Part 10 (2/2)

”Just check the f.u.c.king door, Tyler.”

He tucked his chin and blinked. ”Tyler?”

”What the f.u.c.k?” another voice said behind him.

Tyler's carbon copy gripped the back of his coat and yanked him backward, throwing him to the ground.

Zeke stood wide-eyed behind him before holding up his hands. ”Whoa, whoa, whoa! They didn't know! I didn't tell him! I didn't tell her!”

I wiped my mouth and straightened my clothes. ”What the h.e.l.l is going on here?”

The Tyler on the ground wasn't sure what to think, while the one standing was clearly ready for war.

Zeke pointed to the Tyler I'd just mauled. ”Ellie, that's Taylor, Tyler's twin brother.”

”Oh, f.u.c.king h.e.l.l,” I said. They weren't just twins, they were reflections. I couldn't see a single difference. ”What ... why didn't you tell me?” I cried.

”s.h.i.+t. That's Ellie?” Taylor asked, holding up his hands, palms out. ”You didn't tell me she worked here!”

Tyler pointed at his brother. ”You didn't even get her f.u.c.king name before shoving your G.o.dd.a.m.n tongue down her throat?”

”Are you f.u.c.king kidding me right now?” Taylor said, sitting up slowly. ”Don't act like you haven't done it a thousand times, f.u.c.k stick.”

”You know better than that s.h.i.+t, Taylor! We always make sure. What the h.e.l.l is wrong with you?”

”She...” he said, looking at me. ”I asked about Zeke! I asked her about you! She didn't act like ... she didn't say anything!”

”Did you say my f.u.c.king name when you asked her, or did you just ask about your brother? It's not the first time someone's been confused.”

Taylor shrugged, sheepish, and Tyler moved toward him.

I held out my hands. ”I kissed him!” I blurted out.

Tyler froze.

”I kissed him!” I said again, touching my chest with one hand, the other still held out toward Tyler. ”This isn't his fault!”

Taylor stood up and brushed snow and mud off his coat and pants, red-faced and teeth clenched.

Tyler glared at his brother. ”I owe you one, d.i.c.k.”

”Fine, you owe me one.” He glanced at me. ”Nice to meet you, Ellie.”

”That's it?” Tyler growled.

Taylor's jaws danced beneath the skin. ”I'm sorry for the misunderstanding.”

My shoulders sagged. ”I'm sorry, too.”

Taylor disappeared behind the storage building with Zeke not far behind. Tyler rolled back his shoulders and looked down on me with disappointment in his eyes.

”No,” I said, pointing at him. ”You don't get to be jealous. You barely know me.”

”I'm not jealous. That was my brother, Ellie.”

”Please,” I sneered. ”Like this hasn't happened before. Just based on the forty-five minutes I've spent with both of you combined, I'm fairly certain you've shared a dozen or more women at some point. Maybe without even knowing it.”

”No,” Tyler said, nearly pouting. ”We have a system. It usually works.”

”I have to go back in.”

”Ellie?”

”Yeah?” I said, annoyed.

”Were you telling the truth or were you just trying to avoid a fight?”

”What?”

”You said you kissed him ... thinking it was me.”

”So?”

”I thought you said you didn't do repeats.”

I sighed. ”I'm going to be straight with you, Tyler. I f.u.c.ked up. My parents cut me off. I'm broke, and I need this job. I did something terrible to my sister, and I'm trying to change so if and when she finds out, she'll know I'm not that person anymore.”

One side of Tyler's mouth curled up, and the same dimple on his left cheek appeared.

I pressed my lips into a hard line. ”This was just a weak moment. I don't do repeats. Especially, definitely not now.”

Tyler processed my words, nodding once. ”Fair enough.”

I breathed out a laugh. ”Okay, then. Enjoy Colorado Springs.”

”Colorado Springs?” Tyler asked, confused. Recognition lit in his eyes, and he seemed embarra.s.sed for me. ”Oh. That's Taylor.”

My cheeks burned. ”I'm glad I'm staying away from you. The twin thing is too much for me sober.”

Tyler laughed and reached out, offering a low, small wave as he began to walk away. ”Goodbye, Ellie Edson. It's been fun.”

”Fun Ellie is dead. All that's left is broke-and-alone Ellie,” I teased.

Tyler stopped. ”She's not dead. Just transitioning. Like a b.u.t.terfly.”

”That's deep, Maddox.”

<script>