"I take full responsibility for that," Caleb agreed, nodding with his arm around his wife.
"How long are you in town? Are you staying with Mom and Dad? I think I remember hearing that somewhere. Is that right?" Lila stared at me after the string of questions, and I smiled.
"Yes, I am staying here, if that's okay." I said the last part with a glance in the direction of Eddie and Caroline, who were both a few steps ahead of us.
She heard me and turned. "Oh, honey, we'd love to have you," Caroline said. "In fact, EJ, why don't you go ahead and take her bag to the apartment?" She glanced at me with a serious expression. "Unless you need it out here with you."
"No, other than I have something in it for you. But I can give you that later."
"Aw, you didn't need to do that," she said in an exaggerated tone. "She might need that luggage out here after all!" she quietly hollered to EJ, being funny and making us laugh.
"Come here and I'll show you the apartment," EJ said, gesturing at me. "We can leave your bag in there and get Mom's thing out."
"Okay," I said easily with a nod. I was acting casual, but I relished the idea of being alone with EJ, even if it was just for a moment.
I began walking toward him when I saw something surreal.
"Hey, who's this?" Another EJ came out of the darkness, out from behind EJ.
"Oh, Dom and Marley were out there checking out Dad's new toy," Caroline announced.
"Marley's still out there," Dom said with a gesture over his shoulder. "She wants to sit in it."
"Oh, of course," Eddie said. "Let me get the keys. Tell her she can drive it."
I had left my place near EJ's family and was now making my way across the room toward him and his twin. I had seen them in pictures, but it was my first time to see them standing next to each other, and it was a sight to behold. I felt overwhelmed, and I swallowed hard as I approached them. My eyes filled with tears, and I blinked to dry them as I reached in to hug Dom. I went in for a sideways hug,but Dominic grabbed me tightly around my middle, lifting me off my feet and hefting me twice. His mom yelled out his name from the other side of the room, but all I could take in was big Dom shaking me and then setting me to my feet. He smiled at me with a giant grin.
He looked like EJ, but I could spot the differences instantly. Dominic had two extra moles. EJ's dimple was deeper. His nose was a little different, too. Everything was a little different… but the same. I was still reeling from the tight hug—my eyes were still blurry from the tears that gathered.
"You must be Dominic," I said in a strained tone that made them both laugh.
He put his arm around EJ's shoulder and gave his brother a pat. "I am Dominic," he said. He stared at me with a half-smile and a gaze that seemed intense. "And you are Savannah," he said, looking straight into my eyes. He leaned in to speak quietly to me. "I know my brother Savannah, and it's just… well… it's just really nice to meet you, that's all."
"It's nice to meet you, too, Dom. I've heard so much about you."
He looked like he was about to say something to me, but instead, gave me a little smile and a shake of his head, and then he took me into his arms again with a sigh. He squeezed me, and then he pulled back before reaching in to kiss my cheek. "I'm just so glad you're here," he said, breaking away to head for the kitchen. He turned to whisper. "We've got abig announcement in a bit," he said to us. Then he turned and spoke in a louder tone. "I'm going to grab Dad's keys and take them to my wife. I'll catch up with you guys in just a minute."
I was smiling as I followed EJ toward my apartment. We had to go down a hallway, through a mudroom, and outside onto a sidewalk to make our way there. Once we were outside, EJ turned and walked backward so that he could talk to me. He had my luggage by the handle, still wielding it like it was as light as a feather. "This is the path you'll take from the house to the apartment whenever you want," he said. "Your apartment will have everything you need, but my parents would not think twice about finding you in their living room. They'd love it, actually. And I'll be here, anyway."
"Oh, you're staying the night here?"
"Yes. I didn't think about that till just now, but there's no way I'm leaving you to go sleep thirty minutes across town, so, yes."
"This is a beautiful home," I said, my eyes finally drying a little after that encounter with his brother.
"Thanks. We love it. Here's your apartment," he said, opening a door.
We walked inside, and he set my luggage down on the counter. I knew it was a beautiful space, a nice apartment, clean with walls and furniture in shades of white. It felt lovely in there, but honestly, I didn't care where we were or take the time to look atmy surroundings. EJ was there with me, and the affection and attraction I felt toward him were visceral.
I had come to stand close to him, and he brushed up against me when he turned after setting my bag down. He must've known I was bumping into him on purpose. He must've felt that I was too close to be casual because the next thing I knew, I was in his arms and his mouth was on mine.
Once, twice, three times he kissed me before pulling back to smile and stare. I had my hands on his side, and I gripped the fabric of his shirt. He gazed at me, and then he did it two or three more times, and every time his mouth touched mine, I felt warmth spread through me. It was soft and familiar, and EJ wasn't in a rush. He kissed me and then pulled back and smiled at me again like we had all the time in the world.
"Thank goodness you're here," he said softly to me.
"I know. Thank goodness I am here."
He grinned at me.
