Page 50 of One More Round

“I just don’t understand why you’d want to hide such a big part of your life from me. If you hadn’t wanted people to know about Todd, you know I wouldn’t have told anyone. Did you not trust me?”

“Morgan, I trusted you, from like, day one. I was just so ashamed of myself and him that once the omission was out there, I didn’t look back,” I explain.

“What do you mean you were ashamed of yourself? How? Because you left Simon?” she asks, clearly confused.

I take a deep breath. “That, and the fact that I also suffered from anxiety attacks. All my life I thought that, at any moment, I could start acting like Todd. I mean, we are twins.”

“Wait. You do know that just because you are twins doesn’t mean that if one of you is sick, both of you are, right?” Ruby asks.

“Yeah, I know that … now. But I didn’t growing up, and Todd was always ready and willing to scare me into believing it.” I lean back on the couch and add, “Simon tried really hard to counteract everything Todd said, but I’d still have anxiety. A few times, I’d have a full-blown anxiety attack. Normally, right after interaction with Todd. My mom eventually took me to the doctor and they determined that I was fine but suffered from generalized anxiety, as a lot of teens and adults do. They told me it was very common to take anxiety medicine. So, I have some, in case of a panic attack. I don’t have to take them often. More so in the past year, though.” I offer Morgan a knowing look.

In return she grants me a small, sympathetic smile.

“OK. So now, explain to us what the hell happened the other day,” Morgan demands.

I launch into that mess and, per my promise to be completely honest with them, I tell them about my conversation with Todd. At that point, Morgan has tears in her eyes and Ruby is holding my hand. I’m a little emotional when I recount “the things you never want to hear your sibling say,” but I’m surprisingly at peace with it.

“For the first time, I actually have hope that Todd and I can have some kind of relationship someday,” I say.

Morgan moves to sit beside me and then hugs me. Ruby hugs me from the other side.

That’s when I get truly emotional, because these two women are so important to me and I don’t know what I would do without them. The fact that they are accepting me for who I am, even though I’ve lied to them both for a long time, means the world to me. I don’t deserve them, but I’m going to keep them, and not give them another reason to lose their trust in me.

“I’m so sorry I lied to you guys. So incredibly sorry,” I stammer through unshed tears.

“We love you so much, Gia. We will always be here for you, you’ve just got to let us be here to help you,” Morgan says.

We pull apart and regain our composure. Now we are all smiles and sniffles. Morgan gets up to grab some water bottles from the fridge and then tosses me a bag of M&M’s. I smile at her gratefully as I rip it open.

“So. Now to the good stuff. Have you fucked yet?” Ruby blurts.

And the water I just drank to wash down the M&M’s comes out my nose.

“Really, Ruby?” Morgan laughs.

“What? You’re telling me you don’t want to know too, Mo?”

Still laughing, she hands me the tissue box and says, “Yeah, yeah, I really do.”

“Come on, Gia. Please tell us something good,” Ruby pleads. I roll my eyes and smile.

“Yes. Last night. In his car.” Jaws drop, but I continue. “And this morning, in my old bedroom.”

I can see the progression of Ruby’s giddiness grow. Her hands clap together, and she bounces in her seat.

“Was it everything you always wanted it to be? Because, don’t get me wrong, based on what you’ve told us—and how he’s been looking at you for the last several months—you’ve both wanted to do the horizontal tango for a while.”

“It was better than I ever expected. I’m pretty sure he has ruined me for any other man,” I offer. Ruby looks at Morgan with a sly smile on her face.

“Looks like you and Dexter owe Link and me some money, honey.” Now my jaw drops.

“Wh-what, did you have a bet?”

“Yup, a Simon-and-Gia sex bet,” Ruby says.

“Ew, don’t call it that,” Morgan complains.

“Whatever you want to call it, Link and I bet Mo and Dex that you guys would do it on your little impromptu trip home. And it looks like we won. Wait till Link hears the good news!” she exclaims.

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