“How do you know Eli?”
18
Aiden
I must be hallucinating from the stress. Did she just say hersister? Claire is her sister.
I try to rack my memory, sifting through every conversation I’ve had with Eli. Did he ever mention Claire having a sister? No. He said twin. A twin named Charlie. Like Charlie Brown, except clearly not, because sitting across from me is Claire’s twin, who is definitely not a guy.
“You’re Claire’s sister?” I can’t seem to comprehend this turn of events.
She stares at me like I’ve grown two heads. Her eyes narrow, sharp and cutting. “What are you talking about? Yes, I’m Claire’s identical twin sister, Charlie.”
Identical twin. Sister.
The words punch the air from my lungs.
“You didn’t answer my question. How do you know Eli?” She Annunciations every word, irritation seeping from her voice.
I run both hands over my face, like maybe I’ll wake up from this mess if I scrub hard enough. “Shit.” My voice comes out rough, too loud in the small diner booth.
“Well, this is a relief.” I exhale, the tension draining from every muscle in my body. She’s not a random girl, and this is all a misunderstanding. I’mnotgoing to jail. My moment of celebration is short-lived when I feel her gaze burning a hole straight through me. Oh boy, she looks pissed. No amount of sugar and carbs will save me now. I need to start explaining the situation before she decides to bite my head off. I know too well the emotional roller coaster she’s on right now. Her hormones are in the driver’s seat, and I need to tread carefully.
I don’t know what it is about her. She’s a full foot shorter than me, but the look she’s giving me tells me she will go full wrath-of-God on me if I don’t start explaining soon.
Raising both hands, I face my palms out in surrender. “Look, before you bite my head off, I’m Eli’s best friend and roommate, Auden. He asked me to help with an immersive role-playing kidnapping scenario. Eli and Claire agreed on it prior to today. I was tasked with helping him kidnap her and taking her to the cabin on theoutskirts of town that he rented for their, let’s just say, excursion of the day. I unfortunately grabbed you instead of her, hence why we are in the current predicament.” The words tumble out like I’m afraid that if I stop, she’ll throw her hot cocoa at me and run away.
I let the silence fill the space so she can process everything that I just told her, praying that she believes me and doesn’t think I’m a true kidnapper. It feels like an eternity before she finally speaks.
“How can I trust that you’re Eli’s best friend when you don’t even know who his girlfriend is?”
“In my defense, I have not met her in person, and you guys are identical,” I deadpan.
“That is no excuse.” She eyes me skeptically.
“Look, if you don’t trust me, just call your sister. I’m sure Eli is there with her and he can explain everything.”
“How convenient, you’re suggesting I reach out to my sister when you took my phone from me.” Her voice drips with sarcasm.
My mouth opens to speak, but I immediately close it, because she’s got me there. I forgot I took her phone and put it in the glove compartment of the car.
“Well, why don’t you use my phone and call Claire? Again, I’m sure Eli will be there to explain everything.”
“Do you think I have people’s phone numbers memorized? What is this, the 1990s?”
“Well, how do you suppose we go about the situation?”
Before she can respond, a deep, gravely male voice sounds from behind me. Instantly, I’m irritated that someone is interrupting our conversation.
“Charlie, is that you?”
Who is this guy, and why is he so chummy with her? I don’t like it one bit. Judging from the face she’s making, she’s not a fan of him either.
“Hey, Kevin. How are you?” she asks.
“Good, good. Can’t complain, the business is doing well, and Lisa’s expecting our first child.” His grin is smug, the kind that says he expects applause.
Something ticks in me—there’s history here. The way Charlie’s left eye twitches at the mention of Lisa, I’m starting to piece together that she isn’t a fan of either of them.
