by Alley Ciz
“Um no thanks I’m good.” But as she turned away her gaze fell on his dark haired friend.
Oh my God who is that? He’s so sexy just standing there all calm and collected. The guy hitting on her was good looking but she wished it was his friend trying to pick her up. It would have been bad though if he did, she was supposed to be meeting her brothers but would gladly be side tracked by that hunk. She quickly turned away so he wouldn’t see the mischief in her eyes.
Mr. Arrogant wasn’t to be deterred. He tried to entice her with VIP access. Too bad her connections were better than his.
One last look at Mr. Sexy in the background, she said goodbye to Erin to find her brothers and get another beer.
JAKE AND TUCKER entered the VIP section and saw the blonde with her arms wrapped around Ryan’s neck in a bear hug so tight she was lifted off the ground.
“Damn, what does Ryan have that I don’t?” Tucker complained.
Ryan put the blonde down and turned towards Jake and Tucker, his arm draped over her shoulder. “Hey guys I’d like you to meet my baby sister, JD.”
Wait? What?
She looked up at her brother, who towered over her at six four, with a scowl on her face. It was easy to see she did not like to be considered a baby and by the looks of her she was anything but. Dirty thoughts flooded Jake’s mind every time he looked at her.
“One, I’m not a baby. Two, we already met.” She turned to Jase and was picked up into another bear hug.
“See I told you she was here,” Jase announced to his brother in a mocking tone, laughing. He placed her down between him and Ryan facing his friends. “JD, this is Tucker and Jake. Guys meet JD.”
Both their mouths hung open in shock.
Tucker was first to recover. “Sup.”
Jordan nodded.
“Wait, this is JD? I thought JD was your twin?” He was trying to figure out how he could have missed that JD and Jordan were the same person.
Jake could see the resemblance in their blonde hair and hazel eyes. The twin factor, more prominent in person than pictures, caused them to have similar features, his strong and masculine to her soft and feminine. The biggest difference though, Jake never wanted to kiss Jase like he did Jordan.
“Seriously how did I miss this?”
“It wasn’t intentional,” Ryan shrugged.
“Yeah right,” Jordan scoffed. “Anyway…” She pushed Ryan’s arm from her shoulders. “You guys aren’t the only ones I came here to see.”
Jake and the guys watched her leave them for the bar. To his amazement, the usual composed and somewhat distant Skye jumped over the bar and embraced her. This must be the friend he heard some stories about.
“I guess Skye is close to your sister?” He asked Jase.
“Yeah her and Jordan have been best friends since kindergarten. You would never know she was a geeky little kid by the babe she’s turned into.” Jase said about the attractive bartender.
Jake could agree with the babe assessment, her shoulder length strawberry blonde hair and light blue eyes were a striking combination. From what Tucker had mentioned she had an ass that wouldn’t quit. Still it was Jordan— he couldn’t bring himself to think of her as JD— that held his attention.
Jake used his question as an excuse for his gaze to linger on Jordan without raising suspicion. A moment later he felt like he was punched in the gut as he watched the DJ pick Jordan up and kiss her square on the mouth.
The disappointment and jealousy he felt surprised him. Of course she has a boyfriend. Look at her.
He couldn’t comprehend why the relationship status of some girl he just met bothered him so much, no matter how hot she was. Luckily he was distracted by Skye’s shouting.
“Hey guys get your asses over here and welcome your sister home right.” Skye was filling up glasses from behind the bar as she made her demands.
The four guys made their way over to the bar. Ryan took the lead. “What are we toasting with tonight? Champagne?”
“Irish car bombs brother dear. I need to make sure your friends here can keep up when we party.” He saw her wink at Skye as she set the drinks in front of everyone.
So she knew how to party and seemed like she liked being one of the guys. He couldn’t wait to learn more about her.
“Well baby sister welcome home this should be interesting,” Ryan teased.
