Lumen Cove

by Dianne Frost

  “Andrew!” Alex yelled bringing a hand to his face and rubbing hard, letting out a frustrated growl. “When have you ever had a steady job?”

  Drew blinked at him. “In high school, the barbecue place-”

  “You burned that down!” Alex yelled and Drew looked appalled.

  “That was an electrical fire, everybody said so.”

  “I am throwing this off the deck and you’re gonna follow it if you don’t go quietly.” Alex turned to the sliding glass doors and Drew grabbed a hold of one of the straps tugging him back.

  “Alex, I’m your brother!” Drew jerked on the strap trying to pull it from Alex’s grasp.

  “You’re a felon who hasn’t worked a real job in your life. You are not staying here.” Alex jerked the bag back towards him and Drew jerked forward with it. He narrowed his eyes at Alex.

  “You gotta lot of nerve throwing words around like ‘felon’ when you’re fucking an underage student,” Drew said, tugging the bag towards him again. Alex squawked, ripping the bag towards himself again.

  “She’s eighteen!”

  Drew’s eyes widened joyfully pointing a finger at him. “So you are fucking her!”

  “Goddammit, Andrew!” Alex screamed, letting go of the bag to spin away from him and rip his hands through his hair in frustration.

  “Come on bro,” Drew said evenly, letting his bag fall to the ground and putting his hands on Alex’s shoulders, rubbing his tense muscles and shaking him encouragingly. “Three weeks, a month tops and I’ll be gone.”

  Alex closed his eyes, holding his breath so he could hold his temper. He guessed he didn’t have much choice. He never did with Drew. Ever since their mom died he blew in and out of Alex’s life whenever he needed money or a place to stay not to mention an alibi. Every time Alex tried to decline, Drew would beg and plead and eventually Alex would give in, but not because Drew had convinced him of anything. This was usually the point when Alex remembered the promise he’d made to their mother as she struggled for breath in an overly cozy hospice room. He couldn’t look into her faded blue eyes, once an exact replica of his own and tell her his brother could rot for all he cared. So he agreed even though he knew he would regret it for the rest of his life.

  “Fine,” Alex spit throwing his hands in the air. “But you’re doing your own fucking laundry and buying your own fucking food and you will be out in one month or the ride we take in the Echo Delta will be to dump your dead body.”

  Drew grinned widely at him. “Dually noted, baby bro, dually noted. I’ll even spend a few nights out so you can get a piece of that sweet cherry pie of yours. Did you take her virginity or is she one of those naughty school girls-“

  Drew was cut off by the large squelching sound that came out of him when Alex whipped around and grabbed him by the throat. Drew gripped his brother’s wrist as his feet left the floor supported only by Alex’s crushing grip on his throat, his other hand tangled in his shirt. Drew hit Alex’s shoulder hard.

  “Can’t breathe.”

  “You say one fucking word about Kelsey to me,” Alex’s fist clenched harder and Drew’s eyes bulged, his face turning redder by the second, “or anyone fucking else and I will kill you, Drew.”

  “Okay,” Drew choked, banging his open palm more urgently against Alex’s shoulder.

  “Is that fucking clear?” Alex barked, squeezing tighter still and he felt Drew’s Adam’s apple bob against his palm as he attempted to cough, spit running down the corner of his mouth.

  “Yes! Yes!”

  Alex let go and Drew’s feet thudded against the floor, his body heaving over in a raucous cough, sucking in air desperately. Alex grabbed his shoulder hard, leaning so that his mouth was right by his ear. “One month, brother. One.”

  He patted Drew on the shoulder a little harder than necessary and walked out onto the deck to cool off, wondering how this was all going to play out and what his brother was actually here for.

  Chapter Ten

  When Alex’s alarm went off he had a moment of panic, rolling to turn it off and not feeling Kelsey next to him but it all came crashing into place when a deep groan sounded from the couch. Alex slammed the off button on his alarm with more force than was necessary.

  “Jesus what time is it?” Drew asked groggily, sitting up so that the bedhead swirl of his hair was visible over the back of the couch and Alex glared at him as he pulled himself out of bed.

