by Penelope Sky
My eyes narrowed on her face.
“What if I just tell Damien the truth?” She released the deep breath she’d been holding. “He respects me, so he’ll listen to me. He’ll do anything for me…anything.”
My heart started to race because that was the worst thing she could possibly do. If she told him about me, he would tell her what I did…and then it would be over. There was zero chance it wouldn’t come up in their conversation, and there was zero chance Damien would ever let my crime go. “That’s the worst thing you can do. There’s nothing you could possibly say to make him feel differently about me.” If she knew the truth, she wouldn’t even entertain the idea. But then again, if she knew the truth, we wouldn’t be together that very instant. “I’ve tried to bury the hatchet with him before. I’ve given him chances to let this go. He won’t.”
Her eyes filled with disappointment. “Maybe you could try harder—”
“There’s not much more I can do.”
“But there’s something.”
I could stop collecting payment altogether, but I’d have to hide the truth from my men, and Damien would definitely be suspicious. “If I stop collecting, he’ll know something is up. He’s not stupid.”
“I don’t know… He can be pretty dumb.”
I smiled slightly. “Just let it go, baby.” We should enjoy this time together until it was over. It would be over someday, so we should spend every moment together like it might be our last…because it could be our last. The end of the relationship wouldn’t even be the most painful part. It would be her reaction, the way her affection would quickly turn to hatred with the snap of her fingers.
She stared at her empty glass and didn’t say more about it.
At least that was over. “Are sunflowers your favorite?”
She took a few seconds to raise her chin and look at me again. “Yes.”
It was an interesting choice, but it fit her well.
“Summer is my favorite season, and that’s the only time of year they grow so…” She shrugged. “We’re kind of the same in that regard. I hate it when it’s cold. I’ll continue to wear dresses through November because I just refuse to let the season end.” She chuckled to herself. “I’m weird like that.”
I’d just learned something new about her, and that new information made her so much more desirable. We’d met at the beginning of summer, and now it was almost over. I never knew her in any other climate.
“What about you?”
I raised an eyebrow, unsure what the question meant.
“You have a favorite season?”
“No. But I like it when it’s cold.”
She stuck out her tongue as she grimaced. “Ugh, I hate winter.”
“I run hot, so you might feel differently about it this year.” I could keep her warm every single night, keep her warm anytime she wanted me inside her. She could wear my sweaters and jackets, could move into my side and suck all the warmth from my skin whenever she wanted.
She shrugged. “We’ll see…” She pulled the bottle of wine toward her and refilled her glass.
I watched her pour it, watched her carry herself with such poise.
“Why do you keep staring at me like that?” She grabbed my glass and did the same, not lifting her gaze as she asked the question.
“Do I need a reason?”
“No.” She lifted her gaze and took a drink. “But I’m curious.”
Sometimes I thought my thoughts were written across my face, like a billboard on my forehead. But maybe my expressions weren’t as decipherable as I thought they were. “Because I think you’re beautiful.”
She held her glass and held my look, her eyes searching into mine.
“It’s what I always think…every time I look at you.”
Six
Catalina
When the performance was over, Tracy came to my station. “We’re going out to dinner for Nina’s birthday. You in?”
Going out for a meal sounded like more fun than going to a bar. “Will there be birthday cake?”
“Yes.”
“Then count me in.”
“Excellent.” She clapped her hands excitedly then walked off. “Cat’s in.”
I removed my stage makeup and touched up with the makeup I’d brought from home, so I wouldn’t look like a prostitute when we were at the restaurant.
“Catalina.” Andre came up behind me, wearing a collared shirt tucked into his dark jeans with a dark blazer.
“Hey. What did you think?”
He clapped his palms together, his chin covered in a shadow and his eyes brown like chocolate. “Perfect, as always.”
“Good. I give it my all every night.”
“Yeah, I can tell.” He was the director of the production, in charge of every theatrical performance we did. He was a brilliant man, able to create a story without words. “I was gonna see if you wanted to get dinner.”
Andre and I had fooled around in the past, a short-term fling we didn’t really talk about. I’d never told anyone about it, and I doubted he had either. He was a handsome man, and his gifts made him more attractive. I wasn’t sure if that was where he wanted this conversation to go, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt. “We’re going out for Nina’s birthday.”
“Oh, yeah,” he said with a nod. “You guys have fun.”
“Thanks.” I turned back to the mirror.
“Maybe we can go out another night.”
I sank into my chair, feeling the tension settle over my shoulders. I remembered how angry I got when Heath had women hit him up for sex, that he didn’t tell them he was in a relationship. So, I had to do the same, even if he would never know about it. “I’m seeing someone, actually.” I rose and faced him again.
He didn’t hide his disappointment. “Yeah, the girls mentioned him. I didn’t think it was serious.”
It wasn’t serious, but it was…something. “Yeah, it is.” I didn’t know how long it would last, but I didn’t want to keep Andre on my hook.
He nodded slightly. “Well…he’s a lucky guy.” He turned around and walked off.