The six of them toasted to Jordan’s home coming, dropped their shots in their beers, and threw back their drinks.
Tucker grimaced, putting down his drink when he finished. Jake knew he wasn’t a fan of Guinness.
“Aw Tucker don’t be such a pansy, you’re gonna have to learn how to drink the good stuff around us,” Jordan gave his arm a nudge. “I would have thought you would have been used to drinking this with Skye being a bartender here.”
Jake couldn’t contain his laughter after seeing the look on Tucker’s face. How did one respond when your friends’ sister calls you a pansy?
After accepting a fresh round of drinks, they made their way back to where they normally sat, with Skye joining whenever people didn’t need a drink.
Jordan sat across from Jake, much to his pleasure.
The guys talked about their plans for the summer and how the season was going to be this year. They discussed what the next movie night flick should be.
Jake felt instant chemistry with Jordan. He had a nagging suspicion that the identity confusion was intentional. But why? It didn’t add up.
PUSHING FROM BETWEEN her brothers Jordan made her way over to the bar where her best friend in the whole wide world since forever was working.
Skye was pouring out a round of shots when she caught sight of her making her way up to the bar.
“Ohmygodohmygodohmygod! I can’t believe you’re finally here. I never want to go that long without you again.” Skye shouted as she came around the bar to throw her arms around her.
Skye hugged her so hard it felt like she would never let go. Familiar with the feeling, she returned the embraced with equal feeling.
“I know I missed you so much.” Jordan pulled her head slightly out of her friend’s grip to take a deep breath. “That was the best welcome I’ve had, but if you don’t let go I’m going to suffocate.”
She felt Skye loosen her grip from around her neck. Since Skye was half a foot taller, she didn’t realize she had Jordan’s face buried in her boobs, too caught up in the moment. They missed each other so much. In the month since the end of their sophomore year Jordan was off doing beach lifeguard training in Florida, it was the longest they had ever been apart.
The energy Skye radiated was contagious. She always made Jordan feel loved and was more like a sister than a friend. The two met on the playground in kindergarten when Skye invited Jordan to build bird nests out of dead grass with her. Since then the girls had been inseparable. They attended NYU together and then transferred to Brighton Tynes.
“Seriously, I was completely lost without you,” Skye informed her.
Jordan laughed. “The feeling is mutual. Never again.”
“Sammy is DJing tonight. Aunt Ei was stoked to land him. Oh my god he is going to be so happy you’re back.” Skye turned to wave the DJ down to the bar.
Jordan couldn’t help the overwhelming feeling that she was finally home. “That’s awesome. I missed you guys so much. I was completely beside myself without my best pals to keep me company and to look at the hot guys on the beach with me.”
Pausing she looked back at her brothers and their friends, her eyes quickly finding Jake. “Speaking of hot guys, what do you know about this Jake guy?”
She knew Skye had to have some information from bartending at Rookies the last month. The hockey team was known to be regulars.
“Hmm well let’s see. He’s the definition of tall, dark, and handsome, star goalie for BTU, same year as us, and besides being super hot, he’s one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. He’s pretty close with your brothers too.”
&nb
sp; Jordan thought that super hot was a huge understatement. When Tucker hit on her it was Jake she noticed. Definitely tall, probably had her by a foot. His black t-shirt was snug on his shoulders and chest, showing off his muscles nicely. But it was his eyes that got her full attention. Even the dim lighting of the bar couldn’t dull their effect. They were the brightest and softest green she had ever seen and were contrasted nicely by his tan skin. However, it was the heat in them that took her breath away. With his back turned she noticed how nice his butt filled out his jeans. He looked good enough to eat.
“Interesting.” She observed how the guys interacted.
Too busy ogling Jake, it took her a moment to fully register all Skye said.
“Wait a second,” she pointed to Jake. “That’s Jake Donovan?” It figured he was a hockey player, they were her Kryptonite. Too bad she promised her brothers she wouldn’t date another teammate.
