Page 47 of Forbidden Property
“How do you want me to make it up to you?” I ask him, trying to stay cool and collected, like I don’t need his forgiveness. Truthfully, if I can’t get my twin brother’s forgiveness for my transgressions, I can’t expect Geralynn to change her mind about confessing her love for me.
“You can’t. That’s why racism is such a stain,” Gino says.
When did he become MLK Jr.? Did he finally meet some girl at the bar or something? I feel disrupted by my brother’s criticism. Heat burns around the edges of my neck.
“I don’t need you to lecture me like you’re perfect. Hooking up with a few black girls doesn’t make you some type of activist.”
“You’re right. Italsomakes me a better lover,” Gino says, clearly just trying to throw some rage-bait my way. I don’t take it.
“I regret calling you.”
“No you don’t. You need me.”
“For what?”
“To tell you that it’s okay to love Geralynn. Probably everyone knew you would end up with a black girl, anyway. We live in America, Renzo. It’s diverse. Who cares?”
I hate that he’s right about me needing him. There’s no point in denying it, but I do it anyway out of some leftover twin competitiveness. Gino and I share our fundamental genetic makeup which gives him the ability to occasionally read my mind. What exactly do I need him for? The parts of myself that I can’t access.
“Seeking your advice doesn’t mean I need you.”
Gino sounds far too smug for my liking and it gets on my nerves, even if I don’t want it to. “I should charge you money for this valuable advice.”
“If you looked better, you could wear my clothes and pretend like we used to,” I mutter, ignoring Renzo’s effort to get under my skin. I have to stay focused on my singular desire to win Geralynn’s affection. Her ass might have throbbed for days from the wine bottle but by the time the throbbing subsided, did she still think of me? Will she feel that pang of hurt I have to feel whenever we’re away from each other?
Gino’s impatience snaps me out of my brooding and into a more immediate state of annoyance. “Tell me what you need, Renzo. Believe it or not, I’m busy right now.”
“Doing what?”
“Spending time with Peter. Who calls me other than when he needs something.”
Gino acts like it’s personal that I haven’t spoken to him.
“I’m busy too.”
“Fine,” Gino says, still acting pretty offended. “I’ll ignore it this time because I enjoy hearing you have humility for once.”
“I’ve spent the last few weeks trying to get this girl to see that I love her but nothing I do works. She doesn’t have feelings for me. At least she claims she doesn’t.”
“She probably doesn’t have feelings for you.”
I seethe quietly, ignoring the urge I have to insult my brother’s haircut, muscle mass, and the amount of space between his eyes.
“Thank you, Gino.”
“Why would she? We’re talking about Geralynn, right?”
“I am not having a secret relationship with a black woman.”
I repeat the lie so immediately that I barely recognize the words coming out of my mouth. Am I embarrassed? Protective? Gino laughs.
“If I didn’t know you, maybe I would believe you. Haven’t you always had a crush on her?”
“I’veneverhad a crush on her. What the hell are you talking about? She’s Nicki’s fat best friend…”
And I’msoattracted to those parts of her now. Thick. Fat. Whatever you want to call it. Geralynn’s body is insanely sexy and the moment I had her (consciously) for the first time, I became fucking addicted to touching her. I hate feeling this exposed, but I have no choice when talking with my brother. He knows too much about me.
Gino laughs, which furthers my embarrassment.
