“You know whatever answer you’re looking forisn’tat the bottom of that glass.”
“I know.”
“So, what’s the problem you’re looking to solve?”
“I’m not…looking to solve anything.” Running one hand through my dirty blond hair precedes me explaining, “There’s nothingtosolve. The chick I’ve been spending the week with got a chance at her dream job and is gonna take it. And she should take it! She’searnedit! That jobshouldbe hers! The fact they’re even making her audition again is ludicrous! The fact they didn’t just hire her to begin with is even more fucking ridiculous! I’ve seen her performances, plus, I’ve been onstagewith her to see it firsthand.” Bashful beaming can’t be held back. “She is unstoppable with those lights on her, dude.”
“Don’t call me dude,” scolds Wes like normal.
“I’m happy she’s getting the opportunity she deserves. I really am.”
“You just don’t know what that means for you in her life.”
“Right.”
“You didn’t talk about it?”
“She ghosted me.” My fingers resume spinning the glass in place. “She found out when we got off stage, rushed to her room to call them back, book a flight, and pack.”
His slow nodding somehow convinces me to keep talking.
Block silence from settling.
“Which is fine, I guess.”
“Being ghosted?”
“Yeah. I mean…this was just supposed to be a fling, you know?”
“I know that flings are all you’ve done for quite a while now.”
“Between getting the app off the ground – the tests, the prep, the bugs – and bracing for this demo tour in LA, Manhattan, Chicago, and West Palm Beach followed by the official launch in Highland, flings are all I’ve got time for.”
“No, they’re all you’vemadetime for.”
Culpability callously clogs my vocal cords a second time.
“This isyourproject, J.T.Youmake the rules.Youmake the schedules.Youdetermine the meetings.Youare in complete control; however, there are a few things in lifemore importantthan deadlines and boardrooms and shareholders and money. And when we discover those things, we must do whatever it takes to have them.Keep them.” He warmly smirks. “Youoncetook the time to remind me of that when I needed to hear it most, so consider this as my moment to return the sentiment.”
Chapter 9
Janae
The worst part of being a twin?
Knowing what they’re thinking when you don’t wanna know what they’re thinking.
“Stop judging me,” I hiss from across the passenger seat of our rented SUV.
“I’m not judging you.”
Hitting him with a sarcastic stare causes him to roll his eyes in exasperation.
“Okay, I’m notoutwardlyjudging you.”
“Stopinwardlyjudging me.”
“Give me more to work with.”
