“You’re not sick…” I trail off, my gaze hopping over him. Now that I know he’s okay, anger rushes through me, and I clench my fists. He fucking lied again, and even though I knew he was doing it, I still fell for it.
“How kind of you to notice,” he says dryly.
I turn back to the person lying in the hospital bed, who looks so like her it’s uncanny.
“I didn’t know we were going to meet like this, but you’ve made my heart all fluttery.” He fans his face. “Phew. Ollie said you’re the hot but reserved type, so I’m kind of wild about you hitting on me as soon as you saw me. It gives a guy confidence, you know? Even in this awful hospital gown, I’ve still got it.”
Kane just shrugs as my brow furrows at whoever’s in front of me. “Ollie told you she had a twin. Though I guess it was Luke who told you he had a sister… but don’t worry, you’ll get used to him. Probably.”
Before I can reply to ask why the hell I’m even here, Luke cuts in.
“I don’t want Timber to get used to me. I want to be fresh and fancy-free! If we’re going to be family, I’ve got to make sure we don’t go stale!”
“Maybe ease off on the whole family thing, eh? You’ve just met Timber. Why don’t we slide him into it rather than hitting him with the full Luke experience?”
“Fine, but only because I like you.” Luke pouts.
With all the crap I’d forced myself through today, I can’t keep up with what’s going on.
I tip backward, thumping into the chair behind me, which shakes and creaks precariously as they both watch me with curiosity.
“You missed a game… for this?” I say to Kane.
“You’re more important to me than hockey.” He places a hand on his chest and sighs longingly. “I know it’s dramatic, but youneeded to meet Luke, and I couldn’t think of any other way to get you to come. At least in that way.” Kane chuckles as he throws me a wink.
“Ew, no. If you’re going to flirt, don’t do it in front of me,” Luke says.
Everything is growing odder by the second. I try to find the rage, but it’s already seeped away. From the day he broke my nose, I’ve always had a resting state of anger whenever I’m around him. Sometimes it’s quiet, other times it rips free, but it’s the fuel that keeps my feelings for him strong.
But looking at him now, after everything he’s done over the years, I just ache.
“That’s why you pretended you were sick?” I ask. I don’t even want to snarl at him because I’m so worn down.
“I am sick, Timber. I’m lovesick. I just missed you so much,” he hums. And his teasing just makes it hurt even more.
“I’m leaving,” I growl, jumping up straight away. “I can’t believe I was fucking worried about you.”
“Wait, hang on!” Kane shoots forward in his chair, grabbing my wrist. “I didn’t know how else to get you here.”
“After every fucking thing that’s happened this week, you really thought lying was the best plan?”
He grimaces as he drops his hand. “Yeah, fuck, okay. That was the worst, wasn’t it?” he groans. “But you need to hear Luke’s side of the story so you can at least understand all this. It’s not just a black and white situation.”
“Why would I care enough to listen to you both spout more bullshit?”
“Well, you’re here, aren’t you?”
I sigh again. “I’m so fucking tired of being strung along by you.” But I still let him hold on to my wrist.
“I haven’t strung you along, though!” Luke pipes up, and I glare at him.
“From everything I can tell, you’re just as complicit as Kane and Ollie.”
It’s unnerving how similar they look, down to the sparkle in his eye. Seeing Ollie in a dress for the first time shocked me, but now I know for sure they are two different people, it’s still strange.
“Okay, how about you take a seat and hear about how I’m the bad guy in all of this. That’s always a fun story!”
“You need to stop blaming yourself,” Kane says to him, which just made Luke’s smile brighter.
