Page 20 of Bait and Switch
“We make it work. But I’m kind of sick of it.” She shrugged. “Sorry, I’m just whining. How are you? Anything exciting happen since I saw you last?”
Normally the answer would be no. Always. But now, something had happened and I couldn’t tell her. Not the worst part of it anyway. The twin conundrum, however, wasn’t off limits. “Actually, yes,” I said, leaning in closer across the bar, lowering my voice. “I met a guy last night.”
“She sold a painting yesterday,” Glen shouted from behind me. “And another two last week.”
Jessica looked up at Glen and smiled. “Wow that’s great!” Dipping her chin, she said from the corner of her mouth, “All of it.”
“Your work is amazing. Keep going,” she told me, loud enough for Glen to hear.
“Jazzy’s gonna be famous someday,” Glen called across the bar.
“Thanks, Glen,” I said, almost as touched by his encouragement as I was annoyed by his intrusion.
Jess seconded the praise. “I agree.”
“I’ve still got a lot to learn. That’s what that is.” I waved my hand toward the painting above the dart board. “Part of the learning curve.”
“You’re killing it. Keep it up. It’ll happen. It already is,” Jess said with a wise grin. She held her smile, speaking softly through her teeth like a ventriloquist. “Tell me about the guy.”
I kept my back to Glen because it was none of his business. “Well, he’s a fisherman.”
“How unusual,” she smirked
“I know, right?” I giggled. “He’s tall, and built like a Greek God, and he has these crazy gorgeous eyes.”
Jess’s eyes widened, her lips parting as she leaned in. Her expression was clear: Tell me more.
“But here’s the thing,” I said, nervous butterflies stirring in my stomach. “I recognized him when he walked in, from a summer vacation hookup three years back.”
Jess had leaned so far forward that she was almost on my side of the bar, her mouth wide open.
My eyes narrowed as I whispered. “Glen is going to ask what we’re talking about if you don’t close your mouth.”
“Oh, sorry,” she said, sitting up straight on her stool and composing herself. “Well…was it awkward? Or exciting? Or both?”
“It was awkward at first, because he didn’t recognized me. But I told myself that we were pretty trashed when it happened, and it was a long time ago, so I hung in there." The memory of the good part of last night brought a warm tingle that made my cheeks heat. "And sure enough, we hit it off all over again,” I held up a finger to pause the conversation and shuffled down the bar to take an order. When I returned a couple of minutes later, Jess was peeling the label off her bottle.
“So… you got his number?”
“I went home with him,” I said softly, my grin spreading.
“Yay!” She clapped her hands together in a quick flutter. “Was it as good as the first time?”
I had to leave out the traumatic experience that had bonded us like super glue, but I could be honest about the sex. “Way better. We really connected. And then I met his twin brother this morning…” Not quite sure how to tell her, I paused.
Her face lit up in a naughty grin. “Okay, I know I have a dirty mind, but are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Jess awaited my response. I had no idea what was on her mind but I was pretty sure it wasn’t the same as what was on mine. “That it was the twin brother I slept with three years ago?”
“Oh… shit.” She self-checked her gaping mouth. “No, I was thinking it sounded like a dreamy threesome fantasy,” she said in whisper, blinking at me, stunned. I gnawed on my lower lip,shaking my head. Finally, Jess said slowly, “Holy hell. Did the brother say anything?”
With a deep breath, I answered. “Not about that night. I don’t think he recognized me. I mean, I don’t know. I kinda thought so for a second, but then no. Which is great. It’s better if he doesn’t remember,” I rambled.
“I guess. That's a tough call.”
Her hesitation gave me pause. It was a fucked up situation, and she didn't know the half of it. The worst half. "Yeah, tell me about it."
"Well, what are you going to do?"
