen as I pull my menu down tentatively. I peek just enough above the top to get a glimpse, and I nearly faint as a smilingJude, the Magic Dancercatches my eyes at that very moment and winks. My stomach immediately flips over on itself with memories and unbidden excitement, but it’s not long before it changes its tune. Attractive or not, seeing this guy here, right now, isnota good thing. At all.

Holy shit. What in the ever-loving hell is he doing here?my mind screams as the true panic starts to set in.This wasn’t on my list of excuses at all, so I don’t think I’m manifesting stuff.

I cough, choking slightly on the building saliva in my throat, and Jude reaches over to pat me on the back. Nathan’s eyes narrow at the gesture, and I’ll be damned if I can’t blame him.

If I could just get the awkward choking under control, maybe I’d be able to wade into the brink with…some sort of explanation.

Not that I know what that would be at all. I don’t think any version ofthis guy stripped so well I spontaneously orgasmedis going to help me here.

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Jude continues, glancing between me and my date. “I don’t know either of you very well, but I couldn’t help but come over and offer my congratulations.”

Oh God. Noooo. No, no. This is even worse than I realized.

“Congratulations?” Nathan asks. “On what?”

Jude laughs, slapping my date on the back with a big old healthy dose of consequences he can’t even begin to comprehend. “On the wedding. I met your lovely bride here just the other night, and she told me she was getting ready to tie the knot. I feel honored to get the chance to meet the lucky guy.”

Nathan turns to me immediately, his neck contorting with a whole hell of a lot ofwhat the fuck.“You’remarried?”

“Nathan,” I hedge, trying to figure out how to explain this whole thing without making a scene. I’m not my sister like Jude thinks I am. Though, I was pretending to be her, to be fair. So, I am the woman Jude thinks I am, even though I’m not the woman who was getting married. Simple, right?

Nervous laughter spills from my lips suddenly, and fuck if that’s not, like, the exact opposite thing I needed to happen right now.

Nathan scowls.

“Oh my God. I knew it was too good to be true…seeing a woman who looks like you on a dating app.” He shoves back from the table, and I scramble to stand. Jude’s head whips back and forth between us, his eyebrows at his hairline.

“Nathan, I’m sorry. You don’t understand. I’m not—”

“Forget it. I’m out of here.”

He tosses his napkin on the plate in front of him and heads for the entrance, his legs churning at full speed. The rest of the patrons eye me with contempt—having overheard enough details to consider themselves judge and jury—and my whole body shakes with anger and embarrassment.

This is a freaking disaster.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t—” Jude seems a little stunned and tries to apologize, but my crazy train has already left the station, and the horn of embarrassment has already been blown. There’s no turning back now, so I don’t even bother checking myself before I lay into him at a less than respectable restaurant volume.

“You ruined it! I cannot believe you ruined my freaking date! Have you lost your mind? Why on earth would you think it was appropriate to come over here?”

“I’m genuinely sorry, Belle. I just wanted to offer my congratulations.”

“Well, I’m not Belle, and you’ve officially fucked me. So, thanks. Can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”

Wrinkles form between his brows as they pinch toward each other. “You’re not Belle?”

“No!” I nearly shout. “I’m Sophie. Her twin.”

“Oh Jesus. Shit. Fuckinggg hell, I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, well. Sorry’s not going to turn back time, now is it? The only woman who can make me feel like it’s possible is Cher. And I don’t see her here.”

Jude

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