Before I answer, he jolts with a sudden panic, then turns to Leo. “Buddy, give it to me straight. Is my face still on? Don’t lie.” Perry runs his hands over his cheeks and forehead, frantically pawing at himself. “Did he Nick Cage me? Am I John Travolta now? Is this a real-lifeFace/Offsituation? Or am I tripping balls?”
Leo grabs him, giving him a little shake. Over a rumble of laughter, he says, “Your face is fine, fuck wit.”
Perry’s amusement at his buffoonery soon wanes as he resumes studying me.
All I can do is fucking smile at him.
He holds up two fingers, turns them sideways, and gestures between us. “Twins?”
“Yep.” I nod vigorously. “We’re twins. My name is Reed.”
Something glints in his eyes. Recognition, perhaps? “Reed,” he repeats, his volume a hair above silent.
Still assessing me, his head bobs like a buoy in rough seas. “Reed, Reed, Reed.”
If I didn’t know better, I’d think my name is triggering a memory he’s buried.
Fucking hell. I want him to remember me.
On one hand, I could tick off the times I’ve been compelled to fling myself around someone, hugging them so tightly neither of us can breathe. And I’d still have fingers left over.
This is one of those rare times.
Instead, I say,“I’m told you don’t like your first name, so I won’t call you that. Should I call you Sawyer?”
“Yeah. Please.” His jaw sags, and he hums like he’s lost in thought. “Hmm.Is it awkward to call me Sawyer since it’s your last name as well?” Again, his face transforms as if he’s taking whack after whack from the realization stick. “Hang on. You said AgentHayes. Not Sawyer. How didthathappen?”
Shit. This is the part of the conversation I knew we’d reach eventually. The path it will take us on is dark as hell.
“Why don’t we take a walk and find cover before the mosquitoes suck me dry,” Leo suggests, smacking his neck. “We’ve been out here long enough tonight.”
As grateful as I am for the distraction, now I’m itchy as a crack head.
Instantly, I begin scratching my arms, finding a few bites I didn’t realize were there until he hit me with the power of suggestion.
Like he’s my fucking mirror, Perry’s moves match mine. Perfectly in sync to the point it’s freaky. “Shit.I didn’t even notice. Good looking out, Lionheart.” He cocks a brow at me. “Coming?”
“Yeah, we’ve got a lot to discuss. But I have work to do first and need to get back to my girl.”
Perry turns his effervescent smile on me, proving Andrews’ assessment of his personality was spot on. He’s a two-legged happiness factory. The kind of guy who everyone wants to be around, even those few times when his energy is over-the-top.
“Let’s go, bro.” He snort-laughs. “Bro? Fucking A. I have a brother. Well, another one.”
Record scratch.
The wind is knocked out of my lungs as those words punch my gut.
Before I blink out of my unexpected stupor, Perry bombards me with a hug. One as warm and overwhelming as his personality.
It takes a moment for me to react, but when I do, the floodgates open.
Tears prick at the back of my eyes, and my sinuses burn with a tidal wave of emotion. My arms turn to vises, pinning him against me. I lock my hands around his upper back, bolting him to me out of fear he’ll slip away.
He might not remember it, but I’ll never forget how it felt when he was pulled from me.
It’s funny how quickly things can change. I didn’t want to face him again. And now, I don’t want to let him go.
He slaps my back, enthusiastically returning my affection. “You all right?”