We hadn’t hooked up in a long time, so a part of me wondered if he only wanted me because I was unavailable. That seemed childish, especially for him since he was almost ten years older than me, but he was also artistic, emotional, spontaneous…a lot like me. “Thanks.”
We had dinner, cut the birthday cake, and after a few hours of having a good time, everyone started to file out and go home. I walked out with Tracy.
“You didn’t bring your man?” she asked.
“No. It’s nice hanging out with you guys without him all over me.”
“Really?” she asked, walking with me out of the bar. “You seem pretty miserable when he’s not there.”
“At the bar, yes. There’s nothing for me to do while you guys get laid.”
“Hmm…I guess that makes sense.”
“But when we go out to dinner, we’re just hanging out, so it’s fun.” I got to spend time with just them, not having to worry about guys sending us drinks and taking all their attention.
“Well, we’ll make more time to do things like that since he’s not going anywhere.”
I hoped he never went anywhere. I’d just stepped out of the door when I realized what I’d forgotten. “Ugh, I’m so stupid. I forgot my purse.”
“You want me to wait for you?”
“No, girl.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m parked the opposite way anyway.”
“Alright. See you later.” She kissed me on the cheek.
“Bye.” I headed back inside and reached the table that the busser was cleaning. It hung over the back of my chair, out of sight, which was how I’d forgotten it in the first place. I grabbed it and headed out again.
But stopped when I saw Heath.
He sat at a table with a beautiful brunette, their hands together on the surface. With striking blue eyes, he stared at the woman like she was the only thing that mattered…exactly the
way he looked at me.
What the fuck?
I looked at his hands, seeing the sleeves of his shirt reach his wrists, and just below that was the skull ring he always wore, glittering in the candlelight.
I was frozen to the spot, unable to believe this was real.
It couldn’t be real.
He would really do this to me…after everything that already happened?
The waiter brought the bill, and Heath reached into his pocket and grabbed a wad of cash before he slipped it inside the tab. Then he and the woman rose from their seats and headed to the main doors, his arm around her waist.
Then he grabbed her ass.
The same emotions that hit me in my bedroom rushed back to me, suffocating me, drowning me. The betrayal was like a knife to the throat, cutting my windpipe so blood flooded my airway.
Heath told me I was wrong, even made me apologize for it, and then he did this shit?
Tears burned in my eyes because I was devastated.
Fucking devastated.
I should just leave and cut him off from my life, block his phone number and change apartments so I could get rid of him for good. But taking the high road was never my style, so I went after him, ready to release my wrath.
I pushed through the double doors and watched them walk down the sidewalk, his arm still around her waist.
“Hey, asshole.” I walked fast in my heels, as if I were wearing flats.
He didn’t turn around.
“I’m talking to you, piece of shit!”
He halted and slowly turned around, his blue eyes narrowing on my face like he was annoyed.
Fucking prick.
Instead of slapping him like I always did, I did something worse. I pulled my elbow back and punched him hard in the face, getting a clean shot to his cheek that actually made him step back because he hadn’t been expecting it.
He groaned and stumbled back, his hand on his cheek as he looked at me incredulously.
I could kill him right now. “I can’t believe I bought a word you said. I can’t believe you had the audacity to tell me to trust you when you’re a lying, worthless asshole.” I moved toward him again.
The brunette stepped in front of him. “Touch my husband again and see what happens.”
Heath placed his hand over her stomach and gently pushed her back, moving forward so she was behind him.
My hand slowly lowered, my breathing more labored, my eyes stinging with painful tears. “Husband?” How was I so stupid? How did I not see any of this? How did Heath hide everything from me without giving me any clue?
He raised his hand, as if he was ready to catch my fist if it launched at him again. “I’m not who you think I am, Catalina.” He lowered his hand. “I’m Balto…Heath’s brother.”
I had no idea why I laughed, but I did. “How stupid do you think I am? I know I shouldn’t have believed you before, that’s on me, but I’m not gonna fall for this bullshit.” I pointed at his hand. “You think someone else has the exact same ring as you do?”
“Yes.” He spoke calmly. “Because there are three. I have two, and Heath has one.”
I rolled my eyes. “Be a man and be straight with me. Don’t hide behind these lies. It’s so fucking insulting—”
He suddenly pulled his shirt over his head and extended his entire arm out to me.
That shut me up.
“Heath and I are twins. I guess he didn’t tell you that.”
I stared at his naked arm, seeing nothing but skin and muscle. There wasn’t a single tattoo anywhere, not on his stomach or chest either. “Oh my god…” I was relieved that this wasn’t real, that it was just a mistake, but I was also more mortified than I’d ever been. “Oh my god…” I covered my face with my hands, unable to handle this horrific reality. I’d just punched his brother in the face and unleashed insult after insult. “I’m so sorry.” I lowered my hands and looked at his bruised face, knowing that was going to be worse in the morning.
He stared at me with the same cold expression his brother gave, his intense gaze impossible to read.
When he told Heath what I did, Heath would be pissed at me again…because I didn’t trust him like I said I would. I assaulted his brother and caused a scene on the sidewalk, ruined any chance for him to ever like me. “I’m so sorry…” I turned around and walked away even though my car was in their direction. I was so mortified, I’d rather round the corner and wait for them to leave before going back to my car.
