Chapter 11: Chapter 11

I push through the glass doors into the Mexican restaurant and scan the colorful space. The place is packed and bursting with music and noise. Although, I’ve been here enough times to know this would be the case.

It’s Tuesday.

Taco Tuesday, to be precise.

And the place?

Taco Loco.

When I announced last year that I would be transferring colleges, my brother flipped his lid. He couldn’t understand why I needed breathing room.

Let’s just say that the way he introduced me to his teammates the other night hadn’t been the first time.

Or even the dozenth.

Getting together once a week for lunch was part of the agreement to soften the blow so he wouldn’t grumble too much.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t stopped him from complaining about the distance.

Or meant that he doesn’t know what’s going on in my life every second of the day.

“Hey, Willow,” Lola, a waitress at the restaurant, greets from near the hostess stand.

My smile brightens when I spot her. “Hi! How are you doing? I haven’t seen you around campus much this semester.”

She blows out a breath before glancing around the crowded dining area. “I’ve picked up more hours here, and midterms have been brutal.”

I nod in understanding. Balancing a job and school can be difficult. “Same. You must be excited to graduate this spring. I’m so envious. I still have another year to go.”

Excitement sparks in her eyes. “Trust me, I’m counting down the days.”

“I bet.”

“Could use a little help here,” another raven-haired waitress mutters as she speeds past with an overflowing tray of tacos and chips.

“And that would be my cue to get back to work.” She cranes her neck and points to a table situated in the back. “Big bro is already here and waiting.”

I roll my eyes. “He’s only older by a handful of minutes.”

Her expression lightens. “Still makes him older.”

“Now you sound like my parents.”

With a laugh, she takes off, stopping at a table crowded with a bunch of guys. From about a dozen feet away, her boyfriend, Asher Stevens, cranes his neck as he watches her. I’m sure if any of the patrons looked sideways at Lola, he’d be over there in a flash.

I met Lola in the fall through Elle Kendricks, who I got to know in a math class. We became fast friends and she introduced me to some of the girls she hangs out with.

From what I’ve seen, Asher treats Lola like a queen.

What’s funny is that there are so many stories that circulate at Western about him being a major player on campus, and yet, I’ve never seen him look at another girl.

As far as he’s concerned, there’s no one else but Lola.

I wave to Asher and realize he’s here with a bunch of his teammates and their girlfriends. Elle pops to her feet and waves with a big smile. She’s the sweetest.

Her boyfriend, Carson Roberts, is such a hottie. I get a little tongue tied around him. He and Elle’s brother were besties. She’d had a massive crush on Carson while growing up and he… Well, he tried his damnedest to convince her that he only saw her as a younger sister in need of protecting.

Ha!

The way he looks at her is far from sisterly.

Honestly, it’s kind of feral.

Sometimes I really don’t understand how guys think.

As soon as I’m within striking distance, Elle throws her arms around my neck and hugs me tight. “I haven’t seen you in a few weeks. You were supposed to text me so we could make plans and get together.”

“Sorry. Classes have been busy.”

She rolls her eyes. “Classes-smasses.”

I laugh. “Yeah, well, they’re kind of important. Not all of us are going to end up on Broadway in a few years.”

She grins. “From your lips to God’s ears.”

My attention gets drawn to the people crowded around the table. “Looks like you’re getting your taco Tuesday on.”

“Yup.” She flicks a look toward the back of the restaurant. “I saw River walk in a few minutes ago.”

“You know the drill—weekly lunch date.” I jerk my thumb in his direction. “I should probably get moving or he’ll come find me.”

“Okay, but let’s figure out a time for us to get together soon, all right? I really miss seeing your face.”

With a nod, I give her another quick hug before navigating a path to my brother and dropping down across from him.

“Hi.”

He sets his phone on the table and meets my gaze. “Hey. I saw you talking with Elle on your way over.”

I glance at her again. Her boyfriend has her wrapped up in his brawny arms. “Yeah, we were making plans to get together.”

He shoots a quick look over his shoulder at the crowded table. “Hot girl.”

“Remember when I tried to set you up with her? You said you weren’t interested. Now it’s too late.”

He shrugs. “A girlfriend is the last thing I need right now. I’ve got too much going on with school and hockey.”

I cock a brow because even though that’s true, my guess is that he’s still hung up on Sabrina. Whenever I bring up the subject, his expression turns stony and he shuts down the convo. There hasn’t been anyone serious since.

I pick up my glass of water and take a sip.

“Why’d you decide to bale Saturday night? One minute you were there and the next you were gone.”

My hand freezes midway back to the table. Deflecting the question, I say, “There didn’t seem to be much point in staying. Plus, you were busy sucking that girl’s face.”

He rolls his eyes. “Please.”

Before he can fire off any more questions, Lola stops by. “I suppose you two want the usual?”

“Sounds good,” River says with a lazy grin.

“Yes, please,” I add.

“You still with your boyfriend?” he asks.

“Yup.” She gives him a sweet smile before pointing to Asher. “I’ll be sure to tell him you said hello.”

River glances at the muscular football player who looks like he could bench press a small vehicle with ease. When the other guy glares, River lifts his hand in a wave.

A chuckle escapes from Lola as she disappears through the crowd.

“Umm, excuse me… What happened to you not wanting a girlfriend?”

He flashes a cocky smile. “Who knows? Maybe the right one could persuade me.”

That’s doubtful.

“I’m beginning to think you’re the one who’ll have to do the persuading.”

“That’s not very nice.”

I jerk my shoulders. “Maybe not, but it’s the truth.”

“Funny…you sound just like Mom.”

Eyes flaring wide, I stab a finger in his direction. “You take that back.”

“I’ll be sure to tell her you said that.”

