Page 32 of Sweet Twins For My Brother's Best Friend

Alone, with access to the company finances. No one breathing over her neck, double checking her work.

Tyler interrupts my thoughts with a pointed question, his voice laced with curiosity. "Do you normally put in this much work for your clients?" he asks, his gaze fixed on me.

I feel a flush of embarrassment creep into my cheeks at his question, and I quickly avert my gaze, pretending to be very focused on changing the weight on the machine. "I, uh, no, but he’s your best friend, so I’m a little closer to it. I want to make sure he’s okay.”

Tyler nods, seemingly satisfied with my response, but I can't shake the feeling that he sees right through me.

As we continue our workout in silence, I can't help but wonder what other secrets lie hidden beneath the surface of Chris' business and what role Sarah might play in unraveling the truth.

Chapter Fourteen

Christopher

Yep, it’s definitely Julie smiling at me like she didn’t leave me at the altar after cleaning out my house, taking our dog, and disappearing into the night five years ago, while I waited for her at the church in front of all our friends and family. But hey, I’m not bitter or anything.

I force a smile. "Hey, Julie. It's been a while."

"Yeah, it has," she replies, her tone cautious. There's an awkward silence between us before she speaks again. "How have you been?

"Good, good," I answer, trying to sound casual. “Well, for the most part. And you?"

Julie shrugs. "Oh, I’ve been good, too. Staying busy.” She laughs. “Well, you know how it is. A bit too busy, usually.”

I nod, unsure of what else to say. My mind races, searching for something to fill the awkward silence.

It’s strange. I have so much to say to her and yet really have nothing to say.

What does someone say in a situation like this?

‘Hey, why’d you leave me?’ seems a bit much for the condiment aisle. So does ‘I haven’t ever emotionally recovered and my therapist isn’t sure when I will.’ More of a diary aisle thing.

“So, you here for a bit?”

“Oh! Yeah.” She rocks back and forth on her toes, a pained expression on her face.Please don’t say what I think you’re about to say.“I’ve got a new job out here.”

“So you’ll be staying, then.”

I flatten my lips, my heart and mind racing as I imagine having to run into Julie at the grocery store every week. I want to ask to see her calendar, so I can schedule my grocery trips for another time.

“Great,” I say with feigned cheer.

She laughs wryly. “Yep. Well, hey, you’ve had the last five years without me. It’s time to face your fears, yeah?”

She’s joking, but her words still sting.

Her hair is in two long, brown braids that hang over her breasts, and she takes one and nervously twirls it like a rope. It’s sort of comical, like it isn’t attached to her head at all.

I guess she’s right, anyway. Maybe it is time to face my fears.

Already, I can feel my adrenaline subsiding as my body seems to acclimate to Julie being in front of me.

“Well, um, hey, I was just talking to someone the other day, and maybe it’s good you’re here! Because I was wondering: how’s Noodle?”

Her expression darkens for a moment before she replies, "Oh, well, okay. Promise not to be mad?”

I laugh. ‘What is this, 3rdgrade? Julie, we’re well past me being mad at you.”

My empty living room, my empty bedroom, her clothes gone, her dishes gone, her art gone. Our dog gone. Her gone.

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