  “5:30,” Alex replied, stretching his arms over his head, feeling his neck pop but the tension didn’t leave his shoulders as he rounded the end of the bed.

  Drew groaned again, falling back against the couch. “Fucking Marine Corp bullshit,” he muttered. Alex glared at him before widening his stance and starting his side saddle hops. “Are you kidding me right now?” Drew exclaimed, tiling his head back on the arm of the couch, watching Alex upside down.

  “Nope,” Alex said, not stopping or bothering to look at his brother. “I got 50 of these. Then pushups, then burpees, then-“

  Drew groaned loudly again and Alex fought a smirk as his brother covered his face with his pillow.

  Alex had worked up a fine sweat making as much noise as possible before he dressed in loose fitting shorts and a hoodie. When he finished lacing up his sneakers, he opened the sliding glass door and closed it behind him with a bang, trotting down the stairs to begin his jog. Normally he ran to Lambency Pier and back but today he turned the opposite direction, jogging easily down to the water’s edge and heading south toward Building One. He squinted at the end unit, wondering if Kelsey had gone home or if Sully was in there with his tart du jour, forcing Kelsey to stay at the Sarno’s.

  It irked him that he felt so thrown off this morning without her. He was a creature of habit and considering it took two weeks to make a habit - right around the amount of time they’d been doing this thing - he didn’t like waking up to a cold space next to him. He missed kissing her head before he stepped out on the deck to do his calisthenics and then kissing her on the head again after he dressed to go for his jog. She was usually awake when he got back, the coffee pot going and she sat bleary eyed on the couch to keep herself awake, wearing one of his large t-shirts with nothing underneath. He brought her a cup and sat next to her, throwing an arm around her shoulders as she snuggled into him, holding her cup in both hands while she sipped it slowly with her eyes closed. He drank his own, letting his heart rate slow as he ran his fingers through her hair. Once her cup was drained and she was fully awake he took a shower while she dressed and made a simple breakfast for them which they ate side by side at the bar, chatting easily about nothing and everything. She kissed him goodbye afterward and went home to get ready for school.

  He huffed and puffed his way up and down Lumen Beach three times before running back up the steps to his deck and flinging open the sliding glass door to slam it again. Alex snickered as Drew jumped, throwing off his blankets and sat straight up as if he were ready to fight. Alex showered quickly then dressed, contemplating heading out to Perkatory for breakfast but ultimately decided against it, pulling down an old box of Cheerios from the pantry and eating his bowl of stale cereal while standing over the sink. He was rinsing out his bowl, trying not to feel sorry for himself when he heard a small rapping sound come from the laundry room. He turned off the water staring at the door, thinking he was just hearing things but when it sounded again, he shot a nervous glance at the couch before rushing to answer it.

  Kelsey was standing there, shivering with two steaming cups of Perkatory coffee in her gloved hands, her cheeks pink from the cold. She smiled brilliantly at him, feeling a little silly at how much she had missed him just overnight but he didn’t return her smile, just pulled her into the laundry room and closed the door softly behind her. He stopped her as she began to walk into the kitchen.

  “What are you doing here?” he whispered, leaning back to look at the couch again but Drew wasn’t moving, seemingly asleep.

  “I brought you coffee,” Kelsey w
hispered back, wiggling his cup at him and he took it with a sigh.

  “How did you explain knowing my coffee order to Jake?” he asked peevishly and Kelsey frowned at him.

  “You think you’re the only person in this town who drinks it black?” Kelsey asked with a raised eyebrow and Alex gave her a look over the top of his cup as he took a sip. “I believe the words you’re looking for are ‘Thank you?’”

  Alex sighed. “Yes, thank you. Sorry.”

  “Is Drew here?” Kelsey asked, chewing on her bottom lip and trying to edge past him to look into the condo but Alex stepped into her path.

  “Yes,” Alex whispered. “He’s sleeping.”

  “Not that he cared before you got here,” Drew called and Alex gritted his teeth, breathing sharply out his nose as he looked over his shoulder. Kelsey brought a hand up to smother her giggle.

  “Kels, you should go. Reva will wonder where you are,” Alex said glancing at his watch.

