Page 9 of Pitcher

And that’s why I’m a cheating son of a bitch. After her grandparents died, I knew our brotherly agreement was done.

Anniston is mine. Even if I don’t deserve her.

I nod. “Go on. Thad and I will clean up.”

She places a soft kiss to Thad’s cheek before she gets to her feet and heads toward her bedroom.

I know the moment her door closes, Thad and I are about to have words.

He doesn’t disappoint.

“You asshole.”

I flash him an annoyed look. We all know I’m an asshole. This is not a new concept.

“Why can’t I live with y’all?” he continues, undeterred.

Because he’ll be in my way and I need to focus on my baseball career and Anniston.

“Your school is too far from the apartment we found,” I lie.

Thad glares, snatching up our plates and leftover pizza from the floor. “It’s not any farther than Anniston will have to drive.”

Too bad.

“We only have two bedrooms.”

We had no need for three.

“We could find a three-bedroom,” he argues.

We could. We could also dress in pink tutus and sword fight, but we won’t.

“It’s too late. I already signed the lease.” I shrug.

Thad’s face turns red, the pizza box clenched in his hands.

“We had a deal, Theo.”

I unfold from my position on the floor. “Circumstances changed. Don’t be selfish. Anniston needs one of us with her. My school was closer.”

Total bullshit and he knows it.

“I know what you’re doing,” he growls.

And I don’t care.

Wrenching the pizza box from his hands, I sneer. “Don’t get in my way, Brother.”

Thad and I have never had a great relationship. We’ve always fought for individuality and attention. Whereas I branded myself quickly, he’s struggled to figure out where exactly he fits in. Don’t get me wrong, I love the bastard, but I’m tired of fucking sharing all aspects of my life with him.

I blame it on our mother.

Twins are for the elite. We were ideal for her to play dress up and parade around her friends. It was only when we weren’t a replica of each other did we feel insecure. Someone had to capture the spotlight. Someone had to win. We couldn’t always be equal. We couldn’t always share our toys.

We couldn’t be identical forever.

And we most certainly couldn’t share my girl.

---