When I turned the corner, I leaned against the wall with my head against the bricks, drowning in self-loathing. When Balto told Heath what I did, it would be bad. Heath assured me that fights were just fights, that they didn’t mean anything, but I suspected this would be different.
Oh god.
Seven
Heath
Balto stood in front of the liquor cabinet in his living room, pulling the doors to reveal a stash of booze big enough to last until the apocalypse. Since he wasn’t drinking as much as he used to, his stockpiles probably didn’t deplete at their normal rate. “What do you want?”
“Vodka.”
“Just vodka?” he asked incredulously, pouring himself a drink.
“Yeah. With a splash of another kind of vodka.” I took a seat on the couch, glancing at the TV.
Balto turned around with the drinks in his hand and moved to the couch beside mine.
I stared at his face, my eyebrow immediately rising to the ceiling. “What the fuck happened to you?” His entire right cheek was discolored like a huge guy punched him so hard he’d cracked Balto’s cheekbone.
He slid the glass toward me before he took a drink of his own. “Glad you asked…” He took a deep drink before he returned it to the coaster. “Why didn’t you tell Catalina we’re twins?” He rested his arms on his knees as he stared me down, clearly annoyed with me.
The question caught me off guard. “What does that have to do with anything?”
He pointed at his face. “Because she did this to me.”
I stared at him blankly, unable to process what I’d heard.
Cassini emerged from the kitchen, wearing jean shorts and a t-shirt that showed her small pregnant belly. She had a plate of snacks and set them down on the table. “Balto and I were out having dinner, and she saw us walk out.”
I stared at her, imagining Catalina’s horror when she saw me with someone else, and knowing my brother, he’d probably groped his wife in public. Catalina had to see that and assume I was a pathological liar.
“She came after my husband hard,” Cassini said. “And when I told her he was my husband…the look on her face.” After the food was on the table, she sat on Balto’s knee, her arm wrapping around his shoulder.
Balto secured his arm around her waist. “I explained who I was, but she didn’t believe me.” He raised his hand. “Because of this. Heath, she lost her shit, exploded like a volcano. So, I took off my shirt and showed her my bare arm and chest so she would see I had no tattoos. She finally backed off.”
I dragged my hands down my face, finding the situation obnoxious and hilarious. “Jesus…”
“She apologized then took off,” Balto finished. Now he stared at me, the same way his wife stared at me, like I owed them some kind of explanation.
I dropped my hands and released a quiet sigh. “I told her I had a brother, but I guess I forgot to mention that other part…”
Balto rolled his eyes. “That’s not something you just forget.”
“Well, I did, alright?” I grabbed the snacks off the dish and placed them on a plate, eating like nothing happened.
Balto raised an eyebrow. “Is the conversation over?”
“What do you want me to say?” I countered. “It’s not like Cassini got the wrong idea about everything.”
“I know my husband would never fool around, so that was the last thing on my mind,” Cassini said. “I was just worried she might stab him or something. She was furious.”
“Devastat
ed,” Balto said. “Truly, deeply, devastated.”
I continued to eat, trying not to imagine the scene.
“Tears,” Cassini said. “Heartbreak. Insults. It was a fucking soap opera.”
“You want me to apologize?” I asked incredulously. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t tell her I had a twin. My bad.”
“No,” Balto said. “I just want you to know how attached this woman is to you. You said it wasn’t serious, but it’s pretty fucking serious. You should have seen her face, Heath. And I’ve had ice on this injury for two days, and I still look like shit.”
“This happened two days ago?” I asked in surprise.
Balto nodded. “She didn’t mention it?”
I shook my head.
“She’s probably embarrassed,” Cassini said. “It definitely wasn’t her finest moment.”
I put the plate down and finally addressed the situation. “Yeah…she’s crazy about me.” I grinned like an asshole, giving a slight shrug. “She saw a text from one of my girls a few nights ago and lost it. So, this is a subject we’ve already dealt with recently. I guess I’m not surprised.”
“And it looks like you’re crazy about her,” Balto said.
I didn’t bother to deny it. “A bit.”
Cassini smiled slightly. “So…what does that mean?”
“It doesn’t mean anything. I’ll enjoy her until it’s over.” I chose to live in the moment, not think about the painful day when my world would crumble around me.
“Why does it have to be over?” Balto asked. “Come clean about what happened, then give her some space.”
I shook my head. “No. It’ll never work.”
Balto raised an eyebrow.
“I’ve seen her with her father…they’re really close. They have that father-daughter relationship you see in family movies. You know, ridiculous and cheesy.” I bowed my head. “Once she knows the truth, she’ll leave me. And worse, she’ll hate me. So, no, I’m not gonna tell her. The second I do, it’s over. So, I’d rather just wait until the shit hits the fan on its own. Yeah, that makes me an asshole for not being honest with her, for letting her sleep with me when she wouldn’t if she knew the truth…but I don’t care. I had no idea our relationship would escalate into this, so it wasn’t that premeditated.”