Page 46 of Love Unexpected
“A good number,” Isaac answered. “Some were with us and then left to do other things, then came back. That’s what Jade did.”
I nodded. “Yeah. She told me.”
“I’m glad you guys have been hanging out. They’re a lot of fun.”
I shrugged as if indifferent to his words. “Jade and Diedre are fine, I guess, but I mostly just hang out with them for Max.”
Isaac grinned. “You speak the truth. Are you going to Diedre’s show next weekend?”
Diedre had started her art career selling seascapes out of a booth at the open-air market in downtown Charleston. Her reputation had slowly grown, and around the time she’d met Jade, she’d gotten her first painting into a King Street gallery. Since then, she’d slowly built a reputation as one of Charleston’s finest local artists and was slated to be featured in a gallery opening the following week.
“I’d planned on going,” I said. “Though I already told Jade if she can’t find anyone to hang with the kids, I’ll babysit so she can go and be the glowing supportive wife without the kids underfoot.”
“That was awesome of you to offer.”
I shrugged. “I’m happy to do it. I really like Diedre.”
“Yeah. She balances out Jade’s harder edges, doesn’t she?”
“Exactly.” I looked into the back where Tyler was still filming.
“Don’t worry,” Isaac said, as if reading my concern. “He’ll edit all of this out. Jade and Diedre would not be happy to serve as fodder for our on-air conversations, especially since we mentioned the kids.”
Tyler dropped the camera. “How about you guys get all your family talk out of the way while I eat a little and then we can film you eating pickle taffy and licorice.”
My stomach rolled over at the thought. I’d only opened the black licorice bag long enough to smell it and that had felt like more than enough.
I shifted in my seat and turned to face Isaac. “I’d like to know everything there is to know about your family,” I said dryly. “Start with your birth and don’t skip any details.”
He smiled. “Avoidance. Admirable tactic. But you know it isn’t going to work forever.”
“So are you the older twin? Or is Dani?” I asked, undeterred by his warning.
He shook his head, but his smile never left. “Dani is older. And she never lets me forget it.”
Conversation was easy for the next half hour, though I had more than a few brief moments of panic trying to remember what thingsAnahad told Isaac about her family so I could make sure not to claim the same details. Ana had a sister—a matter of semantics, that difference—and had grown up in Lawrence, just outside of Kansas City. My parents still lived there, in the house I’d grown up in. When he asked me whereIwas from, relative to Lawrence, I claimed a closer suburb of Kansas City, where my grandparents had lived, since I knew enough about the town to sound convincing. It was a tiny lie, but one I hoped he’d forgive once he discovered the truth. The one thing I made sure not to claim as Rosie was any affection for or knowledge of Red Renegade. Since that’s what had started his connection with Ana in the first place, I didn’t want Rosie to touch it at all.
Also, I was getting very tired of thinking of myself in the third person. As two separate people with different histories that couldn’t overlap. It was exhausting.
Thirty-six hours.That’s all I had to make it through. A day and a little more and Isaac would know the truth, come what may.
I hoped for it as much as I dreaded it.
Chapter Seventeen
Isaac
Rosie didn’t like black licorice.
Even the Australian kind.
She dropped the bag onto her lap and reached for what was left of her Cherry Coke. She took a long swig, emptying the bottle. “Ugh, that barely cut the taste. Are you actually serious when you tell me that you like this stuff?”
I reached into the bag with excessive slowness and pulled out an entire handful, shoving several pieces into my mouth at once.
“Nope,” she said, shaking her head. “I think you have to be faking it.”
“For what purpose would I be faking my love for black licorice?” I said, grabbing another handful. “It isn’t exactly a popular opinion.”