“Yup.”
“Damn. It’s a shame to cover all that up with goalie gear. The guy is fine.”
“I agree. The same could be said for all of them.” Skye made her way back to her place behind the bar.
“What about that Tucker guy. He totally hit on me, but the way I turned him down, I think I squashed that problem.”
She watched as color crept up Skye’s face. “Anything you want to tell me?”
“Tucker is hot too and you don’t have to tell him, he knows it. He’s got more of that surfer boy appeal to him with that sandy colored hair and brown eyes. He’s the cockiest person I’ve ever met. Kind of a player but he’s got the skills in that department to back it up.”
She nudged her friend on the shoulder. “Oh my god Skye, you didn’t?”
Her friend only nodded her head.
“Lucy you have some 'splaining to do,” Jordan teased in her best Ricky Ricardo impression. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about this.”
Skye had the good grace to look sorry. “It’s a good thing Maddey will be at my house… It’s going to be a long night.”
“Jordan.”
She turned to see a copper haired heartthrob walking purposely toward her.
“Sammy—” The rest of her words were cut off when he lifted her in a twirl and planted a smacking kiss on her lips.
Once back on her feet she continued. “I can’t believe you’re here. I thought you’d be too busy spinning in the city.”
“I gave your aunt a few Saturdays this summer since you two moved out of the city.”
“That’s awesome.”
“It’s what I do,” he said with a shrug. “Anyway I have to get back to the booth. I’ll see you guys later at Skye’s.”
Sammy was one of her favorite people on Earth, getting to see him now instead of having to wait the extra hours until later made her happy.
“Any ETA on Maddey?” She asked Skye, curious when the final member of their foursome would arrive.
“She should be at my parents sometime after one. I think she’s just gonna wait for us to get there since Aunt Ei gave the okay for me to cut out early tonight.”
“Gotta love her.”
Glancing in the guys’ direction again she remembered something that didn’t make sense. “So something weird happened earlier.”
“What’s that?” Skye asked while she mixed a drink for a customer.
“Jake made a comment about Jase having a twin brother and it just seemed odd to me.”
Skye’s brow crinkled in thought. “You know what? Anytime I heard them talking about you they only ever called you JD. Do you think they would keep your identity a secret?”
“I’m not sure if that’s the case because he mentioned something about knowing who I was by name. There’s just some stuff that doesn’t add up.”
“Well knowing your brothers as well as I do, I think the Tommy situation really did a number on them… well all of us really.”
Jordan nodded in agreement at the reference of her ex. She was in desperate need of a subject change. “I think it’s time for drinks. Let’s get the guys over here.”
After a round of car bombs, her favorite, she settled in to spend some quality time with her brothers. Originally when she decided to attend NYU with Skye, she’d planned on spending as much time at home as she did in the city. After her drama filled breakup with her ex, it became easier to stay in Manhattan.
From the stories they told and the plans they made it was obvious not much had changed. Now she needed to figure out what the hell they were playing at.
Chapter Two
Jordan loaded her bags into the trunk of her white Corvette Stingray, running her hand along the rear spoiler as she closed the trunk. Man I love this car. Going to school in Manhattan didn’t provide many opportunities to drive since it was easier to take public transportation where she needed to go, another perk of transferring to BTU.
Unable to stop another yawn from breaking free, she made a mental note to grab coffee before leaving Skye’s. A vibration from the back pocket of her daisy dukes distracted her from putting the top down on the car. She frowned at the text.
UNKNOWN: Welcome home.
A trail of unease coursed through her. She was used to getting calls from unknown numbers, but a text message was a different story. I am so not caffeinated enough to figure this out.
Once the top was down, she made her way back inside. Navy, her hundred pound black lab, lifted his head from where it rested on Maddey’s lap letting out a happy bark in greeting.
“What’s with all the noise?” Sammy groaned from the couch he slept on.
