That night I’d hit a bar and got drunker than ever before. Well, that wasn’t true. There’d been a time, after that fateful night when…
Don’t.
I didn’t let myself go there. Ever. Not when I knew the danger that lurked, threatening to drag me back into the darkness again.
“Thank you all for coming.” I gestured around the room. “Although I’m sure some of you fuckers weren’t on the guest list. Yes, you, Aiden. Don’t think I can’t see you hiding at the back.”
Aiden cupped a hand around his mouth as he hollered back at me. “Don’t be salty just because I always beat you at pool.”
“You always cheat at pool.” My words were echoed around the room before we all dissolved into laughter at the inside joke. My chest swelled at that. I had inside jokes now. Friends. Money. A fiancée.
And I’d done it all on my own.
“Seriously though”—I raised my glass until the noise died down—“I appreciate you all coming at short notice. I’m sure, having met Kate, you can understand why I was keen to lock her down as fast as possible.”
Several people catcalled around the room as I flushed with pride.
Then, something strange happened. It was almost as though I stepped outside of my body, looking at that twat who was speaking, puffed up with his own importance.
Locked down? Who the fuck speaks like that?
I slammed back into myself and shook it off. This was who I was now. I was the one people looked to. The one people expected to land a beautiful woman like Kate.
That was me. Consistently exceeding expectations.
I’d done the same as a kid, but it hadn’t brought me happiness. Not that I was happy now, but I was close. So close I could almost taste it.
This final step would do it. I was certain.
“Everyone who is important to me is in this room,” I continued. Well, almost everyone. Xander hadn’t been able to get leave so close to his end date, but at least he’d make the wedding. “And I can’t thank you all enough for?—”
The door to my left swung open, and a cold wind swirled around me. I paused mid-sentence, frowning in the direction of the interruption. Who was coming in? Everyone I’d been expecting was already here.
“Everyone important?” A voice once identical to my own rang out. Where I’d worked hard to lose the accent of my youth, the same couldn’t be said of my twin. “Now that’s low, Ryan.”
He stepped forwards into the dim lights of the room. My eyes ran over him as I felt him do the same to me. It was funny, it had been a long time since we’d shared that mythical bond everyone spoke about.
But right now, I knew exactly what he was thinking. He was clocking every inch of me that had changed. The biceps that rivalled his own. The sleek shirt and designer trousers I wore. The amber liquid in the cut crystal that was clasped in my hand.
I raised my glass to him mockingly, acknowledging what he was realising. Yeah, I’d changed. Wasn’t like he’d know given he’d fucked off right around when my life had gone to shit. The years had made Max broader too, his hair lighter than mine, probably thanks to all those days under the desert sun.
Heads swivelled between us in confusion. Identical twins weren’t uncommon, but I guessed it was unexpected for all of them given I’d never mentioned a sibling.
It wasn’t that I hated Max.
Sure about that?
No. I didn’t. I hated the role he’d played, but I didn’t hate him. I couldn’t. That didn’t mean I could tolerate his presence in my life though. He’d made his bed a decade ago, the same as I had.
There was no changing it for either of us.
Aware of the many eyes on me, I didn’t let my smile waver. “Max. Didn’t even realise you were in the country.”
He pursed his lips. “Couldn’t miss my little brother’s stag do.”
I laughed, the sound brittle and foreign. “Forgive me, everyone. Please meet my twin, Max. Despite what he says, I don’t think the three minutes age difference really amounts to much.”
Titters rang out, but I didn’t look away from Max. There was no way he was really pissed about his lack of invite. I hadn’t even told him I was engaged. What’d be the point? It wasn’t like we knew anything about each other’s lives now.
