Page 12 of The Sweet Part
May’s already opened the passenger door. I shift so I can close it behind her.
She goes to get in and stops, turning and bringing us eye to eye. She’s close enough I can see the gold flecks in her hazel eyes. “I still can’t believe you could tell me and Alice apart so easily.”
“The chemistry only works with one of you.”
Her cheeks flush, and she gets into the truck. Damn. I probably shouldn’t have admitted that inconvenient truth.
I shut the door and make my way to the driver’s seat. Maybe she wasn’t hoping I’d pick Alice. Maybe she tested me because she’s into me. If she wasn’t, she wouldn’t care if I could pick her out. She wants to be special in my eyes.
* * *
May
I study Mason’s profile as he pulls out onto the street. Square jaw, those thick lashes, his sensual lips. I don’t usually notice details about a man. In fact, I don’t meet a lot of men besides repairmen. Well, there was my ex last year from work. I guess it’s been a while since I’ve spent time with a man as friends.
I still can’t believe Mason passed the twin test. No one passes it that early on, not even family. Only my parents and great-grandmother Maggie always knew who was who. Mom says when we were babies, they dressed me in pink and Alice in purple so they wouldn’t get confused. Once our personalities became clear, they didn’t have to stick to a color scheme. My sister’s adventurous, and I’m cautious. But what has that gotten me in life? I followed a plan—college, marriage, a baby—and the plan blew up in my face. Rick died. Working and raising Sophie by myself is a million times harder than when I had Rick to help. He was a hands-on dad.
“So I thought I’d give you a quick rundown of the family,” Mason says. “I’ll start with my uncle Jake since he ties most closely to the bridal couple. He’s Owen’s dad. The bride, Shayla, is close with Uncle Jake’s wife, Claire. She took Shayla in when Shayla was a teen actor going off the rails. That’s how Owen and Shayla met the first time.”
“Is your aunt Claire an actor too?” I ask. “Is that how she knows Shayla?”
“Yup. Claire Jordan.”
My jaw drops. Everyone knows Claire Jordan. She’s ahugemovie star.
“She’s more behind-the-scenes now as a director and producer, but you’ll still see her acting in a few projects.”
Double the star power at this wedding. Now I’m wondering if we can fit in with this crowd. I glance back at Sophie, who’s all ears, silently taking it in.
Mason continues, “Uncle Jake is the one with the identical twin, Uncle Josh. Josh owns Happy Endings bar.”
My brain fires off connections. I know Josh and his family. If he has an identical twin, they’re probably close, which means I could’ve met Mason’s family at any time. And that means meeting Mason was inevitable. Like fate. Or just six degrees of separation from Uncle Josh.
“Am I going too fast?” Mason asks, glancing at me.
“I can’t believe we haven’t met before. I already know some of your family.”
“Yeah, we’re at Happy Endings regularly, celebrating one family event or another.”
“I haven’t been in a while since I’ve been so busy with the house and life stuff.”
“You’re practically one of us already. Just wait until Josh hears about your twin test. He’ll love it.”
“I definitely need to hear his story.”
“I’ll let Uncle Josh tell it.”
“I want a twin too!” Sophie chirps.
“Too late. You have to be born with one,” Mason says. “I used to wish that too. But you know what? It’s cool to be just you.”
“Then I want a little sister,” Sophie says. “I can dress her up and push her in a stroller.”
I close my eyes. First she wants a daddy and then a sister.
I turn to face her. “You can do the same with Sissy.” That’s her baby doll.
“Sissy isn’t the same as a real live girl,” Sophie says.