  “You never texted me,” Kelsey said, trying to mask the whine in her voice but Alex heard it all the same. She ran her fingers along the open side of his cardigan, fingering the buttons. “You promised.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said, fighting his own annoyance, at her for not letting this go and at himself for accidentally lying to her. “I just… I can’t talk about this now.” He looked at his watch again.

  Kelsey pressed her lips together, still fingering his sweater but ultimately she couldn’t stop herself from asking, “When will you be able to talk about it?”

  “Kels,” he said, his voice a warning and she winced, letting her head fall back.

  “I know, I know,” she groused and then sighed. “I just miss you I guess,” she muttered, not looking at him as she tugged on the hem of his cardigan.

  He sighed, feeling a guilty tug in his chest. “Come here,” he said opening his arms to her and she stepped into his embrace immediately, pressing her face to his chest. “I really am sorry. I didn’t mean to not text you.”

  “I know,” Kelsey said, her voice muffled in his chest. “Did he tell you why he was here?”

  Alex stiffened. “Uh… no.”

  Kelsey looked up at him dubiously and he sighed.

  “I don’t wanna get in to this right now,” he said peevishly and gestured to the door. “You’re gonna be late for Reva.”

  Kelsey glared at him, pressing her lips together in displeasure as she turned back towards the door and Alex felt a pang of guilt.

  “Hey,” he said, stopping her as he reached for her elbow and she turned back to him sulkily. He cupped her face with his free hand, feeling a thrill of anxiety as he admitted, “I miss you too, okay?”

  She nodded, standing on tip toes to put her arms around his neck, careful not to spill her coffee as she kissed him. Alex let his eyes sink closed, his arms circling her back as her tongue traced the seam of his lips and he opened them to her, allowing her to explore his mouth, his stomach flipping pleasurably.

  “Wow you two are in deep huh?”

  They sprung apart, Alex spilling some of his coffee on the floor as he spun around, finding Drew standing in the kitchen in nothing but his boxers, pouring himself a bowl of cereal. Kelsey peered over Alex’s shoulder and her eyes widened, starting to duck back behind him but curiosity got the better of her. Drew was the same slim build as Alex but softer, his hipbones invisible under meatier flesh, his arms and chest not as defined. Plus no scar along his ribs. She glanced at the front of his boxers curiously but could make no assessment from the loose fabric.

  “It’s bigger than his,” Drew said with a smirk and Kelsey ducked back behind Alex’s shoulder, her cheeks flushing hot. “He got the brains; I got the inches.”

  “Oh shut the fuck up,” Alex grumbled, turning back to Kelsey who looked mortified. “I’m sorry about him. He’s a savage.” He touched Kelsey’s face tenderly, feeling the heat of her blush. “I’ll see you in class okay?”

  Kelsey looked at him for a beat, debating whether or not to try and argue again but finally nodded, “Okay.”

  She stood on tiptoe and pecked his lips before she turned and he opened the door for her.

  “For next time, I take my coffee with sugar,” Drew hollered and Kelsey narrowed her eyes at him. Drew gave her a wink.

  Alex rolled his eyes, holding the door open and Kelsey slipped out, giving him a small smile over her shoulder as she began to descend the stairs. Alex shivered against the late October chill as he watched her make it safely down to the sidewalk and disappeared around the corner out of sight.

  “That girl’s got it bad,” Drew said, slurping the milk in his cereal and Alex growled, shutting the door behind him. “You’re gonna have a stage-five clinger if you keep encouraging that shit.”

  “Thanks for the advice,” Alex deadpanned, walking over to the desk and picking up his messenger bag, checking it for everything he needed.

  “Anytime baby bro,” Drew said setting his bowl on the counter and walking back into the living room to flop on the couch.

  “Please don’t sit here and watch TV all day,” Alex scolded. Drew rolled his eyes, flapping his hand at him in a yaddayaddayadda gesture that never ceased to make Alex’s blood boil. “Seriously look for a fucking job today. And don’t eat all my food.”

  Drew nodded, picking up the remote and flicked on the TV as Alex stalked over to the front door, resisting the urge to bitch some more before closing the door behind him. One month. It was only going to be for one month and then Drew would be gone and things would go back to normal.