“Better not, or this will be the last lunch we have together.”

When his lips tremble and his shoulders shake, mine do the same. This is the way it always is between us. We’re the best of friends. Even when we’re bickering. Our bond is one that can never be broken.

Less than ten minutes later, our taco platters arrive and we dig in. River eats with gusto. Kind of like he spent a month on that reality show Survivor and was finally voted off the island. I take my time, knowing that whatever I don’t finish, which will be most of it, my brother will end up devouring. I can’t think of one time when we walked out with a doggie bag.

Once I tap out, he spears his fork at my plate. “Are you done with that?”

“Yup.” I slide the platter filled with rice, beans, and chicken-stuffed tacos his way before picking up my glass of water. A few drops dribble from the corner of my mouth onto my V-neck shirt.

With a smirk, River shakes his blond head. “Seriously, sis. I can’t take you anywhere.”

When I blot at the thin material with the napkin, his brow furrows.

“Where’s your necklace?”

I gulp as my fingers sweep against my collarbone. I feel naked without the silver chain and the little pendant resting against my skin.

I drop my gaze and continue blotting. There’s no way I can lie to my brother while holding his steady stare. He’ll see the fib written across my face within seconds of it leaving my lips. “I took it off before showering this morning and must have forgotten to put it back on.”

There’s a second or two of silence that has my heart exploding into double time.

“I didn’t think you ever took it off.”

With a forced smile, I attempt to keep the panic from invading my voice. “I usually don’t. As soon as I get home, I’ll put it back on.”

His brow remains creased as his tone dips. “I gave it to you right after you were diagnosed.”

A thick lump of emotion swells in my throat, making it impossible to breathe. “I remember.”

When a faraway look clouds his blue eyes, I realize that he’s mentally tripping down that painful path again. I was diagnosed at age sixteen with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, and sometimes I think it was harder on my family than it was on me. Or maybe it just felt that way because I was forced to put on a brave face in front of them so they wouldn’t worry more than necessary.

Most nights, River would crawl into my bed. Sometimes, when he thought I was sleeping, his breathing would grow choppy. It would be impossible not to remember the sound of him trying to choke back his sobs.

We’re twins.

There’s never been a time when I haven’t been finely attuned to both his thoughts and feelings. More often than not, I experience them as if they were my own.

And vice versa.

It’s the reason I can never stay angry with him for long. I might not like what he’s doing, but I understand the reason for it and that his response comes from a loving place.

He doesn’t want me to get hurt.

I just wish he’d recognize when he’s the one who’s causing me pain.

“You know that I’m fine, right?” I murmur, wanting to draw his attention away from the past. “I’ve been in remission for two years.”

He blinks and refocuses on me as his expression remains somber. “I still don’t understand why you felt the need to transfer schools. I liked you being close.”

I bite back the frustrated sigh that sits perched on the tip of my tongue. “Because it was time for me to spread my wings and be more independent.”

“And you couldn’t do that at East Town?”

With his constant hovering?

“We both know the answer to that.”

Our gazes stay locked as a silent dialogue takes place between us. It’s one of the benefits to being a twin. We don’t need to say a word to communicate our thoughts and feelings. When we were kids, it used to get us into trouble.

“Fine,” he grumbles. “We’ll drop the topic.” Then he tacks on, “For now.”

I glance at my watch. “You should probably finish up. My shift at the tutor lab starts in twenty minutes.”

As he picks up his fork, preparing to dig in, voices drift on the air and my skin prickles with awareness. I glance toward the entrance of the restaurant as the energy shifts and a bunch of hockey players walk in, jostling one another.

My belly spasms as a fresh burst of nerves explodes within me.

Maverick McKinnon.

A smile lights up his handsome face as he laughs with one of his teammates. The way his lips curve and the flash of white teeth hits me like a punch to the gut. Memories from the night we spent together roll through my brain like a slow-motion picture show.

The way he ran his strong hands over my body…

He hadn’t been hesitant or careful.

After slipping into the townhouse I share with Holland the next morning, I’d shed my clothing for a quick shower. Right before I’d stepped into the enclosed space, I’d caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. There’d been hickies and handprints all over my breasts and inner thighs.

It had been shocking.

But deliciously so.

Maverick had played my body like a fine instrument, making it come alive.

Even though it’s only been a handful of days since we slept together, I’ve relived the memory at least a thousand times.

When he glances around the restaurant, I squeak and duck my head.

Shit. I really hope he didn’t see me.

“Willow?” River frowns. “Are you all right?”

I flick a quick look at my brother as he shovels another forkful of rice and beans into his mouth. “I, um…don’t feel well.” I force a wince. “The tacos are hitting me hard.”

“Really?” His brows pinch. “We come here all the time and you’ve never had a problem before.”

“Yeah, I’m not sure what the issue is. My belly feels like it’s in shambles.”

He holds up a hand. “TMI.”

“Would you mind grabbing the check and paying this time? Holland dropped me off, so I’ll need a ride back to campus.” I chance another peek at the hot hockey player. I’m certainly not the only girl eye fucking him. He draws female attention like bees to honey. “I’ll wait in the SUV for you, okay?”

“Sure. No problem. Give me a few minutes.”

As soon as Maverick and his group are shown to a table, I dip my head and race for the exit. On the way out, my gaze collides with Hayes’s. That’s all it takes for a wide smile to light up his face as he shakes his head in amusement. When he points to Maverick, whose back is turned to him, and widens his eyes, looking like he’s going to tap him on the shoulder, I scowl and give him the finger.

That only makes him laugh harder.

One of these days, I’m going to strangle that guy.

It’s a relief when I shove through the glass door and into the chilled afternoon air.

The only problem?

My brother is still inside.

With my one-night stand.