Page 14 of If You Could Only See
As I stood onthefringes of the group ofpeople Viola was talking with, I took notice of how my body feltabsolutely no stress.
There was notightness in my shoulders, no weight across my shoulder blades, notension behind my eyes. Nothing.
Nothing, butlanguid muscles and relaxedbody parts.
It feltamazing.
I thinkthis is the first time I’ve ever justfelt the life around me and my mind wasn’t constantly spinning withschool, work or my future.
No wonderpeople turned to alcohol and drugs to make their problems goaway.If two beers and a shotor two of tequila was making me feel like this, I couldn’t imaginewhat drugs did for a lost soul.
Notthat I had any plansto turn to alcohol or drugs to relieve my future stress, I was justsaying I get it. I get the allure.
Viola was in an animatedconversation with her boyfriend-not-boyfriend, Micah, and while Iliked Micah, we never really chatted. However, he was kind enoughto bring me a beer when he brought another one forViola.
And the beershadn’t been opened. He scored major points with that one.
I wastwo drinks into my new beerwhen I noticed the surrounding crowd fall into a quiet lull. Iscanned their faces to see what had captivated them, but before Icould gander at a guess, I felt a heavy, masculine arm fall aroundmy shoulders. It was paired with another masculine body flanking myother side and I immediately knew the reason for the suddenhush.
The. Goddamn.Buchanan. Twins.
“I wasn’texpecting to see you here, Pretty Girl,” said…well, I’m not surewhich one he was, but when Iturned my face to look at him, I noticed a very faint scar slashedright underneath his right eye. I made a point study the mark so Icould tell the difference between them in the future.
I cleared mythroat, very aware that everyone was witnessing the exchange in rapt fascination. “I came withmy friend, Viola,” I said, nodding in her direction.
Twin#...well, I still didn’tknow…looked over at her and gave her a quick jerk of his chin inacknowledgment. “You having a good time?” he asked me.
I had to clearmy throat again. This kid wasmaking me antsy and super killing my buzz. “I am.” I glanced overat the other identical face of perfection paying attention to meand asked, “Are you guys?”
The non-huggingtwin said, “Sure are. It’s our firstcollege party, you know.” He winked at me and myalcohol addled brain was trying not to swoon.
These kids weremilitary-grade lethal.
The arm around myshoulders gave me a quick squeeze. “You going to introduce us toyour friends, Pretty Girl?”
Igesturedtowards Viola andMicah. “That’s my best friend…well, my only friend, Viola Banks andher boyfriend, Micah Bentley.” I scanned the other faces of thegroup and I didn’t know not a one. “I don’t know who everyone elseis,” I mumbled.
“Awe, now,”Flanked Twin said, “she’s notyour only friend, Shane. You’ve got us now.”
I gave Viola ahelpless look, but I almost snorted out a laugh ather expression. I knew I would haveto do some serious explaining later. “Viola, Micah, I’d like you tomeet…” I swiveled my head back and forth between them. I didn’tknow who was which. I just knew their names like everyone else oncampus did. One was named Michael, and one was namedGabriel.
Arm Twin leanedinto my ear and whispered, “Mason’s favorite color is blue, Aiden’sfavorite color is orange, myfavorite color is green, and Gabe’s favorite color isblack.”
I leaned my head backto look at him and said the first thing that popped into my head.“Who in the hell has the favorite color orange?”
Gabriel (hisshirt was black)threw hisarms up, causing my head to turn, and he looked at meincredulously. “Right? I mean, who in the fuck likesorangeas their favorite color?”
It was a legitquestion.
I blinked athim and finally snapped out my musings. “Viola, Micah, I’d likeyouto meet Michael andGabriel Buchanan,” I said, gesturing to each of the guys as I saidtheir names.
Micah head nodded atthem, while Viola was more vocal, “Nice to meet you both.”
I could tellthe rest of the group was put out that I hadn’t includedthem,but they weren’t tooworried about including me before the twins arrived, so screwthem.
Wow…alcohol sure had a way of making a person growa pair ofballs.
“Well, we’reoff to mingle and make things right with the world,” Michael said,finally removing his arm frommy shoulder. “We’ll be seeing you around, Shane.” He winked at mebefore he and Gabriel walked away.
