Page 62 of My Twin Sister's Ex

Ipeeked through the curtains. The auditorium was filling with people. I could see Uncle Ryan in the crowd with Sasha. I was surprised they were still together. He normally didn’t last this long in a relationship. I think he was scared of getting attached.

I was glad I’d allowed myself to get attached to Jessilyn. She was the best thing to ever happen to me. And now, because of her, it looked like I was going to ace my final drama project. And that meant I’d be able to graduate. My heart swelled to think of how proud my mom would be to see me now, to see how hard I’d worked to be at this point. I missed her like crazy. She would have loved Jessilyn.

I wished she were still around so I could introduce her to Jessilyn, so they could have gotten to know each other. She would have made Jessilyn feel welcomed and loved.

I gave another peek out the curtain and saw a figure moving to sit next to Uncle Ryan. My breath caught. It was my dad. True to his word, he’d gone to an AA meeting, and he’d been able to put down the booze. He told me that he’d been sober for three days in a row now. I didn’t expect him to keep up that streak, but at least he was trying.

For some reason, it made me even more nervous to know that my dad would be watching me. I could see Jessilyn’s parents sitting with Jackilyn. Of course, her entire family was there. I wondered if Jackilyn had wanted to come all on her own or if her parents had insisted on it.

I stepped away from the curtain and went to find Jessilyn backstage, leaning against the wall with Reese. She saw me and smiled. “Feeling nervous?”

“Is it that obvious?”

She shrugged. “Just to me.”

“So you’re saying you can read me better than other people?”

“I’m your girlfriend. It’s a superpower we automatically get as soon as we get the title.”

I laughed. “I’m not sure if I should be worried about that or not,” I teased.

“Only if you have something to hide.”

“I’m an open book with you, Jessilyn. I hope you know that.”

Her gaze softened, and she took my hand. “I’m starting to learn that. Just be patient with me.”

I squeezed her hand. “I can do that.”

“You’re never going to believe what happened,” she said.

“What?”

“Jackilyn apologized to me and admitted to our parents that she initiated the kiss.”

“Why would she do something like that?” I asked.

“She didn’t realize how much I actually cared about you. She thought I was dating you just for the fun of having a boyfriend like it was a big game. She thought she still had a chance with you.”

“Do you think she was trying to sabotage our relationship?” I asked.

“I’m not so sure anymore. I think she was overwhelmed with the entire situation and acted on an impulse.”

“I can see that,” I said. “It probably wouldn’t be the easiest thing to see your twin dating your ex. But that still doesn’t excuse what she did.”

“No, it doesn’t. That was why my parents grounded her for a month.”

“Ouch, I bet she didn’t like that.”

“Not so much.” The show was beginning to start. We were third in line. We took a seat on one of the chairs lined up against the wall in the hall next to the stage and waited for our turn.

The first two groups finished, and it was time for Jessilyn and me to go onstage. I walked to the center of the stage and tried not to blink in the blinding lights. I wasn’t used to being up here, but I didn’t want that to be obvious to anyone in the audience.

Jessilyn and I launched into our scene. I could feel a magical pull toward her on the stage, and I felt like I’d come alive. Something had transformed within me, and it was beautiful and exciting. We spun around just like we’d practiced, and I pulled her in for a kiss. For that moment, time stopped. All I could sense was Jessilyn and her warm softness all around me. She was beautiful and perfect for me. I was overwhelmed by gratitude to be with this amazing girl.

I looked deep into her eyes and then recited my next line. I twirled her around on the stage, and she moved just like we’d practiced. Everything was going perfectly.

“I love you.” I spoke the line from the script, but I could feel it in my chest and throughout my body as I said it. Could she feel how much I meant it? I could feel my eyes burning into her. I loved her. This beautiful, sweet girl. I could feel it deep in my soul.

---