“This is almost as crazy as the first time I met you,” I tell Gemma.
Her fingers fist the back of my shirt, and she squeezes me tighter. “You were mad at me then.”
I nod at the memory. If I could have seen the future and how I’d ended up falling for her in spite of my better judgment, I would have been madder. “I knew you were trouble.”
She huffs, and when she says, “Double trouble,” she turns her cheek to my chest, which is going to look pretty funny on my body camera footage. I hold her tightly anyway, as she studies her sister. If she weren’t a twin, would we be together right now? She wouldn’t have been so sensitive about being compared to my ex.
Another siren squeals, though this sound is tinny and coming from the ground. I glance down to find an RC cop car circling our feet. This is the vehicle that caused so much trouble today? In a weird way, I’m touched.
“You bought your nephew a police cruiser like the one I got Phillip?”
She pulls away, cheeks flaming. “Oh. Yeah. You know, it fits the theme of the script I’m writing.”
Right. Kissing me was nothing but research.
I release her since I’m working. And also, she wanted time to process. I cross my arms to keep from punching things.
I look away to find Gemma’s twin watching me with those same icy eyes. Except she’s the psychologist who has been psychoanalyzing my every action. I don’t want her looking my way.
“Karson, have you met my sister?” Gemma steps between us before I can decide whether to tell the woman off or pretend to be pleased to make her acquaintance. “Jewel, this is the cop who taught the class I’ve been taking.”
The woman holds out her hand. It’s not as soft or strong as Gemma’s. Man, I’m even comparing their hands. No wonder this drives Gemma crazy.
“I didn’t realize you were Karson,” Jewel says. “I’ve heard about you.”
In a normal situation, her statement could be considered a compliment. But as I know she’s heard about my anger issues, I feel attacked. Rather than play defense, I choose to put her on the offensive. “And I’ve heard about you.”
She smirks. “Don’t worry. I’ve documented my child support, so you don’t have to arrest me.”
It’s probably not a good idea to get on the bad side of a psychologist, especially when she’s your girlfriend’s twin, but since Gemma and I aren’t even really talking right now, I say, “Bummer.”
Mac clears his throat. “Miss Bennett, I need to take your statement about how you ended up on my fire truck.”
“Uh …” Gemma glances at me, and I’m not sure if the uncertain glimmer in her eyes comes from her upcoming attempt at an explanation or the concerns about leaving me with Jewel. Probably both. “All right,” she says before stepping away to explain what has to be a pretty unexplainable story.
I look back at Jewel and jut my chin. She’s the one who said my anger comes from fear, pain, or frustration, and with as frustrated as I am with her, she wouldn’t like what I have to say.
“Anger is energy,” she says. “It fuels you to act quickly and take control. It makes you good at your job.”
I’m not sure where she’s going with this. “That’s what I’ve been trained to do.”
“True. But not everyone who is trained to do the job does it as well as you. That’s why you’ve excelled in your career.”
I side-eye her because I don’t want her to look straight into my soul. “Thanks?”
“You’re welcome.” She sets Daisy down so the girl can draw on the sidewalk with chalk. Obviously the girl is going to be okay. “I just want to warn you that every strength has a weakness.”
That’s more like it. Did she orchestrate the whole car fiasco to get me here for a counseling session? “Yeah?”
“There’s a time for anger, but there’s also a time for letting it go. And that time is when it gets in the way of relationships.”
I cross my arms and look out to where Gemma is talking with Mac. How long is her report going to take? “It’s not my anger in the way,” I say. “It’s Gemma’s choice. After growing up being compared to you her whole life, she doesn’t want to feel like she’s competing against anyone else.”
Jewel guffaws. “Shedidn’t like being compared? She’s the pretty twin.”
I scrutinize her. Turnabout’s fair play. “Did you really rig homecoming elections?”
“Oh my gosh. She’s still talking about that?” Jewel rolls her eyes. “Yes, I did. But only because I didn’t want to be left behind. She could coast on her looks, but I had to outwit her for anyone to notice me. I’m the only one who has a reason to be envious.”