Jordan shared a knowing look with Maddey. “Sorry Navy’s a bit excited. He missed his mama while she was in Florida. Didn’t ya boy.” She scratched his ear and placed a kiss on his wet nose.
“Why the hell are you even up this early?”
“It’s almost nine thirty.”
“You act like that’s sleeping late. FYI, it’s not when you go to bed around seven in the morning. This baby face needs sleep if it still wants to look good.”
“Oh stop complaining Sam.” Skye tossed a pillow in his direction.
“But seriously why are we not sleeping until noon?” Sammy pulled the covers over his head.
“Because, drama queen.” Jordan headed in the direction of the Keurig. “I haven’t been home yet. I took an Uber from the airport to the bar since my car was here. I think it’s time to see the new house. Plus I haven’t seen my parents or Sean since we all went to the Frozen Four in April.”
“Okay I can forgive you for disturbing my sleep since it’s for the squirt. Now get the hell out of here so I can go back to sleep,” Sammy grumbled and rolled over.
“Love you too.”
“Come on, I’ll walk you out. I have Navy’s stuff in my car.” Maddey shifted the dog and got off the couch.
Jordan put her arm around Maddey and called goodbye to her other besties. She whistled for Navy as she opened the door to leave.
Navy, trained well, followed alongside the girls and hopped in the car once the door opened.
“Good boy,” she stroked his head.
Maddey leaned in and placed the bag of Navy’s belongings in the footwell of the car. “Goodbye my beautiful boy. My bed’s gonna be lonely without you.”
Jordan laughed as she watched her beast of a dog melt under her best friend’s attention. “Thanks again for watching him while I was away. I know it made my mom’s life easier with the move and everything.”
“No worries. Figured it was an easier transition on him anyway since he’s been our fifth roommate the last year.”
She pulled Maddey in for a hug. “Love ya girl. See you soon.”
“Love you too.”
Jake took advantage of the beautiful morning to go for a run, the lack of humidity was surprising for the end of June in Jersey. Being out until three in the morning was no excuse to be lax with his workout regimen. Getting his big break last season after the Titan’s previous starting goalie graduated, made him determin
ed to prove himself. He worked his ass off everyday to ensure peak performance each time he stepped on the ice. It paid off when the team won the NCAA Championship.
The Titans were underdogs heading into the Frozen Four. He poured everything he had into those last two games, too exhausted to move after, but it paid off in spades. Earning him .957 save percentage and a finalist nomination for the Mike Richter award.
Thoughts of winning the award played through his head as he sprinted the last few feet to the front door. It was after ten and he was in desperate need of a protein shake and a gallon of water.
On his way to the kitchen to take care of his needs, he was distracted by music coming from a car pulling up outside. That’s odd. Tucker is never early. Walking toward the window to take a look, his attention turned to the five year old barreling down the stairs and jumping into his arms.
She couldn’t contain her excitement. “Jake! Jake! Jake! There’s a dog. We have to go see him. Can we? Can we? Will you take me to see him? Please Jake, please.”
Of course they could, who could say no to her. Since the day Carlee was born, he had a soft spot for his baby sister, nothing had changed in five years. That fact was driven home when she looked up at him with green eyes so similar to his.
He noticed she was in such a rush to see the dog she put her white sundress on backwards and forgot to put on shoes.
He was in the middle of fixing her dress when he could feel her squirming to break free. “Sure, go put on your shoes and I’ll take you outside.”
When he opened the front door, his breath caught as he noticed the person in the car was Jordan.
Before he could give the situation any more thought, Carlee shot out the door past him and ran straight for Jordan’s car.
As he crossed the front yard, he saw another figure running toward the car. It was Jordan’s younger brother Sean.
He laughed at how similar the two little ones were, both missing their shoes. It was cute how eager they could be. Sean, also five, was a smaller version of Ryan with light brown hair and blue eyes.