  For Kelsey the school day seemed to be crawling by at a snail’s pace. She couldn’t concentrate, her mind unable to settle on a task without being unceremoniously ripped back to Alex and his twin. She could still hardly believe it. She sometimes didn’t, wondering if she had dreamed the entire thing but sure enough he was there again this morning, a near exact copy of Alex in physical form. How could he have not mentioned he had a brother, much less a twin?

  “Hey are you gonna eat that?”

  Logan was looking at her from across the lunch table, his hand hovering over her bag of chips and she shook her head.

  “No, go ahead,” Kelsey replied and Logan grinned snatching it up and ripping it open.

  Reva looked at him disapprovingly before she inclined her head towards Kelsey, her voice quiet. “You were home last night right?”

  Kelsey looked at her, “Yeah. Why?”

  “No reason,” Reva said with a shrug.

  “Reva thinks you’re banging someone,” Logan said, crinkling the chip bag loudly and Kelsey’s eyes widened as Reva reached across the table to slap at Logan.

  “Uh… no?” Kelsey said with a nervous laugh. Elliot waved a hand at her, glaring at both Logan and Reva.

  “I told you. I saw her come home yesterday.”

  “Yeah but you would cover for her,” Reva argued and Kelsey squinted at her friend.

  “Why would he cover for me?”

  Elliot looked down at his tray while Logan and Reva shared an exasperated look.

  “We’re gonna be late for Etiquette,” Elliot mumbled, standing up and taking his tray and Kelsey’s over to the trash while she tilted her phone away from Reva and checked her hidden messages again.

  “Expecting a text from someone?” Reva asked, tucking her chin over Kelsey’s shoulder. Logan sighed, taking his and Reva’s trays and following Elliot. Kelsey turned off her screen and looked over her shoulder at Reva who batted her eyelashes.

  “No, I was looking at the time,” Kelsey said standing and Reva narrowed her eyes at her.

  “Okay I’m tired of this game.” Reva threw her hands in the air before planting them on the table and hoisting herself to her feet to loom over Kelsey in a very convincing impression of her mother. “You are the world’s shittiest liar.”

  Kelsey blinked at her. “What am I supposedly lying about?”

  “You, Kelsey Charming, are sneaking around with a guy and I want to know who it is,” Reva sai
d. Kelsey crossed her arms over her chest, raising her eyebrows.

  “Am I now?” Kelsey asked, looking to the left and Reva smirked. “How very… Reva of me.”

  Reva looked scandalized and Kelsey smiled at her, walking over to join the boys at the front of the cafeteria. Reva caught up but Kelsey had sidled up next to Elliot to engage in a conversation about algorithms that would likely last until they got to the etiquette classroom.

  “She’s seeing a guy,” Reva muttered to Logan who looked at Kelsey and Elliot, their backs to them. Kelsey laughed at something Elliot said and Elliot gave her a small smile, touching her back delicately as the bell rang and the hall began to flood.

  “Who?” Logan asked, letting a few people get between them and the other two.

  “I don’t know,” Reva said, narrowing her eyes. “You’re sure it’s not Elliot?”

  Logan snorted rolling his eyes. “If it was Elliot he’d be shouting it from the rooftops.”

  Reva frowned. “True. Who could it be?”

  Their eyes roamed over the different faces they passed, not saying anything but evaluating each in their own heads. Reva was thoroughly stumped, every possibility that flared in her mind being shot down almost instantaneously. Not that guy, he’s a Neanderthal. That guy is a moron. That guy is a freshman. That guy is…mine, God I hope that’s not him.

  “You don’t think it’s someone I’ve dated?” Reva asked as they began to descend the stairs to the basement level and Logan snorted behind her.

  “How could it not be? You’ve dated everybody.”

  “I have not!” Reva insisted glaring at him. Then she sobered as a thought entered her mind, stopping in the middle of the hall.

  Logan stopped when he realized she had and looked back at her. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s not…” Reva said and then gave a small, suspicious chuckle. “It’s not you is it?”

  “What?” Logan asked, his eyebrows racing to his hairline in surprise and his voice squeaked like it did that summer he went through puberty. “Are you kidding me? You think I’d do that to Elliot?”